Trifold vs. Z-Fold Brochures: Which One Should You Choose?
A well-designed brochure presents information in a creative and impactful way, making it a popular promotional or informational material used across different industries.
Brochures come in different fold styles, with trifold and Z-fold being popular options because of their versatility. These two options present your message and elements (text, photos, and graphics) in a unique way.
The ideal brochure folding style allows you to present information that is easy to understand and visually appealing to the target audience. The right one depends on several factors, such as your campaign's goal, budget, design, and content.
What is a Trifold Brochure?
A trifold brochure resembles the usual fold style people use for a letter that is put in an envelope. Thus, it is also called a letter-fold brochure.
Although the name trifold implies three folds, it is actually created using only two folds. It has three equal panels formed by folding the two sides over the center. Many trifold brochures bend to the right side first, followed by the left side, thus allowing people to read them from left to right.
Trifold brochures allow for a smooth and logical flow of information. They are also great for storytelling because they progressively reveal details, creating excitement and anticipation.
Best for:
- Promotional materials
- Informative content, such as educational materials and how-to-guides
- Menus
Design tips:
- Use a visually striking image and legible font for the cover to grab the recipient's attention.
- Use the inside three panels for product, service, or event details.
- Avoid placing important information on the far right inside the panel because readers sometimes overlook this area.
- Don't rule out the back panel. You can use it to reinforce your statement (or call-to-action) or add your location and contact details. Think of this space as an oversized business card.
What is a Z-Fold Brochure?
Also called an accordion fold, this brochure folding style has three equal panels folded alternately, creating a fan-like or zigzag pattern.
Z-fold brochures are popular across multiple industries—from real estate and food businesses to medical and hospitality services—because of their versatility in presenting information. You can separate an element by making each panel stand alone, or use one large, striking photo that opens to full spread when you open the brochure.
The fold style also excels at presenting step-by-step guides, especially if these require very detailed explanations.
Best for:
- Informative content
- Product or package comparisons
- Brochures with dynamic layout
- Promotional materials with one large and dramatic photo
- Step-by-step processes like how-to guides or instructions
- New clients guide
Design tips:
- If you are designing a step-by-step guide or a promotional material that compares plans or packages, use one element or topic for each panel. The idea is to present bite-sized information for easy and quick reading.
- When using a large image that will span across all panels of a Z-fold brochure, ensure that no important elements (text, logos, or key product features) are on the fold lines.
Trifold vs. Z-Fold Brochures: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Features | Trifold | Z-Fold |
|---|---|---|
| Folding Style | Folds inward like a letter | Folds like a fan or zigzag |
| Layout | Two outer panels and one center section | Three equal panels |
| Best For | Menus and most promotional materials | Product comparisons, dynamic layout, step-by-step guides |
| Ease of Reading | Smooth flow of information | Segmented information |
How to Choose the Right Brochure Fold
Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you decide on the ideal brochure folding style.
How do I want to present my message?
Trifold brochures are excellent for storytelling because they reveal information progressively. By contrast, Z-fold brochures are ideal for presenting segmented topics, product or service comparisons, and step-by-step processes.
Does my design mainly consist of text or images?
The trifold is ideal for brochure designs that include more text, although it's crucial to utilize white space and break up blocks of text with images to enhance readability. Meanwhile, the Z-fold is an excellent choice for a large image or infographic that spans across multiple panels.
Conclusion
Trifold and Z-fold fold styles offer unique benefits and present information differently. If you're unsure which one to choose, NextDayFlyers has a collection of brochure templates to help you visualize how your design will look when you use a specific fold type and size.
The templates come with bleed and margin to eliminate unwanted white borders or gaps and to help you create a balanced layout on the final print. Additionally, they are categorized into different industries and styles to make it quick and easy to design professional-looking and visually striking brochures.