Flyer, Leaflet or Booklet: What They Are and How They Differ
Flyers, leaflets and booklets are all advertising print: printed sheets a company uses to tell customers about itself, its products, services and promotions. They differ in how much information they carry, how many folds they have and who they are meant for. A flyer is the shortest of the three: one advertising offer on a small sheet. A leaflet tells a little more and is often meant for people who already know the company. A booklet is folded, so it can describe several services. Below we look at each one separately.
What a flyer is and what it looks like
A flyer is a small advertising sheet handed out to people who do not know the company yet. It is read on the go, so the message has to be clear at first glance. A typical flyer looks like this: an eye-catching headline or image, a short offer (an invitation to an event, a discount, news about a store opening), and contact details or a QR code linking to the website at the bottom.
Flyers are handed out on the street, at exhibition stands and events, and left at reception desks and checkouts, in other words wherever people can pick one up in passing and read it in a few seconds.
What paper flyers are printed on
Flyers are printed on gloss or matte paper of different weights. Colours look brighter on gloss paper, while matte paper has no glare, so text on it is easier to read.
Common flyer sizes
The flyer size depends on where it will be handed out and how much information it needs to hold.
| Format | Size, mm | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| A6 | 105×148 | Handing out at checkouts and reception desks |
| DL (Euro flyer) | 99×210 | Handing out at exhibitions and events |
| A5 | 148×210 | Flyers with a large image or a list of services |
What a leaflet is and how it differs from a flyer
A leaflet is any printed sheet without folds. So every flyer is a leaflet, but not every leaflet is a flyer. The difference is in the purpose. A flyer is aimed at new people and has to catch their attention. Leaflets, on the other hand, often go to existing customers: care instructions are put in the product box, a thank-you leaflet goes into an online store parcel, and a product description is left with partners after a meeting.
Leaflets are printed on the same paper and in the same formats as flyers. In addition, the larger A4 format (210×297 mm) is used for leaflets: it has room for a product description for a presentation or detailed instructions.
Why printed advertising is still useful for business in the age of social media, we explained in the article “What are the benefits of flyers and leaflets?”.
What a booklet is and what it looks like
A booklet is a single sheet folded once or several times to hold more information than a leaflet. In a print shop, this process is called folding. A booklet looks like a small publication with a cover, an inside spread and a back page, so the information can be laid out in order: grab attention on the cover, describe the services inside, and give contact details on the back.
Booklets are taken to exhibitions and presentations, left in stores and at reception desks, and used as menus, hotel guest guides or information sheets for patients and students. They are printed on coated paper from 170 to 350 g/m² with a matte or gloss finish, and premium booklets get a soft-touch finish with a velvety feel. Booklets are printed in A3, A4, A5 and A6 formats and in custom sizes.
Booklet samples: how they are folded
Booklets are most often folded in one of three ways:
- In half. This gives four pages, enough for an invitation, an event programme or a short presentation.
- In three. The outer panel is tucked inside, giving six pages. An A4 sheet folded this way becomes the size of a DL flyer.
- Accordion. The folds alternate in opposite directions, so the booklet opens up gradually. This works well for instructions, diagrams and routes.
Before printing the whole run, you can order a single test booklet. It shows whether the fold sits correctly, whether any text falls on the fold line and how the colours look on the chosen paper. Corporate clients often do exactly this: they order a few samples first and the full batch after approval.
How a flyer, a leaflet and a booklet differ
The main difference between the three is who you want to reach and how much you want to tell them. A flyer is for getting a new person interested in one offer within seconds. A leaflet works when you need to briefly explain, remind or thank someone who already knows your company. A booklet is the choice when there is a lot of information that needs to be presented in order, with photos and descriptions of several services.
How to order flyers, leaflets or booklets from Aladdin Print
Flyers, leaflets and booklets can be ordered from Aladdin Print starting from a single copy. If the artwork meets the artwork requirements and production is not busy, the order can be ready in as little as 2 hours. The exact time depends on the quantity and the production queue. Finished products can be collected from our offices in Kharkiv or Kyiv or delivered by Nova Poshta to any city in Ukraine.
Frequently asked questions
How is a booklet different from a brochure?
A booklet is made from a single sheet that is only folded. A brochure consists of several sheets bound with staples, glue or a spiral, so it can have many more pages, like a catalogue or a magazine.
What if I don’t have artwork?
The Aladdin Print design studio will create it from scratch, based on your brand book or on materials you already have. If you have artwork, a designer will check it and prepare it for print.
What file format should I send?
Artwork is accepted as PDF, TIF, PSD, CDR or AI files. Detailed file requirements are on the “Artwork requirements” page of our website.
