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A stapled booklet's page count must be a multiple of 4, because each sheet of paper is folded in half to make four pages. We print stapled booklets in A5 or A4 with 8, 12, 16, 20 or 24 pages, covers included, on 170gsm silk throughout, from 50 copies. Supply one PDF of single pages in reading order, not spreads, each page the finished size plus 3mm bleed: 154 x 216mm for A5 and 216 x 303mm for A4.
This guide explains how pages are counted, why single pages matter, how to choose A5 or A4, and how to set up a booklet in Microsoft Word so it prints in the right order.
Why the page count goes up in fours
A stapled booklet, also called saddle stitched, is made from sheets printed on both sides, stacked, folded in half and stapled twice through the fold. Each folded sheet gives four pages: two on each side of the sheet.
| Pages (including covers) | Sheets folded together | Cover pages | Inside pages | Inside pages are numbered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 to 6 |
| 12 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 3 to 10 |
| 16 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 3 to 14 |
| 20 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 3 to 18 |
| 24 | 6 | 4 | 20 | 3 to 22 |
Each sheet opens out flat to twice the page size: A4 for an A5 booklet, A3 for an A4 booklet. A 10-page or 14-page stapled booklet is not possible, because the extra two pages would be a loose half sheet with no fold for the staples to hold.
How to count pages
Every side counts as a page, including the covers:
- page 1 is the front cover;
- page 2 is the inside front cover;
- the last page but one is the inside back cover;
- the last page is the back cover.
So an 8-page booklet has four cover pages and four inside pages. Inside covers still count if you leave them blank.
If your content does not fit
If you have 14 pages of content, you need 16 pages. To fill the gap, add a contents page, an introduction or a notes page; use the inside covers for contact details or a map; or add a full-page photo between sections. Or tighten the content to fit 12 pages. Avoid blank pages in the middle, which look like a mistake.
Single pages, not spreads
Send one PDF with every page as a separate page, in reading order, starting with the front cover. A 16-page booklet needs a 16-page PDF. We arrange the pages onto sheets for printing.
This is where page order often goes wrong. On the printed sheets, the pages are not side by side in reading order. In an 8-page booklet they sit like this:
| Sheet | One side | Other side |
|---|---|---|
| Outer sheet (holds the covers) | Pages 8 and 1 | Pages 2 and 7 |
| Inner sheet (the centre) | Pages 6 and 3 | Pages 4 and 5 |
These pairs are called printer spreads. If you supply them, or reader spreads such as pages 2 and 3 side by side, the pages are arranged a second time and end up in the wrong order. Single pages avoid this. Your on-screen proof shows every page so you can check the order before you pay.
A5 or A4?
| A5 (148 x 210mm) | A4 (210 x 297mm) | |
|---|---|---|
| Page size with 3mm bleed | 154 x 216mm | 216 x 303mm |
| Feels like | A programme or pocket guide | A magazine or report |
| Good for | Programmes, price guides, newsletters, orders of service | Catalogues, prospectuses, reports with charts |
If most pages are text, A5 is easier to hold. If you have photos, tables or diagrams, A4 gives them room. The A5 booklet page and the A4 booklet page give the full specification for each size.
For a funeral or wedding, an A5 booklet of 8, 12 or 16 pages is a common choice. Our order of service guide gives a page plan, and compares the booklet with a single A4 sheet folded to A5.
Setting up a booklet in Word
Word's own booklet setting, Book fold under Multiple pages, is described in Microsoft's guide to creating a booklet in Word. It is made for printing a booklet on your home or office printer: it turns the page to landscape and puts two booklet pages on each sheet, which is the printer-spread problem above. Do not use it for a file you send to us. Instead, set Word up so each page is one booklet page.
- Open the page settings. Go to Layout > Margins > Custom Margins, as in Microsoft's guide to creating custom margins. Check that Multiple pages is not set to Book fold.
- Set the margins. Set all four margins to 1.1cm. That is 3mm of bleed plus the 8mm safe area.
- Set the page size. In the same box, open the Paper size list, choose Custom size at the bottom and enter the width and height (Microsoft's page on paper options). For A5, enter 15.4cm wide by 21.6cm high. For A4, enter 21.6cm by 30.3cm. Word has no bleed setting, so the page itself is the full artwork size.
