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 perfect or case binding with a thick paper stock, however if you are preparing a swatch book you’re likely to opt for screw binding.

Some types of binding are expensive, such as sewn binding, and will be reserved for either luxury brands or important, infrequent projects, while others, such as wire binding, 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. Case binding can take a couple of weeks, so if you’re in a bit of a rush you might opt for perfect bound (with our express delivery!) and receive your order in just a few days.

Often the choice of binding is restricted to what is actually available. We offer saddle stitching and perfect binding across the UK, while you may have to source an expert for handmade side stitched booklets.

Here is all the information you need to choose between Saddle Stitch and Perfect binding, both available from Tradeprint.

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.

Saddle stitch binding is very common and reasonably priced, but not suitable for long term 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 – but please do get in touch if you’re uncertain!).

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.

Wire is threaded from the front cover, through the inside pages and through the back cover. This creates a visible stitch on the front of the document. This is a great choice for calendars, or a document with a perforation which can be torn off. This is a simple book binding method which does not allow the book to completely open or lay flat.

Thread is stitched down the length of the outer spine. The thread can be matched or contrasted with the cover colour for a stylish finish. Due to the amount of stitches holding the book together, it can lay flatter than perfect bound. This is a durable choice, best used on projects meant to last, such as legal or laboratory documents.

A hole is drilled through the covers and inner pages, then a screw is inserted to hold everything together. Screw binding tends to be used for swatches, samples books and photo albums, as they look very impressive and are easy to update.

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.

Tradeprint currently offer two solutions for your booklet and brochure binding: Perfect Bound and Saddle Stitched. Saddle stitched is a great choice for everyday projects while perfect bound brings a professional finish that’s hard to beat. Find out more about these products: