Canva does not have a booklet mode that rearranges pages for you. So design your booklet as single pages at the finished size, such as A5, keep the page count a multiple of 4, then download as PDF Print with bleed and crop marks. For a home printer, open that PDF in Adobe Acrobat and use its Booklet print option.
Canva is a great place to design a booklet. It is quick, easy and has lots of templates. But it was built for designing, not for print production, so a few things are left for you to handle. The page order is the biggest one. Canva shows your pages in normal order, and it does not shuffle them into a folded booklet layout.
That is not a problem if you know what to do. Here is the full process.
Step 1: Choose the right size from the start
Pick your size before you design anything. Changing size later can move text, stretch images and break layouts.
Click Create a design, then Custom size, and set the unit to mm. For the most common booklet sizes, use:
| Booklet size | Width x Height (mm) |
|---|---|
| A6 | 105 x 148 |
| A5 | 148 x 210 |
| A4 | 210 x 297 |
| Square | 210 x 210 |
A5 is the most popular size. It is made from A4 paper folded in half. Check our guide on booklet sizes in the UK if you want help picking.
If you choose a Canva booklet template, check its size first. Some templates use sizes that are close to A5 but not exactly the same, which can cause problems at the printer.
Step 2: Plan your page count
Your booklet needs a number of pages that divides by 4: 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and so on. In Canva, count each page in your design as one booklet page. So a 12-page booklet means 12 pages in Canva.
Working out your page count in advance is worth it. If you finish at 10 pages, you will need to add two more. A useful way to fill them is with a notes page, an About Us page or a contact page.
We explain more about page counts in how many pages a booklet can have.
Step 3: Turn on print bleed
Go to File, then Settings, and turn on Show print bleed. You will see a thin margin appear around every page. Any colour, background or image that touches the edge should be dragged out to fill the bleed area.
Bleed is the extra 3mm that gets trimmed off after printing. Without it, a thin white line can appear along the edge of the page, because no cutting machine is perfect.
Also turn on Show margins if you can, and keep text inside them.
Step 4: Put your pages in normal reading order
Page 1 is the front cover. Page 2 is the inside front cover. The last page is the back cover. Do not try to arrange pages as a printer would. Leave that to the tools or the print shop. The pillar guide on how to arrange pages for booklet printing explains why.
Step 5: Design with print in mind
A few habits will make your printed booklet look better than your screen version.
- Keep text away from the edges and the fold. Leave at least 5mm from the trim, and more near the spine.
- Use high-quality images. A small image stretched large will look blurry on paper. Try to use images that are at least 300 ppi at the size you place them.
- Avoid very thin lines and tiny text. Body text should be at least 9 to 10pt on A5.
- Check contrast. Light grey text on a white background looks fine on a bright screen but can almost vanish on paper.
- Use consistent margins. It makes the whole booklet look more professional.
Step 6: Download the right file
This is the step where most Canva booklets go wrong. Do not just use the standard PDF.
- Click Share, then Download.
- Choose PDF Print as the file type.
- Tick Crop marks and bleed.
- If it is available on your plan, choose the CMYK colour profile, which suits professional printing.
- Select All pages and download.
The standard PDF is built for screens. PDF Print has a higher quality and includes the bleed information your printer needs.
A note on colour: Canva designs in RGB, so some bright colours, especially vivid blues, greens and neons, can look duller once they are converted to CMYK. That is normal. If a colour matters a lot, such as a brand colour, tell your printer and ask for a proof.
Step 7: Choose how you will print it
Option A: Send it to a print shop
Send the PDF Print file with pages in normal order. The printer will take care of the rest, including folding and stapling. This is the easiest way to get a neat result, and it is the route we recommend for anything customer-facing. You can see what we offer on our booklet printing page.
Option B: Print at home
Because Canva does not make a booklet layout, you need one more tool.
- Download your design as a normal PDF.
- Open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Go to File, Print, and choose Booklet under Page Sizing & Handling.
- Pick your paper size (A4 for an A5 booklet), set Booklet subset to Both sides, and print.
We walk through each of those settings in how to make a booklet from a PDF.
If the back pages come out upside down, you probably need to flip on the short edge. Our fix is in why your booklet is printing upside down.
Mistakes to avoid in Canva booklets
- Designing at the wrong size and resizing later
- Forgetting to turn on bleed
- Using the standard PDF download instead of PDF Print
- A page count that is not a multiple of 4
- Putting text close to the edge
- Mixing page sizes in one design
- Using low-resolution or screenshot images
Frequently asked questions
How do I arrange pages for booklet printing in Canva?
You do not arrange them in Canva. Design in normal order, download PDF Print, and let your printer or Acrobat’s Booklet option shuffle them.
What size should a booklet be in Canva?
A5 (148 x 210mm) is the most common. A4 and A6 are also popular.
Does Canva support bleed?
Yes. Turn on Show print bleed under File, Settings, and download as PDF Print with crop marks and bleed.
Can I print a Canva booklet at a print shop?
Yes. Send the PDF Print file. Most printers are happy with it, as long as the size, bleed and page count are right.
Turn your Canva design into a real booklet
Send us your PDF and we will check the size, bleed and page count before printing. You can get a quote or order printing online. In a hurry? Have a look at our 24 hour printing option.
