How to Print a Booklet in Word (Book Fold Guide)

Word can turn a regular document into a folded booklet, such as a program, zine, menu, or small manual, by printing two pages side by side on each sheet in the right order, so you just fold and staple. The key setting is Book fold. This guide walks through setting it up, printing double-sided correctly (the step most people get wrong), and fixing common problems.

Quick Answer

Go to Layout > Margins > Custom Margins, set Multiple pages to Book fold, and click OK. Then go to File > Print, choose Print on Both Sides – Flip pages on short edge (or Manually Print on Both Sides), and print. Fold the stack in half and staple along the fold.

Step 1: Set Up the Booklet Layout

It’s easiest to do this before you add content, but you can apply it to an existing document and then fix the layout.

1. Open your document and click the Layout tab (called Page Layout in older versions).
2. Click Margins > Custom Margins (or click the small arrow in the Page Setup group).
3. Under Pages, set Multiple pages to Book fold. Word switches to landscape automatically.
4. Set Sheets per booklet:
   • All prints one booklet with all pages nested (best up to about 40 pages / 10 sheets).
   • A number like 4 or 8 creates smaller booklets (signatures) that you stack and bind, which folds more neatly for long documents.
5. Adjust Inside and Outside margins, and add a Gutter (for example, 0.25″) so text doesn’t disappear into the fold or staples.
6. On the Paper tab, choose your sheet size (for example, Letter makes a half-letter booklet; A4 makes an A5 booklet).
7. Click OK.

Step 2: Add Content and Check Page Count

• Each sheet holds four booklet pages (two per side), so aim for a page count that’s a multiple of 4. Word adds blank pages at the end if needed; add your own back-cover content so the booklet doesn’t end on blanks.
• Use Insert > Page Number for page numbers. Word numbers booklet pages in reading order.
• Check images and text boxes after switching to Book fold; they may need resizing for the smaller page.

Step 3: Print Double-Sided Correctly

1. Click File > Print.
2. Under Settings, choose:
   • Print on Both Sides – Flip pages on short edge if your printer supports automatic duplex. Short edge is essential for booklets; long edge prints the backs upside down.
   • Manually Print on Both Sides if it doesn’t. Word prints the fronts, then prompts you to reload the stack and prints the backs. Test with two sheets first to learn which way to reinsert the paper.
3. Make sure the orientation shows Landscape and the paper size matches your sheets.
4. Click Print.

Step 4: Fold and Bind

1. Keep the printed sheets in order and fold the whole stack in half along the short side.
2. Crease firmly with a ruler or bone folder.
3. Staple along the fold (a long-reach stapler makes this easy), or open the stack flat and staple from the outside into a folded piece of cardboard.
4. For thick booklets, trim the outer edge with a paper cutter, since inner pages stick out slightly.

Troubleshooting

• Back pages are upside down: you printed with “flip on long edge.” Switch to short edge.
• Pages are in the wrong order: make sure you printed from Word with Book fold set, not a PDF that was already rearranged, and that you didn’t reverse the stack when reloading for manual duplex.
• Printer’s own “Booklet” option: don’t use it together with Word’s Book fold, or the pages get rearranged twice. Use one or the other.
• Text too close to the fold: increase the Gutter or Inside margin.

Other Ways to Make a Booklet

• Templates: File > New, search for “booklet,” and start from a designed template.
• Word for Mac: the same steps work: Layout > Margins > Custom Margins > Multiple pages > Book fold; in the Print dialog, choose two-sided with Short-Edge binding.
• PDF booklet printing: free PDF readers often have a Booklet print option, which is handy if the document is already a PDF.

Frequently Asked Questions

What paper size makes a standard booklet?

Letter (8.5″ × 11″) folds into a 5.5″ × 8.5″ booklet. Legal makes 7″ × 8.5″, and tabloid (11″ × 17″) makes a full letter-size booklet.

Can I make a booklet in Word Online?

Word for the web has limited page setup. Use the desktop app for Book fold, or use a booklet template.

How many pages can a stapled booklet have?

Around 40–60 pages (10–15 sheets) folds well with standard paper. Beyond that, use smaller signatures or a different binding.

Summary

1. Layout > Margins > Custom Margins and set Multiple pages to Book fold.
2. Set a gutter and paper size, and keep the page count a multiple of 4.
3. Print double-sided, flipping on the short edge.
4. Fold and staple along the crease.