A folded and stapled booklet must have a page count that divides by 4, such as 8, 12, 16, 20 or 24. The smallest is usually 8 pages (some printers do 4), and most stapled booklets go up to around 48 to 64 pages, depending on paper thickness. For thicker publications, perfect binding is a better choice.
“How many pages should my booklet be?” is one of the first questions people ask, and it is a good one. The number of pages affects the price, the paper, the type of binding and even how the finished booklet feels in the hand. Get it wrong and you end up with blank pages in awkward places, or a booklet that will not close properly.
This guide explains the rules in plain English, so you can plan your content before you start designing.
Why booklet page counts go up in fours
A booklet is made from sheets of paper folded in half. One folded sheet has four pages: two on the front side (left and right of the fold) and two on the back.
So when you add one more sheet, you add four more pages. That is why your options are 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32 and so on. A 10-page or 14-page booklet is not possible, unless some pages are left blank.
If you want to see how the pages are placed on each sheet, our guide on how to arrange pages for booklet printing explains it with a simple table.
Minimum and maximum pages
Minimum: Most printers offer a minimum of 8 pages for a booklet. Some also do 4-page jobs, but at that point it is really a folded leaflet. If you only need four pages, look at our leaflet printing options.
Maximum for saddle stitch: The limit depends on paper thickness. As a rough guide:
| Inner paper | Typical maximum pages |
|---|---|
| Light (80 to 100gsm) | 64 or more |
| Medium (115 to 130gsm) | 48 to 56 |
| Heavy (150gsm and above) | 32 to 40 |
These figures vary between printers, so treat them as a guide and check before you design. If you need more pages than that, ask about perfect binding or wire-O binding. You can read about the differences in what booklet printing is and how it works.
Self-cover or plus-cover: how the cover changes the count
This is the part that confuses many people.
Self-cover
A self-cover booklet uses the same paper for the cover as for the inside pages. The cover is simply part of your page count. A 16-page self-cover booklet has 16 pages in total: the cover, the inside pages and the back cover.
Plus-cover
A plus-cover booklet has a separate, usually thicker, cover. The cover itself is four pages: the front cover, the inside front cover, the inside back cover and the back cover. These are in addition to the inside pages.
So a booklet described as “16 pages plus cover” has 20 pages in total. You are paying for 16 inside pages and one 4-page cover.
It is worth checking which one you are being quoted for. A quote for “16pp” might mean either, and the two give quite different results. Plus-cover feels more premium. Self-cover is lighter and cheaper.
Common page counts and what they suit
| Pages | Works well for |
|---|---|
| 8 | Short guides, simple menus, event programmes |
| 12 | Order of service, short brochures, price lists |
| 16 | Catalogues, product guides, school information |
| 20 | Larger menus, training booklets, small lookbooks |
| 24 | Portfolios, detailed catalogues, annual summaries |
| 28 to 32 | Magazines, newsletters, course handbooks |
| 36 to 64 | Long catalogues, manuals, school prospectuses |
These are only starting points. Plan your page count around your content, not the other way round. But if you are two pages short of a neat number, it is usually worth adding useful content instead of leaving the pages blank.
What to do when your content does not fit
Say you have written 14 pages of content. You need 16 pages. Here are some good ways to use the extra two pages, instead of leaving them empty.
- A contact or “find us” page: Address, opening hours, map, social media.
- A notes page: Useful for event programmes, workbooks and training booklets.
- An About Us page: A short company story, which builds trust.
- A special offer or discount code: Gives readers a reason to keep the booklet.
- A larger cover design: Use the inside cover for a message or a photo.
- A contents page or index: Helps readers find what they need.
- A bigger image page: Use a full-page photo to break up long text.
If you have too many pages instead, say 18, you can either cut two pages, reduce the font slightly, or go up to 20 pages and add useful extras.
Try not to put blank pages in the middle of the booklet. Blank pages at the very end or the very beginning are less noticeable.
Where do blank pages end up?
If you send a file with a page count that is not a multiple of 4, the printer or software has to fix it. Usually blank pages are added at the end. Some software puts them in the middle. Neither is ideal. This is why it is best to plan your page count first and deliver a correct file.
If you are printing at home using Word or Acrobat, the software will add blank pages automatically. See how this works in our guides on booklet printing in Word and booklet printing from a PDF.
How page count affects cost
More pages means more paper, more printing and more folding, so the price goes up. But the increase is not always even. A few things to know:
- Each extra sheet adds four pages. So going from 16 to 20 pages adds one sheet per booklet.
- Quantity matters. The cost per booklet drops as quantity rises.
- Cover choice matters. Plus-cover costs more than self-cover.
- Paper weight matters. Heavier paper costs more, and also limits the maximum page count.
For a full breakdown, read our guide on how much booklet printing costs in the UK.
How to decide your page count: a simple method
- List your content. Write down each section and estimate how many pages it needs.
- Add the cover. Decide self-cover or plus-cover.
- Total it up. Round up to the next multiple of 4.
- Fill the gap. Use extra pages for something useful.
- Check the binding. Make sure your page count suits saddle stitch or another binding.
- Ask for a quote. Compare two page counts, such as 16 and 20, to see the price difference.
Frequently asked questions
How many pages for booklet printing?
Any number that divides by 4. The most popular are 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 pages.
Can a booklet have 10 pages?
Not as a folded and stapled booklet. You would have to go up to 12 and have two blank pages.
What is the maximum number of pages for a stapled booklet?
Usually around 48 to 64 pages, depending on the paper. Thicker paper means a lower maximum.
Does the cover count as pages?
Yes. In a self-cover booklet, it is part of the count. In a plus-cover booklet, the cover adds four pages to the total.
What is the best number of pages for a booklet?
The one your content actually needs. 16 and 24 are popular because they suit most projects.
Need help choosing?
Not sure whether 16 or 20 pages is right for you? Send us your content and we will help you plan it. Take a look at our booklet printing page, or get a quote for two page counts side by side.
