PDF Booklet Maker: Print a PDF as a Folded Booklet
Turn any PDF into a print ready booklet: pages are reordered two per sheet so you can print double sided, fold in the middle and staple. Free, in your browser.
Most tools never upload your files
How to make a booklet from a PDF
A PDF booklet maker rearranges the pages of a document so you can print it on ordinary paper, fold the stack once and get a small book that reads in order. Doing this by hand is confusing: on an 8 page booklet the first sheet must carry pages 8 and 1 on the front and 2 and 7 on the back. This tool calculates that saddle stitch order for any page count, adds blank pages where needed and places two pages on every sheet, so you only have to print, fold and staple. It is free, needs no sign up and runs entirely in your browser.
How to make a booklet from a PDF
- Add your PDF. Drop the file on the page or click to choose it.
- Pick the sheet size. A4 or Letter shrinks each page to half a sheet (an A4 document becomes an A5 booklet). Two pages side by side keeps the original size.
- Pick the binding. Left for English and most languages; right for books read from right to left.
- Make the booklet and download. The result shows how many sheets to print and how many blank pages were added.
- Print double sided, flip on the short edge. Then fold the stack in the middle and staple along the fold.
Booklet page order explained
Every sheet of paper folded once gives four booklet pages. For an 8 page document the tool prints:
| Sheet | Front (left, right) | Back (left, right) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8, 1 | 2, 7 |
| 2 | 6, 3 | 4, 5 |
When you fold sheet 2 inside sheet 1, the pages read 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Longer documents follow the same pattern, and if the page count is not a multiple of 4 the missing pages are left blank at the end.
What people print as booklets
- Event programs for weddings, funerals, concerts and church services.
- Zines, comics and short stories printed at home.
- Manuals and guides that are easier to hold than loose sheets.
- Menus, catalogs and school handouts.
Tips for a good result
- Put the pages in order first. Move, delete or add pages with Organize PDF before making the booklet, and add a cover with Merge PDF.
- Leave inner margins. Text close to the fold can disappear into the spine on thick booklets.
- Test with two sheets before printing a long run, to check your printer flips the right way.
- Need several pages per sheet without folding? Use Pages per Sheet for handouts with 2, 4 or more pages per side.
Printer settings that matter
The single most common mistake is flipping on the long edge. With a booklet laid out in landscape, the back of each sheet must be printed after turning the paper over its short edge, otherwise every second page comes out upside down. In Windows look for "Flip on short edge", on a Mac for "Short-Edge binding". Keep scaling at actual size or fit to page, and turn off any "booklet" option in the printer itself, because the PDF is already imposed.
Private and free
WoowPDF builds the booklet with JavaScript on your own device. Nothing is uploaded or stored, there is no watermark and no account is needed.
Features
- Saddle stitch imposition: pages are placed so the folded stack reads in order
- Blank pages are added automatically so the page count is a multiple of 4
- Sheet size: two original pages side by side, A4 or US Letter
- Left binding for most languages, right binding for Arabic, Hebrew and Japanese
- Shows how many sheets to print and how many blank pages were added
- Runs in your browser: your file is never uploaded
Frequently asked questions
How do I print the booklet?
Open the downloaded PDF and print it double sided with "flip on short edge" (sometimes called short edge binding). Print at actual size or fit to page, then fold the whole stack in the middle and staple along the fold.
Why were blank pages added?
A folded sheet always holds 4 pages, two on each side. If your PDF has, say, 10 pages, 2 blank pages are added at the end so the booklet comes out right. Add your own blank or back cover pages first if you want them somewhere else.
What paper size should I choose?
Choose A4 or Letter to print on standard paper: each original page is scaled to half the sheet, so an A4 document becomes an A5 booklet. Choose "Two pages side by side" to keep the original page size on a sheet twice as wide.
My printer has no duplex. Can I still make a booklet?
Yes. Print the odd sheets first, put the stack back in the tray turned over, then print the even sheets. Most print dialogs have an "odd pages only" and "even pages only" setting for this.
How many pages can a booklet have?
There is no limit in the tool, but a stapled booklet folds well up to about 40 to 60 pages (10 to 15 sheets) of normal paper. For longer documents, split them into sections and make several booklets.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The pages are rearranged by your browser on your own device, so nothing is sent to a server.