Whether you are distributing them in person or delivering them via mail, brochures are excellent marketing and promotional tool for any business type. But did you know that some brochure types are better suited for some business objectives than others? Most people opt for traditional bi-fold brochures, but there are more types you can use for different business purposes.
Common Types Of Brochures You Can Get Right Now
Here are the most common brochure types:
BI-FOLD BROCHURE. The most standard brochure design is a bi-fold or half-fold brochure, usually an 8.5 x 11-inch paper folded in half. Bi-fold brochures are the most universally used brochure type. And it is ideal as informational packets because they perfectly fit the standard 6 x 9 envelope for mailing.
TRI-FOLD BROCHURES. A tri-fold brochure is often printed on 8.5 x 11-inch paper and folded into three rectangular sections. But what most people don't realize when designing a tri-fold brochure is that they have to lay out one side smaller because that side has to be folded in. Contents of a tri-fold brochure also have to be presented in a way that allows the story to unfold when you open the brochure.
One type of tri-fold brochure is a z-fold, in which, instead of folded in, panels are folded in opposite ways, so one side contains one cluster of information, and another group of information is on the other side. You typically see z-fold brochures used for translated content; one side includes information in English, and the other side is in another language, like Spanish, for example.
ACCORDION FOLD BROCHURE. Accordion folds are usually over three panels folded back and forth. This type is ideal when you have four or more sections or business specializations you need to feature on your brochure because you can have more panels to discuss each business segment.
DOUBLE-GATE FOLD. A double-gate brochure has two sides folded in, so they look like two doors opening when you unfold them. You often see people use this brochure type for printing invitations.
DOUBLE PARALLEL. When you see a brochure folded in half and then folded in half again to create more panels, you're looking at a double parallel brochure. All the double parallel brochure panels have content about the business or the products, except for the front, which is for the brochure cover, and the back, which usually contains company information or contact details.
ROLL FOLD. A roll-fold brochure is similar to a tri-fold but has four or more panels. They make a fantastic alternative to the standard bi-fold brochure because it allows a more dramatic reveal of information whenever the reader unfolds them. It is ideal for presenting company history or for telling a story that is developing as the readers spread the brochure.
Got Brochure Questions? We Have Brochure Answers!
Now that you know the different brochure types, you can choose the one that best suits your intended purpose. And if you are looking for a brochure printing partner to meet and exceed your quality printing needs, contact Michael Duhr and his crew at Foote Printing.
Picture this: your inbox is crammed with hundreds of unread messages, but your physical mailbox still gets your attention every single day. Even the “junk” gets a glance. That moment—those few seconds with something in your hand—is where brands are built and leads are made.
At Foote Printing, we live at the intersection of print and direct marketing. We love email for its speed, but we’ve seen time and again that the mailbox delivers attention, trust, and results you just can’t get online alone. Here’s why—and how we help you make the most of it.
The Real Problem: Digital Overload, Diminishing Attention
Email is easy to send and cheaper per message, but that ease creates a flood. Your customers are overwhelmed, filters are aggressive, and messages blur together. Meanwhile, people open their mailbox daily, touch every piece, and form split-second judgments that stick. Our job is to make sure your piece earns those seconds—and turns them into action.
The Attention Advantage in the Mailbox
Daily habit: People check and sort their mail almost every day. Your message gets handled, not just “marked as read.”
Built-in “open rate”: Even if someone tosses a postcard, they saw your brand, offer, and headline first.
Sticky brand recall: That physical touch plants a memory that pays off when they see your name online later.
Tangible Means Trustworthy
A well-printed, well-designed piece signals legiti
In three seconds, your audience decides whether to keep your postcard, scan your code, or toss it. Those seconds are where 2025’s smartest print trends win—and where we help you stand out.
As a solar-powered print shop, we’ve been building toward these trends for years. Clients are printing fewer, smarter pieces that work harder: more personal, more tactile, more connected to digital, and far less wasteful. Here’s how we (and Michael Duhr, our print expert) see the year’s top opportunities—and how we’ll put them to work for you.
1) Sustainable, eco 11friendly printing (we’ve led since 2017)
Sustainability isn’t a buzzword for us—it’s built into our shop.
Solar-powered facility since 2017
LED lighting that mimics daylight for accurate color evaluation
Recycled-content papers across our lineup
Short-run strategies that reduce overprinting and waste
Actionable tip: Ask us to recommend recycled stocks and coatings that align with your brand’s look, feel, and footprint—without compromising color or quality.
2) Personalization at scale with variable data printing
Personalization boosts response when it’s relevant. With digital presses and variable data printing, we tailor:
Names and messaging by segment
Offers by audience and location
Images, maps, and calls-to-action by region or event
Actionable tip: Bring a clean list and a few audience segments. We’ll help you version creati
Your best email probably didn’t even earn two seconds of attention. Meanwhile, a well-designed postcard sits on a kitchen counter and gets read twice. In a world of overflowing inboxes, phishing attempts, and disappearing feeds, print is the channel people still trust.
As a Cleveland print company, we see it every day: print isn’t dying—it’s evolving. And when you use it strategically, it outperforms digital alone.
Why Print Wins Trust (and Attention)
In the digital world, skepticism is the default. People double-check sender names, avoid links, and ignore most messages. That’s exactly why print is surging back:
It’s tangible and memorable—your brand lives on desks, counters, and trade show booths.
It signals legitimacy—real materials from a real company.
It stands out—especially when everyone else is stuck in the inbox.
We’ve heard “print is dying” for 40 years. The truth? It’s simply evolving, and the businesses who adapt are the ones getting noticed.
The Future of Print Is Integrated
Today’s best-performing campaigns blend print and digital. You don’t need to say everything on the piece—just enough to spark interest and guide the next step.
Here’s how we help clients do that:
Use QR codes to bridge offline and online seamlessly. One scan, and your audience lands on the exact page you want them to visit.
Leverage variable data printing for personalization. Tai