{"id":706,"date":"2019-07-09T19:42:26","date_gmt":"2019-07-09T19:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/?p=706"},"modified":"2025-09-24T17:53:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T17:53:24","slug":"how-to-choose-the-best-booklet-binding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insights.printivity.com\/how-to-choose-the-best-booklet-binding","title":{"rendered":"Different Types of Binding: Tips on Book Binding Types (+Infographic)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Binding plays a key role in the appearance and performance of a printed booklet. Selecting the best type of binding for a print project requires taking into account several factors, such as the function of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/landing\/booklets\">the booklet<\/a>, the number of pages, the desired quality of presentation, and your printing budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what are the different types of binding? Read on to learn about saddle-stitching, spiral binding, and other binding methods. And take a look at our infographic about how to choose the right binding for your next project!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"#infographic-best-book-binding\">Jump to Infographic: How To Choose The Best Book Binding<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/landing\/insights\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"256\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/BannerPostcards-1024x256.png?resize=1024%2C256&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Get 20% off your first order at Printivity banner ad\" class=\"wp-image-2647\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7 Ways of Binding Books: Book Binding Options Explained<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several different types of bookbinding, each with their own benefits. If you need printed books, reports, or other printed projects, learn about seven binding styles that can bring your vision to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color\">1. Saddle stitch binding<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/saddle-3.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"Saddle stitched booklets are folded sheets that are bound 2 &quot;staples&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-824\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>What is the easiest method of book binding? Saddle-stitching &#8211; it&#8217;s one of the most common and economical binding methods for simple booklets with lower page counts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The process works by folding sheets of paper together and stapling them through the fold line of the booklet. Two staples are used for booklets up to 64 pages. However, Printivity now offers a square spine saddle binding that allows page counts up to 144 page count (4 covers + 140 interior). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why is it called saddle-stitching if the pages are stapled instead of sewn? During the binding process, the folded sheets are draped over an apparatus that looks like a saddle. Early on, this process was given the name \u201csaddle-stitching,\u201d and it&#8217;s been a printing industry term ever since. Today, any bookbinding process that attaches wire staples through sheets of paper is commonly referred to as saddle-stitching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/booklets\/saddle-stitched-booklets\">Saddle Stitch Book Printing<\/a> are ideal for presenting articles, advertising, or news, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Programs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/marketing\/calendars\">Wall calendars<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Newsletters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/whats-the-difference-between-pamphlets-and-brochures\">Pamphlets<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Direct mailers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Comic books<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thin magazines and catalogs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Designing for saddle stitch binding<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Because saddle-stitching uses folded pages, the total page count for the booklet must be a multiple of four. This is important to keep in mind when designing and laying out your booklet. Otherwise, you might end up with one or more blank pages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The folding process also determines the size of the paper needed for the booklet. For example, if you want a standard page size of 8.5\u2033 x 11 booklet, you would use 11\u2033 x 17\u2033 sheets of paper to accommodate the fold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-499968f5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/landing\/booklets\" style=\"background-color:#ef4129\">Get Instant Quotes &#8211; Custom Booklet Printing<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>One\npoint to remember: don\u2019t place any text or graphics too close to the fold of\nthe book\u2019s spine or near an edge that will be trimmed. Otherwise, you may\ninadvertently cut off part of the content of the booklet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color\">2. Spiral binding booklet printing<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/spiral-2.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"Spiral Bound Booklets are when sheets of paper are hole punched and a plastic coil is threaded in to hold them together\" class=\"wp-image-485\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/booklets\/spiral-bound-booklets\">Spiral binding<\/a> is another popular binding option. It offers a wide array of print applications and is especially popular with business professionals for its simple design and ability to cost-effectively \u201cdress up\u201d small print projects of only a few pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also known as coil binding, spiral binding holds the cover and the loose pages together with a long  plastic coil. The coil is threaded through evenly spaced holes punched into the spinal edge of the book cover and pages. Once fully inserted, both ends of the coil are crimped to keep it from unraveling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nplastic coils can be custom ordered in dozens of colors to coordinate with the\ncover, with black being the most popular. They also come in many different\ndiameters to handle the number of pages in the booklet. The more pages in the\nbook, the larger the diameter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/whats-the-difference-between-wire-and-spiral-binding\">Spiral binding<\/a> works well with pocket-sized books, oversized books and everything in between. The plastic binding allows for portrait or landscape paging and can even have the binding coil on top of the book instead of the side. This is a popular format for businesses and common applications range from instruction manuals, cookbooks, and directories to travel guides, PowerPoint presentations, textbooks, and calendars.