Sound familiar?
- Your letterhead is a Word file with a stretched, pixelated logo at the top.
- You're not sure what your company is legally required to print on letters.
- The address block doesn't line up with your window envelopes.
- Pre-printed letterheads jam or smudge in the office laser printer.
- Page two of a letter looks completely different from page one.
Key facts
- Letterhead design starts from £75 + VAT, fixed-priced before we start.
- UK letterheads are A4 (210 × 297 mm), and usually folded in thirds into a DL envelope.
- UK limited companies must show their registered name, registered number, part of the UK registered in and registered office address on business letters.
- If any directors' names appear, all of them must be listed (GOV.UK).
- Supplied as a print-ready PDF and an editable Word template.
- Matching compliment slips and continuation sheets can be added.
What a UK limited company must show on its letterhead
Letterheads aren't just design. For a UK limited company, the Companies Act 2006 and the Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business (Names and Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2015 set out details that must appear on business letters and order forms, whether printed or electronic. According to GOV.UK's guidance Running a limited company: signs, stationery and promotional material, you must include:
- the company's registered name, including 'Limited' or 'Ltd'
- its registered number
- the part of the UK it is registered in: England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland
- its registered office address
Two optional items come with conditions. If you list any directors' names, GOV.UK says you must list all of them. If you mention share capital, you must say how much is paid up.
Sole traders and partnerships trading under a business name have their own rules under the Companies Act 2006 about showing the owners' names and an address on business documents. VAT-registered businesses often add their VAT number too, although it is invoices, not letters, that legally need it. Check with your accountant if you're unsure; we lay out whatever details you give us so they are legible but don't dominate the page.
Designing for A4, envelopes and office printers
A UK letterhead is designed at A4, 210 × 297 mm. Practical details we build in:
- Envelope fit. A4 folded in thirds fits a DL envelope (110 × 220 mm). If you use window envelopes, the recipient's address area is positioned so it shows through the window after folding.
- Printer-friendly margins. Most office laser and inkjet printers can't print right to the edge, so the Word template keeps typed content inside safe margins.
- Pre-printed stock. If you have letterheads printed and then run them through a laser printer, the printer and paper need to be compatible. We can supply notes for your print supplier.
- Footer for legal details. Company details usually sit in a small footer, freeing the top for your logo.
Print-ready PDF and Word template: why you need both
Most businesses now type letters in Word and either print them in the office or send them as PDFs. A pre-printed letterhead and a Word template solve different problems:
| Format | Use |
|---|---|
| Print-ready PDF | Sent to a printer for a professional run, with true brand colours and edge-to-edge design |
| Word template | Staff type letters directly; logo and footer are locked in a header so they don't get moved |
| Digital PDF letterhead | Letters exported to PDF and emailed, looking exactly like the printed version |
The Word template uses your brand font where it's installed, with a system fallback, such as Arial or Calibri, set out in your brand guidelines, so letters still look right on any computer.
Continuation sheets and compliment slips
Page two of a letter shouldn't repeat the full letterhead. A continuation sheet carries a small logo and the page number, keeping long letters tidy. A compliment slip, typically DL size (99 × 210 mm, one third of A4), is useful for sending documents with a short note. Both can be designed alongside your letterhead; see stationery design for the full set.
Letterheads for sole traders, partnerships and LLPs
The rules differ by business type, and your letterhead should match yours:
- Limited companies show the registered name, number, part of the UK registered in and registered office address, as above.
- LLPs are covered by the same 2015 Regulations and show equivalent details, with 'limited liability partnership' or 'LLP' in the name.
- Sole traders and partnerships using a trading name, rather than just the owners' names, are generally required to show the owners' names and an address where documents can be served on business letters, invoices and receipts.
We'll lay out whichever applies, but we're designers, not lawyers. Your accountant can confirm the exact wording for your business before you print in bulk.
Getting a letterhead designed
Send us your logo (or ask us for a logo first), your company details exactly as registered at Companies House, and how you send letters: printed, emailed or both. Letterhead design starts from £75 + VAT. Printing is not included but can be arranged and quoted. Get in touch for a fixed price.
What you get
- Print-ready PDF letterhead in CMYK with bleed if colour runs to the edge
- Editable Word template (.dotx or .docx) with styles set for headings and body text
- Continuation sheet design for second and later pages
- PDF version for emailing letters digitally
- Optional matching compliment slip at DL (99 × 210 mm)
How it works and what it costs
Logos from £150, brochures from £295, photography from £295 a half day and CAD at £45 an hour, all + VAT. You get a fixed price before we start.
Tell us the brief
What it is for, who will see it, where it will be used and any examples you like. Rough is fine.
Fixed price
We confirm the price and what you get, in writing, before any work starts.
First designs
We design, shoot or model it and share the first version for your comments.
Refine
We make the changes, check every detail, and prepare the files properly for print, web or manufacture.
Final files
You get the finished files in the formats you need, ready for your printer, website, social channels or manufacturer.
Frequently asked questions
What must a limited company put on its letterhead?
According to GOV.UK, a UK limited company's business letters must show its registered name, registered number, the part of the UK it is registered in (England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland) and its registered office address. If any directors are named, all must be listed. dijitul lays these out clearly on every limited company letterhead.
Do I need my VAT number on my letterhead?
It isn't required on letters by law; VAT numbers must appear on VAT invoices. Many businesses add it to the letterhead footer anyway because it saves clients asking. dijitul can include it if you want it there.
How much does letterhead design cost?
dijitul media designs letterheads from £75 + VAT, including a print-ready PDF and an editable Word template. Continuation sheets and compliment slips can be added, and printing can be arranged and quoted separately.
Can you make my letterhead into a Word template?
Yes. dijitul supplies an editable Word template with the logo and company details fixed in the header and footer, and text styles set up, so staff can type letters that match your printed stationery without moving anything by accident.
What size is a UK letterhead?
UK letterheads are A4, 210 × 297 mm. Folded in thirds, an A4 letter fits a DL envelope. dijitul positions the address block so it lines up with standard window envelopes if you use them.
Do emails also need company details?
Business emails can count as business letters, so many UK limited companies add their registered name, number, place of registration and registered office address to their email signature. dijitul can design an email signature that includes these details.
Related
Get a fixed price
Send a rough brief. You'll know exactly what it costs before we start.