In Word, go to Layout, open Page Setup, choose “Book fold” under Multiple pages, set your sheet size to A4, then print on both sides and flip on the short edge. Word will reorder the pages for you. The result is an A5 booklet when you fold the stack in half.
Most people do not have design software. They have Word, a home printer and a deadline. The good news is that Word can make a proper folded booklet without any extra tools. You just need to know where the setting is hiding and which print options to pick.
This guide walks you through every step, then shows you how to fix the problems that usually pop up.
Before you start: three quick decisions
1. Finished size. If you print on A4 paper and fold it, your booklet will be A5. If you print on A3 and fold, it will be A4. Most home printers only take A4, so A5 is the usual choice.
2. Page count. Your booklet needs a number of pages that divides by 4, such as 8, 12 or 16. Word will add blank pages at the end if you fall short, but it is better to plan them yourself. Our pillar guide on arranging pages for booklet printing explains why.
3. Who is printing it. If you are printing at home, the book fold method below is perfect. If you are sending the file to a print shop, skip book fold and read the section near the end, because the rules are different.
Step-by-step: make a booklet in Word
Step 1: Open Page Setup
Open your document. Click the Layout tab (it may say Page Layout in older versions). Click the small arrow in the bottom corner of the Page Setup group. This opens the Page Setup box.
Step 2: Choose Book fold
On the Margins tab, find the box called Multiple pages. Open the drop-down and choose Book fold.
Word will flip your page to landscape automatically and split each sheet into two pages side by side. That is correct. Do not change the orientation back.
Step 3: Pick how many sheets per booklet
Under Sheets per booklet, you will see “All” by default. That is fine for short booklets of up to around 16 pages. For longer documents, splitting them into smaller groups, such as 4 sheets at a time, makes the folding easier. Thick stacks do not fold neatly, and the outer pages stick out.
Step 4: Set the margins and gutter
Still on the Margins tab, adjust the Inside and Outside margins. Because the fold takes up a bit of room, add a Gutter of around 5 to 10mm so text does not disappear into the spine. Keep the outside margin at 10mm or more so nothing is cut off by your printer.
Step 5: Check your paper size
Click the Paper tab and make sure the paper size is A4. Word treats this as the full sheet, then splits it into two A5 pages for you. If you choose A5 here, you will end up with a tiny A6 booklet.
Step 6: Add your content and page numbers
Now design the pages as you normally would. Use the Insert tab for page numbers, and consider turning off the number on the cover. If you want a different look on left and right pages, use Different Odd & Even Pages in the Header & Footer options.
Step 7: Print on both sides
Go to File, then Print. Under Settings, choose Print on Both Sides and pick Flip pages on short edge. This setting matters. If you choose the long edge, the back of every sheet will be upside down.
If your printer cannot print on both sides on its own, choose Manual Print on Both Sides. Word will print one side, ask you to put the stack back in, and then print the other. Check your printer’s manual for which way the paper goes back in, because it varies from printer to printer.
Step 8: Print one test sheet first
Before you print 50 copies, print a single copy of an 8-page document. Fold it and check the order. This costs you two sheets of paper and can save you a whole ream.
What does “book fold” actually do?
Book fold tells Word to impose your pages. It takes your pages in normal order and places them on each sheet in the order they need to be in for folding. For an 8-page booklet, the first sheet front gets pages 8 and 1, and the back gets pages 2 and 7. You never have to work that out yourself.
If you are curious about how that pattern works, our guide on how booklet printing works with folded sheets shows the logic.
Fixing common Word booklet problems
The pages are in the wrong order
The most common cause is a printer driver that is also trying to make a booklet. If your printer settings have a “Booklet” option turned on, and Word is also using book fold, the pages get shuffled twice. Turn off the printer’s booklet setting and let Word do the work.
The back of every page is upside down
You chose the wrong flip edge. Go back and pick Flip on short edge. We cover this in full in why your booklet is printing upside down.
There are blank pages in the middle
This usually comes from page breaks and section breaks that push content to a new page. Turn on the paragraph marks (the ¶ button) to see them and delete the ones you do not need.
Text is being cut off at the edges
Most office printers cannot print right to the edge of the paper. Keep a margin of at least 10mm on the outside, and do not place text or logos near the edge.
The booklet is too thick to fold
Split it into smaller groups using Sheets per booklet, or use a lighter paper. A thicker paper looks nicer, but it is harder to fold neatly.
Tips for a more professional-looking Word booklet
- Use two fonts at most, one for headings and one for body text
- Keep body text at 10 to 12pt for A5 pages
- Use the same margins on every page
- Save images at a decent resolution, ideally around 300 ppi at the size you use them
- Use a heavier paper for the cover if your printer can handle it
- Use a long-reach stapler, or have the booklet stapled properly, so that the staples sit in the fold
For stapling advice, read our guide to saddle stitch booklet printing.
If you are sending the file to a print shop
Here is something many guides do not tell you. If a professional printer is going to print your booklet, do not use book fold. Book fold produces a landscape file with pages already paired up, and most printers need single pages in normal order so they can impose them on their own equipment.
Instead, set your page size to the finished size, for example A5 portrait, and keep your pages in order from page 1 to the last page. Add margins that keep text away from the edges, then use File, Save As, PDF to export. Word does not add bleed, so if you want colour that runs to the edge, a design tool such as Canva or InDesign is a better fit.
When in doubt, ask your printer what they prefer before you export.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set booklet printing in Word?
Open Layout, then Page Setup, choose Book fold under Multiple pages, set the paper to A4, and print on both sides with flip on short edge.
How do I make a booklet when printing from Word?
Use the book fold method above. Print one test copy to check the order, then print the rest.
How do I arrange pages for booklet printing in Word?
You do not need to arrange them manually. Write your pages in normal order, and Word’s book fold setting rearranges them for you at print time.
How many pages can I have in a Word booklet?
Any number that divides by 4 works. For a home-printed stapled booklet, 8 to 24 pages is the comfortable range.
Need a cleaner finish?
Home-printed booklets are great for quick jobs. If you want crisp colour, a sharp fold and proper staples, our booklet printing service is a better fit. Send us your file and we will tell you honestly whether it is ready. You can also get a quote in a couple of minutes.
