Brochure Design Services: What They Cost and How to Choose (2026)

You need a brochure for a trade show next month. You search for brochure design services and find a $299 contest, a $29-an-hour freelancer and an agency that won't give a price until you book a call. They all say they design brochures. They just aren't selling the same thing.

This guide sorts it out. You'll see the five main types of brochure design services, what each one charges, what should be included, and how to choose. Every price comes from the provider's own page or a source we link to, checked on 3 November 2026.

A quick note on us: Design Shifu is a design subscription, and brochures are part of what we do. So we'll be clear about when a subscription makes sense, and when a freelancer or agency is the better buy.

What are brochure design services?

Brochure design services turn your content into a printed or digital brochure that's ready to use. That means the layout, typography, images, colours and print setup.

A good service does more than make it look nice. It arranges your message so a reader can scan it in seconds, then knows what to do next. It also sets up the file so your printer can print it without problems.

Most providers design these common formats:

• Bi-fold. One sheet folded in half, giving four panels.
• Tri-fold. One sheet folded into three, giving six panels. The classic handout.
• Z-fold and gate-fold. Different folds that change how the reader opens the brochure.
• Multi-page booklets. Eight, 12 or more stapled or bound pages, like a company profile or product catalogue.
• Digital brochures. A PDF built for email or download, often with clickable links.

Not sure whether you need a brochure, a pamphlet or a flyer? Our explainer on pamphlets vs brochures covers the difference.

How much do brochure design services cost?

Here's what brochure design services charge, by type of provider, based on published prices.

Now let's look at each one in more detail.

Freelance brochure designers

Upwork's brochure designer cost page puts the median rate at $29–$45 an hour. For comparison, the median pay for a US graphic designer is $30.27 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How that turns into a project price depends on the brochure. As an illustration (our assumption, not a quote), a tri-fold might take a skilled freelancer 6–10 hours. At $29–$45 an hour, that's roughly $175–$450. A 12-page brochure might take 25–35 hours, or about $725–$1,575.

A good freelancer is often the best value for a single brochure. The risks are vetting, since quality varies a lot, and availability later, when you need a quick update before the next event.

Fiverr is another option, with gigs for almost every budget. Check carefully what the listed price covers, such as the number of panels or pages, revisions and source files.

Design contests and 1-to-1 projects

On 99designs, brochure contests cost $299 (Bronze), $499 (Silver), $799 (Gold) or $1,199 (Platinum), not including sales tax. Several designers send ideas, and you pick a winner. 99designs lists a money-back guarantee and full copyright ownership.

It also offers 1-to-1 projects, where you hire one designer. It estimates these at $329–$849, with source files for digital or print.

Contests are great when you have no idea what you want and need to see options. They're less useful when you already have a brand and a clear brief. Then you're paying for ideas you'll throw away.

Design subscriptions

A design subscription charges a flat monthly fee for ongoing design work. Brochures are usually one of many things you can request, along with ads, social posts, decks and more.

• ManyPixels lists "Brochures and Booklets" on every plan, from $699 to $2,599 a month, according to its pricing page.
• Kimp includes brochures on its Graphics and Graphics + Video plans, per its pricing page.
• Design Shifu covers brochures and other print design from the Starter plan. Plans cost $549, $749 or $1,099 a month.

A subscription rarely makes sense for one brochure. It makes a lot of sense if you also need the flyer, the roll-up banner, the social posts and the sales deck that go with it.

Design and branding agencies

Agencies cost the most, but they can handle the whole job: strategy, copywriting, photography and print management. Clutch's design pricing guide, which is based on verified client reviews, lists brochure and pamphlet work at an average of $100–$149 an hour. That's well above the $25–$49 an hour most design agencies on Clutch charge overall.

An agency is worth it when the brochure is part of a big launch or rebrand, or when you need copy and photos created from scratch. For a simple sales sheet, it's usually more than you need.

How much does a brochure cost by type?

Size and page count change the price more than anything else. A published guide from the agency Wavespace gives these typical ranges:

• Tri-fold brochure: $150–$1,000
• Multi-page brochure: $500–$5,000 or more
• Corporate brochure: $1,000–$5,000 or more

These are broad because they cover everyone from new freelancers to established studios. Use them as a sense check on quotes, not as a fixed price list.

What pushes the price up?

