How to Make a Brochure in Microsoft Word Step by Step

To make a tri-fold brochure in Microsoft Word, set the page to landscape, divide each of two pages into three panels, add your text and images, and print the pages double-sided. You can build the panels with tables for better control, or start with a Word template if you want a quicker design. The steps below use Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows; Mac differences are noted where they matter.

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365, or a recent desktop version of Word.
Your brochure text, contact details, logo, and any photos or illustrations you plan to use.
A printer that supports two-sided printing, or access to a print shop. You can also save the finished file as a PDF for printing elsewhere.
The intended paper size. Letter is common in the United States; A4 is common in many other countries.

Step-by-Step

Choose a template or start a blank document. For a ready-made layout, open Word and choose File > New, then search for brochure. Select a template and choose Create. Check that it has the number and style of panels you want; some templates are not tri-folds. To build your own, choose a blank document. Save it with File > Save As before doing substantial layout work.
Set the page size and orientation. On Windows, open Layout > Orientation > Landscape. Then choose Layout > Size and select Letter or A4, as appropriate. If the paper size you need is not listed, choose More Paper Sizes and enter its dimensions. On Mac, use the Layout tab for orientation and size; in some versions, paper size is also available through File > Page Setup.
Set margins before laying out the panels. Choose Layout > Margins > Narrow for a little more usable space, or select Custom Margins to enter values. Avoid putting important text right against the paper edge: many printers cannot print to the edge. If you plan to use a print shop, ask for its required bleed and safe-area specifications before designing.
Make the outside page with a three-cell table. Choose Insert > Table and create a table with one row and three columns. Stretch it across the printable width of the page. Click inside the table, then use the contextual Table Layout tab and Distribute Columns to make the panels equal. If you need a particular fold-in flap width, adjust that column slightly narrower. The exact panel widths depend on the paper size and printer margins.
Plan the outside panel order. For a standard tri-fold, the outside page reads from left to right as the back cover, the front cover, and the fold-in flap. Put the title, a clear image, and a brief promise or description on the front cover. Use the back for contact details, a website, or a call to action. The flap can introduce the topic or preview what readers will find inside. Fold a blank sheet into thirds to check which panel ends up where before adding final content.
Build the inside page. Click after the first table and insert a page break with Ctrl+Enter on Windows. On Mac, use Command+Enter. Insert a second one-row, three-column table on the new page and distribute the columns. The inside panels read from left to right in the same order as the open sheet. Add your main information here, arranging it in a sequence that makes sense when someone opens the brochure.
Put content into each panel. Use short headings, concise paragraphs, and lists rather than filling every inch with text. Keep each panel focused on one idea, such as services, steps, benefits, or event details. To add an image, choose Insert > Pictures and select a source. For simpler placement, set the image to In Line with Text from the picture layout options so it stays with the content in its cell. Resize from a corner handle to preserve the image proportions.
Format the brochure consistently. Use a small set of fonts and colors, with headings visibly larger than body text. Apply built-in styles from Home > Styles where useful, and use paragraph spacing rather than repeated blank lines. To remove table gridlines from the design, click in the table and choose Table Design > Borders > No Border. If you want to see panel boundaries while editing, use the table gridlines display; these guides do not print. You can temporarily apply light shading to distinguish panels, then remove it before printing.
Review, export, and print a proof. Check spelling, web addresses, phone numbers, image quality, and the order of the panels. Use File > Print to preview both pages. If your printer supports duplex printing, choose two-sided printing and usually Flip on short edge for a landscape tri-fold; printer drivers label this setting differently, so test a copy and check the orientation. If printing manually, print one side first, reinsert the sheet as directed by your printer, and print the other side. To share or send the file to a print provider, use File > Save As or File > Export and choose PDF.

Common Mistakes

Designing before setting the paper size. Changing from Letter to A4 after arranging panels can shift images and text. Choose the paper first, then check the page and fold after any later size change.

Putting the front cover in the wrong cell. A tri-fold’s outside panel order is not simply three consecutive inside pages. Confirm the outside order by folding a blank sheet, and label the cells temporarily while you work.

Fitting too much copy into each panel. Dense text is hard to scan and may shrink or overflow when you print. Prioritize the information readers need, use headings and bullets, and move extra detail to a website or QR code.

Ignoring printer limits. Narrow margins do not guarantee borderless printing. Keep essential text and logos away from the edges, and do not use a full-bleed background unless your printer or print shop can produce it correctly.

Assuming the screen is the final proof. A two-sided layout can look correct on screen but print upside down or with the reverse side misaligned. Print one physical copy before making a larger batch.

Tips

Write and edit the copy before finalizing the layout. A clear headline and a single purpose for each panel make the design easier to organize.
Keep headings, body text, and contact details at readable sizes. If you have to reduce text substantially to make it fit, shorten the copy or simplify the layout instead.
Use high-resolution images and crop them to suit the panel. Avoid stretching a picture to fill a space; use the crop controls if you need a different shape.
Leave a little extra space near fold lines. Small text or fine details placed directly on a crease can be difficult to read after folding.
Save a working Word copy as well as a PDF. The Word file is easier to revise; the PDF is useful for sharing a stable version that preserves the layout.
If you use a template, replace its sample text and images completely, then inspect every panel. Placeholder content can be easy to overlook in a two-sided design.

Troubleshooting

A table or panel moves onto another page: Reduce excess paragraph spacing, shorten content, or resize images. Check whether a paragraph inside a cell has unwanted spacing after it. Select the text and use Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing to adjust spacing. Also confirm that the page size and margins are the ones you intended.

The columns are uneven: Click in the table and use Table Layout > Distribute Columns. If one cell keeps changing width, check whether an image or long unbroken web address is forcing it wider. Resize the image, or add a line break in the address where appropriate.

The reverse side prints upside down or in the wrong order: The duplex setting depends on the printer and how the sheet is fed. Try a single test sheet using the other flip option, then fold it and inspect the panels. If you are printing manually, note which edge enters the printer first and follow its paper-loading instructions.

Images shift after editing: Select the image and set it to In Line with Text, then position it within its table cell. Floating images can be harder to control because they may anchor to a paragraph and move when text changes.

The printed colors or edges look different: Check the print preview and printer settings, and make sure the selected paper matches the paper loaded. For a design that runs to the edge, ask a print provider about bleed and trim rather than relying on a standard home printer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Word make a brochure automatically?
Yes. Choose File > New and search for brochure to find templates. Templates can save time, but review their page setup, panel order, and sample content before printing.

How many pages does a tri-fold brochure need?
A standard tri-fold uses two landscape pages: one page for the outside panels and one for the inside panels. Each page has three panels, giving six panels in total.

Should I use columns or a table?
Either can work. Word’s columns are useful for flowing continuous text, but a one-row, three-column table gives you more independent control over each brochure panel. For a brochure with separate images and headings in each panel, tables are often easier to manage.

How do I print a tri-fold brochure double-sided?
Open File > Print, select two-sided printing, and test the short-edge flip option for a landscape page. Printer terminology and paper-feed direction vary, so fold a test copy before printing multiple brochures.

Can I make a brochure in Word on a Mac?
Yes. Word for Mac has the same basic tools for page orientation, tables, pictures, and PDF export. Ribbon names can vary slightly by version; use the Layout tab or File > Page Setup for page settings, and print a test to confirm duplex orientation.

How do I send the brochure to a printer?
Save or export it as a PDF, then provide the PDF and the print shop’s requested paper size and finishing details. Ask whether it needs bleed, crop marks, a particular color format, or a specific panel width before you finalize the file.

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