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Brochures & Booklets
A brochure puts something physical in a prospect’s hands that a website or email can’t — something they can keep, reference, and pass along. But the wrong format for your content means pages that don’t reveal in the right order, too little space for what you need to say, or a booklet where a folded leaflet would have worked better. Here’s how to choose the right format for brochure printing in Singapore.
The four most common formats for brochure printing in Singapore are bi-fold, tri-fold, Z-fold, and saddle-stitch — each suits a different type of content and context. The choice isn’t just aesthetic; it affects how information is revealed, how much space you have, and whether the format reinforces or undermines the impression you’re trying to make.
Bi-fold (4-panel)
A single sheet folded in half: four panels — front cover, back cover, and two inside panels. Clean and simple. Best when your message is focused: a product launch, a service overview, a location guide. Works in portrait (A4 folded to A5) or landscape. The limitation is space — four panels isn’t enough for complex content or multiple services.
Tri-fold (6-panel)
The most common brochure format in Singapore. A single A4 sheet folded into three panels gives you six sides. Fits a standard C5 envelope, a brochure rack, and a pocket. The design advantage: panels open in sequence — the inside right panel, first visible when opened, is prime real estate for your most important message.
Technical note: the inner folding panel must be slightly narrower (3–4mm) than the other two panels or the brochure won’t fold flat. Most templates account for this — but if you’re building from scratch in Illustrator or InDesign, set the inner panel narrower from the start.
Z-fold (accordion)
The Z-fold alternates fold direction like an accordion. Each panel is the same width — no narrower inner panel needed — making the design process cleaner. Works well for step-by-step guides, timelines, and instructional content. Also ideal for bilingual materials — English on one half, Chinese on the other, with a natural visual separation.
Saddle-stitch booklets
When content outgrows a folded leaflet, a saddle-stitch booklet is the next step. Multi-page booklets — minimum 8 pages, commonly 12, 16, 24, or 32 — stapled along the spine. Right for company profiles, product catalogues, annual reports, and event programmes. Key constraint: saddle-stitch requires page counts in multiples of four. For booklets of 32+ pages, perfect binding — a flat spine with printable text — looks more professional and is worth the additional cost.
Paper stock for brochures
For folded leaflets: 128–157gsm art paper is standard. Below 128gsm and the paper feels thin when folded — fine for high-volume promotional pieces, less appropriate for a brand brochure. For saddle-stitch booklets: 100–130gsm inside pages with a 200–300gsm cover. The cover is handled first — upgrading it elevates the perceived quality of the whole piece.
Page count planning
Saddle-stitch booklets require page counts in multiples of four (8, 12, 16, 20…). If you’re designing a booklet and your content doesn’t land on a multiple of four, you’ll end up with unintentional blank pages. Plan your page structure before laying out content — it saves significant redesign time.
Short runs available
ExpressPrint handles short-run booklets from as few as 10 copies — useful for testing a new design, producing VIP proposal packs, or fulfilling a specific client brief without committing to a large minimum. Free design check and WhatsApp updates on every order.
Products mentioned in this article:
Booklet (Saddle Stitch)Booklet (Perfect Bind)Booklet (Hard Cover)Booklet (Short Run)Flyers / Brochures
