UBuildABook offers two book binding options: hard cover (case bound) and soft cover (perfect bound).
Hard cover is the highest quality binding available: a printed, laminated cover glued on heavy board, making a very durable book. Soft cover perfect binding glues the pages into a wrap-around cover like a paperback, costs less, and is great for novels, manuals and programs. Both are available in small runs.
| Hard cover | Soft cover | |
|---|---|---|
| Also called | Case bound, cased | Perfect bound, paperback |
| How it is made | 80# printed cover, laminated and glued on heavy board; the book block is attached to the inside of the board | Pages are glued at the spine into a wrap-around cover |
| Good for | Books meant to last: the most durable cover | Training manuals, sports programs, novels and any thick paperback |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
| Text on the spine | Yes | When the spine is 5/16 or larger |
| Dust jacket | Available | - |
| Cover template | Hard cover templates | Soft cover templates |
Cased hard cover binding is the highest quality binding available. Our 80# printed cover is laminated and glued on heavy board to make a smooth outside cover. The book block is then attached to the inside of the board, making a very durable book cover.
We offer hard cover book binding in small runs. Dust jackets are also available.
Soft cover perfect bound books are great for training manuals, sports programs, novels and any thick paperback. Perfect binding is the standard for paperbacks. Here is how it works:
Set up your cover with the spine calculator and our free cover templates, and see the book layout and file setup guide.
A hard cover (case bound) book has a printed, laminated cover glued onto heavy board, with the pages attached inside the board. A soft cover (perfect bound) book has its pages glued at the spine into a wrap-around paper cover, like a paperback.
Soft cover costs less than hard cover. Get your exact price for either on our pricing page.
On soft cover books, text on the spine is available when the spine is 5/16 or larger. On hard cover books you can place anything on the spine you wish. Use the spine calculator to find your spine size.
Yes. Dust jackets are available for hard cover books.
No. We offer hard cover (case bound) and soft cover (perfect bound) binding.
Our best pricing and service start at 50 books, however we can still print you a single copy if desired.
Price 1-49 books instantly, or request a custom quote for 50 or more. A real person sends custom quotes, normally within 1 business day.
