Perfect Binding

Perfect Bound Book Printing

Perfect binding is one of the most popular and versatile binding methods available — and it's easy to see why. Whether you're producing a company profile, a product catalogue, a novel or a training manual, perfect bound book printing offers a clean, professional finish that works equally well for short print runs and large commercial orders. At Pixartprinting, we make it simple to print perfect bound books to your exact specifications — from custom formats and paper stocks to lamination, special finishes and hardback covers — all delivered directly to your door, anywhere in the UK.

The process is straightforward: the inside pages are gathered and glued to the cover along the spine, creating a flat, square edge that gives your publication a polished, bookshop-ready look. The result is a durable, attractive product that's as practical as it is professional.

Perfect Bound Book Formats to Suit Every Project

One of the key advantages of our perfect bound printing service is the flexibility it offers. Choose from a range of standard formats or enter your own custom dimensions to create a publication in exactly the size you need. Available formats include:

• A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)
• A5 (14.8 x 21 cm)
• A6 (10.5 x 14.8 cm)
• 21 x 21 cm
• 16.5 x 24 cm
• 30 x 30 cm
• Custom format — enter your own width and height

Both portrait and landscape orientations are available, giving you even greater creative freedom. Simply download our Template and Instructions to set up your artwork file correctly before placing your order.

How Many Pages Can You Print with Perfect Binding?

When calculating your page count, remember that the total must be a multiple of 2 and should include the four pages that make up the cover (front, back, inside front and inside back) as well as all internal pages. For example, a book with 80 inside pages will have a total page count of 84. We recommend downloading the Template and Instructions at the bottom of the product page to ensure your file is set up correctly — especially for the cover, which must be prepared as a spread.

Perfect Bound Books: Choose Your Cover Type

We offer three cover options for your perfect bound booklets and books, each suited to different budgets, aesthetics and end uses:

• Paperback: The classic choice — clean, lightweight and cost-effective. Ideal for catalogues, manuals, brochures and corporate publications.
• Paperback with flaps: Adds a fold-out flap to the front and back cover, providing additional space for author bios, product information or promotional content. A popular choice for literary publications and high-end brochures.
• Hardback: A premium option featuring a 2 mm thick cardboard core covered with 170 gsm paper, endpapers in 160 gsm Extraprint and a square spine reinforced with gauze. The hardback cover is always laminated — choose from matt, gloss or soft-touch finishes. Perfect for coffee table books, portfolios and premium publications.

Inside Papers for Perfect Bound Printing

The paper you choose for your inside pages has a significant impact on the look, feel and readability of your finished book. We offer a carefully curated selection of high-quality stocks to suit every type of publication:

• Classic Demimatt — Matt coated paper that enhances photographs and produces clear, sharp text. Ideal for illustrated publications and catalogues.
• Classic Gloss — Gloss coated paper with rich, vibrant colours and a silky finish. Perfect for image-heavy books and magazines.
• Classic Uncoated — A brilliant white, natural uncoated paper. Versatile and understated, well suited to text-heavy publications and corporate documents.
• Classic Ivory Uncoated — A warm-toned, 70 gsm ivory paper designed for prolonged reading. High opacity reduces eye strain, making it the ideal choice for fiction and editorial printing.
• Extraprint — A smooth, velvety uncoated paper with a high white point and excellent colour reproduction. Suitable for a wide range of uses, from brand publications to booklets and brochures.
• Rembrandt — A stipple-textured laid paper that produces sharp, vibrant printing. Elegant and distinctive, ideal for premium or unusual publications.
• Underwood (Woodstock Birch) — A natural, ivory-toned paper with a tactile feel reminiscent of recycled stock. A sophisticated choice for eco-conscious and design-led publications.
• Recycled — Made from 100% recycled fibres, this environmentally friendly paper lends character and sustainability credentials to your publication.

Cover Papers for Your Perfect Bound Booklets

Your cover is the first thing readers see, so choosing the right paper matters. For paperback covers, we offer a wide selection of stocks including Classic Demimatt, Classic Gloss, Pearl, Underwood Woodstock Birch, Turner Orange Peel Texture, Ice White with uncoated linen finish, Extraprint, Recycled, Rembrandt and Two-Side Coated Card. For hardback covers, a 170 gsm paper is used over the rigid cardboard core, with lamination always included as standard.

Special Finishes to Elevate Your Perfect Bound Books

Take your publication to the next level with our range of exclusive special finishes, available for the cover of your perfect bound book:

• 3D Varnish: An extra-thick transparent varnish applied digitally to selected areas of your artwork, creating a striking embossed, tactile effect that adds depth and exclusivity.
• Gold Foil: A selective hot-stamping process that applies a brilliant gold coating to chosen areas of your design, adding a touch of luxury and prestige.
• Silver Foil: The same selective hot-stamping process as gold foil, but with a sleek silver finish — ideal for modern, high-end designs.

Please follow the Instructions sheet carefully when preparing your artwork file to ensure these finishes are applied correctly.

Lamination Options for Perfect Bound Book Printing

All cover types can be finished with lamination to protect your publication and enhance its appearance. Choose from three options to match the look and feel of your design:

• Matt lamination — a smooth, non-reflective finish that lends a sophisticated, understated quality to your cover.
• Gloss lamination — a high-shine finish that makes colours pop and images appear vivid and sharp.
• Soft-touch lamination — a velvety, tactile finish that feels as premium as it looks, perfect for luxury publications and portfolios.

Print Perfect Bound Books from Just 1 Single Copy

Whether you need a single proof copy, a short run for a niche audience or a large print run for nationwide distribution, Pixartprinting has you covered. Our perfect bound printing service starts from just one copy, with no minimum order quantity — making us the ideal choice for self-publishers, designers testing a new format and businesses that need small quantities without compromise on quality.

How to Order Your Perfect Bound Books

Ordering your perfect bound booklets or books with Pixartprinting is simple and straightforward. Select your configuration options on this page, then download the Template and Instructions file to set up your artwork correctly. Place your order, upload your print-ready file and sit back — your finished books will be delivered directly to your home or office, anywhere in the UK, with free delivery always included.

Tips and Guides for Perfect Bound Book Printing

Not sure where to start? Our blog is packed with expert advice to help you get the best results from your perfect bound printing project. If you're weighing up your options, our guide to soft binding breaks down the differences between perfect and sewn binding, while our comprehensive overview of types of binding helps you choose the right method for your publication. Wondering about costs? Our article on how much it costs to print a book in 2026 gives you a clear picture of what to expect. For those preparing their files, our typesetting guide walks you through turning a raw text into a print-ready publication, and our post on how to design a book cover is essential reading before you finalise your artwork. Once your book is ready, don't miss our advice on marketing your self-published book , as well as our guide to how books are structured — a useful reference whether you're a first-time author or an experienced designer looking to brush up on the basics.

Explore Our Full Range of Printing and Binding Services

Perfect binding is just one of the many binding methods we offer at Pixartprinting. If you're not sure which option is right for your publication, explore our full printing and binding service or compare the alternatives below:

• Stapled Binding — ideal for thinner booklets and magazines
• Wire-o Binding — perfect for notebooks, planners and lay-flat publications
• Sewn Binding — the most durable option for high-page-count books
• Book printing
• Paperback book printing
• Hardback book printing