What Are Brads on a Folder?
Brads are small metal fasteners with a round head and two flat legs. The legs pass through punched holes in the folder and your pages, then fold flat against the back. That simple clip turns a loose folder into a bound packet.
A folder with brads usually has three brads down the center fold. Your reader opens the cover and flips pages like a booklet. Nothing slides out when the folder is dropped in a bag or passed around a table.
Brads also make a folder feel finished. A client sees a bound set with your logo on the cover, not a stack of stapled sheets. When you are ready to price a run, request a brad folder quote with your page count.
Brad Folder Specs
| Spec | Options |
|---|---|
| Closed size | 9 x 12 in (229 x 305 mm) for letter pages |
| Fasteners | Three metal brads in the center fold |
| Pockets | Two inside pockets, glued or reinforced |
| Paper stock | 14 pt or 16 pt C2S, 18 pt board, kraft board |
| Plastic stock | Polypropylene (poly) in clear or tinted |
| Printing | Full color CMYK or Pantone spot, inside and out |
| Finish | Gloss, matte or soft-touch lamination, spot UV, foil |
| Add-ons | Business card slits, die-cut windows, shrink-wrapped sets |
Brads vs Prongs: Picking the Right Fastener
Brads are separate pins that go through each hole. Prongs are a single fastener strip with two or three flexible tines on a flat base. Many people call both of them brads, so it helps to know which one your team means.
Choose brads when the page count is fixed and the packet will not change. Choose a prong strip when people will add or swap pages often. If your packet changes every week, our 3 prong folders with pockets may be the easier pick.
Both styles use the same punched holes in your pages. That means you can test one fastener on a short run and switch later without reprinting your inserts.
How to Order Folders With Brads
- Tell us how many pages each packet holds and whether pages are letter size.
- Pick paper or poly, then choose pocket style and any card slits.
- Send your artwork or logo and we place it on a brad folder die-line.
- Check the free digital proof, including where the brad holes sit.
- Approve, and your quote confirms quantity, turnaround and delivery.
Designing Custom Brad Folders Around Your Pages
Start with the stack you plan to bind. A thin handout works well with 14 pt C2S, while a heavier manual needs 16 pt or 18 pt board so the spine does not sag. We punch the brad holes to match your page layout.
Paper folders take full color printing on both sides, with gloss, matte or soft-touch lamination. For classrooms, labs and job sites, a poly body wipes clean and shrugs off spills. Ask about plastic folders built for heavy use if your pocket folders with brads will live outdoors.
Business card slits on a pocket let a rep add a card by hand. Pantone spot colors keep your logo exact from one reorder to the next.
Where Brad Folders Earn Their Place
- Employee training manuals that must stay in order
- Student handbooks and course packets
- Sales proposals with a fixed page count
- Lab, safety and job-site procedures in poly
- Board meeting books handed out once
- Product catalogs with a pocket for price sheets
Custom Brad Folders: questions we get
What are brads on a folder?
Brads are metal fasteners with a round head and two flat legs. They pass through holes in the folder and your pages, then fold flat to lock the pages in. Most brad folders use three brads in the center fold.
What is the difference between brads and prongs?
Brads are separate pins pushed through each hole. Prongs are one strip with flexible tines that lie flat over the pages. Brads suit fixed packets, and prongs suit pages that change often.
Can you make a plastic folder with brads?
Yes. We print poly folders with brads in clear or tinted plastic. Poly resists water and tearing, so it suits classrooms and field crews.
Do pocket folders with brads still have pockets?
Yes. The brads sit in the center fold and the two inside pockets stay free for loose sheets, forms or a business card.
Will you insert our pages before shipping?
Tell us when you ask for a quote. We can ship folders flat for you to fill, and your quote confirms any assembly options.
How should I set up artwork for a brad folder?
Keep text and logos away from the center fold where the brads go. Our artwork guidelines for print files cover bleed, safe zones and file types.