How to choose the right booklet size: A commercial printer’s take
At Thomas Group Printing, we’ve helped countless customers print top-quality booklets, from Fortune 500 companies to solo designers and hobbyists. We know that print excellence starts with proper planning, and one of the first considerations a designer often has about a project is its size. Selecting the appropriate dimensions for your book can impact the reader’s experience, how it’s shelved or displayed, and even the production cost. The size you select should resonate with your book’s purpose, content type, and target audience, so we’re often asked for guidance as a commercial printer on this small but crucial decision.
Through years of expertise, we’ve compiled this guide to assist print designers in their decision-making. Within this guide, you can expect:
- Visual representations to compare standard booklet sizes.
- Detailed images of each booklet size for a clear perspective.
- Precise measurements in inches, pixels, and millimeters to suit varied design needs.
- Ready-to-use starter files compatible with tools such as InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, ensuring you focus on creativity without technical hiccups.
A visual guide to the common booklet sizes and dimensions:
Booklet Sizes Made Simple
Although it’s a foundational decision when starting to design, picking the correct book size can be tough. In this resource, we’ve collected all of the common book sizes that we print and pictured them together to help designers better understand the relative size of each. Below, we’ve included images of each individual book size next to a scale object and provided the dimensions for each book size in inches, millimeters and pixels to help you set up your design file.
Here are the booklet sizes we’ve included in this post:
4.25 x 5.5
4.25 x 11
4.75 x 4.75
4 x 9
5.5 x 8.5
6 x 6
6 x 9
8.5 x 8.5
8.5 x 11
8 x 8
9 x 12
A4
A5
If you’d prefer, Thomas Group Printing also offers free, downloadable starter files, pre-sized to each of the standard book sizes we mentioned in this blog post. Just download the one you’d like below — all of the technical work like sizing, color mode, and bleed settings have already been done for you!
Free booklet price calculator
Get an instant quote on your print job. Need an option that's not listed? Contact us for a custom quote.
Pocket-Sized Booklets: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
- Inches: 4.25 x 5.5
- Millimeters: 108 x 140 mm
- Pixels: 1275 x 1650 at 300 dpi
Compact and portable, pocket books are perfect for personal writings like diaries, journals, and poetry. They fit seamlessly into one’s hands and can be easily carried around, making them ideal for a small reference or guide. We often see this small size printed with lined interior pages or simply bound with blank pages to allow use as a notebook.
Tall & Slim: 4.25 x 11 inches
- Inches: 4.25 x 11
- Millimeters: 108 x 279 mm
- Pixels: 1275 x 3300 at 300 dpi
The tall and slim size is a standout choice for content that needs to grab a reader’s attention without obscuring the environment in which it’s displayed. We see this size of book often used for high-end wine lists.
Standard Novel Size: 6 x 9 inches
- Size in inches: 6 x 9 inches
- Size in millimeters: 152 x 229 mm
- Size in pixels: 1800 x 2700 at 300 dpi
It’s the choice for novels, biographies, and non-fiction titles due to its optimal text readability and efficient print economics. This size ensures a comfortable grip and an engaging read, encapsulating the essence of a classic book.
Balanced Square: 8.5 x 8.5 inches
- Size in inches: 8.5 x 8.5 inches
- Size in millimeters: 216 x 216 mm
- Size in pixels: 2550 x 2550 at 300 dpi
A lavish choice for coffee table books or extensive art portfolios, this format allows for innovative layouts and rich image displays. The ample space embraces creativity without compromising on the reader’s comfort.
US Letter Standard: 8.5 x 11 inches
- Size in inches: 8.5 x 11 inches
- Size in millimeters: 216 x 279 mm
- Size in pixels: 2550 x 3300 at 300 dpi
Recognized by most as the manuscript and report size, its familiarity makes it a trusted choice for content aimed at both leisurely reading and professional reference. Often utilized in the corporate realm, it’s a versatile pick.
Large Square: 8 x 8 inches
- Size in inches: 8 x 8 inches
- Size in millimeters: 203 x 203 mm
- Size in pixels: 2400 x 2400 at 300 dpi
Tailored for designers, this substantial square canvas provides ample room for visuals and text, making it a prime choice for luxury brand catalogs or detailed visual narratives.
Magazine Standard: 9 x 12 inches
- Size in inches: 9 x 12 inches
- Size in millimeters: 229 x 305 mm
- Size in pixels: 2700 x 3600 at 300 dpi
Epitomizing luxury, this size is favored for high-end publications or art retrospectives. It provides a lavish feel, bridging the gap between detailed reading and visual appreciation.
A4 International Standard:
Size in inches: 8.27 x 11.69 inches
Size in millimeters: 210 x 297 mm
Size in pixels: 2480 x 3508 at 300 dpi
Globally acknowledged, the A4’s balanced dimensions cater to a wide variety of professional documents, ensuring consistency across borders. An adaptable choice for those seeking international appeal.
A5 Compact Standard:
- Size in inches: 5.83 x 8.27 inches
- Size in millimeters: 148 x 210 mm
- Size in pixels: 1748 x 2480 at 300 dpi
Offering a condensed reading experience without compromising on content, the A5 is a practical pick for those who desire the best of both size and substance.
Work With An Experienced Commercial Printer on Your Booklet Printing Project
When you’re working on a printed piece for your company, the quality of the work should reflect the quality of your brand. Thomas Group Printing has a deep understanding of the demands of commercial printing and exists to ensure your entire printing experience is fast, seamless and error-free. We’re trusted by some of the world’s largest brands and by independent print designers alike.
Thomas Group Printing is located in New York City and offers fast and convenient shipping nationwide. If you’re seeking an experienced and high quality printer for your next book printing job, consider reaching out to us for a custom quote. Our seasoned print production team is here to help.
Follow Thomas Group Printing for More Print Design Education & Inspiration
We believe in taking the time to serve as a resource to our clients and help them navigate the often confusing process of print production for high volume, high-visibility print jobs, or to just help them brush up on their print design skills. If you’ve found this resource helpful, here are a few other ways to keep learning and stay inspired:
Thomas Group Print Education Blog: Access free print design and production resources to help you level-up your print design skills. View the blog here or subscribe for email updates to get our best educational resources delivered monthly.
Thomas Group Print Inspiration Blog: Check out the coolest designs rolling off of our press. As an NYC-based printer, we’re privileged to produce print work for some of the most creative minds in the industry. We photograph and share unique print work we’ve helped to produce and spill the details on the specs of the jobs to help you take inspiration from other clients. View the blog here or subscribe for email updates to get our best educational resources delivered monthly.
