Book printing guide - the 3 main binding options

Choosing a binding is one of those book printing decisions that can make your project sing or sink. It changes how the book feels in the hand, how it opens on a desk, how long it lasts, and what you pay. If you’re weighing up printers across Melbourne, this guide keeps it simple and helps you choose with confidence.

1) Saddle stitching

Plain English version: pages are folded into each other and stapled on the spine. It is the classic finish for slim booklets, brochures and event programs.

Best for: 8 to roughly 64 pages, depending on paper thickness. Great for lighter stocks and quick turnarounds.

Why people love it

• Clean, simple and fast to produce

• Budget friendly for short runs and frequent reprints

• Easy to flick through and hand out

Devil’s advocate: when it is not the hero

• Bulky or coated stocks can puff up at the spine

• No printed spine, so it is hard to spot on a shelf

• Not built for heavy daily use over a long time

Real world examples: club programs, price lists that change each quarter, lookbooks for seasonal launches. If you need something tidy and economical, saddle stitching is usually your first stop.

2) PUR binding

What it is: a square spine like standard perfect binding, but with PUR adhesive, which is stronger and more flexible than common EVA glue.

Best for: mid to high page counts where you want a printed spine and durability. Think catalogues, manuals, annual reports and thicker brochures.

Why people choose it

• Excellent page pull strength, even on coated and heavy stocks

• Opens flatter than EVA perfect binding

• Gives you a tidy spine for titles and branding

Devil’s advocate: watch outs

• Costs more than saddle stitching

• Needs curing time before packing and freight

• Still not as flat opening as a sewn book

Real world examples: product catalogues that need to last a full year, university course guides, investor reports. If you want a professional look with genuine toughness, PUR is the safe middle ground.

3) Section-sewn binding

What it is: pages are grouped into sections, stitched through the fold, then glued into a cover. Often paired with a hardcover case but also available as a premium softcover.

Best for: projects that must look beautiful and last for decades. Coffee table books, art books, portfolios and keepsakes.

Why it feels special

• Outstanding strength with pages that resist pullout

• Opens flatter than glue-only methods, which helps images cross the gutter

• Heirloom feel that signals quality as soon as you pick it up

Devil’s advocate: when to think twice

• Higher unit cost and longer make-ready

• Unnecessary for throwaway or short-life projects

• Heavier in the post compared with slimmer stitched booklets

Real world examples: photography monographs, museum catalogues, commemorative histories, premium brand books. If the book is a showpiece, section-sewn earns its keep.

Other binding types worth a look

Your project may sit outside the big three. Here are useful alternatives that printers Melbourne produce every day.

• Wiro binding: a twin-loop wire through punched holes. Opens completely flat and can fold back on itself. Brilliant for workbooks, training manuals, cookbooks and calendars. The trade-off is a visible wire spine and fewer options for jackets or traditional spine embellishment.

• Spiral binding: similar to wiro but uses a continuous coil. Durable and flexible with a more casual look. Good for field guides and notebooks.

• EVA perfect binding: the budget cousin of PUR. Fine for lighter duty books. If you expect frequent handling, consider stepping up to PUR.

• Case binding: traditional hardcover. Often used with a section-sewn text block. Adds structure, weight and prestige. Great for special editions and long-life publishing.

• Lay-flat variants: methods such as Otabind allow the cover to float so pages open wider. Useful for image-heavy spreads and presentation pieces.

How to choose without second-guessing yourself

Ask these five questions before you brief your book printing job.

1. How long should it last?

   Short campaigns point to saddle stitching. Multi-year use usually needs PUR or section-sewn.

2. How should it open?

   Bench use and note-taking suit wiro or spiral. Wide image spreads and premium feel point to section-sewn or a lay-flat option.

3. What is the page count and stock?

   Slim books on lighter stocks suit saddle stitching. Thicker text blocks or coated stocks lean to PUR. Heavy or premium stocks with lots of pages often call for section-sewn.

4. What is the budget and timeline?

   Saddle stitching is the fastest and most economical. PUR costs more and needs curing. Section-sewn and case bound add both time and cost but lift the end result.

5. How will it be stored or displayed?

   If it lives on a shelf, you probably want a printed spine from PUR, case bound or sewn softcover. If it lives on a desk, wiro makes daily page turns easy.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Over-specifying: paying for section-sewn on a booklet you will reprint in three months.

• Under-specifying: choosing saddle stitching for a thick, coated catalogue that will puff at the spine.

• Ignoring paper bulk: stock choice changes page limits and how the book opens.

• Forgetting the spine: if shelf visibility matters, choose a binding with a printable spine.

A quick reality check

No single binding wins every job. The right choice depends on lifespan, page count, stock, handling and budget. If you are shortlisting printers Melbourne wide, ask to see physical samples of saddle stitched, PUR, section-sewn and wiro bound books that are similar to yours. Ten minutes with real samples will tell you more than a hundred photos.

Need a hand? Share your page count, preferred stock and deadline. We will recommend a binding, flag risks before they become problems, estimate costs and, if needed, produce a sample so you know exactly what you will receive.