★★★★★“Their quality remains consistent regardless of the size and complexity of the project. I’ve never seen them cut a corner.”— James Fogarty · Google review

★★★★★“Imprint Digital are THE best printers out there. The quality and service is second to none.”— Vicky M · Google review

★★★★★“Getting my first book printed was made very easy, with no pressure at all.”— Jack Roberts · Google review

Paperback pages printing on the digital press at our Exeter facility

Paperback book blocks on the finishing line

Thread-sewn paperback signatures on the Universe sewing machine

Press operator checking colour on the control panel

Your paperback — specification

SizeA5 · 210 × 148 mm

Pages200

PrintingBlack & white

Paper80gsm opaque white, uncoated

BindingPerfect bound (EVA)

Cover240gsm laminated card · gloss lam

Extras—

Copies50

ProofFree digital proof

Turnaround3–5 working days · Fast Track available

Estimated dispatch…

Not sure paperback is right? Compare formats in our hardback vs paperback guide.

Paperback Book Printing

Name: Paperback Book Printing
Brand: Imprint Digital
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.9 (136 reviews)

★★★★★ 4.9 · 136 Google reviews · made in-house in Exeter

1 The book

Size custom trims available

Paper 19 stocks — samples in the free pack

Pages mono and colour counts, like the full calculator

mono pages colour pages

2 Cover & binding

Binding

Cover lamination 240gsm card

Extras all priced live · barcodes are free, build yours with the ISBN barcode generator

3 Copies & proof

Copies

copies

Per-copy price at each run size — tap a bar to switch. Bigger runs, cheaper copies.

Proof

Your files — after you order

Single-page PDF, 3mm bleed on all edges
Images at 300dpi, CMYK colour
Free file check on every order — we flag issues before press

Not ready? Generate a cover template or run the pre-flight check now.

…

Estimated dispatch…

Books

…

UK deliveryEstimated…

Total…

No VAT on printed books

Add to cart → See our work first: free sample pack

Email me this quote

A one-page estimate for this exact spec, priced at your quantity and the next run sizes up. No account needed.

Free digital proof before we print · refine in the full calculator

Also available: foil blocking, spot UV & embossing on covers · custom sizes to 320 × 320mm · 19 papers, 70–170gsm · runs to 10,000+.

Perfect, PUR & sewn — all in-house Digibook binding line Books since the late 1990s Made in Exeter, Devon →

How much does paperback book printing cost?

The table shows the same A5 paperback — 200 pages mono, perfect bound, 240gsm laminated cover — at six quantities, priced live by our calculator, so you can see exactly how the per-copy price falls as the run grows.

The steepest savings come between 10 and 100 copies as make-ready spreads across more books. PUR prices the same as perfect; thread-sewn adds the sewing cost. Compare with hardback printing, see full UK book printing prices, or get your exact price →

Prices from — A5 · 200pp · B&W · perfect bound

10 copies	£13.98
25 copies	£6.13
50 copies	£3.78
100 copies	£3.01
250 copies	£2.04
500 copies	£1.59

Includes UK delivery. No VAT — printed books are zero-rated in the UK.

Free tools

Set your files up with our free book tools

Built by us for book work — every output is generated to your exact spec, not a static download.

Generator

Cover template generator

A press-ready cover template built for your trim size, spine and cover material — in seconds.

Pre-flight

Pre-flight check

Upload your PDF and we flag bleed, resolution and colour issues before anything reaches press — free.

Publishing

ISBN & barcode

Whether you need an ISBN, where to get one, and how the barcode goes onto your cover.

Calculator

Spine width calculator

Your exact spine width from paper, page count and binding — live, to the tenth of a millimetre.

Plus words-to-pages, interior templates and the full UK size guide — see all our free tools →

The craft

What goes into every paperback

Perfect & PUR binding

EVA hot-melt or polyurethane reactive — which glue your paperback needs and why.

PUR binding guide →

Thread-sewn paperbacks

Sewn signatures in a soft cover — the strongest paperback, rare at short run.

How it works →

Covers & finishing

240gsm laminated covers — gloss, matt or soft-touch, plus foil, spot UV and embossing.

Print finishing →

Sizes & papers

B-format to A4 plus custom trims to 320 × 320 mm. 19 stocks from 70 to 170gsm.

Book sizes →

★ 4.9 on Google

Rated 4.9 from 136 Google reviews

Pulled live from our Google Business listing · read them all on Google →

★★★★★ “Their quality remains consistent regardless of the size and complexity of the project. I’ve never seen them cut a corner.”James Fogarty · repeat client

★★★★★ “Imprint Digital are THE best printers out there. The quality and service is second to none.”Vicky M · author

★★★★★ “Getting my first book printed was made very easy, with no pressure at all.”Jack Roberts · first-time author

Questions

Paperback printing FAQ

What is the minimum order quantity for paperbacks?Our minimum order is 10 paperback copies. We specialise in short runs so this applies across all three binding methods — perfect bound, PUR bound, and thread-sewn paperback.

How much does it cost to print a paperback book?For a 200-page A5 mono paperback in the UK, expect roughly £3.78 per copy at 50, £3.01 at 100, £2.04 at 250 and £1.59 at 500. Colour paperbacks on coated paper are higher. The pricing table on this page shows live numbers from our calculator.

How quickly can you turn around a paperback order?Standard turnaround is 3 to 5 working days from artwork approval. Our Fast Track service delivers in 2 working days for a 25% supplement. Proof copies are dispatched within 2 working days.

What is the difference between perfect binding and PUR?Perfect binding uses EVA hot-melt adhesive — strong, cost-effective, and ideal for most paperbacks. PUR uses polyurethane reactive adhesive which bonds more strongly, lies flatter when open, and works better on coated paper. PUR costs slightly more but is recommended for books that will see heavy use.

Do you offer thread-sewn paperback binding?Yes — we are one of the few UK printers to offer thread-sewn paperback binding from short runs. Pages are physically sewn before being glued into a paperback cover, producing the strongest paperback binding available. Ideal for art books, catalogues and reference works.

Can I send a sample book to check quality?Yes. Free sample packs are available on request. Email [email protected] with your address and we will send a range of paperback examples covering different binding types, paper weights, and cover finishes.

What cover finishes are available for paperbacks?Standard paperback covers are 240gsm coated card with gloss, matt or soft-touch matt lamination. Optional finishes include foil blocking, spot UV varnish, embossing and debossing. Cover printing is full colour CMYK; we can also handle Pantone spot colours on special order.

Is paperback printing cheaper than hardback?Yes — typically 50 to 70% cheaper per copy at the same spec and quantity. A 200pp A5 perfect-bound paperback runs around £3.01/copy at 100; the same book as a thread-sewn case-bound hardback runs around £8.78/copy at 100. Paperback is the right choice for cost-sensitive trade and self-publishing work.

From the same bindery