Printing Flyers for a Local Event: A Quick Guide

If you've never had flyers printed before, it can feel like there are a hundred small decisions to make before you've even started... how many, what size, what paper and how far in advance you need to order. The good news is that none of it is complicated once someone talks you through it, so that's exactly what we're going to do here.

Whether you're organising a local event, need new branded stickers for your coffee cups or just want to get the word out about your small business, here's everything you need to know before you get in touch.

Fore more on the different options available, take a look at our commercial printing services.

1. How many flyers do I need?

This is usually the first question people ask and the honest answer is "it depends". But here's a rough starting point based on the kind of events we print for most often:

• Local events: 250–500 flyers is a sensible starting point for handing out locally and putting up in shop windows and community noticeboards.
• School events (fairs, plays, open days): 200–300 is usually enough if you're sending them home with pupils and displaying a few around school and in reception.
• Small business promotions: If you're posting flyers through doors in a specific area, typically you could be looking at 1,000 flyers for a single local campaign.
• One-off launches or pop-ups: 100–250 is often plenty if you just need something to hand out on the day.

A good rule of thumb: it's almost always cheaper per flyer to print a few extra than to reorder a small top-up later, so if you're unsure, round up rather than down. If you tell us roughly what you're planning, we're happy to suggest a sensible quantity. You don't need to have the exact number worked out before you call.

If you're unsure what information to provide when arranging your print job, our guide on how to brief a commercial printer covers the key details to consider.

2. What size should I choose — A5, A6 or DL?

Size affects both how your flyer looks and how it'll actually be used, so it's worth thinking about where it's going before you decide.

A6 (postcard size) Small, low-cost and easy to hand out at busy events or leave in a stack by a till. Not much room for detail, so best for a simple message - "what, where, when".

A5 (half a sheet of A4) The most popular all-rounder. Big enough for a bit of design and information, small enough to hand someone in the street or post through a letterbox. A good default choice if you're not sure.

DL (a third of A4, like a standard leaflet) The neat, letterbox-friendly shape you'll recognise from takeaway menus and estate agent flyers. Works well for door-to-door drops and fits standard envelopes if you ever want to post them.

Our quick advice: if you're handing flyers out in person at an event, A5 or A6 tends to work best. If you're posting through doors or leaving in a rack, DL is often the practical choice.

If you're still unsure which format will work best, our guide to paper sizes explains the different options in more detail.

3. Paper and finish — do I need anything fancy?

Short answer: usually not, but it depends on how the flyer will be used.

For most local events, a standard 130gsm or 170gsm gloss or silk paper looks smart, feels a step up from home-printed paper and keeps costs sensible. This is the right choice for the vast majority of event flyers, fetes, promotions and one-off campaigns.

It's worth considering an upgrade if:

• The flyer will be handled a lot or kept for reference (for example, an event programme or a flyer people might pin up for weeks) - a heavier stock (250gsm+) or a laminate finish will hold up better.
• You want it to double as a small poster - thicker card with a laminate coating resists curling and marking.

The finish can also make a noticeable difference to the final result, so take a look at our guide to choosing between silk or gloss paper.

If in doubt, standard gloss or silk paper is a safe, good looking choice for the majority of local event flyers, and it's the option we'd usually recommend unless you tell us otherwise. If sustainability is important for your event, you can also explore green printing and environmentally friendly paper options.

4. How far in advance should I order?

Realistically, this depends on quantity, finish and how busy we are. But here's a general guide:

• Standard orders (a few hundred flyers, standard paper): allow around a week from approved artwork to collection or delivery, though we can often turn things around faster.
• Larger runs or premium finishes (lamination, heavier card): allow a little longer, as these go through extra finishing stages.
• Last-minute requests: if your event is coming up fast, call us. We handle plenty of short-notice jobs and will always tell you honestly whether we can make your deadline before you commit to anything.

The single biggest factor in how quickly we can turn a job around is how quickly your artwork is ready to print... which brings us to the next question.

5. What do I need to send you?

If the words "bleed," "CMYK" and "resolution" mean nothing to you, don't worry, you don't need to be a designer to get this right, and we're always happy to check your file before it goes to print.

• Send us a PDF if you can - it's the format least likely to cause problems, whether your flyer was designed in Canva, PowerPoint, Word or professional design software.
• Use the highest quality image or export setting available - a flyer that looks fine on a screen can sometimes look blurry once printed at full size, so higher resolution is always safer.
• Don't worry about getting it "print ready" yourself - if something's not quite right, we'll flag it and talk you through the fix rather than just printing it as-is.

If you'd like more detail on file formats and artwork setup, our Artwork Help page covers this in a bit more depth.

Don't have any artwork at all? That's fine too. We have an in-house design team who can put your flyer together for you, from a rough idea, a few photos or just a description of what you're promoting. You don't need a designer of your own, and you don't need to have a design ready before you get in touch, just tell us what you're after and we'll take it from there.

6. Getting a quote

You don't need finished artwork, an exact quantity or any printing knowledge to get in touch. Tell us the event, roughly how many flyers you think you'll need and when you need them by, and we'll take it from there.

Get a quick quote

Prefer to talk it through first? Call us on 01843 861314 or email enquiries@lanesprinters.co.uk. We print for local events, charities, schools and small businesses across Kent every week, and we're always happy to help, however big or small the job.