How to Make a Bifold Brochure in Word, Step by Step

To make a bifold brochure in Microsoft Word, create a two-page landscape document, divide each page into two panels, and arrange the outside and inside panels in the correct order. On Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, use Layout > Orientation > Landscape, then build each side with a two-column table or two columns; print both pages double-sided and fold the sheet in half.

What a bifold brochure is

A bifold brochure is one sheet folded once down the middle. The fold creates four panels: a front cover, a back cover, and two inside panels. It is different from a trifold, which has two folds and six panels. The distinction matters because a trifold template or panel order will not produce a standard bifold.

In a typical two-sided layout, page one of the Word file represents the outside of the sheet. Its left panel is the back cover and its right panel is the front cover. Page two represents the inside: its left and right panels appear together when the brochure is opened. If you plan the panels before adding text, you are less likely to put the cover on the wrong side.

A common finished size is a letter sheet folded in half, creating panels about 5.5 by 8.5 inches. An A4 sheet folded in half creates panels about 105 by 297 millimeters. Those are examples, not requirements: confirm the paper size and final dimensions with whoever will print the brochure.

Plan the four panels before opening Word

Decide what each panel needs to accomplish. A simple product brochure, for example, might put the product name and a strong image on the front, contact details on the back, and a short overview plus features on the inside. A community event brochure might use the inside for the schedule and location, while the back gives registration details. Keep the most important information easy to find rather than trying to fill every inch.

Sketch the two sides on paper, labeling the panels. Use this arrangement when viewing the pages on screen:

Page 1, outside: left panel is the back cover; right panel is the front cover.
Page 2, inside: left panel is the left inside; right panel is the right inside.

That diagram assumes the finished sheet is printed on both sides and folded vertically down the center. Printer drivers can describe duplex flipping differently, so treat a test print as the final check of orientation. Also gather final text, images, logos, contact details, and any required permissions before you lay out the pages. Replacing content late can push text across a fold or create an extra page.

Set up the Word document

In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, start a blank document and set the paper before designing. Choose Layout > Orientation > Landscape. Then choose Layout > Size and select the paper you will actually use, such as Letter or A4. If the needed size is not listed, open the Size menu and choose More Paper Sizes, then enter the dimensions supported by your printer or print provider.

Set the margins with Layout > Margins. A starting point such as 0.5 inches on each side leaves room for ordinary office printers, but check the printer’s nonprintable area and the provider’s specifications. Do not assume a home printer can print to the edge. If a commercial printer requires bleed, ask for its preferred file format and setup; Word is not a substitute for a print provider’s production requirements.

Save the file with a useful name before adding content. Make a two-page document, one page for each side of the sheet. A simple way to move from the outside to the inside is to finish the first page, then insert a page break with Ctrl+Enter on Windows. On Word for Mac, use Command+Return. Check that the document has exactly two designed pages before printing; overflowing content can add pages and disrupt the panel order.

Make two panels on each page

For a brochure with separate, carefully aligned panels, a two-column table is often easier to control than ordinary flowing text. Choose Insert > Table and create a table with one row and two columns. Use one table for the outside page and another on the inside page. Put the back cover in the first cell and front cover in the second cell on page one; place the two inside panels in order on page two.

Stretch the table across the usable page width and make its columns equal. In the contextual Table Layout tab, use the table sizing and cell alignment controls; opening Table Properties gives you additional control over table width and column measurements. Adjust cell margins so text does not sit against the fold or paper edge. To hide the table grid in the finished design, select it and choose Table Design > Borders > No Border. Gridlines used for editing are not necessarily printed borders, so use Print Preview to confirm what will appear.

Another option is Layout > Columns > Two. This suits a design that is mostly text and flows naturally from one panel to the next. To control exactly where the left panel ends, use Layout > Breaks > Column. Tables are usually preferable when each panel needs independent images, headings, or alignment; columns can be less predictable if a picture or a late edit changes the flow.

Keep the fold in mind while placing objects. A vertical center fold separates the two cells or columns. Avoid putting a face, small type, a phone number, or a logo directly across it. If you use images, choose a suitable text-wrapping option and check that the image remains inside its intended panel after edits.

Design for reading and printing

Give each panel a clear job and use a consistent visual system: a small set of fonts, a limited color palette, and repeated heading styles. Make the front cover identify the organization, service, or event quickly. The inside panels can provide supporting details in a logical order. The back cover is a useful place for contact information, a web address, opening hours, or a call to action, if those details are relevant.

