Comparison table
| Format | Size | Best for | Bear in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm | Main menu in a sleeve or menu cover | Takes up room on small tables |
| US Letter | 8.5 × 11 in (216 × 279 mm) | The standard sheet in the US | Slightly wider and shorter than A4 |
| Slim A4 | 140 × 297 mm | Short or medium menus, desserts, wines by the glass | A single column |
| A5 | 148 × 210 mm | Set lunch menu, dessert menu, terraces | Little space: keep it brief |
| A5 two per sheet | 2 × A5 on a landscape A4 | A set menu printed every day | One side only; needs cutting |
| A3 poster | 297 × 420 mm | Wall, window, A-board by the door | Not for the table |
| Booklet | A4 closed, A3 sheets folded | Long menus, with wines, fine dining | Pages in multiples of 4 |
| Tri-fold | Landscape A4 folded in three | Takeaway, delivery, short menus | Six narrow panels |
| Post 4:5 | 1080 × 1350 px | Instagram and Facebook | One page only |
| Story 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 px | Stories and WhatsApp Status | One page only |
| Screen 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 px | TV in the venue, monitor at the bar | Read from a distance: few dishes |
Decide in three questions
1. How many dishes do you have? If your menu fits on an A4 with comfortable type, don’t complicate it. If you have to shrink the type to make it fit, move to a double-sided A4 or a booklet. If it’s short, a slim A4 or an A5 looks more considered than a half-empty A4.
2. How often does it change? Anything that changes daily (the set lunch menu) calls for cheap paper and a format that prints quickly, such as A5 two per sheet. Anything that lasts a season justifies a booklet or heavy card.
3. Where will it be read? On small terrace tables, an open A4 gets in the way. At the bar, a screen or an A3 on the wall can be read without asking. On social media, vertical formats win.
The paper formats, one by one
A4. The all-rounder: standard sleeves, clipboards and menu covers are made for it. It takes two columns and, double-sided, a fairly complete menu.
US Letter. The American equivalent of A4 and the paper in every US printer. If you print in the US, choose this format in MenuDesign so the PDF matches your paper. Many US restaurants also use Legal (8.5 × 14 in) for a longer single-sheet menu.
Slim A4. As tall as an A4 but narrower. You can hold it in one hand, it takes little room on the table and it forces you to choose. Popular with chef-led restaurants, cocktail bars and dessert menus.
A5. Half a sheet. Perfect for the set lunch menu and for dessert or coffee menus. With little space, every word counts.
A5 two per sheet. The same menu twice on a landscape A4. Print, cut down the middle and you have two menus: half the paper and ink.
A3 poster. To hang up or put on an A-board. Large type that reads from a couple of metres away. The US equivalent is tabloid (11 × 17 in).
Booklet. A3 sheets folded into an A4 booklet, with front and back covers. For long menus or menus with the wine list included.
Tri-fold. A landscape A4 folded in three: front cover, back cover and four menu panels. A classic for takeaway or to slip into a delivery bag.
Screen formats
Image formats are for posting the daily menu on social media (4:5 post or 9:16 story) or showing the menu on a TV in the venue (16:9). On screen, less is more: the 16:9 screen is read from a distance, so show a selection rather than the whole menu.
Change format without redoing anything
In MenuDesign the content and the design are separate. You write the menu once and get it as an A4 for the tables, an A3 for the window and a story for Instagram, all in the same style. The type size adjusts itself within readable limits; if the type gets too small in a format, that’s your cue to move up a size or cut dishes. Every format is free.
Frequently asked questions
What's the most common menu size?
In the UK and Europe, A4 (210 × 297 mm): it fits most sleeves and menu covers, prints on any printer and takes two columns of dishes. In the US, the equivalent is Letter (8.5 × 11 in), with Legal (8.5 × 14 in) for longer menus.
What size should I use for a set lunch menu?
A5 (148 × 210 mm). If you print two per sheet, you use half the paper: a landscape A4 with two identical menus that you cut in half.
Can I use the same design in several sizes?
Yes. In MenuDesign you change the format and the menu is laid out again with the same style and the same content.
How big is a slim menu?
MenuDesign's slim A4 is 140 × 297 mm: the height of an A4 sheet and two-thirds of its width. Print it on A4 and trim it, or have it cut to size.