Saddle Stitched Booklet Printing in South Jersey

Saddle stitching is one of the most popular and economical booklet binding methods. Printed sheets are folded, nested together, and secured with staples through the center fold, creating a clean, professional booklet that opens easily and is comfortable to read. It is an excellent choice for everything from short event programs and newsletters to product catalogs and training guides.

Bellia prints custom saddle stitched booklets in 5.5" × 8.5" and 8.5" × 11" finished sizes, with page counts from 8 to 72 total pages in multiples of four. Choose from a variety of gloss, matte, and uncoated interior paper stocks, with self-cover or separate gloss and matte cover options. Quantities start at just five copies, making it easy to order the amount your project actually needs.

Based in Woodbury, NJ, Bellia Design, Print & Mail has been producing professional booklets, catalogs, programs, and publications for South Jersey businesses and organizations since 1973.

What Saddle Stitched Booklets Are Used For

  • Event programs — weddings, graduations, galas, concerts, sporting events, theater productions, and performing arts
  • Product catalogs — organize products, specifications, pricing, and photography in a format customers can keep and reference
  • Company newsletters — employee communications, quarterly updates, member publications, and community news
  • Manufacturers — training manuals, onboarding guides, safety information, and operating procedures
  • Churches & faith communities — worship bulletins, devotionals, directories, campaign materials, and special-event programs
  • Nonprofits & associations — annual reports, donor updates, program guides, conference materials, and campaign publications
  • Schools & K–12 education — student handbooks, sports programs, curriculum guides, year-end publications, and event booklets
  • Colleges & universities — viewbooks, course guides, department publications, campus directories, and commencement programs
  • Real estate & development — property brochures, neighborhood guides, development overviews, and sales presentations
  • Marketing & sales teams — presentation booklets, lookbooks, service guides, portfolios, and leave-behind materials
  • Restaurants & food service — menus, wine lists, catering guides, and seasonal dining publications
  • Hotels & hospitality — venue guides, guest information, wedding packages, conference programs, and local visitor guides

MATERIALS & SPECS

Saddle Stitched Booklet Specifications

Specification Options
Finished Sizes 8.5" × 11" or 5.5" × 8.5"
Inside Paper 60# Uncoated Text, 70# Gloss Text, 80# Gloss Text, 80# Matte Text, 100# Gloss Text, or 100# Matte Text
Cover Paper Self-Cover (same as inside paper stock), 80# Gloss Cover, 80# Matte Cover, 100# Gloss Cover, or 100# Matte Cover
Page Count 8 to 72 total pages in multiples of four. The selected page count includes four cover pages. For example, an 8-page booklet consists of 4 cover pages and 4 inside pages, while a 52-page booklet consists of 4 cover pages and 48 inside pages.
Binding Saddle stitched — folded sheets secured with staples through the center fold
Quantities Available quantities vary by booklet configuration. Select your specifications in the quote calculator to view available quantities and pricing.
Bleed Include 0.125" bleed on all sides when backgrounds or images extend to the edge
Safe Zone Keep text, logos, page numbers, and other important content at least 0.125" inside the trim edge and away from the center fold
Accepted Formats Print-ready PDF or high-resolution JPG
Resolution 300 dpi at the final printed size
Color Mode CMYK — convert Pantone, spot, and RGB colors before submitting
Page Setup Submit pages individually in reading order, not as printer spreads. Include all blank pages needed to maintain the correct page sequence.
Fonts For PDF files, embed fonts or convert them to outlines before submitting

Cover Stock Guide

Stock Best For
Self-Cover Uses the same paper stock for the cover and inside pages, creating a flexible and economical booklet
80# Gloss Cover A coated cover stock with a glossy finish that enhances photographs, graphics, and vibrant color
80# Matte Cover A coated cover with a softer, low-glare finish for a clean and understated appearance
100# Gloss Cover A heavier glossy cover stock well suited for catalogs, programs, portfolios, and image-heavy booklets
100# Matte Cover A heavier cover stock with a smooth, low-glare finish for a polished and professional presentation

Inside Stock Guide

Stock Best For
60# Uncoated Text A lightweight uncoated sheet suited for text-heavy booklets, manuals, programs, directories, and economical projects
70# Gloss Text A lighter coated sheet that provides a glossy finish and good color reproduction while keeping booklet weight down
80# Gloss Text A versatile coated stock with vibrant color reproduction for brochures, catalogs, programs, and marketing booklets
80# Matte Text A coated low-glare stock that balances strong color reproduction with comfortable readability
100# Gloss Text A heavier coated inside stock with a glossy finish for photography, portfolios, catalogs, and premium marketing pieces
100# Matte Text A heavier coated stock with a smooth, subdued finish for premium booklets where readability and reduced glare are important

Page-count reminder: Saddle stitched booklets must contain a total number of pages divisible by four. The page count shown in the calculator includes the four cover pages. For example, an 8-page booklet contains 4 cover pages and 4 inside pages.

