When planning your next print project with Jukebox, one of the most important factors to get right is your page count. Whether you're printing Perfect Bound Books, Saddle Stitched Books, or Coil Books, the correct page count ensures your project goes smoothly and helps avoid any production delays or confusion.

Here’s a simple breakdown to help you understand how to count your pages accurately for each type of book.

Pages vs. Sheets

First things first — it’s important to clarify the difference between pages and sheets:

• A sheet is a single piece of paper.

• A page is one side of that sheet. So, one sheet of paper has two pages: a front and a back.

For example, a book with 10 sheets of paper has 20 pages (because each sheet has two sides, or two pages).

Types of Book Binding and How Page Count Works

At Jukebox, we offer several types of binding for custom books, each with its own way of calculating page count:

1. Perfect Bound Books

Perfect Bound books are a popular choice for thicker publications such as catalogs, portfolios, or high-quality photo books. In this type of binding, the pages are glued together along the spine. Each sheet in a Perfect Bound book is printed on both sides, meaning one sheet equals two pages.

Example:
If your Perfect Bound book has 40 sheets, your total page count is 80 pages. Covers are not included in the page count unless specified as a self-cover book (where the cover uses the same paper as the interior pages).

2. Saddle Stitched Books

Saddle Stitched books are ideal for thinner booklets, event programs, or company brochures. This type of book is created by folding sheets of paper in half and stapling them along the center spine. Since the sheets are folded, the page count is always in multiples of four.

The most popular size for Saddle Stitched books is 8.5" x 11". In this case, the flat sheet size before folding is 11" x 17". After folding, each flat sheet creates four pages — two on the front and two on the back.

Example:
A Saddle Stitched booklet with 7 sheets of paper will result in 28 pages (because each sheet creates four pages: two on the front and two on the back after folding).

Note: This is the most common option for calendars. For example, a 28-page calendar would contain 14 sheets of paper (each with an artwork page and a month page).

3. Coil Books (Wire-O Books)

Coil-bound, or Wire-O books, are an excellent choice for projects like custom journals, notebooks, manuals, or presentations where durability and ease of use are important. This type of binding allows the book to lay flat when opened and makes flipping through pages smooth and effortless.

In Coil books, each sheet of paper has two pages — one on the front and one on the back. Since the binding is flexible, it can accommodate a wide range of page counts, making it perfect for books that require frequent use.

Example:
A custom journal with 240 pages would be made up of 120 sheets of paper, with printing on both sides of each sheet. The coil binding keeps all the pages neatly together while allowing for easy flipping and a professional finish.

Note: The covers are often made with a sturdier stock compared to the inside pages, giving the book a polished look. At Jukebox, we also offer hard covers for added durability. Contact us to learn more about this product.

Important Notes:

• Blank Pages Are Still Pages: If your design includes blank pages (for example, to separate sections or start new chapters on a right-hand page), these still count towards your total page count.

• Covers Are Separate: In most cases, the front and back covers of your book are not included in the page count. If your book is specified as a self-cover book (using the same paper stock for the cover and pages), the cover would be included in the total page count. For example, in a 20-page self-cover book, 4 of the pages are dedicated to the front and back cover.

• Page Count Is Always Even: Since each sheet has two sides, your page count will always be an even number. If your final page number ends up as an odd number, an additional blank page will be added.

Need Assistance?

If you need further help with calculating your page count or have questions about your project, feel free to reach out. We're here to ensure your project is set up correctly and ready for print.

The spine of a booklet is the side/edge where it is bound. For perfect bound booklets, the width of the spine varies based on total number of inside sheets and how thick each of the inside sheet is.

It is important to know the spine width of your perfect bound booklet so you can design the cover properly. As the cover of a perfect bound booklet wraps around the inside pages, the spine width needs to be added to the width of the covers (front and back).

To calculate the spine width you can use our perfect bound booklet maker tool.

If you are placing an order for booklets, it is important to know how we calculate the number of pages to place your order correctly.

All pages are counted when bound, including the cover. The cover (including inside front cover, inside back cover and back cover) counts as 4 pages.

Standard saddle-stitched booklets are produced by folding multiple sheets of paper in half and then stapling in the centre. As an example, one flat 17" x 11" sheet saddle-stitched to an 8.5" x 11" booklet would count as 4 pages. Using the same example, if two 17" x 11" sheets were saddle-stitched, the result would be an 8.5" x 11" booklet with 8 pages.

Saddle-stitched booklets must have a page count that is a multiple of 4. Coil and perfect bound booklets must have a page count that is a multiple of 2.

• Page 1 Front cover

• Page 2 Inside front cover

• Page 3 First "internal" page (right-hand-side)

• ... internal pages

• 3rd last page Last "internal" page (left-hand-side)

• 2nd last page Inside back cover

• Last page Back cover

Coil and perfect bound booklets are simpler to calculate as no folding is required – single sheets, with 2 sides or pages per sheet, are bounded together resulting with an even page count. For example, seven 5.5" x 8.5" sheets coil bound on the left-hand side will have a total of 14 pages. Perfect bound booklets are produced by wrapping a four-page cover around single sheets of paper and gluing them at the spine.

No, your booklet files will be impositioned during our prepress processes.

Please supply your design files as single pages (not spreads or imposed) in one PDF. See: Press-ready files for Booklets.

Saddle stitching is a favored binding method, which is as simple as folding pages in half and securing them with staples at the center. This process results in a streamlined and tidy booklet, ideal for leaflets, event agendas, and pocket-sized magazines.

For those eyeing something more robust, Perfect binding is an excellent choice. In this technique, adhesive is applied to the spine of a collection of pages, which is then attached to a cover. This renders a sophisticated and smooth appearance, making it the go-to option for books, handbooks, and catalogs. A skilled team can craft a Perfect bound booklet tailored to your needs, available in an assortment of dimensions and paper types, ensuring durability paired with visual allure.

If you’re leaning towards a contemporary and elegant flair, Wire-O binding is your answer. This method entails creating diminutive holes alongside the pages’ margins, followed by threading a metal wire through them for binding. The end product is a neat and stylish piece, ideally suited for calendars, notebooks, and planners. Adept professionals are at your service to aid in the creation of a Wire-O bound booklet, combining utility with a fashionable touch.

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