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Book structure

Book Binding Types Compared

How each binding works, what it costs and which books it suits.

Binding comparison

Binding	Page range	Lays flat	Durability	Cost	Print on demand
Perfect Binding	24–828	No	Good	Low	Yes
PUR Perfect Binding	24–900	Better	Very good	Low–Medium	Yes
Case Binding (Hardcover)	24–800	Partial	Excellent	High	Yes
Smyth Sewn (Section Sewn)	48–1000	Yes	Excellent	High	No
Saddle Stitching	8–64	Yes	Fair	Very low	Yes
Loop Stitching	8–64	Yes	Fair	Low	No
Spiral / Coil Binding	10–400	Yes (360°)	Good	Medium	Yes
Wire-O (Twin Loop)	10–300	Yes (360°)	Good	Medium	Yes
Comb Binding	10–400	Yes	Fair	Low	No
Lay-Flat (Otabind / Swiss) Binding	48–600	Yes	Very good	Medium–High	No
Section-Sewn Paperback	48–800	Better	Very good	Medium	No
Japanese Stab Binding	10–200	No	Good	Handmade	No
Coptic Stitch Binding	40–300	Yes	Good	Handmade	No
Singer Sewn	8–64	Yes	Good	Medium	No
Tape Binding	10–350	No	Fair	Low	No
Screw Post Binding	10–400	No	Good	Medium	No
Board Book Binding	8–24	Yes	Excellent	High (offset)	No

All bindings

Perfect Binding 24–828 pagesPaperback novels, Nonfiction, Trade paperbacks PUR Perfect Binding 24–900 pagesCoated-paper books, Workbooks, Photo books Case Binding (Hardcover) 24–800 pagesHardcover fiction and nonfiction, Gift editions, Library editions Smyth Sewn (Section Sewn) 48–1000 pagesQuality hardcovers, Reference books, Bibles Saddle Stitching 8–64 pagesBooklets, Zines, Picture books (short) Loop Stitching 8–64 pagesPresentation folders, Booklets for ring binders Spiral / Coil Binding 10–400 pagesCookbooks, Manuals, Workbooks Wire-O (Twin Loop) 10–300 pagesCalendars, Premium notebooks, Presentations Comb Binding 10–400 pagesReports, Internal manuals, Training material Lay-Flat (Otabind / Swiss) Binding 48–600 pagesCookbooks, Music books, Manuals Section-Sewn Paperback 48–800 pagesLiterary paperbacks, Poetry, Art books Japanese Stab Binding 10–200 pagesHandmade books, Poetry, Art journals Coptic Stitch Binding 40–300 pagesJournals, Sketchbooks, Handmade gifts Singer Sewn 8–64 pagesPremium booklets, Zines, Wedding programs Tape Binding 10–350 pagesReports, Proposals, Internal documents Screw Post Binding 10–400 pagesPortfolios, Swatch books, Menus Board Book Binding 8–24 pagesBaby and toddler books