Flyer design that works: structure before decoration
A flyer is picked up for two seconds and kept only if the reader finds what they need. Five parts in a fixed order, the sizes and margins that print, and three layouts that suit most flyers.
Beginner2 min readUpdated 27 September 2026Editor · A5 flyer preset
The five parts
| Part | Rule | Size on an A5 at 300 dpi |
|---|---|---|
| Headline | What it is, in five words or fewer | Capitals 12 mm or more: 140 px and up |
| Image | One, large; not a collage | At least half the page |
| Three facts | When, where, how much; one line each | 5 mm caps: about 60 px |
| Call to action | One verb: Book, Visit, Call, Scan | Same size as the facts, in the accent colour |
| Contact | Web address, handle or phone; two at most | 3 mm caps: about 36 px |
Three layouts that suit most flyers
- Image top, text bottom. The photo fills the top 60 per cent; headline and facts sit on a flat band below. Safe, readable, works for events and menus.
- Full-bleed image, text on a band. The photo covers the page; a solid band carries the text. Strong for gigs and launches.
- Type-led. No photo: the headline is the image. See Design a poster with no photo.
Mistakes that cost the second look
- Everything at the same size, so nothing is read first.
- Five photos in a grid instead of one good one.
- Two calls to action ("book online or call or visit").
- Text at the edge, where the trim can cut it.
- A QR code with nothing saying what it opens.
What size should a flyer be?
A5 (148 × 210 mm) is the usual hand-out size; A6 for tight budgets; A4 for notice boards. At 300 dpi, A5 is 1748 × 2480 px.
Double-sided or single?
Single-sided if it will be pinned up. Double-sided for hand-outs: front for the headline and image, back for details and the map.
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