Lead with a headline people care about
Most people decide whether to read a flyer in a glance, so the headline has to carry it. Make it about the reader's problem or the benefit, not your business name. “Lawn Mowed Every Week — $35” beats “Smith Landscaping Services” every time. Keep it to about eight words, set it as the largest text on the page (roughly 48–72 pt on an 8.5×11), and put it in the top third where eyes land first. Your logo and business name still belong on the flyer, just smaller and lower. If someone only reads the headline and walks away, they should still know what you offer and why it matters to them.
One offer, one call to action
A flyer with three offers usually gets zero responses, because the reader has to work out which one applies. Pick one specific offer — a price, a discount, a free estimate, a grand-opening special — and state it plainly. Then give one action: call this number, scan to book, visit by Saturday. Put the call to action near the bottom in bold, with the phone number or QR code big enough to use from across a counter. Adding a reason to act now helps: “Book by the 30th” or “First 50 customers.” Just remember that a hard date also limits how long the flyer stays useful, so order only as many as you'll hand out before it passes.
Design for arm's length
| Element | Suggested size or rule | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Headline | 48–72 pt, top third | Readable from several feet away |
| Offer or price | 30–48 pt | The second thing people should see |
| Body text | 12–16 pt, 3–5 short lines | Long paragraphs get skipped |
| Call to action | 18–24 pt, bold | Easy to act on from a distance |
| Fonts | Two at most | More looks cluttered |
| Contrast | Dark text on light, or light on dark | Low contrast disappears in print |
Bleed, margins and file setup
If any color or photo runs to the edge of your flyer, the file needs 1/8 inch of bleed on every side — so an 8.5×11 flyer is built at 8.75×11.25. Keep all text and logos at least 1/8 inch inside the trim so nothing gets clipped when the sheet is cut. Use images at 300 DPI at the size they'll print; a photo pulled from a website often looks crisp on screen and blurry on paper. Design in CMYK when you can, since bright screen colors can shift slightly in print. The file setup guide covers this in detail. Not sure your file is right? Every order includes a free pro file check and free digital proof, and nothing is charged until you approve it.
Flyer mistakes to avoid
Too much text. If it needs a paragraph to explain, it belongs on your website; link to it. No clear next step. A great-looking flyer with no phone number, QR code or address is just decoration. Tiny contact info. The phone number is the most important small text on the page — make it big. Low-resolution logos. A blurry logo makes the whole business look unsure; a logo cleanup and vector redraw is $49. Dated details on a big run. Specific dates on 5,000 flyers usually means recycling most of them. Skipping the proof. Read every number on the proof out loud. If design isn't your thing, a custom one-piece design is $79, with a first proof within 2 business days.
All-in pricing. Free proof. No checkout surprises.
Print your flyer from $89 for 100 — free file check and proof, shipping included.
Print your flyer from $89 for 100 — free file check and proof, shipping included. ⚡ Or build a full kitFrequently asked questions
What makes a good flyer design?
A good flyer has one benefit-focused headline, one clear offer and one call to action. It uses large, high-contrast text that can be read from arm's length and no more than two fonts. Everything else should be kept short or moved to your website.
What size should flyer headline text be?
On an 8.5×11 flyer, the headline is typically 48 to 72 points and placed in the top third of the page. The offer should be the next largest element, and body text should stay around 12 to 16 points. Keep the call to action bold and easy to see.
Do flyers need bleed?
Yes, if any color, photo or graphic runs to the edge. Add 1/8 inch of bleed on every side, making an 8.5×11 file 8.75×11.25 inches. Keep text at least 1/8 inch inside the trim line so nothing is cut off.
What resolution should images be for a printed flyer?
Images should be 300 DPI at the size they will print. Photos copied from websites are often too low-resolution and will look blurry on paper. Every order gets a free pro file check that flags low-resolution images before printing.
How much does it cost to print flyers?
At i Can Print That, full-color 8.5×11 flyers on 100LB gloss are $89 for 100, $129 for 250, $189 for 500 and $229 for 1,000, with shipping included. Nothing is charged until you approve your free digital proof.