What is the most common brochure fold type?

The tri-fold, also called a letter fold, is the most widely used brochure fold. It splits a standard 8.5 x 11 sheet into three panels per side and folds down small enough to slip into a #10 envelope, which is why it dominates so many industries.

• Tri-fold (letter fold): six panels total, the everyday choice for menus, service lists and rack cards
• Bi-fold: four larger panels, better for photo-heavy or presentation-style pieces
• Z-fold: accordion style that opens flat for step-by-step or timeline content
• Why tri-fold wins: compact finished size, natural left-to-right reading flow and envelope-ready dimensions