Saddle-Stitched Booklets Buying Guide
Everything You Need to Know Before Ordering Saddle-Stitched Booklets
Saddle-Stitched Booklets are one of the most versatile and affordable printed publications available. Whether you’re producing a product catalogue, event program, company profile or training manual, understanding a few key printing concepts will help ensure your finished booklet looks professional and meets your expectations.
This guide explains how saddle-stitched booklets work, common terminology, available options and the information you’ll need before requesting a quote.
What Are Saddle-Stitched Booklets?
A Saddle-Stitched Booklet is created by folding printed sheets together and securing them through the centre fold with two staples.
The result is a neat, professional publication that is lightweight, economical and ideal for shorter documents.
Unlike perfect-bound books, saddle-stitched booklets do not have a square spine. Instead, the pages fold together to create a clean centre crease held in place by staples.
This makes saddle stitching an excellent choice for publications between approximately 8 and 60 pages.
When Should You Choose Saddle Stitching?
Saddle stitching is perfect for:
- Product Catalogues
- Company Capability Statements
- Event Programs
- Conference Booklets
- School Publications
- Training Manuals
- Community Newsletters
- Club Reports
- Restaurant Menus
- Tourist Guides
- Annual Reports
- Property Brochures
- Magazines
If your publication is relatively short and doesn’t require a printed spine, saddle stitching is often the most economical binding option.
Understanding Booklet Page Counts
One of the most common areas of confusion is how booklet pages are counted.
Every Printed Side Is One Page
Every printed side counts as one page.
That includes:
- Front Cover
- Inside Front Cover
- Internal Pages
- Inside Back Cover
- Back Cover
Even blank pages are included in the total page count.
Why Must Page Counts Be Multiples of Four?
Each folded sheet of paper creates four booklet pages.
For this reason, saddle-stitched booklets are normally produced in page counts such as:
- 8 Pages
- 12 Pages
- 16 Pages
- 20 Pages
- 24 Pages
- 28 Pages
- 32 Pages
- 36 Pages
- 40 Pages
- 44 Pages
- 48 Pages
- 52 Pages
- 56 Pages
- 60 Pages
If your artwork contains 22 pages, for example, you’ll usually need to increase or reduce the content so the finished booklet becomes either 20 or 24 pages.
Our team can help if you’re unsure.
Pages Are Not the Same as Sheets
Many people assume one sheet equals two pages.
In booklet printing, that’s not the case.
One folded sheet creates:
- Front
- Inside Left
- Inside Right
- Back
That’s four booklet pages.
An eight-page booklet is typically produced from just two folded sheets.
Choosing the Right Booklet Size
Our standard booklet sizes include:
A6
Compact and economical.
Perfect for:
- Small product guides
- Promotional booklets
- Event information
A5
Our most popular booklet size.
Ideal for:
- Company profiles
- Catalogues
- Training manuals
- Price lists
- Community publications
A4
Best suited for:
- Annual reports
- Detailed manuals
- Capability statements
- Educational resources
Custom sizes and landscape booklets are also available and can be quoted by our team.
Choosing Your Paper
The paper you choose affects both appearance and durability.
Gloss Coated
Gloss paper produces vibrant colours and sharp photographs.
Recommended for:
- Product catalogues
- Marketing material
- Tourism publications
Matt or Silk Coated
Matt and silk papers provide a premium, low-glare finish that’s comfortable to read.
Excellent for:
- Company publications
- Capability statements
- Annual reports
- Event programs
Recycled or Uncoated
Provides a natural appearance and is ideal when readers may need to write on the pages.
Often chosen for:
- Workbooks
- Training manuals
- Community publications
Understanding Cover Options
There are two common cover styles.
Self Cover
The cover uses exactly the same paper stock as the internal pages.
This is the most economical option and produces a clean, consistent appearance.
Separate Heavier Cover
A heavier cover stock provides:
- Greater durability
- Improved presentation
- A more premium feel
Many customers also choose matt or gloss lamination for additional protection.
Cover Lamination
If you choose a heavier cover, you may also consider lamination.
Matt Laminate
Provides a premium, understated appearance while reducing glare.
Ideal for:
- Corporate publications
- Annual reports
- Premium brochures
Gloss Laminate
Produces brighter colours and a polished finish.
Ideal for:
- Product catalogues
- Marketing publications
- Tourism guides
Premium Cover Finishes
If you want your booklet to stand out, premium finishing options are available.
These may include:
- Metallic Foil
- Spot Gloss
- Raised Digital Embellishments
- Specialty Cover Effects
Our team can recommend the most suitable finish based on your artwork and budget.
Print-Ready Artwork
Having a PDF doesn’t automatically mean your artwork is ready for professional printing.
A suitable booklet file should generally:
- Be supplied as one multi-page PDF
- Use individual pages in normal reading order
- Be set to the correct finished size
- Include bleed where required
- Have fonts embedded
- Use high-resolution images
- Keep important text safely away from trim edges and the centre fold
Please don’t rearrange pages into printer spreads.
Our production team handles that as part of the printing process.
Need Help Designing Your Booklet?
No problem.
Our design team can help whether you have:
- A rough idea
- Existing artwork
- A previous booklet
- Company branding
- Text and images ready to go
Or we can design the entire publication from scratch.
How Many Booklets Can I Order?
Our minimum order quantity is:
5 Booklets
Whether you need:
- 5
- 25
- 100
- 250
- 1,000
or many more, we’ll recommend the most suitable production method to achieve the best balance of quality, turnaround time and value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have more than 60 pages?
Possibly.
Once publications become thicker, another binding method such as PUR Perfect Binding may provide a better result.
Our team can recommend the best option.
Can I have landscape booklets?
Yes.
Landscape booklets and custom sizes are available and can be quoted individually.
Can I print in black and white?
Absolutely.
Popular options include:
- Full Colour Throughout
- Full Colour Cover with Black & White Internal Pages
- Black & White Throughout
Can I have a hard cover?
No.
Traditional hard-cover books use a completely different binding method.
If you require a hard-cover publication, we’ll recommend the most suitable alternative.
Can I print just one booklet?
Our practical minimum order is five copies.
Ready to Get Started?
Our Saddle-Stitched Booklets Concierge makes requesting a quote simple.
We’ll guide you through the important decisions, explain anything you’re unsure about, and collect all the information our production team needs to prepare an accurate quotation.
Whether you’re printing a small training manual, a company profile or a premium product catalogue, we’re here to help you produce a professional publication that makes a lasting impression.