The Ultimate Guide to Brochure and Booklet Binding

There are a lot of considerations when choosing a style of binding for your project. You have to consider budget, number of pages, size, turnaround time, longevity… and that’s before you’ve even chosen a print partner! This doesn’t have to be a difficult choice, simply follow our guide below to find the perfect type of binding for your project.

With so many types of binding available, it can be tricky to find the perfect one for you. Consider the following to ensure you choose the perfect type of binding for every job:

Think first of all about the project. What size of paper are you using, how many pages do you have and what is the purpose of the document? If you are preparing annual reports for board members, you are likely to choose saddle stitching, perfect or case binding with a thick paper stock.  For a self-published memoir, perhaps a case-bound or hardback book.

Some types of binding are more expensive, such as hardback book printing, and will be reserved for either luxury brands or important, infrequent projects, while others, such as wire binding or saddle stitched booklets are inexpensive and can be used for everyday jobs, such as instruction manuals. Look at the quantity you need and work out what will provide the best value for your requirements.

If you have been super organised and have lots of time, you have more options for your binding choice. Our website will let you know the turnaround times available on all print options.  You can get free Saver delivery or opt for an express upgrade.

Which binding works best for your project?

What is Perfect Binding?

Perfect binding is typically used for paperback books and magazines. The inner pages are bound to the spine of the cover with an adhesive. Once cured, the outside facing edges are trimmed to give straight edges and a clean finish. Perfect binding gives a professional appearance for a relatively low cost.

Here at Tradeprint, we use a PUR (polyurethane reactive) adhesive in our perfect bound products, as this is 60% tougher than a typical EVA (ethylene vinyl-acetate) adhesive and the finished product can lay flatter without compromising the bind strength. From 40-240 pages.

Saddle stitch binding is very common and reasonably priced, but not suitable for long-term, rigorous use. A wire “staple” is stitched through the folded spine and inner page centrefold to encase all the pages. Saddle stitch binding is suitable for thinner books typically 64 pages or less. 

The inside pages are sewn together in sections, then glued to a paper which is then glued to the hard cover. This cover can be made from many types of material, such as leather, paper or fabrics. Case Binding is used for hardcover books and take a long time to produce, but the results are very strong and durable. From 40-400 pages. 

Holes are punched through the cover and inner pages, and a spiral made from wire is threaded through the holes. A choice of wire sizes and colours are often provided to offer flexibility for each job. Wire binding is perfect for books which need to lay flat while in use, such as instruction manuals.