PDF Booklet Maker
Choose a PDF and a paper size. The pages are rearranged two to a landscape sheet, in the order that reads correctly when you print double sided, stack and fold the pile in half.
Drag a PDF file here or choose one
Worked examples
An 8 page booklet
8 pages
4 printed sides in the order 8,1 then 2,7 then 6,3 then 4,5
Two sheets of paper, printed on both sides.
A 5 page file
5 pages
8 pages with 3 blanks, on 2 sheets
The count is rounded up to the next multiple of four.
About PDF Booklet Maker
A folded booklet is made by printing two pages on each side of a sheet and folding the pile in half. The trick is that the pages are not printed in reading order: the first sheet carries the last and first pages on one side. This tool reorders a PDF into that arrangement, so you can print it double sided, fold and staple.
The page count is rounded up to a multiple of four with blank pages at the end, because each sheet of paper holds four booklet pages. For an 8 page booklet the sides print in the order 8 and 1, 2 and 7, 6 and 3, then 4 and 5. Choose A4 paper for an A5 booklet, Letter for a half Letter booklet or A3 for an A4 one. When you print, choose double sided and flip on the short edge, or the backs will be the wrong way up. Links and form fields are not carried across, because the pages are redrawn.
How to use PDF Booklet Maker
- Choose the PDF file.
- Choose the paper size, which sets the size of the booklet pages.
- Press Make the booklet and download the new PDF.
- Print it double sided, flipping on the short edge, then fold the pile in half and staple along the fold.
Common uses
- Programmes for a wedding, a funeral or a school play
- A small zine or a short story collection
- A folded guide or a manual
- A recipe or a walking route booklet
Frequently asked questions
Why does the page order look odd?
In a folded booklet the pages on one side of a sheet are far apart in reading order. The first sheet carries the last and first pages, and the next sheet carries the second and the second to last, working inwards.
How should I print it?
Double sided, flipping on the short edge, at actual size. Print a short test file first, because printers differ in how they turn the paper.
How many pages can a booklet have?
Any number, which is rounded up to a multiple of four. Booklets of more than about 40 pages get bulky when folded, so split a longer file into volumes.
What if my page count is not a multiple of four?
Blank pages are added at the end to make up the number. If you want the blanks somewhere else, add them first with the Add Blank Pages to PDF tool.
What size is the finished booklet?
Half the sheet. A4 sheets give A5 pages, Letter sheets give half Letter pages, and A3 sheets give A4 pages.