Brochure Paper: A Guide to 70# Text, Folds and Prices

Why does 70# text work for folded brochures?

70# text is a flexible paper category that suits folding without the bulk of a cover-stock card.

In general paper practice, text sheets bend more readily than cover stock. That flexibility helps a brochure close and reopen as someone follows the panels. It is useful for a handout that moves from a display into a bag, meeting folder, or packet of information.

The 70# rating is a basis weight, not a measurement of sheet thickness. It describes the weight of a standard ream at the basis size for text paper. It does not mean an individual brochure weighs 70 pounds, nor does it identify a point thickness or guarantee opacity under every lighting condition.

A clean fold also depends on the paper's grain, the folding process, and what is printed across the crease. The weight alone cannot promise a crack-free result. Treat 70# text as a practical paper for a flexible brochure, rather than expecting the stiff feel of a postcard.

How do coated and uncoated brochure papers differ?

Coated paper generally offers a smoother surface for images, while uncoated paper generally has a more natural feel and accepts handwriting more readily.

These are general paper distinctions, not extra choices in the standard brochure listing. Gloss coatings reflect more light; matte coatings reduce the shine. Uncoated and matte-coated are different descriptions, even though both may appear less shiny than gloss. A finish name should be stated in the order specification rather than inferred from a photograph.

For this product, the verified stock description is 70# text. Do not assume it includes a selectable gloss, matte, silk, or other finish. Heavier or coated brochure paper requires a custom paper quote. If writable response panels are essential, include that requirement in the request rather than assuming a weight number establishes writability.

Consider the content as well as the surface. A brochure with many small instructions needs clear contrast and open space. A photo-led piece needs images that remain readable at their printed size. Neither a smooth coating nor a heavier sheet can rescue text that is too small to follow comfortably.

What causes paper to crack at a brochure fold?

Fold cracking happens when the paper surface or printed layer breaks along a crease, sometimes exposing a pale line.

As general practice, thicker or coated sheets may need additional folding preparation such as scoring. Grain direction and heavy ink coverage across a crease can also affect the result. These are considerations for specifying a custom job, not promises that a particular scoring process is included with the standard brochure.

The practical design response is to avoid making the crease carry the most demanding part of the artwork. A small logo, narrow border, or line of type placed on the fold can look interrupted even when the paper folds normally. Move critical details fully onto a panel.

A background can cross the fold as part of a continuous design. Essential words should not depend on the reader flattening the brochure to understand them. Use the digital proof to inspect placement, while remembering that a screen cannot demonstrate the physical behavior of the crease.

Which sheet sizes and folds are available on 70# text?

The three standard formats are 8.5 x 11 in half-fold, 8.5 x 11 in tri-fold, and 8.5 x 14 in tri-fold.

A half-fold makes four printed panels, with two on each face of the open sheet. It suits broad photographs, a simple sequence, or a short overview. A tri-fold makes six printed panels, with three on each face. It suits smaller sections that readers can open in stages.

These dimensions describe the open sheet, not the folded piece. Keep the size and fold together in the project specification. An 8.5 x 14 in half-fold is not a standard option merely because the larger sheet is offered with a tri-fold.

Use the half-fold and tri-fold comparison to choose the reading sequence. For dimensions, consult the brochure size guide. A letter fold tucks one slightly narrower panel inside. The product page does not list those widths, so check the fold breaks on the proof rather than dividing the sheet into three equal panels.

How much do the standard brochure formats cost?

For 250 brochures on 70# text, either 8.5 x 11 in fold costs $246.09, while the 8.5 x 14 in tri-fold costs $331.69.

Printing on both sides and the selected fold are included in these configurations. Artwork services and shipping are separate. No heavier or coated-paper price is implied by the table. A custom paper request needs its own specification and quote.

The brochure printing cost guide covers the broader quantity decision. Count the copies you can use while the content remains current. A larger run can be useful for an evergreen service overview, while dated programs need a realistic distribution count.

How do you prepare a brochure file for this paper?

Prepare CMYK artwork with 0.125 in bleed, a 0.125 in trim safe area, and text at least 0.125 in off every fold.

The bleed sits outside the finished edges. The safe area sits inside them. Fold clearance applies within the sheet wherever a crease will fall. These are separate guides, so an outside margin does not protect text placed against an internal fold.

1. Select the listed sheet-and-fold format.
2. Mark the trim boundaries in your layout.
3. Extend backgrounds 0.125 in beyond every trim edge.
4. Position text and logos at least 0.125 in inside the trim.
5. Move text at least 0.125 in away from each fold line.
6. Check images at their final printed dimensions.
7. Set the artwork to CMYK color mode.
8. Outline every font before export.

Images need at least 150 dpi at full print size, with 300 dpi ideal; vector artwork is also suitable. A page that looks clear when zoomed out can still contain a low-resolution image. Check the actual image size, especially when a photograph spans a large panel.

What happens after you order brochures?

A free digital proof follows your order, and production takes 3 to 5 business days after you approve it.

There is no production setup fee. Your existing file or image goes through AI image to print for $14.99 per item, including files sent after checkout. Design it for me is +$29.99 with two revisions, free when the item itself is $499 or more. The artwork charge is per item, not per printed face.

Review the proof for panel order, spelling, cropping, fold clearance, and the next action. It shows the layout for approval; it does not establish the feel or an exact physical color match. Leave time for review before the production window, and allow shipping transit after it.

The brochures are printed in the USA and ship nationwide. Browse the print marketing collection if the same campaign also needs a flat card or a single-sheet handout.

Need brochures or other custom printing? Inline Graphics helps businesses, churches, schools, and event organizers across the country design and print cards, banners, signs, decals, displays, and marketing materials that get noticed. Contact us today for a quote.