Catalogue Binding Types: Saddle Stitch, Perfect Binding and Spiral

Three binding types

Saddle stitch

Sheets are stacked, folded in the middle and stapled through the spine. A practical, economical method for catalogues, brochures, menus and magazines with fewer pages; it opens flat. This is the product on our catalogue page.

Perfect binding

Leaves are glued at the spine, creating a thick, square spine that can carry text. Used for thicker catalogues and books. Spine thickness depends on page count and paper, so it is quoted on request.

Spiral binding

A coil runs through holes along the edge; the catalogue lies fully open on a desk and pages turn 360°. Good for price lists, technical documents and content opened often. Quoted on request.

Have a different fold, cover or binding idea? Message us on WhatsApp and we will work out a feasible method by size, quantity and material.

Which one suits you?

8–48 pages, quick and economical: saddle stitch. Enough for product catalogues, menus, brochures and event programmes; you see the price instantly on the site.
Many pages, printed spine, book look: perfect binding.
Lies open on a desk, used often: spiral binding.

Not sure? Tell us your page count and how the catalogue will be used, and we will choose together.

Why must saddle-stitched page counts be a multiple of 4?

In saddle stitching, each sheet is folded once in the middle. A folded sheet becomes two leaves; each leaf has a front and a back, so one sheet equals 4 pages. The total page count is therefore always 4 times the number of sheets:

Pages (incl. cover)	Sheets
8	2
12	3
16	4
20	5
32	8
48	12

So the page count does not need to be a power of 4 (4, 16, 64); it only has to divide evenly by 4. 20 pages are 5 sheets, 36 pages are 9 sheets. 18 pages are impossible: 4 sheets give 16 pages, and a fifth sheet makes 20.

Another consequence: the outermost sheet carries both the first and the last pages. In a 16-page catalogue the outer sheet holds pages 1, 2, 15 and 16, and the innermost sheet pages 7, 8, 9 and 10. We handle the imposition; you send the file in reading order.

When content does not fill a multiple of 4

If your content runs to, say, 18 pages, the catalogue is printed with 20 pages and 2 pages stay blank. You can use them for notes, contact details, a quote or a full-page image. If your content is 49 pages or more, ask for a quote for a method such as perfect binding instead.

Choosing the cover

Standard cover: printed on the same coated paper as the inside pages; light and economical.
Thick cover: 350 gsm with lamination on both sides; sturdier and stays clean longer on catalogues handled often.

Either way, the cover counts towards the page total: front cover, inside front, inside back and back cover make 4 pages.

Images across a spread

An image spanning two facing pages prints seamlessly on the centre spread, because both halves are on the same sheet. On other spreads the halves sit on different sheets, so small shifts can appear after folding and stitching. Avoid placing faces, logos or text right on the spine line. Keep text 3–5 mm away from the spine and trim edges and extend backgrounds 3 mm as bleed. For file details, see our FAQ.

Frequently asked questions

Which binding can I order on the site?

Saddle stitch: 8 to 48 pages in multiples of 4 including the cover, from 1 copy. Perfect binding, spiral and special binding are quoted on request.

What if my page count is not a multiple of 4?

It is rounded up to the next multiple of 4 and the extra pages stay blank; for example, 18 pages of content are printed as 20.

Is the cover included in the page count?

Yes. Front, inside front, inside back and back cover count as 4 pages; the same applies to the thick cover.

Can you print a single catalogue?

Yes, saddle-stitched catalogues can be ordered from 1 copy.

Catalogues & Booklets →

Catalogue binding types