Letterhead paper is stationery printed or designed with an organization’s identifying details, usually at the top of the page. It is used for formal business and organizational correspondence, such as letters, notices, and invoices. The word letterhead is the standard term; letter headed paper is also used, particularly in British English, as a descriptive phrase meaning paper that has a letterhead on it. A letterhead identifies the sender, while the rest of the page carries the message.
What letterhead paper means
A letterhead is the heading or identifying design on a sheet used for correspondence. It may include a person’s or organization’s name, postal address, telephone number, email address, website, or logo. The paper bearing that design is called letterhead paper, headed paper, or, in some contexts, stationery.
The wording varies by region and sentence. In American English, letterhead is common as both a noun for the printed heading and a modifier in letterhead paper. In British English, headed paper and letter headed paper are familiar alternatives. The phrase is not slang or a special technical term. It is an ordinary description, although letterhead is generally the more compact form.
Example: “Please print the announcement on the organization’s letterhead paper.” Here, the phrase means paper that already carries the organization’s identifying heading. You could also say, “Please print the announcement on the organization’s letterhead.”
Origin and spelling
Letterhead combines letter with head, referring to the heading placed at the head—the top—of a written letter. The term reflects a practical feature of correspondence: the sender’s identifying information appears before the main text. Headed paper describes the same idea from the paper’s point of view: it is paper with a heading.
Both letterhead and the two-word phrase letter headed paper are understandable, but they are not always interchangeable grammatically. Letterhead paper uses letterhead as a compound modifier. In letter headed paper, headed describes paper bearing a heading. For everyday writing, letterhead or letterhead paper is clear and concise; use headed paper if that is the customary wording for your audience.
What appears on it and how it is used
A letterhead should make the sender easy to identify without competing with the message. A simple version might show a name and address; a more detailed one may include contact information and a logo. The details depend on the sender and the purpose of the correspondence. There is no universal list of information that every letterhead must contain.
- Organizations: Put the organization’s name and relevant contact details in a consistent position.
- Individuals: Use a personal name and the contact details appropriate for the correspondence.
- Formal messages: Use letterhead for letters or notices where the sender’s identity and presentation matter.
- Routine documents: Consider whether the branding adds value; a plain page may be clearer for internal notes or documents designed for easy editing.
Letterhead is a design, not a guarantee that a document is official, authorized, or legally valid. It can be copied, and a logo or printed address alone does not establish who sent a message. When authenticity matters, verify the sender through a trusted contact channel rather than relying only on the page’s appearance.
How to choose or create letterhead
Choose a layout that stays readable when printed and leaves enough space for the letter. Before ordering printed sheets or setting up a digital page, check that the design works both with the message and with the way the document will be produced.
- Confirm the wording and details. Check spelling, names, addresses, and contact information before printing.
- Keep the heading clear. Make the sender’s name easy to find and avoid crowding the page with unnecessary details.
- Leave room for correspondence. A large header can push the message down and leave too little space for the date, recipient, and body.
- Check print and digital versions. A design that looks good on screen may have different margins or colors on paper. Confirm that the page size and printable area suit your setup.
- Use current information. Replace outdated contact details and remove old versions from shared folders or print supplies.
Letterhead can be printed on blank sheets or included in a document’s page design. If using preprinted sheets, make sure the text does not overlap the existing heading. If using a digital design, consider whether recipients may print the document in black and white or on ordinary paper.
Letterhead template
Organization or sender name: ______________________________
Street address: ___________________________________________
City, region, postal code: __________________________________
Telephone: ____________________ Email: ____________________
Website or other contact detail: ____________________________
Date: ___________________________________________________
Recipient name and address: _______________________________
Subject: _________________________________________________
Message: ________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Closing and sender name: __________________________________
Fictional sample: Cedar Finch Community Group; 18 Maple Lane, Northbridge, NB 20400; 555-010-0142; hello@example.invalid. These details are made up for illustration. Replace them with accurate information, and omit fields that do not apply.
Common questions and misconceptions
Letterhead is sometimes confused with a letter template. A letterhead is the identifying heading or the paper that carries it; a template is a reusable layout that may contain a letterhead, blank fields, or example text. The two can be combined, but they are not the same thing.
Another frequent question is whether letterhead has to be printed on special paper. No: the term describes the heading or design, not a required paper weight or manufacturing method. A printed sheet and a digitally designed page can both be described as letterhead, depending on context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “letter headed paper” correct?
Yes. It is an ordinary descriptive phrase, especially familiar in British English. Letterhead paper and headed paper are concise alternatives.
Is letterhead one word or two?
Letterhead is conventionally written as one word when naming the heading or using it as a modifier, as in letterhead paper. Letter headed paper is a separate descriptive phrase.
What is the difference between letterhead and headed paper?
They generally refer to the same kind of stationery. Letterhead names the heading or the stationery bearing it, while headed paper describes paper printed with a heading.
Can I make letterhead in a document?
Yes. Add the sender’s identifying details at the top of the page and check margins, readability, and printing before using it for correspondence.
Does letterhead make a letter official?
No. It can help identify the sender, but the appearance of letterhead by itself does not prove that a document is authentic or authorized.