How to Create a Brochure Template in Microsoft Word

Create a reusable brochure template in Word by setting up a landscape page, arranging its panels in a three-column table, adding placeholders and styles, then saving the file as a Word template. Before designing, decide whether you need a one-sided or two-sided brochure and check the paper size your printer or print shop requires.

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, or a recent version of Word for Mac.
The paper size you plan to print on, such as US Letter or A4, and the finished brochure format, such as a tri-fold.
Your logo, images, brand colors, and draft text, if available. You can use clearly marked placeholders if the content is not ready.
A printer for a test copy, or access to a print shop’s specifications. A plain sheet of paper is useful for checking folds and panel order.

Step-by-Step

Plan the panels before opening Word. A standard tri-fold brochure has six panels: three on the outside and three on the inside. For the outside of a typical letter-size sheet viewed horizontally, the left panel is the fold-in flap, the middle panel is the back, and the right panel is the front cover. The inside page has three reading panels from left to right. Confirm the panel order with a quick paper mock-up: fold a landscape sheet into thirds, mark the cover, then unfold it. Print shops may supply a different panel map, so follow their template if they provide one.
Start a blank document and set the paper size. Choose File > New > Blank document. In Word for Windows, open Layout > Size and select the paper size you will print. If the required size is not listed, choose More Paper Sizes and enter the width and height. In Word for Mac, use the Layout tab and its Size control; depending on the release, paper settings may also be under File > Page Setup. Set the size now because it affects the panel widths and text wrapping.
Make the page landscape and choose margins. Select Layout > Orientation > Landscape. Then open Layout > Margins > Custom Margins and set margins that suit your printer. Half an inch is a workable starting point for many home printers, but some cannot print that close to the edge. For commercial printing, use the margin and bleed requirements supplied by the printer. Do not set margins to zero unless the printer specifically supports borderless printing.
Build the outside page with a three-cell table. Click at the top of the page and choose Insert > Table, then select one row and three columns. A table gives each panel its own text area, so adding copy to one panel will not unexpectedly flow into another. Click inside the table and use the contextual Table Layout tab to set a consistent width. Choose AutoFit > Fixed Column Width so Word does not keep resizing columns as you type. If you want a narrower fold-in flap, adjust that cell’s width slightly and keep the total table within the printable area. The exact widths depend on page size, margins, fold style, and printer; check them against a physical fold rather than assuming all three panels must be identical.
Leave a little room for folds and printer limits. Keep important text, logos, and faces away from the panel edges and folds. A small gap between cells can help distinguish panels on screen, but a visible gap may create unwanted white lines in print. If you use cell margins, set them consistently through Table Layout > Cell Margins. Keep a temporary table grid or light borders while building the design; these are useful guides. Before printing, decide whether borders should appear on the finished brochure.
Label the outside panels while you work. Type temporary labels such as “Fold-in flap,” “Back cover,” and “Front cover” in the three cells. Use the panel map you made, not the labels as a substitute for a test fold. Add short placeholder copy such as [Opening message], [Contact details], and [Headline]. Mark every changeable item clearly. This makes the file useful as a template and reduces the chance that someone will leave sample content in a finished brochure.
Create the inside page. Click after the outside-page table and insert a page break with Ctrl+Enter on Windows or Command+Enter on Mac. On the new page, insert another one-row, three-column table using Insert > Table. Label the cells “Inside left,” “Inside middle,” and “Inside right” temporarily, then add placeholders for the main content. Use a page break rather than pressing Enter repeatedly: extra paragraph marks can shift the second page when content changes. If the table runs onto another page, shorten the placeholders or adjust the table and margins before adding final copy.
Set up reusable text styles. Select a sample heading and choose a style from Home > Styles, such as Heading 1 for a main panel heading and Heading 2 for smaller headings. Use the same body-text style in all panels. To change a style for this document, right-click its name in the Styles gallery and choose Modify. Set readable sizes and contrast rather than relying on color alone to show hierarchy. A consistent style makes later edits faster and helps the brochure look like one coordinated piece.
Add the visual elements and keep them editable. Use Insert > Pictures to add a logo or image. Select an image and use Picture Format > Wrap Text to choose how text sits around it; In Line with Text is often the most predictable option inside a table cell. Resize images from a corner so their proportions stay intact, and avoid placing a large image across a fold. Add a footer or page number only if it makes sense for the design; brochure panels do not always need conventional page numbering.
Check panel sequence, spacing, and print behavior. Turn on formatting marks with Home > Paragraph > Show/Hide to spot extra paragraph marks and page breaks. Review both pages in View > Print Layout. Use File > Print to inspect the preview, confirm paper size and orientation, and check whether the printer will print both sides. If duplex printing is available, choose the appropriate two-sided setting and make a test copy. Fold the test sheet and confirm that the cover, back, flap, and inside panels appear in the intended positions.
Remove guides and save as a template. Delete temporary panel labels and replace them with useful prompts, but keep any instructions that help the next editor. If you used table borders as guides, select the table and use Table Design > Borders to remove borders or choose the intended final border treatment. Save the reusable file with File > Save As. In Windows, select Word Template (*.dotx) as the file type; in Word for Mac, use File > Save as Template. Give it a clear name such as Tri-fold brochure template. To make a brochure later, open the template and save a new document under a different name, leaving the original template unchanged.

