Common Brochure Sizes Guide for Print
Pick the flat size first, then the fold, and your finished dimensions, reading order, and envelope all fall into place. Here are the eight sizes you will actually use and where each one fits.
The most common brochure size is 8.5 by 11 inch letter. Tri-folded it closes to 3.67 by 8.5 inches and fits a number 10 envelope, while a bi-fold on the same sheet gives a wider 5.5 by 8.5 inch page. The other common sizes are legal, tabloid, roll fold, 9 by 12, half letter, 4 by 9 rack, and 6 by 9. Choose the flat size and fold to match your content and how it will be handed out or mailed.
Quick tips
Quick tips for choosing a brochure size
Pick the flat size and fold before you design. Use 8.5 by 11 letter tri-folds for mailers that fit a number 10 envelope, legal or Z-folds for copy-heavy menus, and half-letter bi-folds for quick event handouts. Add 0.125 inch bleed, keep text inside the safe zone and off the fold lines, work at 300 DPI, and export in CMYK. 4OVER4.COM scores, folds, and trims every order so your chosen size arrives ready to hand out.
Reference
Common brochure sizes at a glance
Flat sheet, typical folded dimensions, and the job each size does best. All eight print through 4OVER4.COM brochure production.
| Flat size (inches) | Folded to | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 8.5 x 11 (Letter) | Tri-fold: 3.67 x 8.5 · Bi-fold: 5.5 x 8.5 | The default. Fits a #10 envelope tri-folded, ideal for mailers and handouts. |
| 8.5 x 14 (Legal) | Z-fold: 4.67 x 8.5 · Tri-fold: 4.67 x 8.5 | More panels for menus, service lists, and detail-heavy sales sheets. |
| 11 x 17 (Tabloid) | Bi-fold: 8.5 x 11 · Roll fold: 4.25 x 11 | A full booklet-style spread for real estate and product catalogs. |
| 11 x 25.5 (Roll fold) | Roll fold: 5.5 x 8.5 | Four reveal panels for step-by-step or premium brand stories. |
| 9 x 12 | Bi-fold: 6 x 9 · Tri-fold: 4 x 9 | A slightly larger, upscale format that stands out in a stack. |
| 5.5 x 8.5 (Half letter) | Bi-fold: 4.25 x 5.5 | Compact event programs, price cards, and quick giveaways. |
| 4 x 9 (Rack) | Flat rack card | The classic rack card that slots into brochure displays and racks. |
| 6 x 9 | Flat or bi-fold: 4.5 x 6 | A postcard-adjacent size for direct mail with room to breathe. |
Why brochure size matters before you design
Size is the first decision, not the last. Pick it before you draw a single panel, because the flat size and the fold together set your finished dimensions, your reading order, and even the envelope your brochure ships in. Get it right and everything downstream falls into place. Get it wrong and your copy runs off the panel, the fold lands in the middle of a headline, or the finished piece will not fit its mailer.
This guide walks through the eight brochure sizes you will actually use, the folds that go with each one, and the file setup that keeps panels lined up. Whether you are printing a restaurant menu, a real estate flyer, or a trade show handout, the same rules apply. If you want to see how the folds themselves behave, our guide on how to fold a brochure pairs perfectly with the sizing here, and the online designer lets you build the whole thing in the browser.
Need related pieces for the same campaign? Learn how to make flyers that share your brochure file setup, or read up on how to make envelopes so your tri-fold mailer has a matching cover. The same precision that keeps a fold crisp shows up in every 4OVER4.COM guide, from sizing here to how to clean rubber stamps.
The eight common brochure sizes and where each one fits
Almost every brochure starts from one of eight flat sizes. Each has a natural job, and knowing the job saves you from over-designing a format that will not hold your content or ship the way you need.
- 8.5 x 11 (Letter). The default sheet. Tri-folded it closes to 3.67 by 8.5 inches and slides into a number 10 envelope, which is why it rules mailers and handouts.
- 8.5 x 14 (Legal). Two extra inches of panel for menus, service lists, and copy-heavy sales sheets, usually as a Z-fold or tri-fold.
- 11 x 17 (Tabloid). A booklet-style spread. Bi-folded it becomes a full 8.5 by 11 page, ideal for catalogs and property listings.
- 11 x 25.5 (Roll fold). Four reveal panels for step-by-step stories and premium brand pieces.
- 9 x 12. A slightly upscale format that stands taller in a rack or a stack.
- 5.5 x 8.5 (Half letter). Compact event programs, price cards, and quick giveaways.
