Binding styles compared: staple, sew, ring, disc and glue

How you bind a notebook changes how thick it can be, whether it lies flat, and whether you can add pages later. Here are the common methods for homemade notebooks, from the quickest to the most durable.

At a glance

Method	Pages	Lies flat	Add pages later	Tools
Saddle stitch (staples)	up to ~48	Mostly	No	Long-reach stapler
Pamphlet stitch (sewn)	up to ~48	Yes	No	Needle, thread, awl
Multi-signature sewing	100+	Yes	No	Needle, thread, awl
Ring binder	any	Yes	Yes	Hole punch
Disc binding	any	Yes	Yes	Disc punch, discs
Perfect binding (glue)	60+	No	No	PVA glue, clamps
Traveler’s notebook insert	up to ~64	Yes	Swap inserts	Elastic cord cover

Saddle stitch

Fold the printed booklet in half and staple through the spine from the outside. It is the fastest method and the one the booklet PDF is designed for. Use a long-reach stapler, or open a normal stapler and staple into an eraser placed under the fold. Two staples about 2 cm from each end are enough for A5.

Pamphlet stitch

A three- or five-hole stitch through the fold does the same job as staples with thread. It looks better, never rusts and lies flatter. See the guide to sewing signatures for the exact stitch.

Multi-signature sewing

For thick notebooks, print several booklets (signatures) of 8 to 12 sheets each and sew them together with a kettle stitch. The notebook can have hundreds of pages and still opens completely flat. The DIY binding guide covers this step by step.

Ring binders and disc binding

Print single pages instead of a booklet, punch them and put them in a binder or on discs. You can add, remove and reorder pages at any time, which makes this the best choice for planners and household binders. Leave a wider inner margin (12 to 15 mm) for the holes.

Perfect binding

Stack single sheets, clamp them, roughen the spine and coat it with flexible PVA glue. It looks like a paperback, but it does not lie flat and needs patience while the glue dries. It works best for reference books you read rather than write in.

Traveler’s notebook inserts

Print a Regular or Passport booklet, fold it and slip it under the elastic cord of a traveler’s notebook cover. No stapling needed, and inserts can be swapped whenever one is full.

Which one should I choose?

• A quick notebook today: saddle stitch.
• A notebook that lasts and looks handmade: pamphlet stitch or multi-signature sewing.
• A planner you keep changing: ring or disc binding.
• A refill for a cover you already own: traveler’s notebook insert.