Hardback book printing

Hardback books.
Thread-sewn.
Case-bound.

The gold standard of book binding — produced in-house at our Exeter facility from as few as 10 copies. Every hardback is thread-sewn as standard, with a full range of cover finishes.

4.9 ★★★★★
132 Google reviews
10+
Minimum copies
3–4 wks
Standard turnaround
320mm
Max book size
Hardback books being thread-sewn on the Universe sheet-fed sewing machine at our Exeter facility
What we offer

Hardback printing for
every specification

Thread-sewing on the Universe machine
01

Thread-Sewn Binding

Every hardback is sewn through the spine using our Universe digital sheet-fed sewing machine — the strongest and most durable form of book binding available, from just 10 copies.

02

Case Binding

Sewn text blocks are mounted into rigid boards and covered with your choice of material — from printed laminated cases to cloth, buckram, and leatherette finishes.

Operator adjusting digital press control panel
03

Foil Blocking

Hot foil stamping in gold, silver, or a range of colours applied directly to the case. Perfect for titles, logos, and decorative detail that catches the light.

04

Embossing & Debossing

Raised or recessed lettering and imagery pressed into the cover material. Used alone or combined with foil for premium results.

Cover being laminated for a dust jacket
05

Dust Jackets

Full-colour printed dust jackets with gloss, matt or soft-touch lamination. Supplied separately or fitted — your choice.

06

Head & Tail Bands

Traditional woven ribbon bands at the head and tail of the spine. Available in a range of colours, adding a premium finish to the inside of the book.

Production specifications

Built to your
exact requirements

We produce hardbacks in any size up to 320×320mm, with a wide range of paper stocks, page counts and finishing options. All production is handled in-house — no outsourcing, no third-party delays.

Thread-sewn from just 10 copies. Case-binding, foil blocking and dust jacket production all carried out at our Exeter facility.

Price your hardback
Hardback specifications
Minimum quantity10 copies
Maximum quantity10,000+
Maximum size320 × 320mm
BindingThread-sewn as standard
Standard turnaround3–4 weeks
Fast Track2 weeks (+25%)
Paper stocks19 options, 70–170gsm
Cover optionsPrinted laminated · Cloth · Leatherette
FinishingFoil · Emboss · Spot UV · Dust jacket
ExtrasHead/tail bands · Marker ribbon
The process

How we produce
your hardback

1

Upload files

Submit your print-ready cover and interior PDFs. Our team checks specifications and flags any issues before going to press.

2

Proof copy

A physical proof is dispatched within 2 working days. Approve it and we proceed — or request changes at no extra cost.

3

Print, sew & case

Interior pages printed, signatures sewn, text block cased into your chosen cover with all finishing applied in-house.

4

Delivered

Carefully packed and dispatched via tracked courier to anywhere in the UK or internationally.

What our customers say
★★★★★

"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. Five stars."

Vicky M Writer
Author
★★★★★

"Getting my first book printed was made very easy. Sarah was very helpful throughout with no pressure at all."

Jack Roberts
First-time author
Frequently asked

Questions about
hardback printing

Our minimum order is 10 hardback copies. Unlike most UK book printers, we use a digital sheet-fed sewing machine so short runs are genuinely short — you are not pushed toward a minimum of 100 or 250.
Standard turnaround is 3 to 4 weeks from artwork approval. Our Fast Track service delivers in 2 weeks for a 25% supplement. Proof copies are dispatched within 2 working days of your files being received.
Yes. We dispatch free sample books to most UK addresses. Email [email protected] with your name and address and we will send a range of hardback examples covering different binding, paper, and cover finish options.
Yes. Full-colour dust jackets are printed in-house with your choice of gloss, matt, or soft-touch matt lamination. We can supply them loose or fit them to the books before dispatch.
We offer 19 paper stocks ranging from 70gsm uncoated to 170gsm coated gloss, covering trade book weights, photography book weights, and reference book weights. Samples are available on request.

Ready to print
your hardback?

Get an instant online quote — no account required. Or call us to discuss your specification.