10 Common Leaflet Printing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Printed leaflets remain a popular way for businesses to promote their products, advertise special offers and reach potential customers. Whether you're planning a local marketing campaign or ordering promotional materials for an upcoming event, professional leaflet printing can help your business make a strong first impression.

However, even a well-designed leaflet can be affected by mistakes during artwork preparation and ordering. Incorrect dimensions, low-resolution images, missing bleed and overlooked spelling errors can all influence the appearance of your finished materials.

Fortunately, many of these problems are easy to prevent with a little planning. At Affordable Leaflets, we understand the importance of preparing artwork correctly before printing. In this guide, we'll explore 10 common leaflet printing mistakes and explain how to avoid them.

1. Choosing the Wrong Leaflet Size

One of the first decisions when ordering printed leaflets is choosing the correct size. Different formats offer different advantages, so selecting a suitable option is essential for your design and marketing objectives.

For example, A5 leaflets, measuring 148mm x 210mm, provide a practical amount of space for promotional messages, images and contact details. Meanwhile, A6 leaflets, measuring 105mm x 148mm, offer a compact format suitable for vouchers, short advertisements and simple promotions.

Choosing a leaflet that's too small may leave your design overcrowded. On the other hand, a larger format may be unnecessary for a short message.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Decide how much information your leaflet needs to include.
  • Consider where and how your leaflets will be distributed.
  • Choose a format that suits your marketing budget.
  • Check the exact finished dimensions before designing your artwork.
  • Allow enough space for images, headings and contact information.

If you're considering a popular promotional format, explore our 1,000 A5 leaflets option.

2. Forgetting to Include Bleed

Missing bleed is one of the most common artwork preparation mistakes in professional printing.

Bleed is the additional artwork that extends beyond the finished trim size. It helps prevent unwanted white edges if there are small variations during the cutting process.

For example, if your leaflet includes a background colour or photograph that reaches the edge, that artwork should usually extend into the bleed area.

The required bleed measurement depends on the printer's specifications, so it's important to check the artwork guidelines for your chosen product.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Check the required bleed before starting your design.
  • Extend background colours and images beyond the finished trim edge.
  • Avoid placing important information within the bleed area.
  • Use the correct artwork template where available.
  • Export your final artwork with bleed included when required.

Preparing bleed correctly helps create a cleaner, more professional finished leaflet.

3. Placing Important Text Too Close to the Edge

Even when bleed has been included, placing text and logos too close to the cutting edge can cause problems.

During trimming, small variations can occur. If important information sits too close to the edge, it may appear cramped or risk being partially cut off.

This is why professional printers recommend keeping essential content inside a safe area.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Keep important text and logos comfortably inside the trim edge.
  • Follow the printer's recommended safe-area measurements.
  • Check that telephone numbers and website addresses are not too close to the edge.
  • Review both sides of your leaflet before submitting the artwork.
  • Use guides in your design software to help maintain consistent margins.

Good spacing also improves the overall appearance and readability of your leaflet.

4. Using Low-Resolution Images

High-quality images can help your leaflet attract attention. However, photographs that look sharp on a computer screen may appear blurred or pixelated when printed.

This often happens when images have been downloaded at a small size and then enlarged significantly within the artwork.

For many printed materials, images are commonly prepared at approximately 300dpi at their final reproduction size. However, exact requirements can vary depending on the printing process and the type of artwork.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Use high-resolution photographs wherever possible.
  • Avoid enlarging small images beyond their suitable dimensions.
  • Check image quality at the intended printed size.
  • Use vector artwork for logos and illustrations where available.
  • Follow the printer's image resolution recommendations.

Choosing suitable images can make a noticeable difference to the finished appearance of your promotional materials.

5. Designing with the Wrong Colour Settings

Colours can appear different on screen compared with printed materials. One reason for this is the difference between digital colour displays and professional printing processes.

Computer monitors commonly display colours using RGB, while many commercial printing processes use CMYK inks.

Some bright colours visible on a screen cannot be reproduced exactly in standard CMYK printing. As a result, the finished leaflet may look slightly different from the original digital design.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Check the recommended colour settings before preparing your artwork.
  • Use the correct colour profile when specified by your printer.
  • Be aware that screen colours may not match printed colours exactly.
  • Take extra care when working with important brand colours.
  • Review your final artwork before submitting it for printing.

Understanding colour reproduction can help you set realistic expectations and prepare artwork more effectively.

6. Choosing an Unsuitable Paper Weight or Finish

Paper choice affects the appearance, feel and practicality of your finished leaflets. Selecting an unsuitable stock can mean your promotional materials don't create the impression you intended.

Paper weight is commonly measured in GSM, which stands for grams per square metre. Generally, a higher GSM indicates heavier paper, although thickness and stiffness can also vary between stocks.

Lightweight paper can be practical for high-volume promotions, while heavier stocks may be more suitable for premium marketing materials.

