Much like any industry, the world of envelopes has a language of its own. But Western States has all the information you need to make sense of envelope terminology and find the products you're looking for. Let's start with a basic understanding of the envelope and its parts:

Scroll over links below to reveal the corresponding envelope parts in the diagram above. A. Width of Seal B. Seal Flap Length C. Top Fold D. Shoulder E. Throat F. Side Flap G. Side Fold H. Seam Overlap I.  Bottom Flap J. Bottom Fold

A standard diagonal seam envelope like this one is the most common style of envelope. Regardless of its size or variations, an envelope has the same basic parts: corners, flaps, folds, shoulders, throat, seal and seams.