A double-sided letter is an A4 letter printed on both sides. It gives you a second page for detail, pricing, a form or images, for a small difference in price per item, and works best when the front reads as a complete letter on its own.
Overview
Most readers decide from the front whether a letter is relevant, so the front should carry the full message: greeting, offer, call to action and signature. The back then answers the questions an interested reader has, such as terms, a price table, a map, frequently asked questions or a response form.
At AutoLetters the price difference between single-sided and double-sided A4 letters is small and the same at any quantity, so the decision is about the content rather than the budget. Both prices appear in the table on this page from the live price list.
Signal clearly that there is more overleaf, for example “Your options are on the back”, so readers turn the page.
When to use it
How to start, step by step
- Write the front as a complete letter. Assume some readers will never turn over. The front must work alone.
- Plan the back around questions. List what an interested reader will ask next and answer those on the back.
- Add a pointer. End the front with a line that sends readers to the reverse.
- Check both sides on the print file. Review the print-accurate preview of each side, including the safe zone and address area on the front.
- Compare against single-sided. If you are unsure, split the list and test one version of each with different codes.
Which format to choose
| Use | Format | Why | From, per item |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter with detail on the back | Letter — A4 | Choose double-sided printing; the table shows the from price. | £1.90 |
| Image-led content across pages | A3 to A5 Enveloped | Four A5 panels in an envelope. | £2.45 |
| Brief message, two sides | Postcard — A5 landscape | Postcards are printed on both sides as standard. | £2.20 |
Prices come from the live AutoLetters price list. They include printing and UK postage, are the same at any quantity, and have no VAT added because AutoLetters is not VAT registered.
Worked example
Illustrative scenario, not a customer case study. A garden centre writes to 750 loyalty-scheme members with an autumn event invitation on the front and a timetable and map on the back. The example uses the standard single-sided price; double-sided costs slightly more per item, as shown in the table.
750 × Letter — A4 at £1.90 each = £1,425.00, printed and posted.
Response depends on your list, offer and timing, so we do not quote response rates. Measure your own with a unique code or web address.
Mistakes to avoid
- Putting the call to action only on the back.
- Filling the back just because it is there.
- Placing important text where the address appears on the front.
- Forgetting to tell readers there is more overleaf.
Preparing artwork that prints correctly
Every format has a trim size, a bleed area and a safe zone. Extend background colours and images into the bleed so no white edge appears after cutting, and keep text, logos and QR codes inside the safe zone. Use images at 300 DPI at printed size, and leave the address area clear, because the printer adds the recipient's address there. Each product page lists the exact supplier measurements, and Lenny checks uploaded artwork against them before you approve it.
Building a list you can use
You can send to a list you already hold or to an audience of UK addresses built around a postcode. If you use your own list, include only people you have a lawful basis to contact by post, remove anyone who has asked not to hear from you, and keep a record of where the data came from. The Information Commissioner's Office publishes guidance on direct marketing under UK GDPR. Check that every address is complete and current: incomplete addresses cost money and do not arrive.
Measuring the result
Decide how you will count responses before you send. A unique discount code, a short web address, a dedicated phone number or a simple “how did you hear about us?” question all work. Divide the campaign cost by the number of responses to get a cost per response, then compare it with your other marketing. Where you can, hold back a small group from the mailing, so you can see how many of them would have responded anyway.
How AutoLetters handles it
Lenny, the AutoLetters AI campaign specialist, helps you choose a format, drafts the wording and artwork to the printer's exact measurements, and helps build the audience: either UK addresses around a postcode or a list you already hold. You review a print-accurate preview, then approve the exact print file. Nothing is printed or posted until you approve it.
AutoLetters sends addressed mail to UK addresses only and does not offer unaddressed door drops. Postal delivery timings are not guaranteed.
Questions
How much more does double-sided cost?
A few pence per item. The exact current single-sided and double-sided A4 prices are on the pricing page and are the same at any quantity.
Plan your campaign with Lenny
Describe what you want to promote and who should receive it. Planning is free and needs no account.
Plan with Lenny See pricing