How to Create a Booklet in Microsoft Word

Whether you are designing a program for a local theater production, a small instructional manual, or a menu for an event, printing a professional-looking booklet can be tricky. You cannot simply print standard 8.5″ x 11″ pages and fold them in half, as the page ordering will be completely wrong.

Fortunately, Microsoft Word has a hidden “Book fold” setting that automatically calculates the precise pagination required so that when you print double-sided and fold the stack of paper down the middle, the pages read in perfect chronological order.

How to Set Up Your Document as a Booklet

It is highly recommended that you change these settings before you start typing your content, as switching to booklet mode will drastically change the size of your margins and the amount of text that fits on a single page.

1. Open a new Microsoft Word document.
2. Click the Layout tab on the ribbon at the top of the screen.
3. In the bottom-right corner of the Page Setup group, click the small pop-out arrow icon. (This opens the detailed Page Setup dialog box).
4. In the “Pages” section, look for the Multiple pages drop-down menu.
5. Change it from “Normal” to Book fold.
6. You will notice the orientation automatically changes to Landscape. This is correct, as two booklet pages will be printed side-by-side on one standard sheet of paper.
7. In the same dialog box, you can adjust your margins. Keep in mind that the “Gutter” margin is the space needed in the center for folding or stapling. A standard gutter of 0.5 inches is usually safe.
8. Click OK.

How to Print Your Booklet

The layout is only half the battle; printing it correctly is the final step.

1. Go to File > Print.
2. Under the Settings section, ensure it is set to Print on Both Sides (double-sided printing).
3. Crucial Step: Make sure the double-sided setting is set to Flip pages on short edge. If you leave it on the default “long edge” setting, the back of every page will be printed upside down.
4. Click the Print button.

Once the printer finishes, simply take the entire stack of paper exactly as it came out of the tray, fold it down the middle, and your booklet is complete.