book binding ways

10 Book Binding Methods You Need To Know

You’ve gathered a winning collection of pages for your folio and now you need something sturdy to hold it all together. That’s where the art and craft of bookbinding comes in.

Beyond its obvious utility, there’s a great deal of aesthetic pleasure to be found in a beautifully-bound document. But choosing the right style can be a daunting task. Especially when your bookbinding knowledge (or lack thereof) shrouds your imagination.

Intimidated? We’d be surprised if you weren’t.

That’s why we’ve crafted this helpful resource for designers, photographers and the like who are looking to gauge a better understanding of what’s available. Time to acquaint yourself with the fundamentals of post-press perfection, so you can pay closer attention to your designs. Future you will thank you.

1. Saddle stitch binding

When there’s brevity to be bound, there’s saddle-stitching to be found. Better suited to smaller documents, saddle-stitching is one of the simplest ways to secure printed sheets of paper folded in half. Consider it a professional iteration of stapling that appeals to any cost-effective booklet, brochure, catalogue, program or magazine.

Documents bound with saddle stitch.

2. PUR binding

What gives a paperback its clean PUR-fect edges? A process called PUR. You may have heard the term ‘perfect binding’ and wondered what the difference is. Both use a paperboard or heavy cover stock to attach pages to the spine with glue. But while the two applications are similar in concept, a PUR-bound document uses a special kind of adhesive known as polyurethane reactive (hence where it gets its name from).

If you’re looking to print a paperback, annual report or premium project, PUR makes for a strong, clean spine that’s durable enough to hold heavier stocks.

Book bound with a PUR (perfect) binding

3. Hardcover or case binding

There’s nothing quite like a beautiful book that’s been bound to remarkably high standards of quality. Either section sewn or bound from single sheets, this sturdier option will ensure your book becomes an alluring addition to any coffee table or bookshelf. While a hardcover or casebound book can be more expensive to produce, they do boast a longer shelf life and much higher value.

If you’re planning to sell your work, there really is no substitute. Books bound in a rigid cover and finished with material such as vellum or buckram are often produced with a hollow back and visible joint so as to open more freely.

Case bound book for photographer Ollie Hodgkins covered with buckram cloth.

4. Singer sewn binding

Collating pages for a creative project—looking for something a little whimsical? Singer sewing is a beautiful, traditional method of bookbinding where a single thread (of any colour) is stitched through folded pages at the spine. With no adhesives or staples, this secure binding method is typically used on books with a single section. The stitching can either be visible on the outside or tucked neatly away on the inside.

Singer sewn book designed by Athlete for Kate Disher-Quill view project .

5. Section sewn binding

As the name would suggest, this type of binding is sewn in sections along the spine and glued together for a sturdy finish. Ideal for small and large documents, section sewing enables you to lay your book out flat regardless of its page count.

6. Coptic stitch binding

Like section sewing, you can lay your documents flat with coptic stitching. Although this method is similar in form, a coptic stitch bind offers a non-adhesive finish. Regardless, this type of binding offers a flexible spine without sacrificing strength. It’s an option that allows you to open up your book completely without affecting its integrity over time.

7. Wiro, comb or spiral binding

The quintessential method for commercial documents and school exercise books that involves a simple loop wire and hole puncher. But don’t underestimate the power of a wire, comb or spiral bind. This option is extremely versatile and popular to boot.

8. Interscrew binding

Also known as Chicago screw binding, this exceptionally durable print finish is a great option for any portfolio or office document. Holes are drilled with the utmost precision and fixed with binding screws between two covering boards. This style of binding is a cleaner looking alternative to ring binding and still gives you the ability to add or remove pages as needed, which is great for restaurant menus and portfolios.

Interscrew or chicago screw binding

9. Japanese binding

A traditional softcover style of binding in which single leaves are laced together with a needle and thread, with the exposed lacing treated as a feature of the style. This method does not allow the book to be laid flat, but its detail and charm adds heart to any journal or notebook.

10. Solander boxes and slipcases

Solander boxes and slipcases are the ideal way to store your archive and/or precious material. It’s a luxurious form of packaging that can be custom-made to your exact requirements. Choose from a variety of styles (shoebox, matchbox, veranda box, clamshell box or slipcase) and embellish your logo or title with flashy foil or debossing.

Book with slipcase designed by SDWM for the Australian Open view project.

Need foiling for your folio?

