Document Printing / 7 min
Should You Print Documents Single-Sided or Double-Sided?
Choose single-sided or double-sided document printing by understanding pages, sheets, flipping direction, copies, and final cost.
Published / Updated
By BizBee. Factual review: BizBee operations.
Short answer
Choose single-sided printing when separate sheets, space for notes or the recipient's instructions make it useful. Choose double-sided printing when you want a more compact reading copy and both sides of each sheet can be used. Double-sided printing reduces the number of sheets; the effect on price depends on the selected print option.
What is the difference between a page and a sheet?
A page is one side of document content. A sheet is the physical piece of paper, which has two sides. Printing on both sides is also called duplex printing.
With one document page printed on each side, a 12-page PDF uses 12 sheets single-sided or six sheets double-sided. It is still a 12-page document in either case.
How many sheets will your order need?
For ordinary double-sided sets, divide the pages in each copy by two, round up to a whole sheet, then multiply by the number of copies. Covers, separators, finishing and intentional blank pages can change the result.
Examples: 10 pages x 1 copy uses 10 sheets single-sided or 5 double-sided; 11 pages x 1 copy uses 11 or 6; 10 pages x 5 copies uses 50 or 25; 5 pages x 3 separate copies uses 15 or 9.
These are worked examples, not quotes. Each separate copy needs its own sheets; you would not print the first page of the next person's copy on the spare reverse side of the previous set.
When is single-sided printing the better choice?
Use it when each sheet will be handled independently or the blank reverse has a purpose. Examples include a checklist that someone needs to separate from a pack, a working draft with room for notes, or a document whose recipient has specifically asked for single-sided pages.
For application documents or submissions, check the receiving organisation's current instructions before choosing the sides setting.
When does double-sided printing make sense?
It is useful for reading packs, longer reports and other documents that should stay together. The smaller stack can be easier to carry and file.
Check whether the reverse-side content will distract from the page you are reading, particularly with dense images or heavy backgrounds. The result depends on the paper and artwork.
What do long-edge and short-edge flipping mean?
They describe the edge around which the sheet turns. For a portrait document read like a book, turning around the long edge is usually the intended behaviour. A portrait document flipped upwards like a calendar turns around the short edge.
Landscape layouts need a separate check because the long edge is in a different position. For mixed portrait and landscape pages, inspect a sample pair and state how you expect the document to turn.
Does double-sided printing always cost half as much?
No. Sheet count and the final charge are different calculations. The job may include charges based on printed pages, colour, paper, finishing, a minimum order and delivery.
Compare the totals for the same file and number of copies with only the sides setting changed. The printing cost guide explains the other components.
Sides decision checklist
- - Count pages, sheets and copies separately.
- - Use single-sided when sheets must be separated or annotated.
- - Use double-sided for compact reading packs.
- - Check long-edge or short-edge flipping for portrait and landscape pages.
- - Compare final totals rather than assuming double-sided halves the price.
Next step
Choose single-sided or double-sided printing for your document, then review the complete order before payment.
Choose print sides