Tri-Fold or Bi-Fold? Choosing the Right Brochure Format for Your Brand
- Laura Kuhn
- Jul 18
- 2 min read
Your brochure isn’t just paper—it’s your brand in motion. Whether it’s slipped into a shopping bag, stacked at a front desk, or handed out at a trade show, the format you choose makes a big difference in how your message is delivered and received.
So… Tri-fold or Bi-fold? At Midnight Boheme, we’ve designed both formats for everything from luxury hotels to food festivals, and here’s the truth: there’s no one-size-fits-all. Each fold style has its own personality—and purpose.
Let’s break it down so you can choose the best format for your brand, your content, and your goals.
📐 What’s the Difference?
Bi-Fold (a.k.a. Half-Fold)
Folds once vertically to create two panels per side (4 total)
Feels like a small booklet or mini-magazine
Great for visual storytelling, menus, or spacious layouts
Tri-Fold
Folds into thirds, creating three panels per side (6 total)
Offers a step-by-step narrative flow
Perfect for detailed information, services, or event guides
🧾 The fold isn’t just structural—it shapes how your story unfolds.
🖼️ Choose a Bi-Fold When You Want:
✅ More Visual Breathing Room Larger panels mean more space for:
Stunning photography
Elegant typography
Menus, maps, or event schedules
✅ Premium Presentation Bi-folds tend to feel more high-end—like a boutique hotel brochure, fine dining menu, or gallery handout.
✅ Simplified Messaging If you want to say one thing beautifully, bi-fold gives you space to make a bold impression.
✅ Hybrid Use Bi-folds can double as mini-booklets, programs, or takeaway guides for events.
🎯 Choose a Tri-Fold When You Need:
✅ Organization & Flow Great for presenting your business in clear sections:
Front cover (hook)
About/Who We Are
Services or Products
Testimonials or Social Proof
Call to Action
Contact Info
✅ Portability Tri-folds are compact and easy to carry—ideal for trade shows, tourism, and retail counters.
✅ Step-by-Step Messaging If your content builds in sequence (like a process, tour, or timeline), a tri-fold helps control the order of information.
✅ Tighter Budgets You can pack a lot of content into a small footprint without printing multi-page booklets.
🖋 What to Consider Before You Choose:
How much content do you have?→ If it's dense or divided into sections, tri-fold is your friend.
Is this for fast browsing or immersive reading?→ Tri-folds are skimmable. Bi-folds invite deeper engagement.
Do you need to wow with visuals?→ Go bi-fold. Let those images breathe.
Where will the brochure live?→ For rack displays or mailing, tri-fold often wins in size and function.
🌙 Our Take? Let the Content Drive the Fold
At Midnight Boheme, we help our clients choose the fold based on storytelling flow, print goals, and audience behavior—not just what “looks pretty” (though we make sure it does look pretty too).
Whether it’s:
A tri-fold tourism guide
A bi-fold dinner menu
A folded event program We design with intention—turning every crease into a storytelling moment.
Midnight Boheme🎨 Brochure & Print Design | New Orleans, LA
Helping brands fold with flair—and communicate with clarity.