The printed page number appearing on a book or document page. In book design, odd folios always appear on the right-hand page, and even folios appear on the left-hand page. The term also refers to a very large book format created by folding a standard sheet of printing paper exactly once, yielding two leaves or four pages.
Drop the folios to the bottom margin for the chapter opening pages.
A folio placed at the top of the page with the running head is a headline folio, while one at the bottom is a drop folio.
Do not mix it up with
- Blind folio: A blind folio is counted in the numbering sequence but not actually printed on the page.
Related terms
Recto
The right-hand page of an open book or manuscript, traditionally bearing an odd page number.
Verso
The left-hand page of an open book or manuscript, traditionally carrying an even page number.
Blind folio
A page number that is counted in the book's sequence but not printed.
Quarto
A book size created by folding a printed sheet twice to form four leaves.
8vo
A standard book format created by folding a printed sheet three times to form eight leaves.