Magazine Back Cover Examples and Ideas
The back cover is the second most visible page of a magazine: it faces up every time the magazine is put down. Below are 29 magazine back cover examples, each shown next to its front cover, grouped by style. We also cover what to put on the back of a magazine and how to design one that works.
Every magazine on this page:
- A complete magazine template with designed front and back cover
- A4 size, fully editable in Adobe InDesign
- CMYK, 300 DPI with 3 mm bleed, ready to print
- Free fonts. Preview photos are not included in the download.
What is the back cover of a magazine?
The back cover of a magazine is the outside of the last page. In publishing it is often called the outside back cover or the fourth cover. The front cover is the first cover, the inside of the front cover is the second, and the inside of the back cover is the third.
In consumer magazines the back cover is usually a full-page advertisement, and it is one of the most expensive ad positions in the issue, because the magazine is often seen face down on a table or a shelf. In company, school and self-published magazines, the back cover is free for the publisher to use: a photo, a message, contact details or an ad for its own products.
What to put on the back cover
- A full-page ad: for a sponsor, or for your own product, event or service.
- A strong photo: often a continuation of the front cover shoot or a striking image from inside the issue.
- A short blurb or quote: one or two lines about the issue, the brand or the editor’s message.
- A teaser for the next issue: the date and the main story coming up.
- Barcode and price: for retail copies. Newsstand magazines often print the barcode on the front; self-published and company magazines usually put it on the back.
- Website, social accounts and a QR code: so readers can subscribe, shop or read more.
- Publisher details: name, address, issue number and date, if they are not inside.
You do not need all of these. The best back covers pick one main job (sell, inspire or inform) and do it with a single photo and very little text.
Front cover vs back cover
| Front cover | Back cover | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Attract readers and sell the issue | Advertise, close the issue or link to more |
| Typical content | Masthead, cover photo, cover lines, date | Ad or photo, short text, barcode, website or QR code |
| Text | Several cover lines | As little as possible |
| Design link | Sets the issue’s color and style | Echoes the front so the magazine looks like one object |
Full-photo back covers
The simplest and most common style: one strong photo across the whole back, with the barcode, a line of text and the website tucked into a corner. It works when the photo is good enough to stand on its own.
1. Bike Magazine
A motorcycle headlight cutting through fog fills the back, with the barcode and a short paragraph at the bottom. Moody and cinematic, a perfect partner to the dark front cover.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
2. Weekly Sport
A floodlit stadium photo with a yellow “New Sport” tag and a short column of text. The back cover teases next issue’s sport.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
3. Inovation Magazine
A glowing brain hologram over a hand, with the barcode set in the white margin. Clean and futuristic for tech and science titles.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
4. Myidea Nature
Hands holding a small terrarium, with the barcode at the top. A calm, natural close-up that reflects the magazine’s theme.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
5. Texture Magazine
A field of grey umbrellas with one pink one, and a framed text box at the top. A graphic photo that rewards a second look.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
6. Green Magazine
A subway escalator in green light behind a translucent green panel. The back cover carries the cover color all the way round.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
7. Traveller Magazine
A neon city street at night with a QR code and short text. The QR code sends readers straight to the website or subscription page.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
8. Top Fashion
A model in a pink dress on a blue background with a QR code in the corner. Bright and simple for fashion and beauty titles.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
9. Fashion New Trend
A group shot in denim on a white back, with the barcode and a line of blue text. The back cover continues the front cover shoot.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
10. Fashion Style
A street style photo with an orange vintage car and a barcode in the white border. Colorful and editorial.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
11. Photograp Magazine
A dark portrait with sunglasses and a short paragraph, matching the black and white mood of the front cover.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
Back covers with a photo and a text panel
A photo plus a colored box for a short blurb: what is in the issue, a quote, a subscription offer or the publisher’s details. This is the best layout for company and in-house magazines.
