12-page booklet page order
A 12-page A5 booklet uses 3 sheets of A4, printed on both sides and folded together. This is what goes on each side.
Sheet by sheet
| Sheet | Front, left | Front, right | Back, left | Back, right |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 2 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| 3 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
Each rectangle is one side of a sheet of A4, turned sideways. The dashed line is the fold; the two marks are the staples. Sheet 1 goes on the outside.
Where is my page?
Page 6 is on sheet 3 of 3, on the back, on the left-hand half, beside page 7.
| Page | Sheet | Side | Half | Beside page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Front | Right | 12 |
| 2 | 1 | Back | Left | 11 |
| 3 | 2 | Front | Right | 10 |
| 4 | 2 | Back | Left | 9 |
| 5 | 3 | Front | Right | 8 |
| 6 | 3 | Back | Left | 7 |
| 7 | 3 | Back | Right | 6 |
| 8 | 3 | Front | Left | 5 |
| 9 | 2 | Back | Right | 4 |
| 10 | 2 | Front | Left | 3 |
| 11 | 1 | Back | Right | 2 |
| 12 | 1 | Front | Left | 1 |
Two checks for any side
- The two numbers on one side of a sheet always add up to the page count plus one.
- Odd pages are always on the right-hand half of a side, even pages on the left. This holds for fronts and backs alike.
For 12 pages the two numbers on a side add up to 13.
Print a test before the real copies
The 12-page test sheets (PDF) have nothing on them but large page numbers in this order. Print them on both sides, fold the stack and count. More on the printer test page.
Other sizes: 8 pages · 16 pages · any size from 4 to 64, and a tool that reorders your PDF. If your document is not a multiple of four pages, see the blank pages calculator.
Questions
- What is the page order for a 12-page booklet?
- In a 12-page booklet: sheet 1 has pages 12 and 1 on the front and 2 and 11 on the back; sheet 2 has pages 10 and 3 on the front and 4 and 9 on the back; sheet 3 has pages 8 and 5 on the front and 6 and 7 on the back. Sheet 1 is the outside sheet, with the cover.
- How many sheets of paper does a 12-page A5 booklet need?
- 3 sheets of A4 a copy, printed on both sides. Each sheet folded in half makes four A5 pages.
- Which pages are in the middle of a 12-page booklet?
- Pages 6 and 7. They share the back of sheet 3, the centre sheet, so they are the only two neighbouring pages printed side by side.
Making a funeral order of service? The builder lays out 12 pages and puts them in this order for you.
Open the builder