Choose between 16 fonts from our ready-made blocks to avoid the time and cost attached to making a custom foiling block. If you’d like to find out more about the different ways to bind a book — get in touch with us. Our experts are here to offer you the right guidance.

There are so many ways to create, stitch, fold and assemble your document to improve its function. But you’ll need to look beyond your ordinary bookbinders to produce a quality book, journal or album. Be it a small booklet or large publication, Bambra’s creative binding lends a peerless sense of value to your project.

Bound and foiled books for Olivia Brighton view project.

Have you heard about our new department?

Bambra has recently expanded its specialty services to offer more bespoke bookbinding and embellishment capabilities. Thanks to new machinery and some very special antique bookbinding equipment, Bambra is now able to service a greater variety and quantity of intricate book work.

At the heart of this exciting new chapter are two of the most adept bookbinders in the industry. As Melbourne’s institutional Irwin & McLaren closed its doors, Bambra saw fit to make room for some new employees. Storm and Andrew are well-known by creatives for their skill, passion and deep respect for their craft. Their involvement has been pivotal in the success of this product launch and we look forward to sharing in their contributions with our own loyal customers.

Contact us today about binding your next project.

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What’s in a Bind? 4 Types of Book Binding – Pros and Cons

Book binding comes in all shapes and sizes. Whether you're publishing your own book or getting it published, you should think about the binding a the beginning of your process. 

How many types of book bindings are there? There are dozens of ways to bind a book, and creative bindery and finishing experts are coming up with new methods all the time. But don't be overwhelmed; they come in four main categories. This article will outline these four main types of binding books. Each one has many sub-categories worth looking into as there are pros and cons to each of these choices:

• Case binding
• Perfect binding
• Saddle Stitching
• Comb, spiral, thermal binding

There are at least a dozen methods of binding, and there are unique pros and cons to each depending on the purpose of the document. Some bindings are more durable than others; some allow your book to lay flat when opened, and some have a very attractive appearance.

If you’re currently trying to figure out which method to use, we’ve rounded off some of the most common techniques, complete with the pros and cons of each, so that you are able to make an informed choice.

1. CASE BINDING

Also known as hardcover binding, this is by far the best binding technique you could pick. In fact, in the past, all major books were hard-bound. Basically, the inside pages are sewn together in sections. The sections are then glued to the end-papers which are finally glued to the cover’s spine. When opened, case-bound books lay flat on the table.

• Case-bound books are an impressive presentation. They give your book a weighty feel and inspire an air of quality.
• Books bound in this manner are highly durable and attract high retail prices.
• Cost is the biggest drawback to the technique. The net cost of case binding can be several times the cost of perfect binding.
• Weight can be an issue. Case-bound books are generally heavier compared to their counterparts, which can result in higher shipping costs.

2. PERFECT BINDING

Perfect binding (also known as soft cover binding) is similar to case binding, except for the lower quality cover. A perfect binding cover is made from heavy-weight cardstock paper that is often coated or laminated to protect the book. With this type of binding, the cover and pages are glued together with a super strong glue. Often the cover is longer than the pages, so the cover is trimmed to give it that perfect look.

• It’s an economical alternative to hardcover binding, both in terms of production and shipping.
• Presentation is still of high quality, allowing the books to fetch good prices at sale.
• Books don’t lay flat on the table when opened due to gluing of cover to the spine of the book block.
• The inferior paper-based cover also means that perfect bound books are less durable than hardcover books.

3. SADDLE STITCH BINDING

For books that might have short-term use (or those with a small number of pages), saddle stitch binding is an excellent alternative. Once pages are printed and organized, they are stacked and loaded onto a conveyor from where they are stitched together using metal staples. Stitching can be done with or without a book cover.

• This technique is highly economical, especially for small, short-term booklets.
• Saddle-stitched books lay flat (for the most part) when opened.
• This binding method usually has a fairly quick turnaround and can be done at most commercial printers in-house.
• When used for books with many pages, the nesting of pages within one another can cause creeping.
• Books are less durable; the cover and pages can be easily damaged.

RELATED: DIGITAL VS. OFFSET PRINTING - HOW YOU CAN SAVE TIME AND MONEY

4. comb, spiral & thermal binding.

These are the three techniques commonly used when binding short-run books. Comb binds actually look like a comb threading into a series of holes punched into the edge of the book. Spiral binding involves punching similar holes but instead of the comb, a metal/plastic coil is threaded through the holes. Thermal binding is a bit different; the pages of the book are glued to the spine by heating the cover’s spine.