• More pages. A 16-page catalogue is far more work than a tri-fold.
• Custom illustration or infographics. These take longer than placing stock photos.
• Rush jobs. Wavespace says rush fees typically add 20–40% to the total.
• Many revision rounds. Some providers charge for each extra round.
• Writing the copy. Many designers expect you to supply the text.

What's included in a brochure design service?

Most pages ranking for this search list deliverables without saying which you get at which price. Use this list to check any quote.

The core deliverables

• Layout and design for every panel or page, in your brand's colours and fonts.
• Image handling. Placing, cropping and editing your photos, or sourcing stock.
• Revisions. A set number of rounds, or unlimited on most subscriptions.
• Print-ready file. Usually a high-resolution PDF, set up for your printer.

The print setup you should ask about

A brochure that looks fine on screen can print badly. Ask your designer to set the file up with:

• CMYK colour, the colour mode printers use, rather than screen colours.
• Bleed, extra image area past the edge, so there's no white line after trimming. Your printer will tell you how much it needs.
• High-resolution images, usually 300 DPI for print.
• Correct fold positions, so text doesn't fall into a crease.

If a provider doesn't mention any of this, ask before you pay. It's a quick test of whether they've designed for print before.

The files you should get

You should get a print-ready PDF and the editable source file, often InDesign, Illustrator or Figma. The source file means another designer can update the brochure next year. Design Shifu, for example, delivers PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG, AI, PSD and Figma files, and source files come with every plan.

Want to see what good looks like before you brief anyone? Browse our company brochure examples for ideas.

Which brochure design service should you choose?

The best of the brochure design services for you depends on how much design you need, not just this one brochure.

Choose a freelancer if…

You need one brochure, you have your copy ready, and you're happy to review a few portfolios. It's often the cheapest route for a single, simple piece.

Choose a contest if…

You have no clear direction yet and want to see many different ideas quickly. Be ready to give a detailed brief, or the ideas will miss.

Choose a design subscription if…

You need brochures as part of a steady flow of design: flyers, ads, social posts and presentations. One flat fee covers all of it, and the same team keeps your brand consistent.

Choose an agency if…

The brochure is part of a major launch or rebrand, and you need strategy, copy and photography as well as design. Expect to pay agency rates and wait several weeks.

How long does brochure design take?

According to Wavespace, a simple one-page, bi-fold or tri-fold brochure takes about 3–7 days once your content is final. A complex multi-page brochure can take 3–6 weeks.

The biggest delay is usually not the design. It's waiting for copy, photos and sign-off. Have those ready and any of these brochure design services will move faster.

The costs and fine print people forget

A few things rarely appear in brochure design quotes, but they matter.

Printing. Design and printing are separate bills. Most designers, including Design Shifu, design the file and you send it to a printer. Get a print quote early, because paper type and quantity change the price a lot.

Copywriting. Many quotes assume you'll supply the text. If you need it written, ask whether it's included or budget for a copywriter.

Photos. Stock images may cost extra, and a custom photo shoot costs much more.

Copyright and source files. Make sure the contract gives you full copyright and the editable files. Without them, you'll depend on the original designer for every small change. Design Shifu clients own 100% of their designs.

Revision limits. "Revisions included" can mean one round or unlimited. Get the number in writing before you start.

How to brief a brochure designer

A clear brief saves you time and money, whoever you hire. Send:

• The goal. What should the reader do after reading? Call, book, visit or buy?
• The audience. Who gets this brochure, and where? A trade show visitor reads differently from a patient in a waiting room.
• The format. Tri-fold, bi-fold or booklet, plus size and page count.
• Your copy and images, or a note that you need help with them.
• Your brand files. Logo, colours, fonts and any brand guidelines.
• Print details. Your printer's specs, paper type, quantity and deadline.
• Examples you like, with a line on why.

For the design side of the brief, our guide on how to design a brochure that converts walks through layout, hierarchy and calls to action.

If one of the brochure design services you're comparing doesn't ask for most of this, treat it as a warning sign.

Conclusion

Brochure design services cover a wide range, from a $29-an-hour freelancer to a $1,199 contest or an agency charging $100–$149 an hour. Picking the right one is less about the brochure and more about what comes after it.

If you need one simple brochure, a good freelancer is often the best value. If you need a big launch with strategy and copy, go to an agency. If brochures are one part of a steady flow of print and digital design, a design subscription usually gives you more for your money.

See how Design Shifu handles print design. Plans start at $549 a month, with two designers, an account manager, and a 14-day money-back guarantee. Compare the plans on our pricing page.