Folded leaflet types and how to lay each one out
A fold turns a flat sheet into a sequence. Choose the wrong one and your reader meets your panels in the wrong order, which is why fold choice is a copy decision as much as a production one.
The common folds
Each fold creates a different reveal. Think about what the reader sees first, second and last, and write the panels to that sequence.
- Half fold - four panels, simplest and cheapest, ideal for menus
- Roll fold - six panels tucked inside each other, good for step-by-step content
- Z fold - six panels concertina style, all revealed in one movement
- Gate fold - two flaps opening onto a central reveal, strong for a big offer
- Cross fold - A4 to A6, popular for maps and large price lists
Panel sizing is not equal
On a roll fold the inner panels must be a couple of millimetres narrower so they tuck without buckling. Templates handle this; a document divided into three equal columns does not, and the result creases in production.
Which fold for which job
Takeaway menus tend to work best half or cross folded. Service explainers suit roll folds where each panel is a step. Event and offer pieces suit gate folds because the reveal carries the drama.
Practical letterbox notes
Folded pieces travel better than flat ones in bulk, as the folded edge takes the pressure at the letterbox. Keep the folded edge leading and avoid heavy stock with multiple folds, which springs open in the bundle.
Frequently asked
Does folding cost much?
It is a modest per-thousand finishing cost, and usually cheaper than printing a larger flat format to hold the same content.
Do I need a template?
Yes, and we will supply one for your chosen fold with the panel sizes already adjusted. It removes the most common cause of folded-job reprints.
Can heavier stocks be folded?
They can, with scoring first. Without a score, heavier and laminated stocks crack along the fold.
Planning a folded leaflet?
Tell us the content and we will recommend a fold and send you the correct template.