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A folded leaflet is a flat A4 sheet (297 x 210mm, laid landscape) printed on both sides and folded one of three ways: a half fold makes an A5 leaflet with two 148.5mm panels per side, a roll fold (tri-fold) makes a DL leaflet with panels of 97, 100 and 100mm, and a Z fold makes a DL leaflet with three equal 99mm panels. Keep text 5mm from each fold and from the trimmed edge.
The three folds at a glance
| Fold | Folded size | Panels per side | Fold lines on the outside, from the left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half fold | A5, 148 x 210mm | 2 (4 in total) | 148.5mm |
| Roll fold (tri-fold) | DL, 99 x 210mm | 3 (6 in total) | 97mm and 197mm |
| Z fold | DL, 99 x 210mm | 3 (6 in total) | 99mm and 198mm |
We print all three as folded leaflets on 135gsm or 170gsm gloss, both sides, from 100 per design. Each fold name links to its own page with the full specification.
Our free folded leaflet templates mark every fold line, panel, bleed and safe area, as a PDF and an SVG, with a preview of each page.
Panel widths, outside and inside
Your file has two pages of 303 x 216mm, landscape (the flat sheet plus 3mm bleed). Page 1 is the outside and page 2 the inside. Panels read left to right as you look at each page.
| Fold | Page 1: outside, left to right | Page 2: inside, left to right |
|---|---|---|
| Half fold | Back cover 148.5mm, front cover 148.5mm | Inside left 148.5mm, inside right 148.5mm |
| Roll fold | Flap 97mm (tucks in), back cover 100mm, front cover 100mm | Inside left 100mm, inside centre 100mm, inside right 97mm (the back of the flap, tucks in) |
| Z fold | Outside left 99mm, outside centre 99mm, front cover 99mm | Inside left 99mm, inside centre 99mm, back cover 99mm |
Panel widths are measured on the trimmed 297mm sheet; the 3mm bleed sits outside the end panels. On the inside page of a roll fold the folds are at 100mm and 200mm from the left; on a Z fold they are at 99mm and 198mm on both pages.
Why the inside page is mirrored
Page 2 is printed on the back of page 1. When you turn a sheet over from left to right, its left edge becomes its right edge. So the panel behind the outside left panel is the inside right panel, and the panel behind the front cover is the inside left panel.
This matters most on a roll fold, because the panels are not equal. The narrow 97mm flap is on the left of the outside page and the right of the inside page. Copy the outside fold lines onto the inside page and the folds land in the wrong place, through your text. Use the fold lines drawn on each template page.
Half fold to A5
A half fold is one fold down the middle at 148.5mm. It gives four A5 panels: a front cover, two inside pages and a back cover.
- Outside page: back cover on the left, front cover on the right.
- Inside page: inside left (behind the front cover) and inside right (behind the back cover).
The inside pair reads as one spread, so a picture can run across the fold, as long as no text sits on it.
Our half fold template shows both pages, with the fold at 148.5mm and two 148.5mm panels on each side, as a preview, PDF and SVG.
For more than four pages, our stapled booklets run from 8 to 24 pages; see our guide to booklet page counts. Our order of service guide compares the two.
Roll fold (tri-fold) to DL
A roll fold is what a tri-fold leaflet usually means. The two outer panels roll in, one inside the other, like a letter folded into an envelope.
- Outside page: the flap (97mm) on the left, the back cover (100mm) in the middle and the front cover (100mm) on the right.
- Inside page: inside left (100mm), inside centre (100mm) and the inside of the flap (97mm) on the right, with folds at 100mm and 200mm.
Opening the front cover shows the inside left panel next to the folded-in flap. Unfolding the flap shows the three inside panels together. So the flap suits a teaser or summary, and the inside spread the main content.
Why one panel is narrower
The flap folds inside the other two panels. If it were the full 100mm, it would push against the fold and the leaflet would not close flat. So the flap is made slightly narrower, 97mm, and the other two panels share the extra width.
The roll fold template on our folded leaflet templates page shows each panel and fold line on both pages (outside 97, 100 and 100mm; inside 100, 100 and 97mm) as a preview, PDF and SVG.
Z fold to DL
A Z fold has two folds in opposite directions, so the sheet opens like a concertina. All three panels are the same width, 99mm, with folds at 99mm and 198mm on both pages.
Because the folds zigzag, the two covers end up on different pages. With the front cover on the right of the outside page, the back cover is on the right of the inside page, which is the reverse of the outside left panel.
Opened out, each side shows three panels in a row. That suits a map, a timetable or a numbered set of steps that reads straight across.