Different finishes also influence the appearance of your design:

  • Gloss: A shiny finish that can make colourful images appear vibrant.
  • Silk: A smooth coated finish with a softer sheen.
  • Uncoated: A more natural surface that can suit understated designs and certain writable applications.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Consider the purpose of your leaflet before selecting paper.
  • Choose a suitable GSM for your budget and intended use.
  • Think about whether your design contains more images or text.
  • Check the available paper and finishing options for your chosen product.
  • Consider how your leaflets will be handled and distributed.

The most expensive paper isn't always necessary. The best choice is the one that suits your campaign.

7. Overcrowding Your Leaflet Design

Trying to include too much information is another common leaflet design mistake.

Businesses naturally want to explain everything they offer. However, large blocks of text, too many images and competing headlines can make a leaflet difficult to read.

Potential customers may only spend a short time looking at your promotional material. Therefore, your main message should be immediately clear.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Focus on one main promotional message.
  • Use short paragraphs and clear headings.
  • Highlight the most important customer benefits.
  • Include bullet points where appropriate.
  • Leave enough white space between design elements.
  • Use a clear visual hierarchy to guide the reader.

A simple, well-organised layout can often be more effective than a design filled with unnecessary details.

8. Forgetting a Clear Call to Action

An attractive leaflet may capture attention, but customers also need to know what to do next.

A call to action encourages the reader to take a specific step, such as visiting your website, making a telephone enquiry or booking an appointment.

Without a clear call to action, potential customers may understand your offer but be unsure how to respond.

How to Avoid This Mistake

Include a prominent message such as:

  • Call Today for a Free Quote
  • Visit Our Website to Order Online
  • Book Your Appointment Now
  • Scan the QR Code to Find Out More
  • Contact Us for More Information

Make sure your telephone number, website address and other contact details are accurate and easy to find.

If you're promoting a limited-time offer, include the relevant deadline and any important conditions.

9. Failing to Proofread Your Artwork

Spelling mistakes, incorrect prices and outdated contact details can undermine an otherwise professional leaflet.

These errors are particularly frustrating because they may only become noticeable after the leaflets have been printed.

For example, an incorrect telephone number could prevent customers from contacting your business, while the wrong event date could create confusion.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Check spelling, punctuation and grammar carefully.
  • Confirm all telephone numbers and email addresses.
  • Check website URLs and QR codes.
  • Verify prices, discounts and promotional dates.
  • Ask another person to review the artwork before ordering.
  • Read the final exported file rather than relying only on the original design.

Taking a few extra minutes to proofread your artwork can help prevent avoidable printing problems.

10. Ordering the Wrong Quantity or Leaving Printing Too Late

Choosing the right quantity and allowing enough time for printing are essential parts of planning a successful leaflet marketing campaign.

Ordering too few leaflets may limit your promotional reach, while ordering significantly more than you need can lead to unnecessary costs and unused materials.

Timing is equally important. If you're advertising an upcoming event or a time-sensitive offer, your printed leaflets need to be ready before your distribution campaign begins.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Estimate the number of leaflets required for your campaign.
  • Consider your intended distribution area and method.
  • Allow time for artwork preparation and approval.
  • Check the available printing and delivery options.
  • Plan ahead for seasonal promotions and events.
  • Order a suitable quantity based on your campaign objectives.

Good planning helps ensure your marketing materials are ready when you need them.

Bonus Tip: Always Check Your Final Print-Ready File

Before submitting your leaflet artwork, take time to review the exported file carefully.

Even when the original design looks correct, exporting it to another format can occasionally introduce unexpected changes. Fonts, images, colours and page dimensions should all be checked.

A final artwork checklist should include:

  • Correct leaflet dimensions.
  • Required bleed and safe areas.
  • Suitable image resolution.
  • Correct colour settings.
  • Embedded or appropriately outlined fonts, where required.
  • Accurate spelling and contact details.
  • Correct page orientation and artwork sides.
  • An accepted file format.

If you're ready to submit your design, visit our artwork upload page for information about supplying your artwork.

Why Professional Leaflet Printing Matters

Professional printing helps businesses present their marketing messages clearly and consistently. However, the quality of the finished product also depends on selecting the correct specifications and supplying suitable artwork.

Whether you're advertising a local service, promoting a seasonal offer or preparing materials for a larger campaign, careful planning can help you achieve a professional result.

At Affordable Leaflets, we provide leaflet printing options for businesses across the UK.

From choosing the right format to preparing your design for print, understanding the ordering process can help you make informed decisions about your promotional materials.

Get Your Leaflet Printing Right First Time

Avoiding common leaflet printing mistakes doesn't have to be complicated. By checking your artwork dimensions, allowing for bleed, choosing suitable images and proofreading your content, you can reduce the risk of problems with your finished leaflets.

Remember to consider paper choice, layout, quantities and delivery times as part of your wider marketing plan.

Whether you're ordering your first promotional flyers or preparing another business marketing campaign, taking care with the details can help your printed materials create a stronger impression.

Ready to get started? Explore the printing options available at Affordable Leaflets or contact our team to discuss your leaflet printing requirements.