How to make a small booklet from one sheet
One sheet of paper and one small cut can make an 8-page mini booklet. It’s also known as a mini zine, and it’s great for kids, gifts and short guides.
The short answer
To make a small booklet, print 8 pages on one side of one sheet, fold it into eight panels, cut a slit along the middle and fold it up into a mini book. Foldio puts the 8 pages in the right positions for free.
Make your booklet, freeWhat you need
- A file with 8 pages, or fewer
- One sheet of A4 or US Letter paper
- Scissors
Step by step
Add your pages
Add a PDF or images to Foldio. Under “What are you making?”, choose Mini zine from one sheet.
Sixteen pages on one sheet. Three folds, and page 1 lands on the cover.The sheets nest inside each other, staple through the middle and fold once.Eight pages on one side of one sheet. Slit, fold, done.Small pages: cut the sheet into piles, stack them, fold once and staple. See where each page goes
The top row is upside down on purpose. It turns the right way up when you fold the sheet.
Eight pages on one side of one sheet. Fold it into eight panels, then cut along the middle. Print on one side
Print one-sided at actual size (100%). The sheet needs nothing on the back.
Fold and cut
Fold the sheet in half each way, then fold both short ends to the middle to make eight panels. Bring the short ends together, then cut from the folded edge along the middle crease, stopping at the next fold.
Fold it into a book
Open the sheet, then fold it in half with the long edges together. Push the two ends towards each other so the slit opens into a cross, then wrap the pages around with page 1 on the front.
Need bigger pages?
For more pages, choose Booklet or magazine. On A4 paper it makes A5 pages. For A6 pocket pages, choose Pocket book, which is part of Pro.
Fold A4 once for A5 pages, or cut it smaller for A6 pocket pages.
If something goes wrong
- The pages face the wrong way
- Print the file exactly as Foldio made it. The upside-down row is correct.
- The cut goes too far
- Cut only the middle two panels, along the centre crease. Stop at the folds on either side.
- The pages are too small to read
- Use bigger text, or switch to Booklet or magazine for A5 pages.
Questions
People also ask.
How do you fold A4 paper into a booklet?
Fold it into eight panels and cut along the centre crease from the folded edge. Then fold it with the long edges together and push the ends towards each other. One sheet makes 8 small pages.
What is an 8-page zine?
It’s a small booklet made from a single sheet, with eight pages on one side, one cut and a few folds.
How do I make a booklet from A4 paper?
Use one sheet for an 8-page mini booklet, or stack several sheets, fold them in half and staple along the fold for an A5 booklet.
How do I print an A5 booklet on A4 paper?
Choose Booklet or magazine with A4 paper in Foldio, print double-sided on the short edge, then fold and staple.
How do I print an A6 booklet on A4 paper?
Foldio’s Pocket book layout, part of Pro, cuts each sheet into smaller pages that you stack, fold and staple.
Is there an 8-page zine template?
You don’t need one. Add any 8 pages to Foldio and it places them for you, ready to print.
Can I make a mini book without a printer?
Yes. Fold a blank sheet the same way, then write or draw on the pages by hand.
Ready to print yours?
Foldio is free to start, with no sign-up, and your files stay on your computer.