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-499968f5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/landing\/booklets\" style=\"background-color:#ef4129\">Get Instant Quotes &#8211; Custom Booklet Printing<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nprimary advantages of this booklet binding option include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can\nopen 360 degrees and fold flat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pages\nare easy to turn <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An\neconomical choice for short production runs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\ndurable plastic coils resist distortion <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Great\nfor wall calendars and other booklets that hang flat against a wall<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can\naccommodate index tabs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Quick\nturnaround times because no adhesives are needed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color\">3<a>. <\/a>Wire-o booklet printing<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/wireo-3.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"Wire-O Booklets are when sheets of paper are hole punched and circular wire binding is threaded to hold the sheets together.\" class=\"wp-image-486\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/booklets\/wire-o-booklets\">Wire Bound Book Printing<\/a> option provides an upscale yet durable way to bind a wide variety of booklets ranging from presentations, reports, and workbooks to catalogs, cookbooks and more. The technique for this popular binding method is similar to spiral coil binding. However, unlike spiral binding, each coil is separate from the others, filling up two punched holes at a time with \u201co\u201d binding wire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/booklets\/wire-o-booklets#templates-and-specs\">Wire-o<\/a> binding loops are made of sturdy wire and can be custom ordered in a variety of colors that can coordinate with the color and design of the cover if desired. Wire-o bound books offer the same lay-flat, 360-degree functionality of spiral binding, along with extra benefits like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Enhanced durability for environments that involve frequent handling or exposure to elements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A professional appearance that\u2019s slightly more upscale than<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fluid page movement for books of up to 200 pages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-499968f5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/landing\/booklets\" style=\"background-color:#ef4129\">Get Instant Quotes &#8211; Custom Booklet Printing<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color\">4. Perfect bound book printing<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/perfect-2.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"Perfect bound books are sheets of paper that are bound using EVA glue.\" class=\"wp-image-825\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/books\/perfect-bound-books\">Perfect bound book printing<\/a> is another popular method with one big difference from the three book binding types above \u2013 it uses a flexible adhesive rather than wires or coils to hold the book together. The adhesive is applied along the spine to bind the cover and pages, which are cut to the exact same size to produce a perfect edge on all three sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This booklet binding option is far and away the leading choice for soft cover books, especially paperbacks. The cover usually consists of a heavier stock of paper than the other pages, and a clear coating can be added at an additional cost for more durability and improved visual appeal. Perfect binding is also very popular in the business world because it combines cost-effective binding with a professional look and feel. Common business applications include corporate reports, catalogs, product brochures, manuals, and magazines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Benefits\nof perfect binding include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>High-quality\npresentation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost\nless to produce than hardcover books<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Very\nstrong, durable spine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\nsquare spine allows for printing on the spine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spine\nwill not crack or break in extreme high or low temperatures<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is\nsuitable for short runs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/books\/pur-perfect-bound-books\">5. PUR perfect binging<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/pur-NavImage.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"PUR Perfect Bound Book spine\" class=\"wp-image-1503\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Upgrade your perfect bound book to PUR when you need your product to withstand heavy use over time. Benefits of PUR include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Thin coat of adhesive allows for a more flexible spine and cleaner appearance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lay-flat abilities &#8211; can be pushed down without the spine cracking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>50% stronger adhesive than EVA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/designing-perfect-bound-books\">perfect bound<\/a> books<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ideal for high <a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/how-do-you-count-pages-in-a-booklet-for-printing\">page count<\/a> books<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-499968f5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/landing\/booklets\" style=\"background-color:#ef4129\">Get Instant Quotes &#8211; Custom Booklet Printing<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>With the flexible properties of PUR glue, the PUR perfect bound books are able to be opened wide a without the glue cracking at the spine. Due to the strong bond, less glue is required to be applied which makes it more flexible and creates less distortion of the spine. Ultimately, PUR allows for an even cleaner appearance than the traditional adhesive.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/books\/hardcover-books\">6. Hardcover binding<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/yearbook.