• For short-run books, these one-off binding techniques are very effective.
• These techniques are also extremely low-cost due to low or no-minimum order quantity.
• All three options are generally not acceptable for standard distribution and retail channels.
• Readers will know that your document is self-published.

There are tons of ways to make your publications stand out. Distribution needs should drive your binding decisions. We want to help you make your best book binding decision when printing your project. Ironmark can talk you through your next print project, contact us to speak to one of our print experts.

Written by Matt Marzullo

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Copyright ©2023 Ironmark. All Rights Reserved.

Bookbinding Workshop Singapore

Bookbinding Techniques

Bookbinding has evolved over the years and many modifications originating from different countries and cultures have influenced the art of bookbinding, giving rise to a plethora of bookbinding techniques.

As a hobby, bookbinding is versatile and has a lot of variation. This makes it fun and unpredictable.

This post provides a summary of the different bookbinding techniques available today.

Here for a quick glance? Here’s what we cover in this article:

Perfect Binding

Coptic binding, japanese stab binding, saddle stitch bookbinding.

• Long Stitch Book Binding
• Case Bound Bookbinding

Otabind Book Binding (Also known as Layflat book binding)

Now, let’s get down to it:

This bookbinding technique is most commonly used in commercial books and magazine bindings. Perfect binding is one of the easiest and fastest methods of binding books.

Perfect Binding uses adhesive to hold individual book pages (or folded book signatures) together.

The adhesive is placed on the book spine, producing a flat spine.

Depending on the adhesive used, the book can be held together tightly. Commercially, hot melt adhesives are used for perfect binding. These adhesives provide a relatively stronger ‘bind’ compared to the regular PVC glue.

For the DIY-ers and bookbinding enthusiast, we can get a glue gun from most stationery stores for a stronger adhesive. To ensure a strong perfect bound book, you can use a pen knife to create cuts or grooves along your book spine before you apply any adhesive. These cuts will allow the glue to seep (or spread) deeper along the book spine, giving a stronger bind.

Learn how to do a perfect bound book with our free tutorial: Perfect Binding Tutorial

There are many variations of Perfect Binding, some of which includes: Notch Binding and Burst Binding :

• Notch binding involves the creation of notches along the spine for an increased surface area to hold the glue.
• Burst binding involves creation of extra slits/holes along the spine of the book to allow the glue to seep deeper into the spine of the book.

Both the Notch binding and Burst binding serve to provide a stronger adhesion of the spine, making the book more durable.

Advantages of Perfect Binding

• Fast – Perfect binding can be done relatively quickly.
• Less manpower required – Due to the nature of this method, perfect binding can be easily done by machines. This significantly reduces the cost of commercial bookbinders and book publishers.

Disadvantages of Perfect Binding

• Relatively weaker binding – As the book is held together only by adhesive, it’s binding is relatively weaker compared to other forms of bookbinding that involve sewing.
• Less durable spine – book spines of perfect bound books tend to tear easily after a long period of usage.

Due to its simplicity, a perfect bookbinding book project is a great project for people who are looking to try out bookbinding.

One of the most ‘primitive’ bookbinding techniques, Coptic binding is characterized by having sections of book pages being joined together via a single stitch.

Source: Wikipedia

Coptic binding has many modifications. The simplest form of Coptic binding is as seen in the example above where the pages are held together by a neat stitch, without covering the spine.

Learn how to do a coptic binding book with our free tutorial: Coptic Binding Tutorial

Advantages of Coptic Binding

• Design that lasts – with the sewing of the book pages, your book (and it’s spine) will last longer.
• Versatile – although I used the word ‘primitive’ to describe it, coptic binding is actually also one of the most versatile and flexible bookbinding techniques. Many different designs and sewing patterns can be created once you’ve the basics down.

Disadvantages of Coptic Binding

• Time-consuming – Sewing the pages of the book requires time and lots of patience
• Spine may not turn out straight or neat after multiple uses, especially if there is no book cover on the book spine – Opening and closing the book can cause the book spine to shift if the sewing is done too lightly.
• Complex – the sewing may be complicated for new bookbinders

The basic Coptic Binding works as a great introduction to the basics of sewing in bookbinding for people who are new to bookbinding. The sewing method used in Coptic Binding is the basic method that is also used in other bookbinding techniques.

As the name suggests, this form of bookbinding requires you to stab holes on your book in order to bind your book. Similar to Coptic Binding, the Japanese Stab Binding has evolved over the years and has many variations.

