Brochure Sizes

The most common brochure format is the Letter tri-fold, with a flat size of 8.5 × 11 inches and folded panels approximately 3.67 × 8.5 inches. Brochure sizes are defined by the flat (unfolded) sheet size and the fold type, which determines the final panel dimensions.

What are Standard Brochure Sizes?

The most common brochure is the Letter tri-fold, printed on an 8.5 × 11 inch sheet and folded into three panels of approximately 3.67 × 8.5 inches each. A4 tri-fold (297 × 210 mm) is the international equivalent.

Bi-fold brochures (folded once in half) create 4 panels. The 11 × 17 bi-fold produces a Letter-size booklet, and the A3 bi-fold produces an A4 booklet.

Tri-Fold Brochure Size

The tri-fold (also called letter fold or C-fold) is the most popular brochure format. A Letter tri-fold uses an 8.5 × 11 inch sheet folded into three panels.

The three panels are not equal width. The fold-in panel (the one that tucks inside) must be slightly narrower — approximately 3.625 inches — so it folds flat without buckling. The other two panels are each approximately 3.6875 inches.

Set up fold guides in your layout software at these positions. Confirm exact panel widths with your printer, as specifications can vary by shop.

Brochure Size in Pixels

Pixel dimensions for the Letter tri-fold flat size (8.5 × 11 in):

Use our free Inches to Pixels converter or Millimeters to Pixels converter to calculate pixel dimensions at any DPI.

Brochure with Bleed

Standard bleed is 0.125 inches per side on the outer edges of the flat sheet.

Bleed applies to the outer edges of the flat sheet only. Internal fold lines do not require bleed.

Common Uses

• Product catalogs and feature sheets
• Tourism and travel guides
• Restaurant takeout and delivery menus
• Real estate property listings
• Medical office and patient information
• Event programs and conference guides

Design Tips

• The fold-in panel must be narrower (by ~1/16 in or 1–2 mm) for the brochure to fold flat without buckling.
• Score the paper at fold lines for clean, crisp folds — especially on heavier stock (100+ gsm / 80+ lb).
• Set up your file at the flat size with guides marking fold positions. Design each panel as a separate zone.
• Keep text and important elements at least 0.25 inches from fold lines, as content near folds can be obscured.
• For bleed setup and DPI guidelines, see our detailed guides.

How to Design a Brochure

Adobe InDesign is the go-to for brochure layout, especially for tri-folds and multi-panel designs where precise fold positioning matters. Set up your document at the flat (unfolded) size, place guides at each fold line, and remember that the fold-in panel needs to be slightly narrower. Export with bleed and crop marks for your print provider.

For teams who prefer Figma, the Print for Figma plugin adds the print-specific features needed for brochure design. Set up the flat brochure size using the built-in Letter or A4 presets, add bleed and crop marks, use Figma's layout tools to position fold guides, and export a press-ready CMYK PDF. Learn more about designing brochures in Figma →