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"Three hardcover books floating\" class=\"wp-image-326\" style=\"width:360px;height:300px\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Of the different types of binding, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/books\/hardcover-books\">hardcover book binding<\/a> also called case binding, is the most premium book binding option in the industry. Once your custom cover design is printed and protected by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/comparing-matte-vs-gloss-lamination-for-printing\">lamination<\/a> of your choosing, it&#8217;s glued to a heavy-duty chip board. The book block, which ranges from 30-400 page documents, is attached to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/when-should-you-choose-hardcover-books\">hardcover<\/a> spine using the strongest glue on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are unique properties to hardcover books that you will not find in other types of book stitching. The one that stands out the most are the endsheets. This sheet is glued to the inside of the front and back cover to cover the chip board and gives a smooth appearance. The endsheet extends past the cover and is the first and last sheet of your book. The extended part of the sheet is commonly referred to as the flyleaf. Setting up your content will be different compared to other book types due to the flyleaf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hardcover binding can be used for any of your book printing needs, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cookbooks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Yearbooks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coffee table books<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Textbooks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Photobooks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Designing for hard cover binding<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Setting up your content will be different compared to other binding styles due to the flyleaf. Most booklets allow printing on the inside cover, but unfortunately printing is not available on the endsheet\/flyleaf. Because of this, you will need to start designing your content to start on the right side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/binders\">7. Three-ring binders<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/binders\/three-ring-binders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Three-ring binders<\/a>&nbsp;are one of the newest binding offerings at Printivity.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/binders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Binders<\/a>&nbsp;offer two different products that, when combined, create an infinitely interchangeable binding option that includes three-ring&nbsp;binders and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/binders\/binder-documents\">binder documents<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All three ring binder offerings hold 8.5\u2033 x 11\u2033 documents, but you can choose different spine thicknesses, depending on how much you need it to hold. The spine thicknesses offered are 0.5\u2033, 1.0\u2033, 1.5\u2033, 2.0\u2033, and 3.0\u2033. You can also choose to print custom front and back covers and a spine to match your brand and purpose of the binder, which are showcased in the clearview pockets.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_8994-1.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"Custom three ring binders stacked on each other\" style=\"width:472px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Printivity\u2019s binder documents let you choose between black-and-white and color copies. A three-hole punch is included to easily add to your binder. Add divider tabs to your order when you want to find the exact section as fast as possible. These divider tabs extend 0.5\u2033 past the other documents to quickly thumb through the sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Need More Info About Different Types of Book Binding?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Printivity specializes in booklet binding options designed to meet your booklet printing needs. Whether you\u2019re a company looking to give your<a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/marketing\"> print marketing<\/a> materials a boost or a first-time author looking into different types of binding options, Printivity has the perfect binding style for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you need a professionally bound booklet, bring it to the experts at Printivity. Request an instant cost estimate with our online <a href=\"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/landing\/booklets\">booklet printing<\/a> price quoter to get started on your next project. Or, call us at <a href=\"tel:18776495463\">1-877-649-5463<\/a> with any questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"infographic-best-book-binding\">Infographic: How To Choose The Best Book Binding<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Wide-How-to-choose-the-best-book-binding-1.png?fit=343%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Infographic that quickly explains the difference between booking binding options\" class=\"wp-image-1505\" style=\"width:373px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Binding plays a key role in the appearance and performance of a printed booklet. Selecting the best type of binding [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":827,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,6,9,12,15],"tags":[42,70,96,185,318,334,359,365,412,436,495],"class_list":["post-706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-design_tips_and_tutorials","category-inspiration","category-print","category-products","category-vocabulary_and_terms","tag-attract-customers","tag-booklet-printing","tag-buying-print","tag-digital-printing","tag-online-printing","tag-perfect-bound-book","tag-print-booklet","tag-print-products","tag-saddle-stitched-booklet","tag-spiral-bound-booklet","tag-wire-o-booklet"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/insights.printivity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Variety_Output-1.png?fit=1056%2C704&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgont1-bo","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insights.printivity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/706","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insights.printivity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insights.printivity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insights.printivity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insights.printivity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=706"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/insights.printivity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/706\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10336,"href":"https:\/\/insights.printivity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/706\/revisions\/10336"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insights.printivity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insights.printivity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insights.printivity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insights.printivity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}