How to Make a Brochure in Microsoft Word

To make a brochure in Microsoft Word, start with a brochure template or set a blank document to landscape, divide it into three columns, and create a separate two-sided layout for the outside and inside panels. You will need Word, your text and images, and a printer or a PDF workflow. Before you begin, decide whether you want a tri-fold brochure, the most common format, and check the finished sheet’s size with the printer that will produce it.

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows. The ribbon labels below match the Windows desktop app; on Mac, the same options are generally on the Layout tab, though their placement can differ slightly.
Your brochure copy, including a headline, key details, contact information, and a clear next step for the reader.
Good-quality photos, logos, or illustrations saved on your computer. Use images you have permission to publish.
The intended paper size and print method. Confirm whether the brochure will be printed on US Letter, A4, or another size, and whether printing is single- or double-sided.
Optional: a printer and a spare sheet for a folding and alignment test. You can also save the brochure as a PDF and send it to a print shop.

Step-by-Step

Choose a template or start with a blank file. In Word, select File > New, then search for brochure. Choose a template whose panel arrangement and style suit your content, and select Create. Templates may be downloaded from Microsoft, so an internet connection may be needed. Check the template before replacing anything: some have several pages, sample text, or a different fold style. If you prefer to control the layout yourself, create a blank document instead.
Set the paper size and page direction. On a blank document, go to Layout > Orientation > Landscape. Then choose Layout > Size and select the paper your printer or print service requires, such as Letter or A4. Do this before arranging content, since changing the size later can alter column widths and move text. If the intended size is not listed, use Layout > Size > More Paper Sizes and enter the dimensions provided by your printer.
Set margins and create three panels. Select Layout > Margins > Custom Margins. Use the print provider’s recommendations if available; otherwise, start with margins around 0.5 inch (about 1.27 cm), while remembering that a home printer may not print close to the paper edge. Select Layout > Columns > More Columns, choose Three, and apply the setting to the whole document. Leave a small gap between columns so text and images do not crowd the folds. You can leave Equal column width selected for a simple layout. For a roll fold, the panel that tucks inside often needs to be slightly narrower; clear that option and adjust widths only if you know the fold and measurements specified by your printer. The exact allowance varies with paper and folding equipment.
Plan the two sides before adding content. A tri-fold normally uses one landscape page for the outside and a second for the inside. Think of the page as three vertical panels. For a common roll fold, the outside spread is often arranged left to right as the inside flap, back cover, and front cover; the inside spread contains the three interior panels. Templates can use a different order, so check their labels and fold a test sheet before placing important content. Add a second page with Ctrl+Enter on Windows (on Mac, use Command+Enter) if you are building a blank layout.
Put each panel’s content in the right column. Click at the start of the first panel and type or paste its text. To move directly to the next column, select Layout > Breaks > Column. On Windows, Ctrl+Shift+Enter also inserts a column break; on Mac, the equivalent shortcut can vary with keyboard and Word version, so use the ribbon command if needed. Add a column break after each panel rather than pressing Enter repeatedly to push text across. When you reach the last panel on the outside, insert a page break before creating the inside content. Repeat the panel-by-panel process on page two. If you use a template, replace its sample content without adding extra breaks unless its layout calls for them.
Write concise copy for each panel. Give the front cover one clear headline, a short description, and a strong image or visual. Use the inside panels for the main information, grouping related details under short headings. Put practical information such as opening hours, an address, contact details, or a call to action where readers can find it easily—often on the back panel. Avoid trying to fit an entire report onto the page. A brochure works best when each panel communicates one main idea and points to the next.
Format headings and body text consistently. Use the Home tab to choose readable fonts, sizes, and paragraph spacing. A clear heading hierarchy helps readers scan the panels: make the main cover headline largest, use smaller but distinct section headings, and keep body text comfortably readable at the final printed size. Keep text away from the edges and fold lines. Do not rely on color alone to distinguish important information, since a printout may be viewed in grayscale or by someone with limited color vision.
Add and position images. Choose Insert > Pictures and select an image from your device. Select the image, then use Picture Format > Wrap Text to choose a layout such as Square or In Front of Text if you need to position it freely. For predictable placement, keep images within their intended column and check that text does not overlap them. Resize from a corner handle to preserve proportions. Use large, clear source files; a tiny image enlarged to fill a panel may look blurry in print.
Make the design cohesive and easy to scan. Limit the number of fonts and colors, repeat heading styles across panels, and use alignment and white space consistently. Check that logos and images are not too close to a fold. Add a page number only if it helps readers navigate; it is usually unnecessary for a short tri-fold. If you add a QR code, test it from a printed copy at its intended size and include a short link or contact option as a backup.
Proofread and inspect the layout. Use Review > Editor or Word’s spelling and grammar tools, then read the brochure slowly for missing words, inaccurate details, and inconsistent capitalization. Select View > Print Layout and inspect every panel on both pages. Check for text spilling into the next column, awkward line breaks, cropped images, and elements too near the paper edge. If you can, print one copy and fold it in the intended direction; the physical test reveals panel-order errors that can be hard to spot onscreen.
Print a test or export a PDF. For a home test, select File > Print, confirm the paper size and orientation, and use the print preview to inspect both pages. If printing double-sided, choose the printer’s duplex option and test a single sheet first. The correct flip setting depends on the printer and layout, so check the result rather than assuming it. For a print shop, use File > Save As or File > Export and choose PDF, then verify that the PDF has the intended page size and two-page order. Follow the shop’s instructions for bleed, color, and file delivery.

