5.5" x 8.5" Half-Sheet Custom Notepads by Captain Notepad
Printed in the USA · Based in Denver, Colorado since 2000
A 5.5" x 8.5" notepad is a sheet of letter paper cut in half, which is why it's called half letter, or as we've always called it, the Half-Sheet. It gives you real room to write a phone message, a page of meeting notes or a full to-do list, and it still slides into a briefcase, backpack or purse. Put your logo on top and it sits on your clients' desks for weeks.
Every pad is printed in full color on every sheet with your logo, colors and contact details. You can order as few as 8 pads, choose 25 or 50 sheets per pad, and get free design help and a free proof before anything prints. It's one of our 34 standard notepad sizes.
Why Choose Captain Notepad?
What You Get with Every Half-Sheet Notepad
- Size: 5.5" x 8.5" final trim (half letter).
- Imprint area: 5.25" x 8.25", printed in full color (CMYK) on every sheet, so there's plenty of room for a logo, a tagline, contact details and writing lines.
- Paper: white 50 lb. (75 gsm) paper as standard, with 60 lb. and 70 lb. upgrades in the price calculator.
- Backer: 18 pt chipboard, stiff enough to write on without a desk underneath. Ask us about a printed backer if you want your brand on the back too.
- Sheets per pad: 25 or 50.
- Padding: padded on the short (5.5") side unless you request otherwise.
- Minimum order: 8 pads. The price calculator goes up to 1,000 pads.
- Production: 8–10 business days after proof approval, or 5 business days with the rush option.
Options in the Price Calculator
- Backside Printing: print on the back of each sheet as well. It needs 60 lb. paper or heavier.
- Artwork Bleed: lets your colors and images run right to the edge of the sheet.
- Custom Printed Top Sheet: a different design on the first sheet, such as a welcome note or a thank-you message.
Custom Options by Phone
Some things don't fit in an online calculator. Rounded corners, perforated sheets, sequential numbering, a hole punch for a binder and magnetic backing are all available. Call us at 888-268-7237 and we'll set it up. Need a size that isn't on our list? We make custom-size notepads too, so just request a quote.
Who Orders Half-Letter Notepads
- Real estate agents: listing and buyer notes, open-house sign-in pads and client gifts with your photo and phone number.
- Medical and dental offices: front-desk notes, take-home instructions and appointment reminders.
- Accountants and tax preparers: client meeting notes, like the Summit Accounting & Tax design in the photos on this page.
- Engineering and tech firms: lined desk pads for sketches and project notes, like the Think Tank Technologies design shown here.
- Conferences, seminars and events: a pad big enough for a full session of notes that still fits in an attendee bag.
Not sure half letter is the right size? Our 5″ × 8″ junior legal notepads are a touch smaller. For a full page, see our 8.5″ × 11″ letter-size notepads. Ordering hundreds of thinner pads for a giveaway? Our budget 5.5″ × 8.5″ notepads come in 10, 15 or 20 sheets.
How 5.5″ × 8.5″ compares to other popular sizes
| Size | Also called | Common use | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5″ × 8.5″ (this pad) | Half letter, Half-Sheet or statement size; 25 or 50 sheets; from 8 pads | Meeting and phone notes, desk pads, checklists, conference and event handouts | You are here |
| 5″ × 8″ | Junior legal | A little smaller all round: everyday notes, to-do lists, folio pads | 5″ × 8″ custom notepads |
| 5.25″ × 8.5″ | Slightly narrower half sheet; 25 or 50 sheets; 250-pad minimum | Large runs of 250 pads or more | 5.25″ × 8.5″ custom notepads |
| 5.5″ × 8.5″ budget | Same size, value pad: 10, 15 or 20 sheets; 48-pad minimum | Big conference, trade-show and giveaway runs | Budget 5.5″ × 8.5″ notepads |
| 8.5″ × 11″ | Letter size, full page | Full meeting notes, forms, client handouts | 8.5″ × 11″ custom notepads |
| 4.25″ × 5.5″ | Quarter letter | Pocket-size lists and quick notes | 4.25″ × 5.5″ custom notepads |
Lined, Checklist and To-Do Layout Ideas
Because your design prints in full color on every sheet, a half-letter pad can be more than a logo on a blank page. Here are a few layouts our customers ask for:
- Lined notes: a logo at the top and ruled lines below, like the Think Tank Technologies and Summit Accounting & Tax pads in the photos.
- Checklist: a "Notes" header with a checkbox on every line, like the Redwood Lane pads shown on this page.
- Daily to-do or planner: a date line, a short priority list and space for calls to return.
