Common Brochure Fold Types

Brochure Design for Marketing

Brochure Folds

All of our brochures can be easily customized to match your company's style and logo. Don't forget to see some of our brochure templates & samples.

There's never one way of doing anything, especially not when it comes to brochure folding. Choosing the fold type is the first step in brochure design, and determines how your information will be displayed.

Keep in mind paper sizes, too. Regular sized paper, 8.5" x 11" is not as expensive to print as larger sizes, such as 11" x 17".

Tri-Fold Brochure A common layout is the three-panel brochure on letter-size paper that folds down to fit into a business-size #10 envelope. When folded all three panels are the same width and blocks of text aren’t creased by the folds. Another way to present information is to combine all 3 inside panels into one big panel, so when the brochure is open, it presents like a full page.
Brochure on letter-sized paper, with panels and margins	Folded 3-Panel Brochure
Bi-Fold Brochure Another common layout is the bi-fold, or two-panel brochure that folds down to a half-page. When folded, the brochure can have a landscape or portrait orientation. Standard or larger sized paper may be used.
Brochure on letter-sized paper, showing 2 panels and margins	Folded 2-Panel Brochure
Gate Fold Brochure In the gate fold brochure, larger sizes of paper are used to allow for the extra folds. Standard paper sizes are legal and 16"x19". Two end panels fold inward, then fold again down the center of page. De singing for this type of brochure is more difficult because the end panels must be narrower than the two interior panels, and the placement of margins must allow for the gap of about .25” where the folded panels meet.
Brochure on larger sized paper, showing 4 panels and margins	Folded Gate Fold Brochure
Accordian Fold Brochure The accord ian fold brochure folds just like the object it's named after. Panels fold on top of each other, resulting in a brochure, when unfolded, that can lay flat and be read from side to side. This type of brochure uses larger paper, legal or 16"x19", and due to the folds, envelopes must be hand stuffed.
Brochure on larger sized paper, showing 4 panels and margins	Folded Accord ian Fold Brochure
Parallel Fold, or Half and Half Folded Brochure The parallel fold requires the finished brochure to be folded in half, then in half again. The final, folded brochure width is one quarter of the original, but remains the same height. Larger paper sizes are required due to the folds - 16”x9” folds down to 4”x9” (fits in a #10 envelope); legal size folds down to 3.5”x8.5” (fits in a #10.)
Brochure on larger sized paper, showing 4 panels and margins	Folded Parallel or Half and Half Fold Brochure

For more information about brochure design and the types of folds, please contact us, we would be happy to provide you with information and a free quote for your project.