If you are looking for the look of perfect binding without the cost, square back binding could be the answer. Square back, also called square fold booklets is an affordable solution in-between saddle stitching and perfect binding. Think of this technique as a perfect-bound booklet that uses 2 staples instead of glue. Square back booklets offer the security of a saddle stitched spine with the improved appearance of a perfect bound book.

What looks like a perfect-bound booklet is actually saddle stitched, which is then squashed at the spine to create a square edge. In many cases, with smaller print runs these days, perfect binding is not a cost effective option anymore. This “square folder” applies pressure to the spine of the saddle-stitched book to give it the “square back” found in perfect-bound books.

Another advantage of the square back binding is it reduces the large centre gap. “With the square edge, you virtually have no gap. The pressure that is applied at the end of the binding process can be adjusted to ensure that your book lays flat. Square bound booklets lay flat, making it easier to stack, handle and pack than saddle stitching.

Specifications

To see at least a hint of the square edge, you need a minimum of 6 sheets or 24 pages in your booklet. The more pages you have, the more you will see the square edge, and thus the more you can use the spine to print your message. Depending on the thickness of the paper, the most you can bind is about 100 pages, or to be more precise, a 6mm thickness, as every paper has a different thickness.

The square back binder will work with coated or uncoated paper, and you can even mix and match – an uncoated cover with coated inside pages. We generally suggest a paper weight of between 100 to 170gsm for the inside pages & between 200 – 350gsm for the cover. See more details on our stapled booklets here.

Maximum size is A4, and minimum is A6 – and we can do any size inbetween!