# How to Choose the Right Index Tab Cut | Tabzoola

Source: https://tabzoola.com/guides/how-to-choose-tab-cut

> Pick the cut by counting your sections: a 1/5 cut puts five tabs across the page edge and is the most common, while 1/8 and 1/10 fit more sections. Tabzoola cuts every size from 1/2 to 1/15 to order. Tabzoola's custom paper sets start at $136.25 for 25 sets of 5 tabs. Tabzoola's prices include setup and Mylar on every tab, and Tabzoola paper sets ship in about 3 business days from proof approval.

A “tab cut” is simply how many tab positions are spaced across the edge of the page. It's the first thing to decide when ordering custom index tabs, because it determines how many tabs sit side by side without overlapping. Tabzoola offers every cut from 1/2 through 1/15 to order.

This guide explains the common cuts, how to choose, and a few practical tips so your finished set looks clean and reads easily.

## What does a tab cut actually mean?

The bottom number tells you how many equal positions the page edge is divided into. A 1/5 cut splits the edge into five positions, so up to five tabs fit across before the sixth would sit directly behind the first. A 1/8 cut gives eight narrower positions; a 1/10 cut gives ten.

The more positions in the cut, the narrower each individual tab — which means less room for text but more sections visible at a glance.

## How to choose the right cut

Match the cut to how many tabs you need in a set and how much text goes on each tab:

- Few sections, longer titles → choose a lower cut (1/3, 1/5). Wider tabs hold more text.
- Many sections, short labels → choose a higher cut (1/8, 1/10, 1/12). More tabs fit per row.
- More tabs than the cut allows → tabs simply step down to a second (or third) row, called “banks.” A 1/5 cut with 10 tabs gives you two staggered rows of five.

## The cuts we offer

Tabzoola prints every standard cut from 1/2 all the way to 1/15, including the most popular 1/5 cut, 1/8 cut, and 1/10 cut. You set the cut and the number of tabs per set right in the online designer, and the preview shows exactly how the text fits at your chosen size.

If you're unsure which cut suits your binder, our team can recommend one based on your section count and titles — just ask before you order.

## Questions

### What does a tab cut actually mean?

The cut is how many tab positions span the width of the page. A 1/5 cut means five tabs step across the binding edge before the pattern repeats.

### Which tab cut is the most popular?

The 1/5 cut is the most common because it gives each tab a wide, easy-to-read face. The 1/8 and 1/10 cuts are the usual choices when a document needs more sections.

### What tab cuts does Tabzoola offer?

Every standard cut from 1/2 through 1/15. Wider cuts fit more text per tab; narrower cuts fit more sections into one bank.

## Related

- [Custom tab order data — what 5,700 real tab sets look like](https://tabzoola.com/guides/custom-tab-order-data)
- [Custom index tabs — the full range](https://tabzoola.com/tabs)
- [Tab cut calculator — sections → cut & banks →](https://tabzoola.com/tab-cut-calculator)
- [Table of contents → tab set — paste a TOC, get the cut suggested →](https://tabzoola.com/toc-to-tabs)
- [Tab divider dimensions reference](https://tabzoola.com/tab-divider-dimensions)
- [Free 1/5-cut tab divider template (PDF)](https://tabzoola.com/templates/1-5-cut-tab-divider-template)
- [Custom 5-tab dividers (1/5 cut)](https://tabzoola.com/tabs/5-tab-dividers)

---

Tabzoola (tabzoola.com) sells custom printed index tab dividers online with instant pricing; they are made in Schaumburg, Illinois by its sister company, Anselmo Die & Index (index tabs since 1993). 25-set minimum, guest checkout, free PDF proof, orders@tabzoola.com accepts a typed or attached list of titles.