Menu sizes for printing: A4, A5, DL, square and trifold
The standard restaurant menu size is A4, 210 × 297 mm (2480 × 3508 px at 300 dpi). Cafés often use A5, 148 × 210 mm, drinks lists a DL card of 99 × 210 mm, and takeaway menus an A4 sheet folded into a trifold. Add 3 mm bleed on every outer edge before you send the file to print.
Menu size chart
| Format | mm | cm | inches | px at 300 dpi | with 3 mm bleed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 | 21 × 29.7 | 8.27 × 11.69 | 2480 × 3508 | 216 × 303 mm |
| A5 | 148 × 210 | 14.8 × 21 | 5.83 × 8.27 | 1748 × 2480 | 154 × 216 mm |
| DL | 99 × 210 | 9.9 × 21 | 3.90 × 8.27 | 1169 × 2480 | 105 × 216 mm |
| Square | 210 × 210 | 21 × 21 | 8.27 × 8.27 | 2480 × 2480 | 216 × 216 mm |
| A4 trifold, flat | 297 × 210 | 29.7 × 21 | 11.69 × 8.27 | 3508 × 2480 | 303 × 216 mm |
| A3 poster | 297 × 420 | 29.7 × 42 | 11.69 × 16.54 | 3508 × 4961 | 303 × 426 mm |
| US Letter | 216 × 279 | 21.6 × 27.9 | 8.5 × 11 | 2550 × 3300 | 222 × 285 mm |
US Letter appears here because international franchises sometimes send artwork set up for it. Print shops in the UAE stock A-series paper, so ask for the file to be resized to A4 rather than printed on Letter.
Which size for which menu
Planning the whole card, not just its size? See menu card design.
A4: the dine-in menu
A4 holds a full menu at a comfortable reading size: roughly 12 to 15 dishes with one-line descriptions on the first page under the restaurant name, and closer to 20 on the pages after it. It fits standard menu covers and folders, and most restaurants in Dubai print their main menu at this size. For more dishes, go to two pages or an A5 booklet rather than shrinking the type.
A5: café menus and booklets
Half of A4, A5 suits a coffee shop table card or a booklet where each spread is one course. It is small enough to hold in one hand and to leave on a café table without taking over the space. See the café menu templates.
DL: drinks, desserts and table talkers
DL is a third of A4, tall and narrow. It is the size for a shisha or drinks list, a dessert card, a set lunch insert or a stand-up card by the till. Because it changes more often than the main menu, printing it separately saves reprinting everything.
Square: brunch and tasting menus
A 210 mm square card stands out on the table because it is not the shape guests expect. It works for a short brunch, a set menu or a tasting menu, where there are fewer items to fit.
Trifold: takeaway and delivery
A trifold is an A4 sheet folded twice into three panels, closing to the DL size. It fits in a delivery bag and a DL envelope. The fold matters as much as the size; the trifold menu templates page explains roll folds, Z-folds and panel widths.
Bleed, trim and safe margins
Print shops cut menus from larger sheets, and the blade never lands exactly on the line. Three settings stop that from showing:
- Bleed, 3 mm. Anything that runs to the edge, a background colour or a border pattern, must extend 3 mm past the trim so a slightly off cut leaves no white sliver.
- Trim. The finished size: 210 × 297 mm for A4.
- Safe margin, at least 5 mm. Keep text and prices this far inside the trim so nothing important is cut close.
QaiMa sets all three for you and adds crop marks, so the file matches the specs Dubai print shops ask for.
Paper weights for menus
| Menu | Common weight | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Dine-in, handled daily | 300 to 350 gsm | Laminated or coated |
| Café table card | 250 to 300 gsm | Silk or matt |
| Takeaway trifold | 130 to 170 gsm | Gloss or silk |
| Single-service or events | 170 to 250 gsm | Uncoated for a natural feel |
Heavy card over about 170 gsm cracks along a fold unless it is creased first. If you want a folded menu on thick stock, ask the printer to crease it.
Menu size questions
What is the standard size of a restaurant menu?
In the UAE and most of the world outside North America, the standard dine-in menu is A4, 210 × 297 mm. Cafés often use A5, 148 × 210 mm. Drinks and dessert lists are commonly a slim DL card, 99 × 210 mm.
What size is a menu in pixels?
For printing, set the file at 300 dpi: an A4 menu is 2480 × 3508 pixels, an A5 menu 1748 × 2480 pixels and a DL card 1169 × 2480 pixels. A lower resolution may look fine on screen but prints soft.
How big is a menu card in cm?
A4 is 21 × 29.7 cm, A5 is 14.8 × 21 cm and DL is 9.9 × 21 cm. A square menu is usually 21 × 21 cm, and an A4 trifold is 29.7 × 21 cm flat, folding to 9.9 × 21 cm.
How much bleed does a menu need?
3 mm on each outer edge is the standard that print shops in the UAE work to. An A4 menu with bleed is supplied at 216 × 303 mm and trimmed back to 210 × 297 mm after printing.
What paper weight is best for a menu?
Dine-in menus that get handled every service are commonly printed on 300 to 350 gsm card, often laminated. A café table card is usually 250 to 300 gsm, and takeaway menus that are folded and handed out are commonly 130 to 170 gsm. Your print shop will recommend a stock for the quantity and finish you want.
Pick a size and design the menu. Every QaiMa template exports at exact size with bleed.