- Build the pages in order. Page 1 is the front cover and the last page is the back cover. Start each page with a page break, and check the page count matches the count you will order.
- Take backgrounds to the edge. Stretch any background colour or full-page photo right to the edge of the Word page, past the margins.
- Save as PDF. Go to File > Save a Copy (or Save As for a file you have not saved yet), choose PDF as the file type and select Save, as in Microsoft's guide to saving as PDF.
Word works in RGB colour, so bright colours can shift a little when the file is converted for print; our guide to CMYK and RGB explains why. If you design in Canva instead, our Canva to print guide covers page size and the PDF download.
Our booklet templates cover each size and page count as a PDF and SVG, with each page labelled from front cover to back cover and the stapled spine edge marked. The A5 8-page booklet also comes as a Word template, already set to the right page size and margins.
Creep and the 8mm safe area
When sheets are folded inside each other, the inner sheets push out a little further than the outer ones at the open edge. When the booklet is trimmed flat, the pages near the centre lose slightly more at the outside edge. This is called creep, and it grows as the page count goes up.
Our 8mm safe area allows room for it. Keep text, page numbers and logos at least 8mm inside the trim on every page, and a little more on the spine side, so nothing disappears into the fold. On items smaller than A4, including A5 booklet pages, make any printed border at least 20mm wide or leave it out, because a small shift in cutting makes a thin border look uneven. Our artwork guidelines list the other file checks, and a free automatic check runs when you upload.
Self cover
A self cover means the cover is printed on the same paper as the inside pages, rather than heavier card. Our booklets use 170gsm silk throughout, which keeps them light and easy to post. If you need six panels or fewer, a folded leaflet is simpler: one A4 sheet folded to A5 or DL.
VAT, prices and delivery
Booklets and brochures are normally zero-rated for VAT where they qualify, under HMRC's VAT Notice 701/10, paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2. Items mainly for writing in, such as diaries, are standard-rated. Our VAT on printing page explains the rules, and prices include VAT.
See live prices on the stapled booklets page for each size and page count, from 50 copies. Delivery is free to UK mainland addresses.
Questions
Why do booklets need multiples of 4 pages? Each sheet is printed on both sides and folded in half, which makes four pages. Sheets are stacked and stapled through the fold, so a stapled booklet always has 8, 12, 16, 20 or 24 pages. An 8-page booklet is two sheets; a 24-page booklet is six sheets.
Does the cover count as a page? Yes. The front cover, inside front cover, inside back cover and back cover are all pages, even if the inside covers are blank. An 8-page booklet has those four cover pages plus four inside pages, numbered 3 to 6. A 16-page booklet has twelve inside pages, numbered 3 to 14.
Can I have a 10-page booklet? Not as a stapled booklet, because the extra two pages would be a loose half sheet. Go up to 12 pages and use the extra two for a contents page, a photo or notes, or tighten the content to fit 8 pages. Inside covers can carry content too.
Should I send my booklet as single pages or spreads? Single pages. Send one PDF with every page separate, in reading order, starting with the front cover. Do not send printer spreads, such as pages 8 and 1 side by side, or reader spreads. We arrange the pages for printing, and the on-screen proof shows every page so you can check the order.
How do I make a booklet in Word for printing? Do not use Word's Book fold setting, which is for printing at home. Set a custom paper size of 15.4 x 21.6cm for A5, or 21.6 x 30.3cm for A4, and 1.1cm margins. Build the pages in reading order, take backgrounds to the page edge, then save as PDF. Our A5 8-page Word template is already set up this way.
What size should each page be in my PDF? The finished page plus 3mm of bleed on every edge. For an A5 booklet, each page is 154 x 216mm; for an A4 booklet, 216 x 303mm. Every page in the PDF should be the same size, and the number of pages must match the page count you order.
What is creep in a stapled booklet? When sheets are folded inside each other, the inner ones stick out a little at the open edge, so after trimming the centre pages lose slightly more there. Keep text, page numbers and logos at least 8mm inside the trim on every page, and a little more near the spine.
Is there VAT on booklets? Printed booklets and brochures are normally zero-rated where they qualify, under HMRC Notice 701/10 paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2, and our booklet prices are shown on that basis. Items mainly for writing in, such as diaries and order books, are standard-rated. Ask us if you are unsure about your booklet.