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What Is a Letterhead?
A plain-English guide to what a letterhead is, what it includes, and when you need one.
A letterhead is the heading printed at the top of a sheet of letter paper. It identifies who the letter is from, usually with a name, logo, address, phone number, email and website. The word also refers to the paper itself: a business might order a box of "letterhead" from a printer.
Letterhead meaning
"Letterhead" is just letter + head: the head, or top, of a letter. Before email, businesses ordered printed stationery so every letter they sent carried the same official identification. Today most letterheads are digital (a Word or Google Docs template with a header), but the purpose hasn't changed. A letterhead tells the reader at a glance who sent the letter and how to reply.
You'll also see it spelled "letter head" or "letter-head". All three mean the same thing, though "letterhead" as one word is the standard spelling in American and British dictionaries.
What does a letterhead look like?
Most letterheads sit in the top inch or two of the page. Here are the typical parts:
(303) 555-0142
hello@northfield.example
northfield.example
- Logo: the visual mark, usually top left or centered.
- Name: the legal or trading name of the company or person.
- Tagline or descriptor: what you do, a license number or a slogan (optional).
- Contact details: address, phone, email and website.
- Divider: a rule or color band that separates the letterhead from the letter.
- Body area: left clear for the date, recipient and message.
Not every letterhead uses every part. A law firm might skip the logo entirely and use the firm's name in elegant type. A freelancer might use only a name, an email address and a single colored line. Browse the full gallery of letterhead examples to see the range.
What is included on a letterhead?
| Element | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name of the person or organization | Yes | Use your legal or official trading name. |
| Address | Usually | Full mailing address for businesses. City and state is fine on a personal letterhead. |
| Phone number | Usually | A main line rather than a personal cell for most businesses. |
| Email address | Usually | A monitored, general-purpose address such as office@ or hello@. |
| Website | Recommended | Drop the "https://" so it's shorter and easier to read. |
| Logo | Optional | Strongly recommended if you have one. It's the fastest way to be recognized. |
| Tagline, license or registration numbers | Depends | Some trades and countries require these. See below. |
Some details are legally required. In the UK, for example, limited companies must show their registered name, company registration number, place of registration and registered office address on business letters. Licensed trades such as contractors, and regulated professions such as attorneys, may have their own rules about what letterheads must say. Check the rules for your country, state and industry.
What is a company letterhead?
A company letterhead is the official stationery a business uses for formal correspondence: offer letters, contracts, quotes, notices, references and letters to government agencies. Because it carries the company's name and branding, a letter on company letterhead is understood to speak for the company, not just the person who signed it. That's why many organizations restrict who can use official letterhead. See our company letterhead examples for designs and a checklist.
What is letterhead paper?
Letterhead paper is stationery with the letterhead already printed on it, usually by a commercial printer in bulk. It's typically a heavier, higher-quality stock than everyday copy paper. 24 lb bond (about 90 gsm) is a common choice, and 28–32 lb (105–120 gsm) feels more premium. You then run the pre-printed sheets through an office printer to add each letter's text.
Many organizations now skip pre-printed paper altogether. They keep a digital letterhead template, print the whole page on demand, and send most letters as PDFs.
When should you use a letterhead?
- Formal business letters: proposals, quotes, contracts, offer letters and termination letters.
- Official confirmations: employment verification, proof of address, reference letters and letters of recommendation.
- Letters to authorities: banks, government agencies, courts and regulators often expect correspondence on letterhead.
- Invoices and statements, if you don't use dedicated invoicing software.
- Personal formal letters: cover letters, complaints, thank-you notes and invitations. A personal letterhead makes them look polished.
Letterhead is not a mark of authenticity on its own. Anyone can copy a design, so important documents should also carry a signature, a reference number or other verification.
Letterhead vs. letter heading vs. header
Letterhead is the branded identity block of the sender, and it's the same on every letter. A letter heading sometimes means the parts that change with each letter: the date, the recipient's address and a subject line. A header is the technical area in Word or Google Docs where a digital letterhead lives, so it repeats on every page. Our letterhead format guide covers how all three fit together on the page.
Make your own
You don't need a designer. Pick an example you like from the gallery, download its free Word template, and follow our step-by-step guide to add your logo and details.