Types of Binding for Print Materials

Binding print materials together serves multiple purposes. It’s practical, of course, allowing for more information and content to be held together in an orderly fashion. It also helps ensure that the bound pages last longer, preventing information loss and resisting crushing and tearing damage. It even contributes to the piece’s overall aesthetics, with each technique providing a distinct visual effect and a clean, professional finish.

This guide will help you understand your options during the binding selection process. It covers the four most common bindings used for print publications today, describing their construction, highlighting key applications, and providing examples of print products that commonly use each technique. Of course, your print provider would also be happy to talk you through the options they provide, and help you select the optimal solution for your project.

Saddle Stitch (Also Known As: Staple Binding)

How it Works: For saddle stitch binding, a publication is first printed onto sheets twice as wide as the final product. Four pages of content are included on each sheet, two on each side. Those sheets are then stacked on top of one another, folded in the middle, and bound with long wire staples, creating a slim spine with no flat surface.

Ideal Page Count: Best for 8-64 pages.

Best For: Newsletters, event programs, small catalogs, and short magazines

See Also: Custom Booklet Printing, Marketing Collateral Printing, What is Saddle Stitch Binding?

Perfect Binding (Also Known As: Glue Binding)

How it Works: For perfect binding, the printed sheets are each folded separately. They’re then stacked in order, trimmed along the folded edges, and glued into a wraparound cover with a flat spine.

Ideal Page Count: Typically 40+ pages

Best For: Books, journals, product catalogs, annual reports, softcover magazines

See Also: Custom Booklet Printing, Publication Printing, Annual Report Printing , What is Perfect Binding?

Spiral Binding (Also Known As: Coil Binding or Plastic Coil)

How it Works: For spiral binding, the sheets are each folded separately, stacked in order, then sliced along the folded edges. The stack of pages is then punched with a series of holes along the sliced edge. Finally, a plastic coil is threaded through each hole, binding the pages together.

Ideal Page Count: ~16-300 pages, depending on the paper stock. 

Best For: Manuals, workbooks, calendars, and instructional guides that need to lie flat. 

See Also: Education Printing, Manufacturing & Industrial Printing 

Wire-O Binding (Also Known As: Twin Loop or Double-Loop Binding)

How it Works: A wire-o binding uses the same process as a spiral binding, but swaps the plastic coil for a double-stranded, cylindrical metal comb that’s slotted into each of the punched holes. Many feel this produces a sleeker final effect than a plastic coil.

Ideal Page Count: ~16-250 pages. 

Best For: Presentations, executive planners, high-end reports, and corporate manuals. 

See Also: Custom Booklet Printing, Corporate & Financial Printing 

Wallace Carlson Can Help You Find the Right Binding

If you’re in doubt about which binding to choose, Wallace Carlson’s experts are here to help. It’s our pleasure to work with you to analyze the pros and cons of each method, comparing pricing, performance, and visual impact. Together, we’ll find the best option for your publication, creating books and booklets that look great and hold up well to the rigors of use. Contact our team today to get the conversation started!