- Meeting notes: fields for date, attendees and action items.
- Phone message or intake: name, number, time and message lines for a front desk.
Tell us what you have in mind and our designer will lay it out for you as part of free design help.
How to Order Your Half-Sheet Notepads
- Pick your quantity in the price calculator, starting at 8 pads, then choose 25 or 50 sheets, your paper weight and any options.
- Choose your production time: 8–10 business days standard, or the 5-business-day rush option.
- Upload your logo or finished artwork. If your design runs to the edge, choose Artwork Bleed and include a 1/8" bleed. Or ask our designer to build the layout for you.
- Review your digital PDF proof, emailed within 1 business day. Up to 3 free proofs are included, and we never print until you approve.
- Production starts the day after you approve. Rush shipping is available at checkout.
A Real Person on the Phone, Since 2000
Captain Notepad has been making custom notepads since 2000, and we've been based in Denver, Colorado the whole time. Every pad is printed in the USA. We're members of SAGE and ASI, two of the promotional-products industry's trade associations. And when you call, there's a good chance Jace, the owner, will answer the phone himself.
Ready to Order, or Want to See One First?
Request a free sample to see the paper and the print quality for yourself. Call us toll-free at 888-268-7237 or contact us online. If you have a required "in-hands date," let us know before you order so we can plan for it.
Production: Standard production is 8–10 business days after proof approval. If you need it sooner, choose the 5-business-day rush option in the price calculator, and rush shipping is available at checkout. Production begins the day after proof approval and does not include shipping time.
Frequently Asked Questions About 5.5" x 8.5" Notepads
What is 5.5 x 8.5 paper called?
A 5.5″ × 8.5″ sheet is called half letter, because it is exactly half of a standard 8.5″ × 11″ letter sheet cut across the middle. You'll also hear it called half-sheet or statement size. That's why we call these our Half-Sheet notepads.
What size is 8.5 x 5.5 paper?
8.5 × 5.5 is the same half-letter size, just written with the long side first, the way you'd describe it in landscape (wide) orientation. Our pads are 5.5″ wide by 8.5″ tall and are padded along the short 5.5″ side unless you ask otherwise. If you'd like them padded on the long side for a wide layout, mention it when you order or call 888-268-7237.
Can I order custom notepads with no minimum?
Not quite, but close. The minimum for these 5.5″ × 8.5″ notepads is 8 pads, the smallest quantity in the price calculator. That's low enough for a small office, a single event or a test run before a bigger order. You get the same full-color printing, free proof and free design help on 8 pads as on 1,000.
How do I order custom notepads?
Pick your quantity in the price calculator on this page (from 8 pads), choose 25 or 50 sheets, your paper weight and any options, then pick standard or 5-business-day rush production. Upload your logo or finished artwork, or ask our designer to lay it out for you for free. We email a digital proof within 1 business day, and nothing prints until you approve it.
How much are custom notepads?
It depends on quantity, sheet count, paper weight and options. The price calculator on this page shows your total and per-pad price as you change any of them, and the per-pad price generally drops as the quantity goes up. There are no setup or artwork fees on top of the price you see. For more than 1,000 pads or a quantity that isn't listed, request a quote.
Where can I get notepads printed?
Right here. Captain Notepad has been making custom notepads since 2000. We're based in Denver, every pad is printed in the USA, and we're members of SAGE and ASI. You can order online any time, or call 888-268-7237 and talk to a real person. Jace, the owner, often answers the phone himself.
How are notepads made?
Your design is printed in full color on every sheet. The sheets are stacked into pads of 25 or 50 on an 18 pt chipboard backer and padded with a flexible glue along one edge, the short 5.5″ side by default, so each sheet tears off cleanly. Options like backside printing, a custom printed top sheet or a printed backer change what's printed, not how the pad holds together.
How long do custom 5.5 x 8.5 notepads take, and can I rush them?
Standard production is 8–10 business days after proof approval. If you need it sooner, choose the 5-business-day rush option in the price calculator, and rush shipping is available at checkout. Production begins the day after proof approval and does not include shipping time. We send your digital proof within 1 business day of receiving your artwork. If you have a required in-hands date, call 888-268-7237 before you order so we can plan for it.
Do I get a free proof and help with my design?
Yes. Every order includes up to 3 free digital proofs and free design help from a real designer. We'll fix your layout, add lines or a checklist, or build a design from your logo. There are no setup or artwork fees, and nothing prints until you approve the proof.
We offer custom-size notepads too! Request a Quote. Or browse every style on our custom notepads page.