The simplest form of the Japanese Stab Binding is a Three Hole Binding. This involves creating 3 holes (duh) along one edge of your book and book cover and bringing your thread through these holes to sew your book together.

A distinguishing feature of a Japanese Stab bound book is that it has a spine that ‘eats’ into the book as shown in the picture below:

Learn how to do a Japanese Stab bound book with our free tutorial: Japanese Stab Binding Tutorial

Advantages of Japanese Stab Binding

• Relatively simple – especially since the sewing is done along the edge of the book rather than on the folded spine. You will notice a greater ease in sewing if you had started out with coptic binding instead.

Disadvantages of Japanese Stab Binding

• Spine ‘eats’ into book – this means that your book cannot be opened flat, the spine will always jut out. This can be quite inconvenient for a thick notebook.

The basic Japanese Stab Binding provides a great looking end product with a Japanese feel. Works great on thin books or thin photobooks.

Saddle Stitch Binding using Staples

The 2nd most commonly used in commercial books and magazine bindings. Plus, as a commercial bookbinding technique, the Saddle Stitch binding is relatively cost effective and time saving. Saddle Stitch is often done using staple bullets to hold the book together at its folded spine (as seen in picture above).

The characteristics of a Saddle Stitch bound book is that it usually is very thin, has a very small spine and a soft book cover.

Saddle Stitch binding can be done by sewing ( and I prefer sewing too ). An extra trimming step has to be done as the edges of the inner most paper will jut out more compared to the outer ones.

Learn how to do a Saddle Stitch bound book with our free tutorial: Saddle stitch Binding Tutorial

Advantages of Saddle Stitch Binding

• Cost effective (especially commercially)
• Minimal Spine Area – these books can be opened up flat and hence are preferred as notebooks
• No additional book cover required – the outer most paper serves directly as the book cover
• Simple technique – usually only involves 1 book signature
• Almost any size of book can be made using the Saddle Stitch Binding method

Disadvantages of Saddle Stitch Binding

• There is a threshold to the thickness of the book – especially commercially.
• An extra trimming step has to be done for a straight edge

The Saddle Stitch binding provides a simple and no-frills solution to bookbinding. It is a great technique for aspiring bookbinders who do not want to invest in recommended bookbinding tools. For the most basic Saddle Stitch bookbinding project, all you’d need are some paper, a needle and a thread.

Long Stitch Book Binding

This stitching method involves sewing book signatures directly onto the book cover. Hence. no gluing will be required in this technique.

Due to the need of the book cover to endure multiple stitches, book covers used in Long Stitch Book Binding projects are usually made of card board or leather.

Learn how to do a Long Stitch bound book with our free tutorial: Long stitch Binding Tutorial

Advantages of Long Stitch Binding

• Ability to create nice designs on your book spine
• No Glue required

Disadvantages of Long Stitch Binding

• Due to the restrictions on the book cover, you may be limited to the use of certain materials for your book cover.

Case Bound Book Binding

Case binding involves several techniques; the sewing techniques that allows you to stitch the book signatures together as well as creating a book case (or book cover) for the book.

The product is a professionally bound book that is great as a gift.

Learn how to do a Case bound book with our free tutorial:  Case Binding Tutorial

Advantages of Case Binding

• Produces professional looking books
• Case bound books are relatively more durable
• Versatile; you can create various designs with this technique

Disadvantages of Case  Binding

• Each project takes a long time to complete with several ‘incubation’/waiting timings
• Not recommended for new bookbinding hobbyists (due to the time and effort required)

Otabind book binding creates books that can be laid flat on tables or similar surfaces.

Source: Edwards Brothers Malloy

The focus of this form of book binding is in the creation of its book cover and spine which allows the book to be laid flat on a surface. The book signatures or sections can be held together either with glue (as in perfect binding) or sewn together.

Advantages of Otabind Book Binding

• Produces books that can be laid on flat surfaces – you won’t have to worry about damaging the spine of the book

Disadvantages of Otabind Book  Binding

• Each project takes a long time to complete

We’ve covered some of the most common bookbinding techniques in this article.

Still not sure where to start, here’s our suggestions:

If you want a quick and easy handmade notebook, consider the saddle stitch book binding technique . We have a quick tutorial on it too.

If you want to learn the fundamental skills to bookbinding, challenge yourself with a case binding project !

