Booklet Printing: Costs, Page Counts & Binding Options Explained

Booklet printing starts at £85 for 50 A5 stapled booklets (saddle-stitched, full colour). The two things that most affect price are page count and cover stock — and the single most common ordering mistake is a page count that isn't a multiple of four.

Why must booklet pages be a multiple of 4?

A saddle-stitched booklet is made of folded sheets; each folded sheet creates four pages. So valid counts run 8, 12, 16, 20, 24... A "10-page" booklet doesn't physically exist — it becomes 12 pages with two blanks. Plan content to land on a multiple of four and you control where any spare space goes.

Saddle-stitch vs perfect binding: which do I need?

	Saddle-stitch (stapled)	Perfect bound (glued spine)
Page range	8–64 pages	40+ pages
Lies flat when open	yes	no
Printable spine	no	yes
Cost	lower	higher
Feel	brochure/programme	book/catalogue

Under ~40 pages, saddle-stitch is the answer for almost everyone: event programmes, price lists, product brochures, orders of service, school and club publications.

What do booklets cost?

Anchor price: 50 × A5 booklets, £85 (e.g. 8–12pp self-cover). Price scales with page count, quantity, and whether the cover is a heavier stock than the inner pages (a 250gsm cover on 130gsm text is the classic upgrade — big perceived-quality jump for a modest cost). A4 booklets are also available where content needs the space; see A5 booklets and A4 booklets.

How do I supply booklet artwork?

• Single-page PDF, pages in reading order (1, 2, 3…) — not printer's spreads; imposition is handled at the press
• 3mm bleed on every page, content 5mm+ inside trim
• CMYK, 300dpi images, fonts embedded
• Page count in multiples of 4, counting the cover as pages 1, 2, N-1 and N

Full pre-flight checklist in the file setup guide.

How long does booklet printing take?

Typically 2–3 working days depending on quantity and finishing. Short-run urgent programmes (funerals, next-day events) can often be accelerated — phone 01473 933888 to check the schedule. Collection from Tacket Street, Ipswich IP4 1AU.

FAQs

How much do 50 A5 booklets cost? From £85 for a full-colour saddle-stitched run.

What's the maximum pages for a stapled booklet? Around 64 pages on standard stock — beyond that the spine creeps and perfect binding takes over.

Can the cover be thicker than the inside pages? Yes — a heavier cover (e.g. 250gsm over 130gsm text) is the most cost-effective quality upgrade available.

Do you print orders of service? Yes, including at short notice — a common same-week job. Supply text and photos, or a finished PDF.