A5 vs A6 vs A4 Notebooks for Corporate Branding

Notebook size is the first decision in any corporate notebook order, and it quietly shapes everything else: how much writing space someone gets, whether it fits in a bag or a jacket pocket, and how the whole thing feels as a gift. Here is how A5, A6 and A4 actually compare for branding purposes.

Dimensions

• A6 is 105 x 148 mm, roughly postcard-sized. It is the smallest standard notebook format and genuinely pocket-sized.
• A5 is 148 x 210 mm, half the size of an A4 sheet. It is the default corporate notebook size, big enough for real note-taking, small enough to carry easily in a bag or under an arm.
• A4 is 210 x 297 mm, a full sheet, the same size as standard printer paper. As a bound notebook it is considerably larger and heavier than A5 or A6.

Portability

A6 wins decisively on portability: it fits a jacket pocket, a small bag, or sits comfortably on a desk without taking up much room. A5 is still genuinely portable, the size most people are used to carrying to a meeting or on a flight, and it is the format most corporate notebook gifts default to for exactly this balance. A4 is not something most people carry around; it is used at a desk or brought deliberately to a specific meeting where a full sheet of writing space is needed.

Writing space

This is where the trade-off runs the opposite direction. A4 gives the most room per page, useful for diagrams, longer notes, or anyone who writes in a larger hand. A5 gives a comfortable, standard amount of space for daily note-taking, which is why it remains the default. A6 is genuinely limited: fine for quick notes, phone numbers or a to-do list, but cramped for anything longer.

Employee use

For day-to-day employee use, A5 is almost always the right call. It is what PrintOnline's core corporate range is built around, including the Santhome Hardcover A5 with elastic closure (192 ruled pages, ivory paper) and the budget-friendly A5 Hard Cover Ruled Notebook. It carries enough pages and enough writing space for genuine daily use without becoming a burden to carry.

Conferences

A5 remains the standard conference giveaway size for the same reason: attendees are already carrying a badge, a bag and marketing materials, and an A5 notebook adds real utility without adding meaningful bulk. A6 works as a lighter-touch giveaway when budget or volume is the priority, useful as a secondary item in a delegate pack rather than the headline piece. See best branded notebook formats for conferences and exhibitions for the fuller breakdown.

Gifts

For a client or leadership gift, size interacts with cover material more than it does on its own. An A5 notebook in a premium material, PU leather via the PU Leather Notebook range or the Brown Leather Notebook, reads as considered and personal. A6 in the same premium materials makes a lighter, more casual gift, sometimes paired with a pen as part of a set.

Onboarding

A5 is the practical default for onboarding kits, since a new hire genuinely uses it day to day rather than displaying it. Full guidance on building an onboarding notebook is in how to choose a corporate notebook for employee onboarding.

Where A4 fits

A4-format bound notebooks are a smaller part of the corporate notebook market generally, since most day-to-day and giveaway use cases favour something more portable. Confirm current A4 notebook availability directly with PrintOnline via WhatsApp if a full-sheet format is specifically what your use case needs, as most of the standard catalogue is built around A5 and A6.

Summary

Order your A5 corporate notebook from PrintOnline.

Related: the complete notebook printing guide and hardcover vs spiral notebooks.