Use headings, short paragraphs, and lists where they make details easier to scan. A brochure is a compact format, but reducing the font until everything fits makes it difficult to read. Enlarge or shorten the copy instead. Check contrast between text and background, especially for small type and colored panels. A screen can make pale text look clearer than it will on paper, so print a sample at actual size.

Use images that remain sharp at the final printed size, and avoid enlarging a small web image beyond its useful resolution. Keep essential text and logos comfortably inside the margins. A design may look balanced on screen yet feel crowded after folding, so review the front cover, back cover, and both inside panels as separate reading areas as well as a two-page spread.

Print and check the fold

Before printing a full run, use File > Print to inspect the preview and confirm the page count, paper size, orientation, and panel order. Select double-sided printing if your printer supports it. Duplex labels such as flip on long edge or flip on short edge refer to how the printer turns the sheet; which choice is right can depend on the printer and its driver. Print one test copy, fold it, and check whether the front cover is upright and the inside reads in the intended order. If it is upside down or on the wrong side, change the duplex setting or test the other option.

If the printer does not support automatic duplexing, print one side first, reinsert the sheet according to the printer’s instructions, and print the second side. Paper feed direction differs among printers, so do not rely on a universal reinsertion rule. Mark a spare sheet lightly to learn which edge enters first and which side receives the next print.

For a final proof, check spelling, links or contact details, image quality, margins, and whether text is too close to the fold. Make sure the printed sheet folds where the design expects. A small shift in printing or folding is normal on many office printers; generous margins help keep essential content clear of that variation.

Common problems and practical fixes

The cover prints on the back: Recheck the outside-page order: back cover left, front cover right. Then test the printer’s duplex setting with one sheet.
The brochure becomes three or more pages: Look for content that has pushed a table or paragraph onto a new page. Reduce excess spacing, shorten copy, or adjust the layout, then check the page count again.
Text crosses the fold: Move it farther inside its panel and leave a clear center gap. Do not depend on a fold landing at precisely the same point on every print.
Columns unexpectedly change: Use a column break to control text flow, or switch to a two-cell table when panel contents need to remain independent.
Edges are cut off: Check the paper size and printer margins, and keep important material away from the edges. For edge-to-edge professional printing, ask the provider about bleed and accepted file formats.

A frequent misconception is that choosing Landscape and Two Columns automatically creates a finished bifold. Those settings establish a useful page shape and text flow, but they do not identify the cover panel, impose a fold, or guarantee correct double-sided printing. Panel planning and a folded test copy are still necessary.

Templates and other ways to create one

Word may offer brochure templates through File > New and its template search, but availability can vary with the installed version and connected template catalog. Before using one, confirm it is designed for a single fold and inspect its page count and panel order. A template can save setup time, but replace its sample text and images carefully; a layout built for a trifold or a different paper size may not suit your project.

Word works well for straightforward brochures made from text, tables, and images. If the design needs extensive image control, precise bleed, or professional color and print-production settings, a desktop publishing application or the print provider’s recommended tool may be more suitable. You can still draft and proof the copy in Word, then move the approved content into the chosen layout tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Word have a bifold brochure button?
There is no single universal command that automatically lays out and prints every bifold correctly. Set up the landscape pages, arrange the four panels, and confirm the duplex orientation with a folded test print. A brochure template may provide a starting layout.

How many pages should a bifold brochure have in Word?
Usually two landscape pages: one represents the outside of the sheet and the other represents the inside. Each page has two panels. Make sure the document has not gained extra pages because of overflowing content.

Which side is the front cover?
In the common layout described here, the front cover is the right-hand panel of the outside page. The left-hand panel is the back cover. Verify this by printing and folding one copy because printer settings can affect the result.

Should I use columns or a table?
Use columns when the content is mostly continuous text that can flow from one panel to the next. Use a two-column table when the panels need separate images, headings, or precise placement. Both methods need a page break between the outside and inside.

Can I make a bifold brochure on Word for Mac?
Yes. Word for Mac has page orientation, paper size, tables, and columns. Ribbon labels and some controls can differ slightly from Windows, so look for the equivalent Layout, Insert, and table tabs. For a page break, use Command+Return rather than Ctrl+Enter.

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