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Bind Your Own Book at Home: A Beginner's Guide

Last Updated: December 8, 2022 References Tested

Binding with Tape

Using ribbon, sewing the binding, single sheet binding, things you'll need.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Dev Murphy . Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow’s Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article meets our high quality standards. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 978,156 times. Learn more...

Do you want to start a scrapbook , nature journal , or diary ? You can, of course, buy a suitable book at the store, but if you really want to make it your own, perhaps it's time to rediscover the not-quite-lost art of bookbinding. If you’re not sure where to begin, it’s easier than you think, and you can bind your own book today using materials that you likely already have around the house. Keep reading to learn different bookbinding methods, from the simple to the more complex.

Things You Should Know

• To bind your book with tape, first staple the pages along the crease, and then reinforce the staples with a strip of linen tape or cotton tape . For a thick book, use several layers of tape.
• If you want to bind with ribbon, punch holes every 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0.64 cm) along the edge of the pages. Thread a piece of ribbon in and out of each hole and secure it with a knot.
• Sew your book together by marking 5 equally spaced dots along the crease with a pencil, and then using a needle and thread to pierce the holes and sew the binding on.
• If you have too many pages to fold crisply, try creating packets of signatures. A signature is a group of 4 sheets folded down the center. [1] X Research source
• Most books are folded hamburger style (i.e., by folding the shorter ends of the paper together), but you can fold however you want.
• If you made signatures, staple each signature separately and then stack your stapled signatures. Leave the stack unstapled.

• If you’re binding a book of material printed from Microsoft Word, make sure your pages have a “gutter” margin of about 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) before you print them. The gutter margin is the inside margin, the margin that will be partially obscured when the book is bound. [4] X Research source
• Avoid using masking tape or clear tape. These tapes won't be strong enough to support your book.
• If your book is thick, leave a larger margin of tape so you have enough tape to cover the spine and still reach the other side.
• Use your fingers to press the tape around the book’s spine so that it covers both the bottom of the book, the spine, and the top of the book.
• If your book has many pages or several signatures, you might want to tape it more than once to reinforce it. Repeat the process of taping the book until the book’s binding feels secure.
• Avoid folding leftover tape over the book, as this may make your book harder to open. Trim any excess tape.

• If you want to bind a page that doesn’t have a margin, you could either paste the page into a larger page with an adequate margin, or “build” a wider margin by gluing or taping a strip of paper to the inner edge of the page.
• If you’re having trouble measuring and hole-punching at the same time, mark where the hole should be with a pencil before hole punching.
• You can also choose to draw a thick line with pen or permanent marker if you want the line to remain on the cover.
• Consider measuring and marking the spots with your pencil prior to punching the holes, for accuracy.
• To make sure your pages don't slip out of place while you punch your holes, clamp them together with binder clips or clothespins.
• Choose a simple black tape for a classic look, or go for a colorful design if you want something more personalized.
• If your ribbon isn’t long enough, remove it and cut a longer piece.
• Looping the ribbon a second time reinforces the binding. Depending on how many pages you have, loop it a third time for an even stronger binding.

• It’s common to fold your pages hamburger style—i.e., fold the 2 short ends together—but fold your book however you wish!

• For example, if you have a paper that’s 8.5 by 11 in (22 by 28 cm) printer paper, dividing that by 6 gives you 1.4 inches (3.6 cm), meaning you'd space your holes 1.4 inches (3.6 cm) apart.
• If you know your page measurements, you don’t have to measure. If you don’t know, or if you’re not using a standard page size, make sure you measure precisely.
• For example, if you have a paper that’s 8.5 by 11 inches (22 by 28 cm), your first dot will be 1.4 inches (3.6 cm) from the edge. Then, each progressive dot will be 1.4 inches (3.6 cm) up from the previous dot. Your fifth dot should be 1.4 inches (3.6 cm) away from the top of the page.

• If you don’t have an awl, you can use a large needle.
• You can use whatever color thread you like, but remember your thread will be visible!
• You can tie whatever knot you’d like as long as it firmly keeps the sewing in place.
• In single sheet binding, you don’t fold your pages like you do for other bookbinding methods, but this means that you run the risk of the stitching tearing out of your pages if they are not reinforced well enough.
• You can use thick cardstock or thick cardboard as your cover.
• Perform this same process on the front and back covers as well.

• Use this same process to pierce holes in your front and back covers.
• If you have 20 pages, and your area is 2.25 inches (5.7 cm) long, you will need 45 inches (110 cm) of thread for each thread.
• Once you’ve tied the knot, you can trim off the end and tuck it in for a cleaner look.
• When threading the needle under the first loop you made, make sure you go under both threads, not through the loop.

