Letterhead Design Best Practices for a Professional Look

Letterhead is a frame, not a poster. Its job is to identify your business and look polished while leaving plenty of room for the actual letter. The most common mistake is treating letterhead like an ad and crowding the page. Here are the rules that keep it professional and functional.

What belongs on letterhead

Element	Placement
Logo	Top, usually left or centered
Business name	With or as the logo
Contact info	Header or footer, kept small
Website / email	Footer
Tagline (optional)	Small, if at all

The golden rule: leave room to write

A letter needs space. Keep the header compact and push secondary details (full address, website, phone) into a slim footer. Aim to use only the top inch or so and a thin strip at the bottom, leaving the broad center clear for the message. Crowded letterhead makes every letter look cramped.

Design tips

• Keep colors minimal, your brand colors and black text.
• Mind the margins so printers do not clip the design.
• Match your other materials for a consistent identity.
• Use a readable body-friendly layout, letterhead is read up close.

Part of a bigger identity

Letterhead works hardest when it matches your envelopes, business cards, and invoices. A consistent suite makes even a small business look established. See matching stationery suite and letterhead and brand identity.

Print letterhead that looks established

We print professional letterhead on quality stock, matched to your brand. See our letterhead options, and read building a matching stationery suite. Request a free quote.