Have you ever stared at your restaurant’s menu and thought, “Is this really working for me?” Maybe it’s too cramped or feels like a complicated roadmap. Finding the perfect balance with standard menu sizes can be a bit of a challenge, but it’s the key to ensuring your guests can easily find what they’re craving.
Let’s be honest, no one wants to squint at a cluttered menu or flip through too many pages just to find a sandwich. A good menu does more than just list food. It’s a key part of your restaurant marketing, showing off your best dishes and helping customers decide what to order. So, let’s dive in and figure out which menu type is the perfect fit for your restaurant!
- Single page menu – 8.5” x 11” (US letter size)
- Tabloid menu – 11” x 17”
- Digital signage menu – 16″ x 9″
- Drink/wine menu – 4.25” x 11” (half-page size)
- Dessert menu – 8.5” x 8.5” (square design)
- Takeout menu – 14” x 8.5” (legal tri-fold)
- Table tent menu – 4” x 6”
- Half-page long – 4.25” x 14”
- Letter bi-fold – 11” x 8.5”
- Instagram portrait menu size – 1080px by 1350px
- Specialty menu – 5.5” x 8.5” (half page)
- Brunch menu – 8.5” x 14” (legal-sized paper)
- Buffet menu – 11” x 17”
1. Single page menu
The single-page menu is like the no-fuss friend in your restaurant lineup. With a standard size of 8.5” x 11” (US letter size), it’s perfect for casual dining spots or quick-service restaurants or event menus. You can easily showcase a limited selection of items, making it simple for customers to glance at their options and decide quickly. It’s also easy to print and update whenever needed!
2. Tabloid menu
If your restaurant has a lot to offer, the tabloid menu is your go-to option. Measuring 11” x 17” (tabloid size), it gives you plenty of space to organize different sections like appetizers, mains, and desserts. This layout is great for family restaurants or diners who want to present a diverse selection without overwhelming guests. Plus, it looks neat and professional!
3. Digital signage menu
Upgrade your dining experience with a digital signage menu in a versatile 16″ x 9″ format. Available in both portrait and landscape orientations, this dynamic menu format is perfect for showcasing your offerings with vibrant visuals that grab attention. Display it on digital screens around your venue to promote daily specials, desserts, or beverages, all while saving space and adding a modern touch.
With PosterMyWall digital signage features, you can easily create and customize menus in seconds. Choose from thousands of templates, schedule content to display at specific times, and make quick updates whenever needed.
With the help of our signage partners, you can create and schedule video playlists to keep things fresh and engaging for your guests. Using our partner CMS apps also guarantees a smooth workflow, from designing to publishing your signage.
4. Drink menu
The drink menu, sized 4.25” x 11” (half-page size), is your best buddy for highlighting all the refreshing beverages you offer. It’s ideal for bars or restaurants that want to showcase cocktails, wines, and soft drinks without taking up too much space. This menu fits nicely on the bar or table, allowing customers to browse through their drink options easily.
5. Dessert menu
Sweeten the deal with a dedicated dessert menu! This compact 8.5” x 8.5” square design is eye-catching and also practical. Its small size fits easily on every table, allowing your guests to enjoy browsing your delicious sweets and after-meal treats without cluttering their space.
A dedicated dessert menu gives guests something to look forward to, be it cakes, pastries, or specialty coffee. Plus its unique shape adds a touch of creativity to your offerings.
6. Takeout menu – legal trifold
The takeout menu in a 14” x 8.5” (legal tri-fold) size is perfect for restaurants offering takeout or delivery services. This format uses a legal-sized sheet folded into three panels, creating six sections to organize your menu items.
It’s ideal for featuring a wide variety of dishes while keeping things neat and compact. The tri-fold design makes it easy for customers to quickly scan through your offerings, whether it’s appetizers, mains, sides, or drinks. Plus, it’s great for slipping into bags or mailing to customers, ensuring your menu stays visible and handy for future orders.
7. Table tent menu
Think of the table tent menu as a mini billboard for your restaurant. At 4” x 6”, it’s a small, stand-up card that you can place right on the table. Use it to promote specials, seasonal items, or drinks, catching the eyes of customers while they dine. It’s a great way to highlight specific offerings without overwhelming your main menu.
8. Half-page long list
The half-page long menu size (4.25” x 14”) is a sleek and narrow option that’s perfect for specific sections of your menu, like drink lists or specials. This long, slim format offers just enough space to highlight key items without overwhelming the reader.
Its unique shape makes it easy to handle and stands out from typical menus, adding a touch of style. You can use it for showcasing a curated wine list, cocktail menu, or limited-time offers. The half-page long menu keeps things simple and visually appealing, making it an excellent choice for focused sections of your menu.
9. Letter bifold
The Letter bifold menu size is 11” x 8.5”, perfect for menus that need a bit more space without overwhelming your guests. This format is essentially a standard letter-sized sheet folded in half, creating four panels (front, inside left, inside right, and back). It’s great for restaurants that want to organize their menu into different sections, such as appetizers, mains, and desserts, while still keeping things compact and easy to read.
The bifold menu allows you to provide a well-structured layout, making it simple for customers to browse and choose their meals comfortably.
10. Instagram portrait menu
The Instagram portrait menu size is 1080px by 1350px, making it the ideal format for sharing on Instagram. As the name suggests, this size works perfectly for portrait-oriented posts, which take up more screen space on the platform, helping your menu stand out in users’ feeds. It’s a great way to show your restaurant’s offerings attractively. You can use it to promote daily specials, new dishes, or seasonal items.
11. Specialty menu
If you want to highlight limited-time offers or seasonal dishes, a specialty menu is your best friend. Sized at 5.5” x 8.5” (half page), this smaller menu allows you to draw attention to specific items without overwhelming customers. It’s easy to slip into the main menu or hand out as a standalone, ensuring your best creations don’t go unnoticed!
12. Brunch menu
The brunch menu is a delightful way to showcase your weekend offerings. Their standard menu size of 8.5” x 14” allows you to present a mix of breakfast and lunch items, perfect for those lazy weekend mornings. This menu can highlight unique items like pancakes, eggs benedict, and lunch specials, making it easy for customers to choose their favorites while enjoying a relaxing brunch experience.
13. Buffet menu
A buffet menu is ideal for restaurants that offer all-you-can-eat options. Sized at 11” x 17”, this menu provides ample space to list various dishes available at the buffet, from appetizers to desserts. It’s designed to help customers navigate the spread easily and decide what to load on their plates. Plus, you can use colorful descriptions to entice diners and showcase the variety of delicious options!
Choose the perfect menu for your restaurant
Choosing the standard menu size for your restaurant doesn’t have to be complicated! Think about your restaurant’s theme and the type of food you serve. Once you have an idea of the structure, focus on the design. Keep it clean and easy to read, using colors and fonts that match your brand.
When creating your menu, check out the above restaurant menu sizes list to see what works best for you. PosterMyWall menu maker has a huge variety of menu templates that make it super easy to customize everything to your style.
Plus, with the PosterMyWall resize option, you can easily adjust your menu template to different sizes without a hitch. Need multiple versions of the same menu? No problem! The multiple resize feature lets you create different sizes of your design for every medium with just the click of a button.
So, relax and have fun with the process! Your menu is a great way to show off your restaurant’s vibe and get your guests excited about what they’re going to eat!
