A6 Booklet Printing

Stapled A6 Booklets for Pocket Guides and Programmes

A6 is the pocket format. At 105 x 148mm — a quarter of an A4 — it's the size to choose when the booklet needs to be carried rather than filed: event programmes, pocket guides, instruction leaflets, recipe books, orders of service and product manuals that live in the box. The compact size also keeps postage down, which matters for anything going out in volume.

Our A6 booklets are saddle stitched, with pages folded and stapled through the spine so the booklet opens flat. Available from 8 to 72 pages, in runs from just 25 copies.

Page Counts: Why Multiples of Four

Booklet page counts must be a multiple of four. This isn't a rule we've invented — it's how saddle stitching works. Each sheet of paper is folded in half and produces four printed pages, two on each side, so there's no way to add pages in smaller increments without leaving a loose sheet.

Choose from 8pp, 12pp, 16pp and upwards in fours, to a maximum of 72pp. "pp" means printed pages, not sheets — a 16pp booklet is four folded sheets giving sixteen sides. If your content lands on an awkward number, add a contents page, a notes page, or leave an inside cover blank to round up.

Paper Stocks

Covers and inner pages are specified separately, so you can pair a heavier cover with lighter inners.

Inner pages: 90gsm uncoated, 115gsm silk, 120gsm uncoated, 130gsm gloss, 150gsm silk, 170gsm silk.

Covers: all of the above, plus 170gsm uncoated, 250gsm silk, 250gsm uncoated and 350gsm silk.

Uncoated takes pen cleanly and suits text-heavy work. Silk holds colour with a low sheen. Gloss gives the most saturation. Lighter inner stocks are worth considering at A6, since a pocket booklet on heavy paper becomes bulky quickly. Specifying the same stock throughout gives a self-cover booklet, the most economical option.

Lamination and Binding

Cover lamination is available in gloss, matt or soft touch, single or double sided. Single sided protects the outside of the cover; double sided laminates both faces. Worth considering at A6, since pocket booklets take more wear than something that sits on a desk. Laminated surfaces can't be written on with a standard pen.

Choose long edge binding for a standard portrait booklet, with the spine down the 148mm side, or short edge for landscape.

Supplying Your Artwork

Supply single pages, not spreads. Every page should be a separate page in your PDF at finished A6 size. Don't supply facing pages side by side as a double-width spread — we impose the pages for printing, and a reader spread has to be taken apart first.

Supply pages in running order. Page 1 is the front cover, page 2 the inside front cover, through to the back cover. Don't arrange them in printing order.

• Finished size: 105 x 148mm
• Bleed: 3mm all round
• Safe zone: 5mm minimum
• Page count: multiple of 4, 8pp to 72pp
• Resolution: 300 dpi minimum
• Format: PDF, CMYK, no printer marks
• Fonts: outlined or embedded

Margins matter more at A6 than at larger sizes. Keep text at least 5mm from the trim edge, and allow a little extra on the inside edge for thicker booklets.

Every file is checked by a real person before printing, so obvious problems get flagged. We don't make changes or fixes to artwork — files should be supplied print-ready.

Turnaround & Delivery

Choose a 1 working day turnaround for urgent jobs, or 3–4 working days for standard production. The first working day begins the day after your order is placed. Turnaround is production time only and doesn't include delivery.

Standard UK delivery is free on all A6 booklet orders, whatever the page count or quantity. Collection from our Burnley facility is also available.

Need more room? Our A5 booklets and A4 booklets offer the same options at larger sizes.

FAQs

What's the minimum order?
25 booklets.

How many pages can I have?
From 8 to 72 printed pages, in multiples of four.

Why does it have to be a multiple of four?
Each folded sheet produces four printed pages, two on each side. Anything else would leave a loose sheet.

My content is 14 pages. What do I do?
Round up to 16pp by adding a contents page, a notes page, or leaving an inside cover blank.

Should I supply spreads or single pages?
Single pages, in running order, at finished A6 size.

Can the cover be a different stock from the inside pages?
Yes, with heavier options available on the cover up to 350gsm silk.

Should I choose A6 or A5?
A6 is pocket sized and cheaper to post. A5 gives roughly twice the page area and is easier to read at length.

Is delivery really free?
Yes, on all A6 booklet orders, with no minimum spend.