When you print a document — especially a multi-page document — you may see an option called “Collate.” In printing, to collate means to assemble the pages so that each printed copy comes out in the correct order: page 1, page 2, page 3, and so on — before the printer begins printing the next copy.

Collated vs. Uncollated — What’s the Difference

To understand what does collate mean when printing this example:

• Suppose you have a 5-page document, and you want 3 copies.

  • If you choose collated printing, the printer will output:
    Copy 1: pages 1-2-3-4-5
    Copy 2: pages 1-2-3-4-5
    Copy 3: pages 1-2-3-4-5

  • If you choose uncollated printing (i.e. collate OFF), the printer will output:
    All copies of page-1, then all copies of page-2, then all copies of page-3, and so on. So the output will be:
    1,1,1 → 2,2,2 → 3,3,3 → 4,4,4 → 5,5,5

Thus, collated printing gives you complete, ready-to-use sets; uncollated printing gives you stacks by page number, requiring manual sorting if you want full sets. 

Why “Collate” Matters

• For documents that need to stay in a certain order — such as reports, booklets, manuals, or assignments — collate ensures each copy is properly organized and ready to hand out.

• Collating is especially useful when printing multiple copies, because it saves time and effort by avoiding manual sorting of pages later.

• If you plan to bind or staple the printed documents, collated printing makes sure all pages are in correct sequence before binding. 

When to Use Collated or Uncollated Printing

• Use collated printing when the document is multi-page and you want complete copies ready to distribute — for example: reports, study materials, booklets, assignments.

• Use uncollated printing when you just need many copies of a single page (or a few pages), or when pages will be sorted/assembled manually later — for example: forms, flyers, handouts, or individual inserts. 

Simple Definition/Summary

In printing, “collate” means: to print copies of a document so that each copy is a complete, correctly ordered set of pages.
If collate is off (uncollated), the printer prints all copies of page-1, then page-2, and so on — resulting in stacks of single pages that must be manually sorted if you want full sets.

Use collate when order matters,