Saddle Stitch vs PUR Binding: Which Should You Choose?
Saddle Stitch vs PUR Binding: Which Should You
Choose?
Saddle stitching is best for booklets up to about 68 pages; PUR binding is the right choice for
anything thicker, or anything that needs a flat printable spine. Saddle stitch is cheaper and faster.
PUR is stronger and looks more like a "real book". That is the short answer — here is how to actually
decide.
We produce both bindings in-house, so this is not a theoretical comparison.
What is saddle stitching?
Saddle stitching is the simplest booklet binding: printed sheets are folded, nested inside each other,
and stapled twice through the fold line. Almost every magazine, brochure, event programme and
school newsletter you have ever held was saddle stitched.
Because pages nest inside each other, the page count must be divisible by four. There is no 30-page
saddle stitched booklet — it is 28 or 32.
What is PUR binding?
PUR binding is a form of perfect binding. Pages are gathered, the spine edge is roughened, and a
polyurethane reactive adhesive glues the pages into a wraparound cover. The result is a square, flat
spine you can print on — title, logo, whatever you like.
PUR glue is the strongest binding adhesive available. It outperforms older EVA "perfect binding" glue
significantly, especially on coated (gloss) paper, and it handles heat and cold without the spine
cracking. If you have ever had a cheaply bound catalogue shed its pages in a hot car, that was not
PUR.
Which binding is cheaper?
Saddle stitching, always. There is less material, less machine time and no glue. For a typical A5
booklet run, expect PUR to be more expensive that saddle stitching.
When do you have to use PUR?
Three situations force the decision:
Page count above 32 pages. Beyond that, a saddle stitched booklet will not close flat — it
springs open and the inner pages creep outward at the fore-edge.
You need a printed spine. A product catalogue standing on a shelf needs a spine with a title on it.
Saddle stitch has no spine to print.
The document needs to feel premium. Annual reports, lookbooks and company profiles read as
more serious with a square spine. That is perception, not engineering, but perception is usually the
point.
When is saddle stitch clearly the right call?
Anything under about 40 pages that gets read and set aside: brochures, price lists, event
programmes, newsletters, instruction booklets. Saddle stitched booklets also open flatter than PUR,
which matters for anything with spreads that run across two pages, like maps or large product photos.
FAQ
What is the minimum page count for PUR binding?
Around 32 pages, because the spine needs enough thickness for the glue to grip. Below that, saddle
stitch is your only sensible option anyway.
Does the page count include the cover?
Convention is to count the cover separately: a "32pp plus cover" booklet has 32 inner pages and a
4-page cover. When you order, we will confirm the count so there are no surprises.
Can a PUR bound book open completely flat?
No — that requires lay-flat or case binding. PUR opens comfortably but the spine holds some tension.
If lie-flat matters (workbooks, manuals people write in), tell us and we will advise.
What paper works for booklet covers?
Most booklets run a heavier cover — commonly 250gsm or 300gsm — over lighter inner pages like
115gsm or 150gsm gloss.