What Is the Standard Brochure Size?

Written By: Nemilou Despuez | Published on October 30, 2024

Brochures come in a variety of folds and sizes, and choosing the right one will depend on several factors such as the amount of information you want to print, the design, your target audience, among others. Additionally, you need to consider the industry standard when picking the ideal dimension for your promotional materials.

In this article, we’ll explain the standard brochure sizes for each fold style and their common applications.

Standard Brochure Sizes and Fold Style

When talking about the standard brochure sizes, it’s important to mention the eight different folds as well to help you visualize not just the dimensions but also how this promotional material presents information to the readers.

1. Half Fold or Single Fold

This two-panel fold divides paper into two equal halves. Its smallest size (before folding) is 5.5” x 8.5”, which is popular among brands that need pocket-sized printed materials for mass distribution.

On the other hand, the largest size for half fold brochure is at 11” x 17” (also known as tabloid size), which is the standard size for image-heavy promotional materials that feature food menus, product catalogs, and service plans.

2. Trifold or Letter Fold

Trifold is the most popular and versatile brochure fold because of the way it neatly presents information. The 8.5” x 11” trifold brochure (also known as Letter-sized brochure) has become the standard size, especially among businesses in the service, medical, real estate, banking, and food industries.

The 8.5” x 11” size is also the standard for many types of brochure folds because it is the standard paper size in the US. Simply put, print jobs by default are generally formatted to fit an 8.5” x 11” sheet of paper that is typically labeled as “Letter.”

3. Roll Fold

This is a type of fold where one end of the paper is folded inward several times until the reader gets to the other end. It has a total of four interior panels that work well with content-heavy designs.

Although the 8.5” x 11” size is the standard for this fold style, you may want to opt for something bigger, such as the 11” x 17” size that is perfect for brochures that contain more images and copy.

4. Gate Fold

This fold divides the paper into three panels, with two of them looking like side doors that cover a bigger central panel where you can print an oversized image.

Again, the standard size for gate fold brochure is 8.5” x 11”. However, this fold is also available in larger formats, with 17” x 11” as the biggest.

5. Double Gate Fold

Although it looks similar to the gate fold, it has a central panel folded at the center, thus it has a narrower appearance when folded completely.

The standard size for double gate fold brochure is also 8.5” x 11”. However, the 17” x 11” size, which is the largest for this fold style, is a better option if you need to print extensive portfolios, product catalogs, and designs that incorporate more text and images.

6. Double Parallel Fold

As the name implies, its paper is folded in half and then in half again, parallel to the initial fold. This four-panel fold is excellent for detailed product and service presentations.

The 8.5” x 11” is the standard size for the double parallel fold. However, the 8.5” x 14” size might be a better choice if you need more space for text and images. This brochure size is popular among businesses that need to print legal documents and text-laden materials.

7. Accordion Fold

This fold style divides your brochure into four alternating panels (a total of six), creating a W shape when you unfold it.

It’s perfect for large-format prints, such as 11” x 17” and 11” x 25.5” brochures. Oversized accordion fold brochures are often used by amusement and theme parks to showcase main attractions, rides, and special events. Hotels, souvenir shops, and tourist offices also use this for printing mini maps that include popular landmarks and street names.

The 11” x 25.5” accordion fold brochure is the standard size used for trade shows and conferences where businesses need to hand out memorable and impactful presentations to the attendees.

8. French Fold

This fold divides your brochure horizontally and vertically, creating four equal quadrants.

Just like the accordion fold, the French fold is perfect for printing maps and other image-heavy designs.

The French fold is also excellent for large-format brochures. For instance, the 11” x 17” size is the standard for brochures with larger images or infographics.

How to Determine the Ideal Brochure Size

Now that you know the standard brochure sizes for each fold style, check out the factors that will help you determine the ideal dimension for your promotional material.

Content
The more images, graphics, and text you must present to the viewers, the bigger brochure you’ll need.

Design
Your design also determines the ideal brochure size. For instance, you may want to opt for bigger brochures if you want image-focused designs or you like to highlight a beautiful typography.

Target Audience
If your target audience is only interested in a specific product or service, you may only need a smaller brochure that explains its key features and benefits. By contrast, you may want to print large-format brochures if your potential customers want to see a side-by-side product or service comparison before making a purchase.

Distribution Method
The ideal brochure size will also depend on where and how you distribute it. If you need to hand out brochures on a busy street, you may want to print pocket-sized brochures with a brief copy. By contrast, large-format prints are often better if you need to present more details to event attendees.

Budget and Printing Cost
Your budget will also determine the ideal brochure size. For this reason, many businesses opt for smaller brochures for mass distribution, and bigger prints for VIP customers.

Conclusion

The best or standard brochure size will depend on many factors, such as the fold style, the amount of information you need to present, the design, your target audience, the distribution method, and even your budget.

Now that you understand the standard brochure sizes and their applications, check out 48HourPrint’s extensive collection of free brochure templates. You can search for design templates based on the industry, category, style, and size.