Current Events > How big a plastic envelope do I need to hold A5 paper? *rage story*

(+) Yeah! (+)

RAGE STORY:
I ordered some A5 plastic envelopes from amazon to hold my A5 sized Unique View of the Mandelbrot Set card patreon reward from numberphile so I could put it as a desk decoration at work, but WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT... when amazon says "A5 plastic envelope" they mean an envelope that is the size of A5 paper NOT an envelope that is big enough to hold A5 paper.

I RAGED SO HARD WHEN I GOT THE SMALL ENVELOPES.

So what size to I actually need to order?

slightly larger than a5

bevan306 posted...

slightly larger than a5

I don't know what to search on amazon. I don't know what would count for that. The whole card size system is flawed, confusing, and impossible to figure out.

An A5 envelope should be big enough to hold A5 paper. That's what it's supposed to mean. But if you want to go slightly bigger to give yourself a little extra room then B5 is probably good.

The exact size is 148mm x 210 mm (5.875 in x 8.25 in). So you could also look at the description and get something slightly bigger.

action52 posted...

An A5 envelope should be big enough to hold A5 paper.
That's what it's supposed to mean.

That's what I assumed, but apparently not. This was the number 1 result for a5 plastic envelopes:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GSQD2VJ

The exact size is 148mm x 210 mm (5.875 in x 8.25 in). So you could also look at the description and get something slightly bigger.

I don't know what to search "slightly bigger than a5" and "big enough to hold an a5" don't produce results on amazon.

But if you want to go slightly bigger to give yourself a little extra room then B5 is probably good.

Would B5 work?

joe40001 posted...

I don't know what to search on amazon. I don't know what would count for that. The whole card size system is flawed, confusing, and impossible to figure out.

It's actually a very logical system if you understand it. There are two base sheet sizes, A and B. Paper sizes are based on how many times it's cut in half. So an A4 is exactly half the size of A3, and so on. And a B is slightly larger than a B of the same number.

joe40001 posted...

That's what I assumed, but apparently not. This was the number 1 result for a5 plastic envelopes:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GSQD2VJ

I don't know what to search "slightly bigger than a5" and "big enough to hold an a5" don't produce results on amazon.

Would B5 work?

B5 would be fine. A little big but not crazy big.

Alternatively search for A5 and look in the description. It should say the exact size of the envelope. If it's slightly bigger than the size I gave you then you're good.

For example I did a search for A5 envelopes on Amazon. I scrolled down and found this:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/1/2/AAAJePAADDDA.jpg

Notice how each dimension is slightly bigger than A5 paper (148mm x 210 mm). So I know that's a good size.

action52 posted...

It's actually a very logical system if you understand it. There are two base sheet sizes, A and B. Paper sizes are based on how many times it's cut in half. So an A4 is exactly half the size of A3, and so on. And a B is slightly larger than a B of the same number.

Yeah, it probably makes some sense. I was 1. Being melodramatic a bit 2. Kinda hoping somebody would go like "It's not impossible, all you need is [perfect card size name], idiot!" So I could save myself 10-30 minutes of trying to figure out the size.

I am a bit surprised it's so hard to find envelopes that are the appropriate size to hold standard paper sizes. I've already spent like 5-15 minutes and 1 mistaken order on this.

action52 posted...

B5 would be fine. A little big but not crazy big.

Alternatively search for A5 and look in the description. It should say the exact size of the envelope. If it's slightly bigger than the size I gave you then you're good.

For example I did a search for A5 envelopes on Amazon. I scrolled down and found this:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/1/2/AAAJePAADDDA.jpg

Notice how each dimension is slightly bigger than A5 paper (148mm x 210 mm). So I know that's a good size.

Can you share that link?

joe40001 posted...

Can you share that link?

It's Japanese Amazon. Unless you are in Japan it would cost you an arm and a leg to ship it.

Iirc, envelopes for A4 paper are sized B4. So I'd expect it to be similar for A5 paper

teep_ posted...

Iirc, envelopes for A4 paper are sized B4. So I'd expect it to be similar for A5 paper

I wasn't able to find any B5 sized anything on amazon.

I did however have more luck with searching the term "sheet protector":
https://www.amazon.com/Samsill-Heavyweight-Protectors-Loading-Archival/dp/B07F4677WJ/

Do people think that would work?

joe40001 posted...

I wasn't able to find any B5 sized anything on amazon.

I did however have more luck with searching the term "sheet protector":
https://www.amazon.com/Samsill-Heavyweight-Protectors-Loading-Archival/dp/B07F4677WJ/

Do people think that would work?

The size of these "A5" sheet protectors:

5.5 x 8.5 Inch

action52 posted...

The exact size (of A5) is 148mm x 210 mm (5.875 in x 8.25 in).

No. One dimension is slightly smaller than A5.

Your frustration is justified, almost all the stuff labeled A5 on American Amazon seems to be smaller than A5.

Try searching "sheet protector 6 x 9". That should get you a better size.

idk, maybe one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Sizzix-117929-Plastic-Envelopes-6-25/dp/B00N3GQI40
https://www.amazon.com/9527-Product-Adhesive-Shipping-Envelopes/dp/B07B6NDSFM
https://www.amazon.com/YESSART-Plastic-Envelopes-Closure-Stickers/dp/B08ZCJS4R1
https://www.amazon.com/Sealing-Cellophane-Resealable-Packaging-Products/dp/B08FQRW91G
https://www.amazon.com/Samsill-Heavyweight-Protectors-Loading-Archival/dp/B07F4677WJ

The dimensions they mention in the title sometimes seem different and it's never clear if it's the dimensions of the envelope or the dimension it holds. I don't understand how an entire market can have such unclear descriptions.

joe40001 posted...

idk, maybe one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Sizzix-117929-Plastic-Envelopes-6-25/dp/B00N3GQI40
https://www.amazon.com/9527-Product-Adhesive-Shipping-Envelopes/dp/B07B6NDSFM
https://www.amazon.com/YESSART-Plastic-Envelopes-Closure-Stickers/dp/B08ZCJS4R1
https://www.amazon.com/Sealing-Cellophane-Resealable-Packaging-Products/dp/B08FQRW91G
https://www.amazon.com/Samsill-Heavyweight-Protectors-Loading-Archival/dp/B07F4677WJ

The dimensions they mention in the title sometimes seem different and it's never clear if it's the dimensions of the envelope or the dimension it holds. I don't understand how an entire market can have such unclear descriptions.

1, 2, 4 are good sizes.

3 is usable but a little too big.

5 is too small (isn't that the same one I said was too small before?).

action52 posted...

1, 2, 4 are good sizes.

3 is usable but a little too big.

5 is too small (isn't that the same one I said was too small before?).

Yep, my bad about 5, I had a bunch of candidate tabs open and forgot I had shared one.

Thanks for helping. IDK if I'm weird, lazy, or if my ASD makes it so things like this randomly overwhelm me, but yeah I was getting really frustrated with this whole process and for some reason every time I sat down to do it I got a weird anxious/agitated feeling.

Having somebody else help, helps a lot.