How to make a booklet: page counts, sizes
A stapled (saddle-stitched) booklet is made from sheets folded in half, so the page count must be a multiple of 4: 8, 12, 16, 20 and so on, counting the covers. The most common sizes are 5.5 × 8.5 in (half letter) and 8.5 × 11 in, or A5 and A4 outside the US.
Why multiples of 4?
Each sheet of paper is printed on both sides and folded in the middle, which makes four pages. A 12-page booklet is three sheets; a 16-page booklet is four. If your content fills 14 pages, add two (a notes page, a map, an ad, or a back-cover message) or cut to 12. The front and back covers count as pages unless you print a separate, heavier cover.
Common booklet sizes
| Finished size | Printed on | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5 × 8.5 in (half letter) | Letter sheets folded | Programs, menus, manuals, small catalogs |
| 8.5 × 11 in (letter) | 11 × 17 in sheets folded | Magazines, product catalogs, annual reports |
| A5 (148 × 210 mm) | A4 sheets folded | Programs and booklets outside the US |
| A4 (210 × 297 mm) | A3 sheets folded | Magazines and catalogs outside the US |
Saddle stitching vs perfect binding
- Saddle stitching: staples through the fold. Cheap and quick, and lies fairly flat. Best for thinner booklets; many printers stitch up to about 64 pages, depending on the paper.
- Perfect binding: pages glued into a square spine, like a paperback. Used for thicker catalogs and magazines; printers set a minimum page count.
- Wire or coil binding: lies completely flat, good for manuals and calendars.
Layout tips
- Keep text away from the fold (the gutter) as well as the trim edges.
- On thick stapled booklets, the inner pages stick out slightly and get trimmed more; printers call this creep. Keep extra margin on the outer edge.
- Put the most important content on the front cover, inside front cover and back cover: they're seen most.
- Number the pages and add a short contents list if there are more than about 12.
Making a booklet in CatalogProFlow
- Open a magazine or booklet template. The 5.5 × 8.5 in booklet format runs from 8 to 64 pages.
- Add and reorder pages in the page strip. If the count isn't a multiple of 4, the editor tells you how many pages you have so you can fix it before printing.
- For a product catalog, import your products from a spreadsheet instead: catalog pages fill themselves from your product list.
- Download the print-ready PDF, or order booklets and catalogs where our print partners offer them.
Example page plan for a 12-page program
- Page 1: front cover.
- Page 2: welcome message or contents.
- Pages 3–10: schedule, speakers or performers, menus or products.
- Page 11: sponsors and thanks.
- Page 12: back cover with contact details and a QR code.
Questions
- Why does a booklet need pages in multiples of 4?
- Each folded sheet makes four pages (two on each side), so stapled booklets always have 8, 12, 16 or another multiple of 4 pages.
- Do the covers count as pages?
- Yes, in a self-cover booklet the front and back covers are pages 1 and the last page. If you print a separate heavier cover, the printer may count it separately; ask them.
- What size is a booklet?
- 5.5 × 8.5 in (half letter) is the most common small booklet in the US; A5 elsewhere. Magazines and catalogs are often 8.5 × 11 in or A4.
- How many pages can a stapled booklet have?
- It depends on the paper, but many printers saddle-stitch up to about 64 pages. Thicker books are usually perfect bound.