Gum seal envelopes — also called moisture seal or remoistening seal envelopes — use a traditional water-activated adhesive strip on the flap. Moisten the glue with a sponge, damp cloth, or envelope sealing machine, press the flap down, and it’s sealed. These are the standard choice for check mailing, invoice processing, remittance envelopes, and any high-volume mailing application. The interactive guide below illustrates exactly how a gum seal works.
How Gum (Moisture) Seal Envelopes Work
- Activate with moisture: Apply water via tongue, damp sponge, or sealing machine to the adhesive strip.
- Tamper-evident: The sealed flap tears visibly when opened — a clear sign of tampering.
- Machine-compatible: Works with automated folding, inserting, and sealing equipment.
- Best for: Checks, invoices, bills, government notices, and remittance envelopes.
Ready to order? Shop all moisture seal envelopes or use our envelope finder to choose the right size and style.