12. Business Magazine, Orange
An office photo with an orange text box (“Creativity is simple”) and the barcode at the top. A clear blurb space for company news.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
13. Business Current News
A crowd crossing a street, seen from above, with an orange text box. Good for a closing message from the editor.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
14. Balance Magazine, Teal
A dark portrait with a teal panel for text and the barcode at the side. Premium and calm.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
15. Balance Magazine, Orange
A businessman photo with an orange accent bar and the barcode. Matches the orange and black front cover.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
16. Holiday Magazine
Travellers on a trip, a teal circle with a short message and the website at the bottom. Friendly and inviting.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
17. Holiday Magazine, Green
A hiker on a mountain with a green text panel and the website. Fresh and outdoorsy for travel guides.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
18. Uomo Mag
A figure in a foggy forest with an orange text box and the barcode. Atmospheric and dark, like the deep red front cover.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
19. Paesyeon New Trend
Dark green with a model photo, a tan text box, the barcode and the website. The cover color wraps around the spine to the back.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
20. Myidea Business, Black
A motorcycle engine close-up with a red text box and the barcode on black. Bold and masculine.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
21. Music Magazine
A neon camera close-up with a teal text box and the barcode. Bright, nightlife colors for music and culture.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
Graphic and ad-style back covers
Back covers designed like a poster or a full-page ad, with color blocks, shapes and type. Use this style to sell something: your own product, an event or next issue.
22. Business Article
An orange typographic poster with a portrait and repeated text. It looks like a full-page ad, which is what most back covers are.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
23. Balance Elegant
Purple and pink geometric shapes over a terrarium photo, with the barcode at the bottom. A playful, graphic back.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
24. Fashion Design
Orange and teal color blocks around a model, with a pink headline block and the barcode. Bold and fashion-forward.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
25. Passion Magazine
A BMX rider against a building with a purple band. Sporty and graphic, with the band echoing the front cover.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
26. Interior Magazine
A teal block with a bedroom photo and a lamp, plus the barcode. The color block ties the back to the front cover.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
27. Design Magazine
A dark interior photo with a red vertical accent and the barcode. Minimal and editorial.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
28. Fashion Magazine, Beige
A portrait in a leather jacket with a beige band and the barcode. Simple color blocking that frames the photo.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
29. Game+ Magazine
A red fantasy temple illustration with a yellow “Thank you” panel and the barcode. Ends the issue with a thank-you to readers.
A4 portrait · 14 pages incl. back cover · Adobe InDesign
Back cover design tips
- Design the front and back together. Lay them out as one spread with the spine in the middle, so colors and photos flow around the magazine.
- Keep it simple. One image, one message, one call to action. The back cover is seen at a glance.
- Leave space for the barcode. Put it in a clean, light area, at least 2 to 3 cm from the edges, and never over a busy photo.
- Use the cover color again. A color band, a spine color or a text box in the same color as the front ties the two together.
- Add a QR code with a purpose. Link to a subscription page, a shop or the digital edition, and say so in a few words next to it.
- Mind the bleed. Extend background photos and colors 3 mm past the trim, and keep text 5 mm inside it.
For the rest of the issue, see our magazine examples and our magazine layout design guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does the back of a magazine look like?
Most magazine back covers are a full-page photo or advertisement with a small amount of text, and often a barcode, website or QR code. The examples above show three common styles: full photo, photo with a text panel, and graphic or ad-style.
What should I put on the back cover of a magazine?
An ad, a strong photo or a short message, plus practical details such as the barcode, website, social accounts or a QR code. See the full list above.
Why are magazine back covers usually ads?
Because the back cover is seen almost as often as the front. Magazines lie face down on tables and shelves, so advertisers pay a premium for it.
What is the inside cover of a magazine?
The inside front cover is the back of the front cover, and the inside back cover is the back of the last cover page. Both are usually used for ads or for the contents page and editor’s letter.
Can I edit these magazine templates in Word or Canva?
No. They are Adobe InDesign files, so you need InDesign to change text, colors and images. Preview photos are not included; use your own or licensed stock photos.
Need a whole magazine?
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