The quick answer
Most of these names describe one of two kinds of document:
- Documents that inform: datasheet, spec sheet, cut sheet, technical data sheet, product sheet. They answer "will this product work for me?"
- Documents that sell: sell sheet, sales sheet, one-pager, brochure, line card. They answer "why should I care about this product or company?"
Catalogs and manuals are bigger documents built from the same pieces.
What is a spec sheet?
A spec sheet (short for specification sheet) is a one or two page document listing the specifications of a single product: dimensions, materials, performance, ratings, options and certifications. The term is most common in North America and is used across almost every industry, from building products to electronics to furniture.
If someone asks for your spec sheet, send your product datasheet. It is the same thing.
What is a datasheet?
A datasheet (or data sheet) is a product document with full technical specifications, usually organised as tables. The word is used more in Europe and in electronics and industrial equipment, where datasheets can run to many pages with graphs and drawings.
My guide on how to design a technical datasheet covers the structure in detail.
What is a cut sheet?
A cut sheet is a product spec sheet used in construction, lighting, electrical and building equipment. Contractors collect cut sheets for every product on a project and send them to the architect or engineer for approval. The full explanation, with examples, is in what is a cut sheet.
What is a technical data sheet (TDS)?
A technical data sheet describes how a material or chemical product performs and how to apply it: coverage, curing time, strength, temperature range, surface preparation. You see TDS documents for adhesives, coatings, sealants, lubricants and building materials.
A TDS is not the same as a safety data sheet (SDS). An SDS is a regulated document about hazards, handling and first aid, with sections fixed by law. A TDS is a product document, and you are free to design it to read well.
What is a product sheet?
A product sheet is a general name for any one-page document about a product. Depending on the company it may lean towards a datasheet (mostly specs) or a sell sheet (mostly benefits). If you are writing a brief, say which one you mean.
What is a sell sheet?
A sell sheet is a one or two page sales document for a single product or product line. It leads with the benefit to the buyer, backs it up with a few key specs and ends with a clear next step: call, order or visit. Sales reps hand it out at trade shows, leave it behind after meetings and attach it to emails. You will also hear it called a sales sheet, a one-pager or a leave-behind.
The difference from a datasheet is the order: a sell sheet goes benefit first, a datasheet goes specification first. The full comparison is in datasheet vs sell sheet vs brochure.
What is a line card?
A line card is a one-page overview of the brands or product lines a distributor or rep agency carries, usually shown as a grid of logos with short descriptions. Manufacturers sometimes make their own version, listing every product family on one page.
What is a brochure?
A brochure introduces a product range or a company to someone who doesn't know you yet. It is longer than a sell sheet, typically a fold or a 4 to 24 page booklet, with room for photos, applications and the story behind the product.
What is a product catalog?
A product catalog (or catalogue in British English) puts many products into one document so buyers can compare them. A good catalog works like many short datasheets built on one consistent page system, with sections, tabs and a contents page so readers can find a model quickly.
What is a user manual?
A user manual, instruction manual or installation manual explains how to install, operate and maintain a product. It is read when something needs doing, often on site, so it needs numbered steps, clear warnings and a contents page.
All the terms in one table
| Document | Main job | Typical length | Also called |
|---|---|---|---|
| Datasheet | Full product specifications | 1 to 4 pages | Data sheet, product data sheet |
| Spec sheet | Product specifications | 1 to 2 pages | Specification sheet |
| Cut sheet | Product data for submittals | 1 to 2 pages | Catalog cut, submittal sheet |
| Technical data sheet | Material performance and use | 1 to 2 pages | TDS, product data sheet |
| Sell sheet | Sell one product | 1 to 2 pages | Sales sheet, one-pager, leave-behind |
| Line card | Show all lines carried | 1 page | Product line card |
| Brochure | Introduce a range or company | 4 to 24 pages or a fold | Leaflet, company profile |
| Catalog | Compare many products | 8 to 200+ pages | Catalogue, product guide |
| User manual | Install, operate, maintain | 4 to 100+ pages | Instruction manual, IOM |
Which one do you need?
- Technical buyers need to approve your product: a datasheet or spec sheet. In construction and lighting, call it a cut sheet as well.
- Your sales team needs something to hand out: a sell sheet, backed by the datasheet.
- You have a range of products to compare: a catalog.
- You are introducing your company or a new range: a brochure.
I design all of these for industrial and technical brands, so they share one look and work as a set. See my services, or send your current documents through the form below for a fixed quote.