• If you want to give your book some whimsy, choose a different color thread for each binding hole, or keep all of the thread colors the same for a more uniform style.
• For a sturdier book, loop your needle and thread around the stitch below the page you’re currently working on, starting on the third page.

Community Q&A

• Linen tape or cotton tape
• Scissors or X-ACTO knife
• Hand-held hole-puncher

Mastering Single Sheet Binding

• 6 binding needles
• 2 hard boards (such as cardstock or cardboard)

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF3P8bI_MNM&feature=youtu.be&t=29
• ↑ http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/printouts/HowToBindBook.pdf
• ↑ https://www.firstwriter.com/layout/margins.shtml
• ↑ https://www.ibookbinding.com/blog/bookbinding-supplies-and-materials/
• ↑ http://www.designsponge.com/2013/03/bookbinding-101-five-hole-pamphlet-stitch.html
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04vt8YfT7XM&feature=youtu.be&t=59
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04vt8YfT7XM&feature=youtu.be&t=110
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04vt8YfT7XM&feature=youtu.be&t=132
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04vt8YfT7XM&feature=youtu.be&t=175
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04vt8YfT7XM&feature=youtu.be&t=211
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04vt8YfT7XM&feature=youtu.be&t=220
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04vt8YfT7XM&feature=youtu.be&t=261
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04vt8YfT7XM&t=338s

About This Article

To bind a book, start by folding your pages in half and stapling them together at the folded crease. Then, cut a piece of binding tape that's about 2 inches longer than your book and lay it sticky-side up on a flat surface. Next, line up the creased edge of your book with the center of the tape and press your book down into the tape. Finally, wrap the other half of the tape around your book's spine and then cut off any excess tape at the top and bottom. To learn how to bind a book using ribbon or thread, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Babble Dabble Do

How to Make Books with 5 Simple Book Binding Methods

August 16, 2022 by Ana Dziengel 1 Comment

Today we are going to make handmade books out of recycled materials AND learn  5 simple book binding methods . Handmade books and journals are a great recycled craft that uses up leftover paper and artwork. Or if you are a recycling fanatic, all that scrap paper you’ve been collecting…

Getting started with bookbinding:

I love making books! I have made numerous portfolios for myself over the years, notebooks with the kids, accordion style books , and simple stapled notepads and I’m excited to share some super easy tips for bookmaking here today. Bookbinding does not have to be complicated! The methods in this post are easy enough for kids to use too! They will be amazed that they can make their own books at home.

Before we talk about book binding methods I want to mention a few common terms you will find in the bookbinding world:

• Cover: The front and back of a book. The cover is usually made from a thicker, more durable material to protect the thinner pages inside. The materials you can use for a cover are endless! Consider cardboard, watercolor paper, plastic sheets, cereal boxes, chipboard, old artwork, postcards, greeting cards etc.
• Spine: The side of the book where the pages are held together. In a typical print book the title of the book is displayed on the spine so that when the book is on a shelf it can easily be identified. Most homemade books don’t have spines thick enough to include a title on the spine but it’s something to consider.
• Signatures: Stacks of pages bound together in small sections. To make a thicker book, signatures are stacked together and then bound.

What types of books can you make?

There are so many wonderful types of books kids can make using DIY bookbinding methods. Here are some ideas:

• Journals (that’s what we’ll be making)
• Homework Reminders
• Mini Cookbooks
• Booklets to showcase a topic
• Comic books

We will start by making a handmade journal. Make a bunch to have handy when you need them!

5 Simple Book Binding Methods

Part 1: assemble the inside pages.

For the book:

• Scrap paper: old notebooks, artwork, envelopes with clasps, chipboard inserts, and old plastic folders, for more ideas scroll down to the end of this post.
• Exacto/Straight edge OR Paper cutter OR scissors

For the binding:

