Stapled Booklets

8, 12, 16, 20 or 24 pages, counting the front and back covers. A stapled booklet is made from sheets folded in half and stapled twice through the fold (saddle stitched), and each sheet gives four pages, so the count always goes up in fours. If your content fills 10 pages, plan for 12 and use the spare pages for contents, notes or a back-cover message.

Single pages, in reading order. Supply one PDF with every page as a separate page: front cover first, then the inside front cover, pages 3 onwards, the inside back cover and the back cover last. Do not send spreads or printer layouts that rearrange the pages; we arrange them for printing. Each page needs 3mm bleed, so an A5 page is 154 x 216mm and an A4 page 216 x 303mm.

When sheets are folded inside each other, the middle pages push out slightly further than the outer ones, an effect called creep, and the edges are then trimmed flush. Keeping text and page numbers at least 8mm from the trim, and a little more near the stapled spine, means nothing is cut off or lost in the fold on any page. Our templates mark the safe area and the spine edge.

The cover is printed on the same 170gsm silk paper as the inside pages, rather than a heavier card. It keeps the booklet light and flexible, easy to post and hand out, and it is how we print all our stapled booklets. Because the cover and pages are the same paper, the front and back covers count towards the page total.

A5 (148 x 210mm) is handheld and suits programmes, orders of service, newsletters and small catalogues. A4 (210 x 297mm) gives more room for reports, prospectuses and product catalogues with larger photos or tables. Both come with 8 to 24 pages on the same 170gsm silk, and each page is supplied as a single page with 3mm bleed.

An A5 stapled booklet is a common choice. 8 pages gives room for a cover photo, the order of proceedings, words for hymns or readings and a thank-you, with 12 or 16 pages for more. For a short service, our A4 sheet half folded to A5 gives four pages, from 100 copies. Booklets start at 50. Check names and dates carefully on the proof: dispatch days are counted from your approval.

Usually not. Printed booklets, brochures and pamphlets are zero-rated where they qualify under HMRC VAT Notice 701/10 (paragraph 3.2), and our booklet prices are shown on that basis. Items mainly for writing in, such as diaries, notebooks and order books, are standard-rated; see our VAT on printing page or ask us before you order if you are unsure.

50 booklets per design, and you can order 50, 100, 250 or 500. Prices are per design, so two booklets with different content or covers are two designs, each with its own minimum. Change the size, page count and quantity on this page to see the price, including any VAT due.

Yes, as long as you save it as a PDF. Set the Word page size to the page size with bleed (154 x 216mm for A5, 216 x 303mm for A4), lay out one booklet page per Word page in reading order, and save as PDF. Do not use Word's Book fold setting, which rearranges the pages into printer spreads. Our stapled booklet page counts guide has the steps.

Yes. Upload your artwork in your basket and our automatic check looks at size, bleed, colour mode, resolution and fonts straight away, at no charge. You then see your pages in order on screen with the trim, bleed and safe area marked, and approve it before you pay. The check does not read your wording, so check names, numbers and dates yourself. For a second pair of eyes, add a manual proof (the fee is shown in your basket) and a person will check your file and send you a proof to approve.

Delivery is free to UK mainland addresses. Your order is dispatched in the number of working days shown for your options, counted from the day you approve your proof, and most mainland deliveries arrive 1 to 2 working days after dispatch (an estimate: the courier sets the final time). For Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and islands, the Isles of Scilly, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, please contact us for a quote before you order.

If your booklets arrive faulty or do not match the proof you approved, tell us with your order number and photos. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you have 30 days from delivery to reject faulty goods for a refund, or we can reprint them.