Saddle Stitch Binding
Home to 3 top-of-the range saddle stitching lines, we produce 63.5 million stitched books a year. Brochures, newsletters, annual reports, direct mail catalogues and event programmes are all produced with speed, precision and care. Get a quote todayFast, Flexible Saddle Stitching
Saddle stitch binding is the quickest and most cost-effective way to produce professionally finished publications. Ideal for brochures, programmes, magazines, catalogues and reports, it’s the perfect choice when you need high-quality print delivered to a deadline.
Unlike perfect binding, saddle stitched publications open flatter and require fewer production stages, making them particularly well suited to shorter publications, regular updates and fast-moving campaigns.
Cutting Edge Technology
Specialists in saddle stitching (also known as staple binding), our in-house bindery department is equipped with 3 of the most advanced saddle stitching lines, supported by 15 folding machines and 4 guillotines. The combined strength of our saddle stitching capacity with the intense colour quality of our litho and digital printing is a winning combination. With one of the best-equipped print finishing departments among commercial printers, we can produce 63.5 million stitched books annually.
Saddle Stitching for Brochures, Booklets & Programmes
Saddle stitching inserts two durable staples through the fold. There’s no spine, unlike perfect bound books, which means saddle stitched brochures lay flat when opened, creating seamless spreads for maximum visual impact.
Once your magazine or brochure exceeds 64 pages (or 5mm spine width), then saddle stitching may no longer be an option. It becomes too bulky to fold neatly and won’t close properly. If your publication is likely to be around this page count, switching to perfect binding is an option.
Saddle Stitch Binding Made Simple
Whether you’re looking for someone to take care of your design, print and mail or if you’re a trade printer looking for discretion, we do it all and we do it well.
High-Speed Production
Our investment in three modern saddle stitching lines allows us to produce millions of stitched publications every year with speed and consistency. Typical turnaround times start from three working days (if you need it quicker ask us), making saddle stitching an excellent choice for time-sensitive projects.
Short Runs to High Volumes
Whether you need a handful of digitally printed booklets or tens of thousands of litho printed programmes, we have the equipment to produce the most efficient solution.
For shorter runs, our mailing house’s digital presses can produce fully finished booklets inline, while also allowing variable text and image personalisation throughout.
Print & Mail
Need your publications delivered as well as printed?
Through our fully owned mailing house, The Mailing People, we offer paper wrapping, polywrapping, envelope enclosing, machine tabbing and bulk mail services. Publications move directly between our print and mailing facilities (free of charge), reducing handling and turnaround times.
Why Choose Saddle Stitching
Programmes
From theatre programmes to event guides, a saddle-stitched booklet is perfect for presenting schedules, performers, and highlights in a portable format. We’re the first choice commercial printer for Premiership football clubs and theatres up and down the country but all of our clients, regardless of the size of their order, receive the same high quality service.
Brochures and catalogues
Ideal for showcasing professional services or presenting products or services in a visually appealing, accessible way, we recommend laminating covers for extra duability. We offer gloss lamination, matt lamination, soft touch lamination and anti-scuff lamination. We can also embellish your designs using spot gloss UV varnish, embossing, foiling or die-cutting.
Magazines and newsletters
Whether for members, clients, or stakeholders, saddle-stitched magzines can be produced using Silk, Gloss or Uncoated paper stocks. If you’re unsure which is best for your publication, we can help you with samples and free advice.
Annual reports and impact reports
High quality printing and binding to support your professional image and add gravitas to your message.
Instruction manuals
Give customers or employees a clear, easy-to-follow manual that won’t fall apart with frequent use.
Client Reviews
We greatly appreciate your help with printing our booklets so speedily at the last minute. Very grateful to have them in time for our event!
Simon C. Print Professional
Thank You to you and all the production team for the fabulous brochures. As per usual, a brilliant result. Thanks again.
Susan H. Print Professional
I realise it has been stressful for my magazines to come through so close to each other. I just wanted to flag that the Proofdesk team is absolutely fantastic, and if I could send a G&T their way right now, I would.
Ginny T. Publisher
I just received the programmes a couple of hours ago. They look fantastic. We really appreciate the quick turnaround, so thank you again.
Lara E. Barton Peveril Sixth Form College
I was able to pick up my copy of the magazine over the weekend. Thank you for seeing this through for us. It is another great production. My thanks to you and the team.
Warwick H. St Edmund’s Church
Why Choose Us
Customer Service
98% of customers say they would recommend us. We aim to pick up the phone within 3 rings, always answer emails, and deliver a straightforward, friendly and knowledgeable service.
Stable Prices
Our quotes are valid for a minimum 30 days and our low prices are consistently competitive. Printing 287.9 million sheets a year, our buying power is reflected in our prices. For regular publications, fixed pricing is available.
