DIN 5008: German business letter layout
A letter to the German standard DIN 5008 has a left margin of 25 mm and a right margin of at least 20 mm. The address field starts 20 mm from the left edge, is 85 mm wide and begins 45 mm from the top in form B (27 mm in form A). In form B, the fold marks sit at 105 and 210 mm.
Contents of this page
If you write to German companies or authorities, or run a business in Germany, this is the layout your letters are expected to follow. It also makes sure the address lines up with the window of a standard German DL envelope.
Form A and form B
DIN 5008 has two variants, which differ mainly in the height of the letterhead. Form B is far more common in business, because it leaves more room for the logo and sender details.
| Element | Form A | Form B |
|---|---|---|
| Letterhead height | 27 mm | 45 mm |
| Address field from the top | 27 mm | 45 mm |
| Address field size | 85 × 40 mm | 85 × 45 mm |
| of which return address and notes zone | 3 lines (12.7 mm) | 5 lines (17.7 mm) |
| of which address zone | 6 lines (27.3 mm) | 6 lines (27.3 mm) |
| Information block from the top | 32 mm | 50 mm |
| Fold mark 1 | 87 mm | 105 mm |
| Fold mark 2 | 192 mm | 210 mm |
| Hole mark | 148.5 mm | 148.5 mm |
In both forms, the address field is 20 mm from the left edge of the sheet, the information block starts 125 mm from the left edge and is at most 75 mm wide, the text margin is 25 mm on the left and at least 20 mm on the right.
What the marks are for
The fold marks show where to fold the letter for a DL envelope. Fold exactly there and the address field appears in the window. The hole mark is at 148.5 mm, exactly half the height of the sheet. You line the hole punch up with it so the letter hangs centrally in a binder. The marks are usually printed as short lines at the left edge and are a standard part of German letter templates.
Other rules from DIN 5008
DIN 5008 also sets out how numbers, dates and details are written. Some examples that come up all the time:
- Date
- numerically as 2026-10-06 or 06.10.2026, written out as 6. Oktober 2026
- Time
- 14:30 Uhr or 14.30 Uhr
- Phone number
- grouped with spaces, such as 030 1234567 or +49 30 1234567, with an extension after a hyphen: 030 12345-67
- Amounts of money
- 1.250,00 EUR or 1 250,00 EUR, with the currency before or after the amount. Note the comma as decimal separator.
- Subject line
- without the word “Betreff”, in bold, two blank lines below the address field
- Salutation and closing
- each separated from the body text by one blank line
The standard also covers lists, tables, emails and minutes. The full text is sold by DIN Media. For an ordinary business letter, the values on this page are all you need.
How it compares with UK and US letters
Neither the UK nor the US has a binding standard for letter layout. British letters usually put the sender’s address at the top right or in the letterhead and the recipient’s address on the left, but positions vary with each organisation’s window envelopes. US business letters on Letter paper are usually folded in thirds for a No. 10 envelope. If you want one template for German and British recipients, DIN 5008 form B works well with most DL window envelopes in both countries. Check with a test print first.
Common mistakes in letter templates
- Address field at 50 mm, following the old standard DIN 676, instead of 45 mm. The address then sits too low in the window.
- Margins too narrow, because the template was set up in Word with the default margins.
- Return address too large. It should be in small type (around 8 pt) in the notes zone.
- No fold marks, so everyone folds the letter differently.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the address go in DIN 5008?
In the address field, 20 mm from the left edge. In form B it starts 45 mm from the top, in form A 27 mm.
What margins does DIN 5008 specify?
25 mm on the left and at least 20 mm on the right.
Where are the fold marks in DIN 5008?
In form B at 105 and 210 mm from the top, in form A at 87 and 192 mm. The hole mark is at 148.5 mm.
What is the difference between form A and form B?
Form B has a taller letterhead (45 instead of 27 mm). The address field, information block and fold marks sit correspondingly lower.
Which edition of DIN 5008 applies?
The March 2020 edition (DIN 5008:2020-03).