Tobias Reed Production Knowledge Lead at 4OVER4.COM
Tobias is our voice for cutting, binding and large format, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.
Question
What's the difference between saddle stitch and perfect binding?
Answer
The main difference is how the pages are held together and how many pages each method can handle. Saddle stitch staples along the spine fold, while perfect binding glues the pages into a flat, squared spine with a wraparound cover, like a paperback.
| Saddle stitch | Perfect binding | |
|---|---|---|
| Binding method | Staples through the fold | Glued flat spine with wraparound cover |
| Best page count | Roughly 8 to 60 pages | Higher counts, from about 40 up to about 300 pages |
| Spine | No printable spine | Flat, printable spine |
| Feel | Light and quick | Bookstore-quality |
- Pick saddle stitch for programs, thin catalogs, and short booklets.
- Pick perfect binding for lookbooks, annual reports, and anything thick enough to need a spine.
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