When designing a brochure, it is important to think of the gritty details, such as the sizing and the fold, as it could have a significant impact on the whole design. A confusing layout could lead to a disorganized design that would be confusing to read and digest.

Each type of fold and sizing can be utilized for different purposes. We will help you figure out which type of fold and sizing that is perfect for your design.

When to use a brochure

There are numerous types of printed marketing tools, one of the most popular ones is a brochure. Unlike flyers, this type of printout contains a lot more as it has folds and a more complex layout. This way, you can ensure that the prospective customer would be well informed while learning about your product. 

In a nutshell, a brochure would be a more impactful choice if you’d like to influence prospective customers’ purchasing decisions. This means this type of printout could be used when you, as the business owner: 

• want to appear more informative and engaging
• intend to utilize it as reference material for the customer
• would like to provide a thorough explanation about a product or a promotion

Standard Brochure Size 

For starters, you can always opt to make something authentic and unique without having to follow standard sizing. However, this would be more costly as most printing services usually stick to universal standards. Here are the most common standard sizes of brochures.

A4

With a dimension of 29,7 x 2,10 cm, A4 is one of the most popular standard brochure sizes. As it is basically A3 paper folded in half,  A4 provides decent space for images and text without necessarily making the design look cramped. This dimension allows for a spacious layout design that is considerably easy to follow.

A5

This type of brochure is more compact as it is literally half the size of A4 paper. With a smaller dimension, this printout usually contains more concise information with striking images. A5 size is perfect for exhibitions or packed events as it is small enough that people wouldn’t have a hard time carrying it around. 

DL

Dimension Lengthwise, also known as DL, refers to the paper dimension that is exactly a third of A4 paper. This size is commonly used for mail campaigns as it could fit into an envelope. The type of fold usually paired with this sizing is trifold, as it would create a beautiful vertical space. Since the vertical layout makes a long list of text or menus easier to read, this dimension is usually used for restaurants or catering services. 

The Folds 

The fold of a brochure is key as it determines how you want your printout to be read. The suitable fold depends on the design as well as its size. Here are some of the most commonly used folds.

Bifold

As the name suggests, the bifold is basically a sheet folded in half. This type of fold would create two main panels, making the information provided pretty direct and easy to follow. The printing process of this type of brochure is considerably simple and quick.

Gatefold

Gatefold is the type of fold in which the center panel has the same width as the side panels. Each side panel then would fold inwards, resembling the shape of a gate. This would create a unique layout where the center panel becomes the center point of the layout. Hence, this type of fold is usually used for brochures meant to introduce or highlight a product.

Z-fold

This type of fold is meant to make the sheet resemble an accordion or the letter Z, hence the name Z-fold. This is another one of the popular folds used for brochures containing a lengthy amount of information.

As we have summarized information about the standard size and folds of brochures, hopefully by now, you grasp a general idea of them. What are you waiting for? Don’t hesitate to start creating your own desired brochure using a template or simply making it from scratch. Be sure to check out AQR Studio if you’d like to find more exquisite  templates.