Common Mistakes

Assuming every panel should be the same width: A fold-in panel often needs to be slightly narrower to tuck neatly inside. The difference depends on the paper, fold, and printer, so use the print provider’s measurements where available and check with a folded proof.

Designing only on screen: A page can look aligned in Word but print with shifted margins, clipped edges, or a different duplex orientation. A physical proof catches these problems before you share or order a large print run.

Using spaces or repeated tabs to create columns: Those arrangements break as soon as text, fonts, or page size change. Use separate table cells for fixed panels so each section stays in place.

Putting too much copy in each panel: Dense text becomes difficult to scan, especially after folding. Prioritize the key message, use short paragraphs and clear headings, and check the smallest text at actual print size.

Leaving guides or sample text in the final file: A border used to line up content may print, and a placeholder may be mistaken for final copy. Label prompts clearly and inspect the print preview after removing or changing guide lines.

Tips

Keep a clean master template and create a separate document for each new brochure. This protects the reusable layout from accidental edits.
Use descriptive placeholders, such as [Website] or [Replace with product photo], instead of generic filler paragraphs. They tell the next editor what belongs in the space.
Keep colors, heading styles, and image treatment consistent across all six panels. Use strong contrast so small text remains legible on paper.
Compress large pictures if the document becomes slow or difficult to email. In Word, select a picture and look for Picture Format > Compress Pictures; available options can vary by platform and version.
Save a PDF proof for review or printing by choosing File > Save As or File > Export and selecting PDF. Reopen the PDF and check the panel order before sending it.
For a print shop, ask whether it wants crop marks, bleed, a particular PDF standard, or a specific panel layout. A basic Word template does not automatically add professional bleed.

Troubleshooting

The table will not stay within the page: Check Layout > Margins and the table’s total width. Reduce the cell widths or margins slightly, while staying inside the printer’s printable area. If Word changes widths as text is entered, select the table and choose Table Layout > AutoFit > Fixed Column Width.

The inside page starts in the wrong place: Turn on Home > Paragraph > Show/Hide and look for extra empty paragraphs or more than one page break. Remove the extras and keep a single manual page break between the two panel tables.

Text is cut off or makes a cell too tall: Shorten the copy, reduce unnecessary paragraph spacing, or use a slightly smaller readable font. Also check whether an image is forcing the cell to expand. Avoid shrinking type until it is hard to read; editing the text is usually the better fix.

The table borders appear in print: Gridlines used for editing are different from actual table borders. If lines print, select the table and inspect Table Design > Borders; choose No Border if you do not want them. Print preview to confirm the result.

The back side is upside down or panels are reversed: Duplex settings differ between printers and may offer flip-on-long-edge or flip-on-short-edge choices. Print one test sheet, try the other setting if needed, and fold it before printing more copies. If the panel order is wrong, revise the layout according to the folded proof and the printer’s instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Word have a built-in brochure template?
Yes. Choose File > New and search for “brochure” in the available templates. You can use one as a starting point, but check its paper size, panel order, and layout before replacing the content. The steps above help you build a reusable custom template.

Should I use columns or a table for a tri-fold?
A table is usually easier when each panel needs its own fixed content, images, and spacing. Word columns are useful when you want text to flow automatically from one column to the next, but that behavior can make panel-specific edits less predictable.

Can I make a one-page brochure instead?
Yes. Create one three-cell table on a landscape page and use it for a simple one-sided handout. If the brochure will be folded, still check the panel order and fold-in width with a printed sheet.

How do I edit a template without changing the original?
Open the template and use File > Save As to save a new document with a different name before replacing placeholders. In Windows, a template saved as .dotx is intended to create new documents rather than serve as the finished brochure.

Can I create this template in Word for Mac?
Yes. Page orientation, tables, styles, and template saving are available in Word for Mac, although some commands may appear in different ribbon groups or under File > Page Setup. Use Command+Enter for a page break and confirm the Mac version’s print and save options before finalizing.

Is Word suitable for a professional print run?
Word can make a straightforward brochure, but print requirements vary. Ask the print shop for its page dimensions, fold measurements, bleed, and PDF preferences, then review a proof. For complex layouts or full-bleed artwork, a dedicated page-layout application may be more suitable.

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