Our Z fold template shows the three 99mm panels and both fold lines on each page as a preview, PDF and SVG.
Fold clearance: keep text 5mm from each fold
Folding can shift slightly. Keep text, logos and faces at least 5mm clear either side of each fold, and at least 5mm inside the trimmed edge. Backgrounds and pictures can run across a fold.
Each panel loses 5mm on each side, whether that side is a fold or a trimmed edge. That leaves this much width for text on each panel:
| Panel | Sum | Width for text |
|---|---|---|
| Half fold panel | 148.5 - 5 - 5 | 138.5mm |
| Roll fold 100mm panel | 100 - 5 - 5 | 90mm |
| Roll fold flap | 97 - 5 - 5 | 87mm |
| Z fold panel, end or middle | 99 - 5 - 5 | 89mm |
See our artwork guidelines and our guide to what bleed is.
Which fold for which job
| Job | Fold | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Programme, order of service, short price list | Half fold to A5 | Four large panels, read like a small booklet |
| Service guide, charity appeal, product range | Roll fold to DL | Panels open in order, so you control what is read first |
| Map, timetable, event schedule, instructions | Z fold to DL | Opens out flat to show three panels in a row |
| Rack leaflet or mailing in an envelope | Roll or Z fold to DL | Fits a DL envelope, 110 x 220mm under ISO 269 |
If one flat sheet is enough, see our leaflets and our leaflet and flyer sizes guide.
Setting up the file
- Make two pages of 303 x 216mm, landscape: page 1 the outside, page 2 the inside.
- Place each panel's content between that page's fold lines, 5mm clear of each fold.
- Run backgrounds into the 3mm bleed.
- Delete the template guide layer and export a PDF in CMYK, fonts embedded, images at 300dpi. The minimum font size is 6pt.
Our guide to using our print templates shows the steps in Canva, Word and design software. Our free automatic check runs on upload, and the on-screen proof shows your design before you pay. Check the panel order carefully.
Prices, VAT and delivery
See live prices on the folded leaflets page. Prices include VAT. A single A4 sheet folded down is zero-rated where it qualifies as a leaflet under HMRC VAT Notice 701/10, paragraph 3.3: on limp paper, meant to be read, complete in itself and supplied in at least 50 copies. Our VAT on printing page explains the conditions. Delivery is free to UK mainland addresses.
Questions
Why is one panel of a tri-fold leaflet narrower? On a roll fold, the flap folds inside the other two panels. At full width it would push against the fold and the leaflet would not close flat. So the flap is slightly narrower, 97mm against 100mm. It sits on the left of the outside page and the right of the inside page.
How far from the fold should text be? Keep text, logos and faces at least 5mm clear either side of each fold, and at least 5mm inside the trimmed edge. Backgrounds and pictures can run across a fold. On a Z fold, that leaves 89mm for text on each 99mm panel, and on a roll fold 90mm on the 100mm panels and 87mm on the flap.
What is the difference between a roll fold and a Z fold? Both fold an A4 sheet to DL with three panels per side. In a roll fold, the panels roll in one inside the other, and the inner flap is narrower. In a Z fold, the folds go in opposite directions like a concertina, and all three panels are an equal 99mm.
Is a tri-fold the same as a roll fold? Usually, yes. Tri-fold normally means a roll fold: an A4 sheet folded into three, with the two outer panels rolling in. A Z fold also has three panels per side, but it folds as a zigzag. Choose the fold by name when you order, so the panels match your artwork.
Which panel is the front cover on a tri-fold leaflet? On a roll fold, the front cover is the right-hand panel of the outside page (page 1). The back cover is the middle panel of that page, and the narrow flap is on the left. The reader opens the front cover to see the flap, then unfolds it to see the three inside panels.
Does a folded leaflet fit a DL envelope? Yes, if it folds to DL. A roll fold or Z fold leaflet is 99 x 210mm when folded, and a DL envelope is 110 x 220mm under ISO 269, leaving 11mm and 10mm to spare. A half fold leaflet folds to A5, so it needs a larger envelope, such as a C5.
How do I set up the inside of a folded leaflet? Make page 2 of your PDF the inside, at 303 x 216mm with bleed, and use the fold lines from the inside page of our template. The inside is a mirror of the outside, so on a roll fold the narrow flap moves from the left to the right. Never copy the outside fold lines across.
Is there VAT on folded leaflets? Usually not. A single A4 sheet folded to A5 or DL is zero-rated where it qualifies as a leaflet under HMRC Notice 701/10 paragraph 3.3: limp paper, meant to be read, complete in itself and supplied in at least 50 copies. Our minimum is 100 per design, and our prices include VAT.