Paperback book printing

Paperback books.
Short-run.
In-house.

Perfect bound, PUR bound, or thread-sewn paperbacks from just 10 copies. All produced in-house at our Exeter facility with fast turnaround and consistent commercial quality.

4.9 ★★★★★
132 Google reviews
10+
Minimum copies
5–10 days
Standard turnaround
3
Binding types
A bound paperback being inspected on the bindery line at our Exeter facility
Binding options

Three ways to
bind your paperback

Canon digital press printing paperback interiors
01

Perfect Binding

The most common paperback method. Pages are glued directly into the cover spine with a hot-melt adhesive. Clean, professional and cost-effective — ideal for novels, guides, journals and trade paperbacks.

Operator adjusting press control panel
02

PUR Binding

Polyurethane reactive adhesive provides superior strength to standard perfect binding. Recommended for coated paper, heavy-use publications, and books that need to lie flat. The strongest glued binding available.

Thread-sewing a paperback on the Universe machine
03

Thread-Sewn

Using our Universe digital sheet-fed sewing machine, we can thread-sew paperback books from just 10 copies — the same binding used in hardbacks, delivering exceptional durability and longevity.

Specifications

Produced to your
exact specification

Five standard sizes — B-format, A5, Royal, B5 and A4 — plus any custom size up to 320×320mm. 19 paper stocks from 70gsm Enso to 170gsm coated gloss. Mono or full colour throughout.

Cover lamination in gloss, matt or soft-touch matt. French flaps, shrink wrapping and ISBN barcodes all available.

Price your paperback
Paperback specifications
Minimum quantity10 copies
Maximum quantity10,000+
Standard sizesB-format · A5 · Royal · B5 · A4
Custom sizesUp to 320 × 320mm
Standard turnaround5–10 working days
Fast Track3–4 working days (+25%)
Binding typesPerfect · PUR · Thread-sewn
Paper stocks19 options, 70–170gsm
LaminationGloss · Matt · Soft Touch Matt
ExtrasFrench flaps · Shrink wrap · ISBN
How it works

From file to finished
book in four steps

1

Upload your files

Submit print-ready PDFs via our file upload portal. We check your files and flag any issues before going to press.

2

Receive your proof

A physical proof copy is dispatched within 2 working days for your approval before the full print run.

3

We print & bind

Entire order printed, bound and finished in-house at our Exeter facility. No outsourcing, ever.

4

Delivered to you

Tracked courier delivery throughout the UK. Most orders arrive within 5–10 working days of order placement.

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
paperback printing

Our minimum order is 10 paperback copies. We specialise in short runs so this applies across all three binding methods — perfect bound, PUR, and thread-sewn.
Standard turnaround is 5 to 10 working days from artwork approval. Our Fast Track service delivers in 3 to 4 working days for a 25% supplement. Proof copies are dispatched within 2 working days.
Perfect binding uses a 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.
We offer five standard sizes — B-format, A5, Royal, B5, and A4 — plus custom sizes up to 320 × 320mm. If your book is a non-standard dimension, we can almost always accommodate it.
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.

Ready to print
your paperback?

Instant pricing online — no account required. Dispatched in as little as 3 days with Fast Track.