- 4 x 9 (Rack). The classic rack card sized to drop into standard brochure displays.
- 6 x 9. A postcard-adjacent size with room to breathe, popular for direct mail.
All eight print through 4OVER4.COM brochure printing, so once you settle on a size you can move straight to stock and finish.
The tri-fold: the size most people mean by "brochure"
When someone says brochure, they usually picture a tri-fold. It prints on an 8.5 by 11 inch letter sheet and folds down to roughly 3.67 by 8.5 inches, giving you six panels to work with: a front cover, a back, and four inside faces that reveal in sequence as the reader opens it.
The detail that trips people up is the inner panel. On a tri-fold the panel that tucks inside is cut about 1/16 to 1/8 inch narrower than the outer panels, so the brochure closes flat instead of buckling at the spine. Design that panel a touch smaller and keep its critical text well inside the safe zone. If you need more room, step up to a legal 8.5 by 14 tri-fold, which is the standard move for restaurant menus and clinics with long service lists.
Tri-folds carry the day for mailers because the folded size fits a number 10 envelope. Prefer to skip the setup work? Start from a medical brochure template or a dental clinic brochure template that already has the panels and fold marks in place.
The bi-fold: a wider, book-style page
A bi-fold has a single center fold that creates four panels and a wider, more book-like page. On an 8.5 by 11 inch sheet it closes to 5.5 by 8.5 inches, and on an 11 by 17 sheet it opens to a generous 8.5 by 11 page. That extra width makes bi-folds the natural choice for image-led layouts, portfolios, and product features where a photograph needs to fill the page.
Because there is only one fold, a bi-fold reads more like a small booklet than a sequence of panels. Put your strongest visual on the cover, let the inside spread carry the story, and use the back for contact details or a call to action. Real estate agents lean on the 11 by 17 bi-fold for property listings because a single interior spread can hold a hero shot, floor plan, and highlights side by side.
If your brochure is part of a broader brand rollout, a matching set keeps everything consistent. Pair a bi-fold with free business cards so your leave-behind and your handout share the same look.
Z-fold and roll fold: more panels, more room
When a tri-fold runs out of room, the Z-fold and the roll fold give you more panels without a bigger footprint. Both put six panels on the sheet, but they behave differently as the reader opens them.
A Z-fold folds like an accordion, so every panel is the same width and the whole piece pulls open in one motion to show all three inside faces at once. That makes it great for step-by-step content, timelines, and menus where you want the full spread visible instantly. A roll fold tucks each panel inside the next, so it reveals one panel at a time, building toward a payoff. Because the innermost panels get progressively narrower on a roll fold, size them down by 1/16 to 1/8 inch each so they nest cleanly.
For the roomiest option, an 11 by 25.5 inch roll fold gives you four reveal panels for a premium, story-driven piece. Direct mail campaigns often pair these heavier layouts with direct mail brochures so the fold and the mailing spec are handled together.
Bleed, safe zone, and file setup for any brochure size
Once you know your finished size and fold, set the file up correctly so the print matches the plan. Three measurements matter, and they are the same across every brochure size.
- Trim size: the final, folded-flat dimension after cutting. This is the size you have been choosing.
- Bleed: an extra 0.125 inch (1/8 inch) of artwork past the trim on all sides, so backgrounds run edge to edge without white slivers.
- Safe zone: keep text and logos at least 0.125 inch inside the trim and away from every fold line, so nothing is cut off or lost in a crease.
Work at 300 DPI minimum and export in CMYK, not RGB, so your colors print the way they look on screen. Mark your fold lines on a separate guide layer and confirm that each panel width matches your fold plan before you export. The easiest way to get all of this right is to start from a blank brochure template that has the bleed, safe zone, and fold marks already built in. If a panel width or fold still looks off before you order, our help center can check the file setup with you.
How to choose the right size for your project
The right brochure size comes down to three questions: how much content you have, how it will be handed out or mailed, and how you want the reader to move through it.
Match the size to the content. A short pitch with a few images fits a half-letter bi-fold. A full menu or a detailed service list wants a legal tri-fold or a Z-fold. Do not force long copy onto a small format, and do not blow up thin content to fill a tabloid spread.
Match the size to distribution. Mailing it? A letter tri-fold fits a number 10 envelope. Racking it? A 4 by 9 rack card is built for the slot. Handing it out at an event? A half-letter piece is light and easy to carry.