• 3 hole punch
• Binder clips
• Rubber bands

Instructions

• Step One: Choose your cover and paper.  Select the piece of artwork or the paper you would like to use as the cover.  Assemble all the scrap paper you will be using in the book.
• Step Two: Figure out the size of your journal.  If you are including envelopes, chose the one you would like to use and base the size of your journal off of it. Otherwise think about how you will be using the book and base the size off of that. Notepads can be long and thin, diaries should be thicker and the pages should have ample writing space, etc.
• Step Three :  Cut everything down to the same size. The easiest way is to use a paper cutter/rotary cutter but please ask an adult to help since these are dangerous! If you don’t have a paper cutter, an Exacto knife and a straightedge may be used, also with adult help/supervision. The safest options is scissors but this method is time consuming and the edges won’t be completely straight.
• Step Four: Assemble your book.  Depending on how you want the final book to look you can vary the paper types by shuffling them. Alternatively if you want to create sections of your book you may want to keep the same type of papers together. Get creative! If you include envelopes make sure to rotate them so that the bottom of the envelope is along the binding edge and you can open and close the envelope
• Step Five: Add covers.   Place your selected and trimmed artwork on top as the front cover. Select heavyweight card stock or chipboard for the back. You can also cut out a piece of lightweight plastic from an old folder for the back cover. To make the cover open easily, lightly score the BACKSIDE of the cover about an inch from the binding edge to make it easy to bend back.
• Step Six: Punch holes. If you will be using a binding method involving holes through the pages, now is the time to punch holes using a hole punch. Always test the hole locations on a piece of scrap paper before making holes in all your sheets. You want them to be in a good location! If you are using a binding method that does not involved punched holes you can skip this step.
• Step Seven: Bind it  There are so many simple binding options for homemade books. See 5 of our favorites below.

Part 2: Simple Book Binding Methods

The following are 5 simple ways to bind a book. When choosing the type of book binding to use consider the number of pages you have. The method you choose will depend on how thick the final book will be and how accessible each page needs to be, i.e. do the pages need to lay flat or not.

• Staple + Duct tape: This is a great option for books that are not to thick. If you have a heavy duty stapler, though, you can use this for thicker books. Staple the pages together along the binding edge about a half inch from the edge. Now cut a piece of duct tape about an inch longer than your book. Place half the tape on the front of the book, covering the staples, wrap the tape over the edge of the book and around to the back. Burnish it with your fingertips. Now trim off the excess tape with scissors.
• Hole Punch + Brads: If your book is a little thicker this is the way to go. Use a 3 hole punch to make holes along the edge of your book. Using a 3 hole punch allows you to align the holes as you punch through multiple pages and sets of paper. You may need to adjust the hole spacing to your book so always punch a few test sheets first! Add brads through each hole and bend them back.
• Binder Clips: These make a super simple and cool looking bound edge. Make sure to score the front cover so it can easily open. And depending on how long the binder clips are you may have to bend them back when you want to open the notebook.
• Book rings: These can be purchased in any office supply store and are good for thicker books with sturdy pages. All you need to do is punch a hole  in one corner and place a book ring through the hole. Done! The binding is loose and removable should you need to take sheets out or reorganize. For this project we used some great free bookmarks from our visit to the space shuttle this summer.
• Rubber Band + Stick : I love this method for binding books because it is so easy but looks very neat and “designy” when done. All you need is a thick rubber band and some type of stick. You can use a stick from the garden, a wooden skewer, dowels, even pencils! Just make sure the stick you choose is the length of the edge you are binding or a little shorter. To bind a book using this method punch two holes through all the pages, one near the top of the binding edge and one near the bottom. Flip the book over, fold your rubber band, and thread one end of the rubber band through the top hole and one through the bottom hole. Flip the book to the front. Now place your stick through each end of the rubber band. You’re done! For this book I used some of our Marbled Milk Paper for the cover; if you want to make some of your own pop over here for the full tutorial .

If you want a more durable bookbinding method there are several inexpensive options available at most copy centers. Here are some types of book bindings you can expect to find at a copy center (these are all spiral-bound books):

• Coil Bind : The next time you are at Staples, FedEx Office or your local copy shop ask them to coil bind your book. The most common coil is made from black plastic.
• Wire Binding: Similar to coil biding but the coil is made from metal wire. This option looks very professional and if you are lucky there may even be different colors of wire available.
• Comb Binding : My dad used to have a comb binding machine and I loved to use it to make books! Comb binding is a thicker plastic binding that can be reopened even after a book is made. It’s a bit less durable than a spiral binding but you have more flexibility if you want to add or rearrange pages after you have bound the book.

