Both brochures and flyers are classic marketing materials. But it’s important to create each print with intention, which requires knowing when each product is most effective. After all, investing in custom marketing prints is only useful if they have a clear goal: spreading brand awareness, expanding your clientele, or spreading information. Having a clear goal in mind will make finding the right format simple. How you choose between a brochure vs flyer will depend on your budget, distribution plans, marketing goals, and audience. Each print has plenty of customization options, so your flyer or brochure design will print exactly how you envision it. Here’s everything you need to know about finding the right print for your needs.
Flyers Vs. Brochures
The primary difference between flyers and brochures is the paper fold. A flyer is a flat piece of unfolded paper. A brochure, which can also be called a pamphlet, is folded in a way that guides people through the layout. The other difference is in use. Brochures are used when you need to share more detailed information that requires more space for text or visual examples. Flyers have less information with a direct purpose, and they are often centered around an eye-catching flyer design.
| Flyers | Brochures | |
| Paper Folds | Unfolded sheet of paper | Folded sheet of paper. Popular brochure folds are tri-fold, half-fold, z-fold, and accordion fold |
| Marketing Uses | Announcing upcoming events, Sharing RSVP information, Sharing contact information | Sharinginformation, Detailing services, Educating readers, Sharing a brand story, Listing prices or products |
| Popular Sizes | 8.5” x 11”, 5.5” x 8.5”, and 4” x 6” | 8.5” x 11, 11” x 17”, and 8.5” x 14” |
| Popular Paper Stocks | 100 lb. Gloss Book, 80 lb. Gloss Book, and 100 lb. Gloss Cover | 100 lb. Gloss Book, 80 lb. Gloss Cover, and 100 lb. Gloss Cover |
| Distribution Methods | Passed out in spaces with heavy foot traffic, Left in common spaces, Set up on counters | Mail marketing, Information displays, Trade show booths, Lobby displays |
What is a Brochure?
Brochures are a marketing print used for sharing detailed content about topics like services, products, and information. A brochure is a paper folded into sections. There are several types of brochures. The fold you select will depend on how much information you want to include and how you want to present it. The most popular brochure fold is tri-fold, which folds the paper twice, resulting in six distinct panels. Other popular brochure folds include half-fold, which has four panels, and z-fold, which has six panels folded in a zig-zag style. With plenty of space for your message, you can pair text with images and artwork with a clear, detailed layout that guides viewers through each section.
What are Brochures Used For?
Custom brochures are used to share detailed information in a format that is easy to understand. Industries that frequently use brochures include healthcare, wellness, travel, non-profits, education, real estate, and hospitality. Your industry will likely inform what your purpose is. Sales brochures, after all, will be quite different from informative brochures about important topics. The various types of brochures will also determine what brochure size and fold you print.
Popular uses for custom business brochures:
- Brand Story: Origins, Values, and Mission Statement
- Product Pricing Information
- Service Descriptions
- Catalogs and Lookbooks
Other popular brochure categories
- Healthcare: Symptom Awareness
- Healthcare: Treatment Options
- Education: Course Offerings
- Education: Admission Information
- Real Estate: Listing Presentations
- Travel: Tourist Destinations
Event brochure uses:
- Event Programs
- Location Maps
- Speaker Bios
- Welcome Packs
Regardless of the topic, brochures are used for materials that require in-depth explanations. You can mail them as marketing materials, leave them in waiting rooms, or display them near the register. A marketing brochure will surely keep people informed of all the important key details.
What Type of Paper are Brochures Printed on?
Brochures are most often printed on glossy paper stock that makes all the colors and text vibrant and eye-catching. You want to use a fairly thin paper stock that ensures the folds rest smoothly. Trifold brochure printing, for example, requires a paper that will fold with crisp lines. However, brochures often have a longer shelf life than flyers. The gloss finish on these papers protects your prints throughout frequent use.
Popular Brochure Paper Stocks:
What is a Flyer?
Flyers are a flat sheet of paper that includes short messages with a direct call to action. Promotional flyers are meant to be short and simple; only include important information that viewers can instantly parse. You want to grab people’s attention with large headlines and exciting artwork.
What size are flyers?
The flyer size will depend on your marketing goals and distribution methods. If you’re passing out flyers in public spaces, then you should print small flyers, since people can easily hold onto them. If you’re leaving a pile in a community space or hanging them around town, then you should design eye-catching, large flyers.
Popular Flyer Sizes:
Popular Flyer Paper Stocks:
What are Flyers Used For?
Flyers are typically used to promote time-sensitive action items that require immediate action. Retail flyers can promote upcoming sales or product launches, while business flyers can advertise services or functions. Flyers are also often used to promote events, like business openings and parties.
Common flyer uses include:
- Real estate promotion for open houses
- Events, like parties and graduations
- New product launches
- Upcoming sales or promotions
- Services like housekeeping, tutoring, and landscaping
What is a Pamphlet?
A pamphlet is sometimes used interchangeably with a brochure, though it can also refer to booklets or other bound materials. That’s why the difference between a pamphlet vs brochure is minimal. Typically, an informative pamphlet is text-heavy and focuses on sharing specific, detailed information. The comparison between brochure vs pamphlet vs flyer is simple: brochures and pamphlets are folded, text-heavy prints, while flyers are one pagers with minimal text.
Ready to Print
You shouldn’t rely on just one print product for all your marketing needs. If you’re setting up at a trade show or sharing materials at an event, you can use both options to convey different information. Whether you’re distributing flyers in person or mailing brochures to clients, your prints will surely impress viewers.
Once you’ve decided which print product best fits your needs, it’s time to order custom marketing materials. GotPrint offers multiple flyer sizes, brochure shapes, and brochure folds. For all of our products, we use the highest quality materials for prints that last a long time. Our printing services guarantee crisp folds, clean prints, and fast turnaround times. We offer bulk printing, so you can reach a large audience. Browse all our marketing materials to get started on all your custom prints. You can also use GotPrint’s pre-made, free brochure templates and flyer templates to get started.