Still weighing options? Our guide hub covers the neighboring decisions, from paper weight to finish, and a matching custom magnet or a set of real estate brochure template panels can round out the campaign.
Sizing mistakes that ruin brochures
Even seasoned designers slip on brochure sizing. Avoid these and your run comes back clean.
Forgetting the bleed. If a background color or image stops at the trim line, cutting leaves thin white edges. Extend art 0.125 inch past every edge.
Ignoring the narrower inner panel. On tri-folds and roll folds the tucked-in panel must be slightly narrower, or the brochure will not close flat.
Putting text on the fold. A headline that lands on a crease gets broken or cracked. Keep type inside the safe zone and clear of every fold line.
Choosing a size that will not mail. If your piece has to ship, confirm the folded size fits your envelope before you design, not after.
Designing in RGB. Brochures printed from RGB files often shift or dull. Convert to CMYK early so what you see is what prints. When you want the sizing, scoring, and folding handled for you, 4OVER4.COM blank templates and brochure production take care of the mechanics so the file is the only thing you manage.
Specs and pricing
Custom brochure specs and pricing
Once you have picked your size and fold, here is what a made-to-order brochure gives you at 4OVER4.COM, with live specs and price-per-unit straight from the configurator.
| Quantity | Price Per Unit | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $1.14 | $57.11 |
| 100 | 82.4¢ | $82.38 |
| 200 | 53.3¢ | $106.55 |
| 300 | 41.0¢ | $123.02 |
| 400 | 34.9¢ | $139.49 |
| 500 | 31.2¢ | $155.97 |
| 600 | 26.7¢ | $160.36 |
| 700 | 23.5¢ | $164.75 |
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Ready-to-use brochure templates
Panel sizing, bleed, and fold marks already built in. Open one in the designer and drop in your content.
Wally explains brochure sizes
Pick the size and fold first, and the rest lines up
Wally thinks of a brochure like a sheet of paper with a plan: the flat size and the fold decide how it opens, how it reads, and whether it fits the envelope. Choose those two first, add the bleed and safe zone, and the panels line up every time. When the file is ready, 4OVER4 scores, folds, and trims it so your brochure arrives crisp in whatever size you picked.
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Common Questions
Common questions about brochure sizes
What is the most common brochure size?
The 8.5 by 11 inch letter sheet is the most common brochure size by a wide margin. Folded into a tri-fold it closes to a slim 3.67 by 8.5 inch panel that fits a standard number 10 envelope, which makes it the default for mailers, restaurant menus, and trade show handouts. It uses the same sheet as everyday office printing, so it is affordable and easy to design around.
What is the difference between a bi-fold and a tri-fold brochure?
A bi-fold has one center fold that creates four panels and a wider, book-like page, so an 8.5 by 11 sheet closes to 5.5 by 8.5 inches. A tri-fold has two folds that create six panels and a narrower page, closing that same sheet to 3.67 by 8.5 inches. Bi-folds suit image-led layouts, while tri-folds guide a reader through short, sequential sections.
What size is a standard tri-fold brochure?
A standard tri-fold prints on an 8.5 by 11 inch letter sheet and folds down to roughly 3.67 by 8.5 inches. The inner panel is cut about 1/16 to 1/8 inch narrower so the brochure closes flat instead of buckling. Legal-size 8.5 by 14 tri-folds are also common when you need more room for menus or detailed service lists.
How much bleed do I need for a brochure?
Add 0.125 inch (1/8 inch) of bleed on every edge so background colors and images run all the way to the trim after cutting. Keep all text and logos at least 0.125 inch inside the fold and trim lines so nothing gets clipped or lost in a crease. The blank brochure templates from 4OVER4.COM already include these bleed and safe-zone guides.
Which brochure size fits in a standard envelope?
An 8.5 by 11 inch letter brochure folded as a tri-fold closes to about 3.67 by 8.5 inches, which slides neatly into a number 10 business envelope. That combination is the workhorse of direct mail. For a larger mailer, a bi-folded 8.5 by 11 brochure fits a 6 by 9 inch envelope, and a flat 6 by 9 brochure mails as an oversized postcard.
Can I order a custom brochure size instead of a standard one?
Yes. Standard sizes keep costs down and setup simple, but 4OVER4.COM prints custom brochure dimensions and fold styles too. If you want a size outside the common eight, upload a print-ready file at 300 DPI in CMYK with 0.125 inch bleed, and the press scores, folds, and trims to your spec. Start from a blank template so your panels and fold marks line up before you commit to a run.
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