How many orders of service to print
Count the people you expect, add some spare, and work out the paper before you start printing.
80 people with 20% spare is 96 copies. At 8 pages each that is 192 sheets of A4, printed on both sides: 1 pack of 500 sheets, with 308 left for test prints.
Copies and sheets of A4 at a glance
| People | Copies, 10% spare | Copies, 20% spare | Sheets, 8 pages | Sheets, 12 pages | Sheets, 16 pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 22 | 24 | 48 | 72 | 96 |
| 30 | 33 | 36 | 72 | 108 | 144 |
| 50 | 55 | 60 | 120 | 180 | 240 |
| 80 | 88 | 96 | 192 | 288 | 384 |
| 100 | 110 | 120 | 240 | 360 | 480 |
| 150 | 165 | 180 | 360 | 540 | 720 |
| 200 | 220 | 240 | 480 | 720 | 960 |
Copies are rounded up to a whole booklet. The three sheet columns use the 20% figure. Sheets are A4, printed on both sides: a quarter of the page count for each copy.
Where the 10% to 20% comes from
It is one printer’s advice, not a rule: “It is always a good idea to order around 10% to 20% more booklets than your expected guest count. For example, 50 guests may need about 60 copies, while 100 guests may need around 120.” (orderofserviceforfuneral.co.uk, “How many copies of the funeral order of service should I print?”, read 10 November 2026). A guide from the funeral directors’ trade body says: “Ordering 50–100 copies is typical for an average-sized funeral.” (NAFD Funeral Directory guide to the order of service, read 10 November 2026). Neither can know your family; the funeral director or the venue can tell you how many seats there are.
Buying the paper
Paper is sold by the ream: “International standards organizations define the ream as 500 identical sheets.” (Wikipedia, “Units of paper quantity”, read 10 November 2026). Buy one pack more than the sum says if it comes out close, because test prints and misfeeds use sheets too. For which paper, see paper weights for an order of service; for what a print shop charges instead, see printing costs.
Questions
- How many orders of service should I print for a funeral?
- There is no fixed rule. One UK funeral printer advises ordering 10% to 20% more booklets than the number of people you expect, and a funeral trade guide says ordering 50 to 100 copies is typical for an average-sized funeral. Ask the funeral director how many people the venue holds.
- How much paper do 100 orders of service need?
- An 8-page A5 booklet uses 2 sheets of A4 a copy, so 100 copies need 200 sheets. A 12-page booklet needs 300 and a 16-page booklet 400. A standard pack is 500 sheets.
- Who are the spare copies for?
- People who cannot come, family who want one to keep, the minister or celebrant, the organist and the funeral director.
Not sure whether you need 8, 12 or 16 pages? The builder works it out from your service.
Open the builder