What Type of Book Binding Should You Use?

What Type of Book Binding Should You Use?

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. What type of book binding should you use? 

For authors, marketers, and publishers, choosing the right type of binding is crucial. Depending on which type of book you want to publish, there are multiple methods available to choose from. To help you find the ideal option for your project, we have detailed the seven major types of book binding below, along with their advantages and disadvantages. After going through these methods, you will have a comprehensive understanding of which one suits you the best.

Hardboud binding

Perfect binding

Saddle Stitching

Spiral binding

Wire-o binding

Board Book binding

1. Hardbound Binding for hardcover books

Hardbound binding, used for hardcover books, is one of the most popular types of book binding, as it ensures durability and an attractive presentation. Thanks to the cardboard covers attached to it, books finished with case binding can easily lay flat on any surface.

2.Perfect Binding for softcover books

If you’re looking for a cost-effective method of book binding, perfect binding is a good option. 

Unlike hardcover books, softcover ones cannot lay flat on a table or other surface. The reader has to handle perfect-bound books with greater care, as they are less resistant to wear and tear. This type of binding is very popular in the publishing industry for creating economical versions of a particular book, without compromising on presentability.

3.Saddle Stitching Binding

If there are fewer pages in your book, saddle stitching is a viable choice. These books are easy to lay flat on a table. In a typical saddle-stitched book, the number of pages has to be a multiple of four.

Saddle-stitched books have a low cost of production, and since there is no gluing and drying involved, the process is extremely fast. They are lightweight, ensuring low shipping costs.

4. Spiral Binding

Using a spiral coil binding machine you can add energy and colour to any business document. Your pages can rotate 360 degrees allowing the document to be folded back on itself or opened flat. Metal/plastic spirals are virtually indestructible making it a perfect solution if the documents are intended for mailing.

Spiral Binding is suitable for binding documents up to 28mm in thickness

5.Wire-o Binding

Wire-O binding uses a continuous hinge of double wire loops to hold book covers and pages together. Books bound using the Wire-O method tend to lie flat, and sheets can turn 360°, which is ideal for calendars, book or notebooks. 

6.Board Book Binding

Board books are made via a special binding process that produces a book with very thick paperboard pages, suitable for children’s books for young children, or for projects like art books and creative books that seek to emulate this feel.

When you’re about to send your book for printing, it’s important to have a fair idea of the various binding types available to you. From there, you can weigh your project needs against your budget, keeping in mind that personal preference and the printing company will play a pivotal role in finalizing the decision.