More cool ideas for your homemade notebook:

• Perforate it!  Note: Do this before you bind the book and don’t perforate the covers. If you know someone who sews, ask him or her to run the sheets of your book through a sewing machine without thread. Leave a half-inch seam allowance and a stitch setting of 2 or 3. Run only a few sheets at a time and use a heavy-duty needle. Viola! Now your paper can be easily torn out of your notebook!
• Sew it! Run  your finished book through a sewing machine using colorful thread. Make sure to glue the trimmed end of the thread so your book doesn’t unravel. This is good for thin books and folded books, where you fold larger sheets in half to create signatures
• Get Creative with Paper! Don’t be confined by looking for paper, think of other materials that would make great covers for your journal.  Here are some ideas: Cereal boxes or other food packaging boxes, leftover cardboard mailers, greeting cards, packing materials like corrugated chipboard, large paint chips, junk mail postcards, what else????

Inspired to make a book yet?  I hope these 5 simple ideas for how to bind a book and the loads of options for what to include in a handmade journal inspire you to make some recycled books of your own!  Next time you are about to toss a half used notebook or the gazillionzth piece of art you don’t now how to display, recycle it into a journal!

Check out some more DIY book ideas here on Babble Dabble Do:

• I Love You Books
• Day-Glo Books
• Instagram mini books

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Book Binding Methods: Which Type of Bookbinding is Best for You?

March 02, 2021 (Last Updated March 17, 2021)

There are a lot of decisions to make when printing your self-published book. The book size, paper type, and cover design all play important roles, but so does the bookbinding. When you see your masterpiece up on a shelf in all its glory, you want to make sure you’ve considered the best book binding methods for your story.

What Are the Four Types of Binding?

48 Hour Books offers a variety of binding options. Each option has a unique design and is suitable for specific needs. We do all of our binding in-house which means we can process orders quickly and control the quality of products used.

Perfect Binding

Perfect binding or soft cover binding, is our most popular book binding method. Soft cover books are lighter and more flexible than a hardcover book. They are perfect for reading on the go and can easily fit in your carry-on, backpack, or beach tote, without weighing it down.

Case Binding

When you want to create a professional and classic look, case binding , also called hardcover bookbinding, is a stellar option. Made of beautiful leather, cloth, or leatherette, and wrapped around heavy board, case bound books are incredibly sturdy.

Spiral Coil Binding

Spiral coil binding is a great option for books that need to lay flat when open. Our durable plastic coil comes in a variety of colors to match your book cover design.

Saddle Stitched Binding

For slim, stackable books, we recommend saddle stitching. Saddle stitch binding is created by folding the pages and stapling along the spine. This is a cost-effective method for flexible, portable books and pamphlets.

Which Type of Binding is Best?

The best type of bookbinding is dependent on the size of the book, number of pages you have written, and the functionality expected for usage. Let’s outline a couple of common scenarios and explain the best book binding options for each use case.

When to Choose Soft Cover Binding

When you have a minimum of 16 pages and maximum of 1,025 pages, you can use the perfect bound binding method. These perfect bound books are assembled with the strongest adhesive available, making them flexible, durable, and easy to transport.

This cost-effective solution is perfect for fiction and non-fiction books. With a variety of custom covers available, you can enhance the front of your book with texture, clear, spot gloss, or our Diamond 3D foil option .

The Right Time to Use Hardcover Binding

If you want your creation to stand the test of time, choose a hardcover option. These hardcover books use PUR adhesive and can range from a minimum of 40 pages to a maximum of 1,052 pages. Smaller page counts (16-40 pages) can be printed but are not recommended. We recommend adding a printed proof to your order if you plan to print a hardcover book with a low page count.

Available in a variety of different cover materials, case bound books can be paired with a beautifully designed dust jacket, if that fits your style or needs. Create a colorful coffee table book or share your story with a long-lasting, durable case bound option.

When to Pick Saddle Stitching

Ideal for handouts and magazines, saddle stitched binding must be 36 pages or less. This binding option can even be used for short stories and children’s books. Just be sure your final draft is at least seven inches tall and no wider than nine inches.

Who Should Choose Spiral Binding

Looking to print a cookbook, workbook, or reference book? Then coil binding is the right call for you! Spiral bound books range from a minimum of two pages to 350 pages. We can even accommodate up to 500 pages, in some cases, with a special-ordered coil.

Easily designate sections for quick reference, with tabs or dividers. Tabs and divider pages are not available in other book binding types, which makes spiral bound books a unique option.

Book Binding Options Designed for Your Needs

When you’re ready to print your story, select the best book binding type based on your page count, how you plan on using the book, and price range. No matter which option you select, trust 48 Hour Books to turn your story into a beautifully bound masterpiece.

Select your binding type and print your story today !

Follow us on Instagram (@48hrbooks) to view recently printed books in all binding types! 

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