Let’s say you’re planning your company brochure. You’ve sorted the logo, the frontpage image, the finish of the paper and now you need to decide on binding – there are so many options!

Fear not, Shropshire Printing is here to help!

There are many types of binding available with some being suited to certain products more than others.
The 3 most popular types of binding are:

Stapled

Stapled, also known as stitched or saddle-stitched, is generally the most economical type of binding. It involves stitching the content pages and cover together in the middle with metal wire, which looks like a staple. The standard is to have 2 stitches however it’s possible to have more if needed.

Stapled bindings are perfect for brochures, orders of services, catalogues and sports/events programmes. It’s a durable binding but still allows the reader to open and read the product comfortably.

For larger brochures, it is quite common for the cover (typically 4 pages) to be printed on heavier stock and the inner text pages to be printed on lower weight.

Close up of stapled binding
Wiro Bound

Wiro bound or spiral binding is incredibly versatile, practical and long-lasting. It can be used for many different products like branded notepads, planners, instructional guides or any form of informational booklet.

The pages are punched and held together with a metal wire spine. The benefit of this binding is that it offers 360-degree rotation so the product can be opened flat or folded back completely without damaging the spine.

The double metal rings make it possible to bind together different materials such as paper, board and plastic. The wire binding can also be encased by an additional cover if a more upmarket finish is desired.

Close up of wiro binding
Perfect Bound

Perfect bound, also known as glued binding, allows the binding of large numbers of pages. The content pages are bound together by a layer of flexible adhesive producing a perfectly square spine. This method uses either hot-melt or PUR adhesives.

Hot-melt adhesive is the more affordable option; however, it has limited durability, so it’s better suited to simple products with a short life span.

PUR adhesives are more costly but more durable, making them better for long-lasting products with high page counts, where you want a superior finish.

Perfect bound binding is ideal for when you need a wealth of information printed and gives you ample space for text and imagery. It’s commonly used for paperback books, magazines, annual reports, brochures & catalogues.

As with the stapled books, perfect bound books can be produced with heavier stock for the cover.

Close up of perfect binding
Whilst these are the commonly used types of binding, there are others such as:
Sewn Binding

This is a strong and durable binding where inside pages are sewn together in sections. The standard thread colour is white but different colours can be used if required. This is a strong and durable binding but it’s complex to do therefore more expensive than other methods. Great for illustrated books, art books and bibles.

Lay-flat Binding

With this type of binding, the cover spine is not attached to the book making it possible to lay it completely flat when opened. This avoids creases along the spine and means that images can be run across both halves of the spread, interrupted by only a subtle fold line down the middle. 

The type of binding you choose will ultimately be influenced by the product you’re looking to have printed, it’s purpose and your budget.

If you’d prefer to have a chat with us about which binding option would be best for you, just give us a call, we’d be happy to help!

Call us on 01952 884556 – or drop us an email on [email protected]