Booklet sizes: standard booklet dimensions and page counts

The most common booklet size is 5.5 x 8.5 inches, half of a letter-size sheet. It is used for programs, small catalogs, guides, workbooks and menus. The other standard size is 8.5 x 11 inches, which suits catalogs, reports and manuals. Standard sizes print efficiently on standard press sheets, which keeps the cost and paper waste down.

Standard booklet sizes

• 4.25 x 5.5 in: a mini booklet for coupon books, pocket guides and small programs.
• 5.5 x 8.5 in: the most common booklet size. Each sheet is an 8.5 x 11 in sheet folded in half.
• 6 x 9 in: a popular size for guides, workbooks and short books.
• 8.5 x 11 in: full letter size for catalogs, annual reports, manuals and magazines. Each sheet is an 11 x 17 in sheet folded in half.
• Landscape: 8.5 x 5.5 in and 11 x 8.5 in booklets bound on the short edge, for photo books, calendars and wide layouts.
• A5 (5.8 x 8.3 in): the international equivalent of 5.5 x 8.5 in.

Page counts

Most booklets are saddle stitched: sheets are folded, nested and stapled through the fold. Each folded sheet makes four pages, so the page count must be a multiple of four, including the cover. 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 pages are all valid. If your content comes to 14 pages, plan for 16 and use the extra pages for notes, contact details or photos.

Saddle stitching suits booklets of about 8 to 64 pages, depending on the paper weight. Thicker booklets are usually perfect bound, with the pages glued into a cover with a square spine. Our guide to saddle stitch vs perfect binding explains the choice.

Self cover and plus cover

• Self cover: the cover is printed on the same paper as the inside pages. It is the most economical option.
• Plus cover: the cover is printed on a heavier stock. It feels more substantial and protects the booklet. A 16-page booklet with a plus cover is often described as 16 pages plus cover, or 20 pages in total.

Paper for booklets

• Inside pages: 70 lb to 100 lb text. Uncoated stock suits text-heavy booklets and pages people write in. Coated stock suits photographs and catalogs.
• Cover: 80 lb to 100 lb cover for a plus cover booklet.

Our paper weight guide explains text and cover weights.

File setup

• Build the file as single pages at the finished size, such as 5.5 x 8.5 in, in reading order.
• Add 0.125 in of bleed on every side where color runs to the edge.
• Keep text at least 0.25 in inside the trim, and a little more toward the outer edges on thick saddle stitched booklets, where the inner pages push outward.
• Make sure the total page count, including the cover, is a multiple of four.

Our guides to bleed in printing and print-ready files cover the setup in more detail.

Common questions

What is the standard booklet size?

5.5 x 8.5 inches is the most common booklet size. 8.5 x 11 inches is standard for catalogs, reports and manuals.

Why does a booklet need a page count that is a multiple of four?

Each sheet in a saddle stitched booklet is folded in half, which makes four pages, so the total page count must be divisible by four.

How many pages can a saddle stitched booklet have?

Usually from 8 to about 64 pages, depending on the paper weight. Thicker booklets are usually perfect bound.

What paper weight is best for a booklet?

70 lb to 100 lb text for the inside pages and 80 lb to 100 lb cover for a heavier cover are common choices.