Quality
92% of customers rate us good or very good for quality. 70% of our customers are trade print professionals who trust us with their reputations and rely on our trade printing service.
Saddle Stitched Brochure Pricing
Trade prices available. Please enquire.
A4 Brochure Printing
From £150 for 250 copies
Based on self-cover, 8pp, 90gsm, Gloss, Staple (saddle stitched) binding.
Available in a wide range of paper stocks.
A5 Brochure printing
From £139 for 250 copies
Based on self-cover, 8pp, 90gsm, Gloss. Staple (saddle stitched) binding.
Lamination & special print finishes available.
Brochure printing & mailing
Printed flyer insertion made easy, low cost postage, biodegradable polywrap, envelope enclosing, plus machine tabbing for self-mailers. Everything you need, all under one roof.
Built Around Your Publication
Saddle stitching isn’t the right answer for every publication, but when speed, cost and practicality matter, it’s difficult to beat.
Whether you’re producing brochures, programmes, newsletters or catalogues, we’ll help you choose the most appropriate specification for your project. And if your publication would be better suited to another binding method, we’ll tell you.
If you’re unsure what’s right for your project, just ask. Our team is always happy to offer practical advice and competitive quotations.
Environmentally Sensitive Printing
FSC® Certified Paper
We use FSC®certified paper and hold FSC Chain of Custody certification FSC-C141091.
Solar Powered
We've installed 1,500 solar panels on our 85,000 sq ft roof for sustainable energy and another 100 at our mailing house.
Everything Recycled
We recycle all our waste: aluminium plates, metal ink tins, plastic ink cartridges, the ink itself, cardboard and plastic wrapping.
Saddle Stitch FAQs
What is saddle stitch binding?
When should I choose saddle stitch or staple binding?
Saddle stitching is a good choice when your publication has a low page count and you want a cost-effective, practical format.
It works particularly well for brochures, newsletters, programmes and magazines where you want pages to open flat and be easy to read. If your page count increases beyond approximately 60 printed pages, perfect binding is likely to be a better option.
What page count is suitable for saddle stitched booklets?
As a general guide, most saddle stitched publications fall within 8 to around 64 pages, depending on the paper weight. Beyond this, the booklet can become too bulky to fold and may not close neatly.
What are the advantages of saddle stitch binding?
Saddle stitching is popular because it offers a straightforward and effective solution for many printed publications.
- It’s cost-effective compared to other binding methods
- Pages open flat, making it ideal for spreads and visual layouts
- It’s lightweight and easy to distribute
- Production is fast, making it suitable for tight deadlines
What types of products are best suited to saddle stitch binding?
Saddle stitching is commonly used for a wide range of publications where a lighter, flexible format is preferred.
Typical uses include brochures, event programmes, magazines, newsletters and instruction manuals. It’s particularly effective where the content needs to be easy to read and handle.
What paper options are available for saddle stitched booklets?
There’s a wide choice of paper stocks available depending on the look and feel you want to achieve.
Many customers choose coated papers such as silk or gloss for strong colour reproduction, while uncoated papers offer a more natural finish. Heavier covers can also be used to add durability and improve the overall presentation.
Can you add special finishes to saddle stitched brochures?
Yes. Specialist finishes can be applied to enhance both the appearance and durability of your booklet.
Lamination is often used on covers to protect against wear and prevent cracking along the fold. Additional finishes such as spot UV, foiling or embossing can be used to enhance design elements and create something a little more distinctive.
Can you mail out my saddle stitched booklets?
Yes. Saddle stitched booklets are lightweight and easy to distribute, making them well suited to mailing campaigns.
We can arrange a complete print and mailing service through The Mailing People, our fully owned mailing house, who handle fulfilment, enclosing and postage. This allows your project to move effortlessly from print to delivery.
Can you help with booklet or brochure design?
Yes. If you need support with the creative side of your project, we can introduce you to our wholly agency, The Graphic Design House.
They work with organisations to develop publications and marketing materials that are visually engaging and practical. For saddle stitched projects, this includes designing layouts that make the most of full spreads and page flow.
Why choose saddle stitch binding over perfect binding?
Saddle stitching is better suited to publications with a lower page counts and budget, while perfect binding is better suited to thicker documents that require a square spine and a more premium, book-style finish.
If you’re unsure which option is right, we can advise you based on your page count, paper choice and how the final product will be used.
Why choose Bishops Printers for saddle stitch binding?
Bishops is unusual among commercial printers because we have three stitching lines. This enables us to produce 63 million stapled publications annually – in A4, A5, DL and bespoke sizes. This is supported by 17 folding machines, 2 digital printers and 6 litho presses. It means we’re able to produce everything from a handful of stapled booklets to tens of thousands, quickly, efficiently and at a competitive price.