Common Mistakes

Designing at the wrong paper size. Starting in Letter and switching to A4 at the end can shift content. Confirm the final sheet size before setting margins and columns.
Putting the panels in the wrong order. The front cover may not be the rightmost panel in every template or folding style. Mark a spare sheet with outside and inside labels, fold it, and use it as a map.
Using spaces or repeated line breaks to position content. These can shift unpredictably when text or fonts change. Use column breaks, paragraph settings, and image-wrapping controls instead.
Overfilling the panels. Dense paragraphs and tiny type make a brochure difficult to scan. Edit for the essential points and direct readers elsewhere for extra detail.
Ignoring printer limits and fold clearance. Home printers may leave unprinted edges, and folds can cover nearby text. Keep important content inside the safe area and respect any printer specifications.
Assuming the screen preview guarantees a good fold. Duplex alignment and fold direction can vary. Print and fold a test before producing a large batch.

Tips

Draft the panel content in a separate document first, then decide what belongs on the cover, inside, and back. This reduces layout changes after you have formatted the page.
Use short paragraphs, descriptive headings, and lists where they make information easier to scan. Keep the call to action specific, such as a phone number to call or a website to visit.
Keep a copy of the original template or save a separate working version before major changes. Word templates can contain columns, text boxes, and other elements that are easy to disturb while editing.
Use File > Save As to keep an editable Word copy as well as a PDF for sharing or printing. The Word file is useful for corrections; the PDF helps preserve the layout on another computer.
When the brochure must meet a print shop’s specifications, ask for its template or measurements before building a custom layout. Its folding equipment may require a particular panel width, margin, or bleed.

Troubleshooting

Text keeps flowing into the wrong panel: Turn on formatting marks with Home > ¶ to see paragraph marks and breaks. Remove extra breaks, then insert a column break where one panel should end. Avoid using repeated blank paragraphs as spacers.
The second page starts in an unexpected column: Check for an extra column break or a section break near the end of page one. Delete the unwanted break and insert a page break after the third panel. If you are using a template, follow its existing page and section structure rather than rebuilding it blindly.
Columns do not look the same width: Open Layout > Columns > More Columns and review the column count, spacing, and Equal column width setting. Also verify that the document has not been divided into sections with different layouts.
Images jump or cover text: Select the picture and choose a more suitable option under Picture Format > Wrap Text. For a simple brochure, try In Line with Text to keep the image anchored in the text flow, or move a floating image fully inside its panel.
The printed back is upside down or reversed: Print one test sheet and check the printer’s duplex or flip option. The setting can vary by printer and paper orientation. If necessary, ask the print provider which setting it expects for a landscape tri-fold.
The printout has clipped edges or fuzzy images: Move content farther from the paper edge, check the printer’s paper-size setting, and use higher-resolution source images. If the design needs printing to the edge, ask a print shop about bleed rather than assuming a home printer supports borderless output.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a brochure in Word without a template?
Yes. Set the page to landscape, choose the correct paper size and margins, create three columns, and use column breaks to control the panels. Add a second page for the other side and verify panel order with a folded test sheet.

How many pages should a tri-fold brochure have?
A standard tri-fold uses two printed sides: one landscape sheet with three panels on the outside and three on the inside. In Word, that is usually two document pages, printed back-to-back on one sheet.

How do I print a Word brochure double-sided?
In File > Print, choose the printer’s two-sided or duplex option if available. Confirm the paper orientation and test the flip setting with one sheet, since the correct choice depends on the printer and how the brochure is folded.

Can I save my brochure as a PDF?
Yes. Use File > Save As and choose PDF as the file type, or select File > Export and create a PDF. Open the saved PDF and check its page size, panel order, and image placement before sending it to print.

Should I use columns or a table?
Columns are a straightforward choice when text should flow from one panel to the next. A table can give you more direct control over individual panel widths, but it takes extra care to manage cell margins, borders, and content. Use the method that best matches your template and printing requirements.

Does the process differ on a Mac?
The core layout approach is similar in Word for Mac: set landscape orientation, choose three columns, and use breaks to separate panels. Ribbon placement and some shortcuts can differ from Windows, so use the Layout tab commands if a keyboard shortcut does not work.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

Spotted an error in this guide? Let us know.