Saddle Stitch Booklet Printing

Saddle stitch binding is the most common way to bind a booklet: printed sheets are folded in half, nested one inside the other, and stapled twice through the fold. Also called stapled binding, it's the most affordable booklet format, it lays flat when opened, and it's what most catalogs, programs and newsletters use. We print and bind every saddle stitch booklet in our own shop.

WHAT IT'S USED FOR

• Catalogs, lookbooks and product guides
• Event programs, theater programs and sports programs
• Newsletters, annual reports and member magazines
• Employee handbooks, training booklets and instruction guides
• Zines, poetry collections and short self-published work

SPECIFICATIONS

• Page count: 4 to 64 pages, always in multiples of 4. Every folded sheet creates 4 pages, so a 7-page or 10-page saddle stitch booklet isn't possible — blank pages still count.
• Sizes: 8.5 x 11 is standard. 5.5 x 8.5 is the usual choice for programs and pocket-sized pieces. Other portrait, landscape and square sizes available.
• Interior paper: 100lb gloss text is the standard choice. 60lb uncoated is available where readers need to write on the page.
• Cover: 100lb gloss cover gives the booklet a sturdier feel and a cleaner first impression. Self-cover — same stock inside and out — is the more economical option.
• Color: Full color throughout at no extra cost.
• Spine: No printable spine. Saddle stitch booklets are folded rather than glued, so there's no flat spine to print on. Above about 64 pages, perfect binding is the better choice.

WHY PRINTSTAR

Your booklets are printed and bound by our own team on our own equipment — never sent out to a trade printer. A real person reviews your file before anything prints, and  a real person reviews your file before anything prints.

FAQ

How many pages can a saddle stitch booklet have?
4 to 64 pages, in multiples of 4. Because each sheet is folded to create four pages, the total has to divide by four — 8, 12, 16, 20 and so on. Blank pages count toward the total.

Why does the page count have to be a multiple of 4?
Each sheet of paper is folded in half, which produces two leaves and four printed sides. A booklet is built from whole folded sheets, so the page count always lands on a multiple of four.

Does a saddle stitch booklet lay flat?
Yes. Because the pages are stapled through the fold rather than glued at the spine, the booklet opens flat and stays open — one of the main reasons it's used for programs and manuals.

What's the difference between saddle stitch and perfect bound?
Saddle stitch is folded and stapled, costs less, lays flat, and works up to about 64 pages. Perfect bound is glued along a flat spine you can print on, suits higher page counts, and doesn't lay flat. Below 64 pages saddle stitch is usually the better value.

Can I order a small quantity?
Yes. Our minimums are low, so you can print a short run for a single event rather than ordering hundreds you won't use.

What is creep, and do I need to worry about it?
On thicker saddle stitch booklets, the inner pages push out slightly further than the outer ones when folded, so the trimmed edge shifts inward. We account for it in production — just keep important text at least half an inch from the edge.