Printing Your Programme in South Africa
A5 folded, 100 copies, by tomorrow morning — here's exactly how.
In South Africa the programme is almost always an A5 folded booklet, printed the day before — often the same morning. This is the practical guide: what to ask for, what it should cost, and how not to lose an hour at the counter.
Where to print
- Local print shops — usually the cheapest per copy for 100+, and used to funeral work; many will fold and staple while you wait.
- PostNet / PNA and similar chains — everywhere, predictable, fine quality; bring the PDF on WhatsApp, email, or a flash drive.
- Church or school office — many congregations print programmes on the church copier as part of their care; ask the office before paying anyone.
- Home printer — workable for small services: our PDF's sheet pages are pre-arranged for duplex printing, "flip on long edge," fold in half.
What to ask for at the counter
- "A5 folded booklet from this PDF — print the first pages only, in order." (The sheet pages at the end are for home printers.)
- Paper: 120–160gsm matte for the cover feel; standard 80gsm is acceptable for tight budgets and still folds cleanly.
- Colour for the cover at least — the portrait deserves it; inner pages can be black-and-white to halve the cost.
- Count: one per household expected plus 20% — programmes are keepsakes and always run short, never long.
The night-before checklist
- Names checked by two family members — especially the family list and pallbearers.
- Service time and venue confirmed against the undertaker's letter.
- Photo looks right in the print preview (our editor's pre-flight warns about low-resolution photos).
- One test copy printed and folded before the full run — thirty seconds that has saved a thousand reprints.
Printing the unveiling programme
The unveiling programme follows the same A5 format — many families print it alongside the invitation cards months in advance, since the date is planned rather than sudden.
Common questions
What size are SA funeral programmes?+
A5 folded — an A4 sheet folded once — is the standard. Larger services use 8-page A5 booklets (two folded A4 sheets stapled on the fold). Our PDF is built for exactly this.
What will 100 copies cost?+
As a rough 2026 guide: black-and-white single-sheet A5 programmes from local print shops often land around R2–R4 per copy; full-colour on better paper R4–R8; an 8-page colour booklet R8–R15. Phone two shops — prices vary widely by area.
How fast can it be printed?+
Single-fold programmes are usually same-day at any busy print shop; booklets with stapling may need a few hours more. Send the PDF by WhatsApp or email before you drive.
What do I actually send the shop?+
The whole TributeFold PDF. Tell them: "Print the first pages as an A5 folded booklet." The folded printer sheets and the guide page at the end are for home printing — shops have their own imposition.