TEMPLATES

Saddle Stitched Booklet Templates

Download the template that matches your finished booklet size. Each template includes the trim size, 0.125" bleed, and safe zone guides to help you prepare print-ready artwork. Build each page at the individual finished-page size and submit your complete booklet as one multi-page PDF in normal reading order — do not arrange pages as printer spreads.

Finished Size Artwork Setup Template
8.5" × 11" Build each page at 8.5" × 11" plus 0.125" bleed on all sides when artwork extends to the edge. Coming Soon
5.5" × 8.5" Build each page at 5.5" × 8.5" plus 0.125" bleed on all sides when artwork extends to the edge. Coming Soon

Page setup reminder: Saddle stitched booklet page counts must be divisible by four. Your PDF should begin with the front cover and end with the back cover, with all inside pages in normal reading order. Include any intentional blank pages needed to maintain the correct page count and sequence. Do not submit individual page files or printer spreads.

Need help setting up your booklet? Call 856.845.2234, email quotes@belliaprinting.com, or learn more about our Graphic Design services.

CUSTOMER QUESTIONS

Saddle Stitched Booklets — Frequently Asked Questions

What is saddle stitching?

Saddle stitching is a binding method in which printed sheets are folded, nested together, and secured with staples through the center fold. It is one of the most common and cost-effective booklet-binding styles, producing a clean, professional booklet that opens easily and lies flatter than a perfect bound book. Saddle stitching is commonly used for event programs, newsletters, magazines, catalogs, manuals, and marketing booklets.

Why do saddle stitched booklet page counts have to be in multiples of four?

Each folded sheet creates four booklet pages: the front and back of each half of the sheet. That means the total page count must be divisible by four. An 8-page booklet uses two folded sheets, a 12-page booklet uses three sheets, and so on. If your content does not fill a multiple of four, add an intentionally blank page or adjust the layout before submitting your file.

What does “includes four cover pages” mean?

The total page count includes four cover pages: the outside front cover, inside front cover, inside back cover, and outside back cover. For example, an 8-page booklet consists of 4 cover pages and 4 inside pages, while a 52-page booklet consists of 4 cover pages and 48 inside pages.

What is a self-cover booklet?

A self-cover booklet uses the same paper stock for the cover and all inside pages. This creates a flexible, uniform booklet and is often an economical choice. If you want a thicker or more substantial cover, choose a separate 80# or 100# gloss or matte cover stock.

What’s the difference between gloss and matte cover stock?

Gloss Cover has a coated, reflective finish that helps photographs, graphics, and colors appear especially vibrant. Matte Cover has a smoother, lower-glare finish that creates a more subdued and polished appearance. Both 80# and 100# gloss and matte cover stocks are available, with 100# providing a heavier, more substantial feel.

Which inside paper stock should I choose?

60# Uncoated Text is a lightweight, economical choice for text-heavy booklets, manuals, programs, and directories. 70# Gloss Text provides a lighter coated sheet with good color reproduction. 80# Gloss Text is a versatile choice for catalogs, programs, brochures, and marketing pieces, while 80# Matte Text offers a similar weight with less glare. 100# Gloss Text and 100# Matte Text provide a heavier, more substantial interior page for premium booklets, portfolios, photography, and image-heavy designs.

How many pages can my saddle stitched booklet have?

Bellia offers saddle stitched booklets from 8 to 72 total pages, in multiples of four. The page count shown in the quote calculator includes the four cover pages.

How should I set up my booklet file?

Set up each page individually at the finished single-page size and arrange the pages in normal reading order, beginning with the front cover and ending with the back cover. Do not submit printer spreads or manually arrange pages for booklet imposition. Include 0.125" bleed on all sides when artwork extends to the edge, and keep text, page numbers, logos, and other important content at least 0.125" inside the trim edge and safely away from the center fold. Submit your booklet as a print-ready PDF in CMYK color mode at approximately 300 dpi. Be sure the file contains the complete page count, including any intentional blank pages.

What file type can I upload?

Upload your complete saddle stitched booklet as one multi-page, print-ready PDF. The PDF should contain the front cover, all inside pages, and back cover in normal reading order. Do not upload individual page files or printer spreads. Include any intentional blank pages needed to maintain the correct page count and sequence.

Can I see a proof before my saddle stitched booklet is printed?

Yes. After uploading your artwork and adding the booklet to your shopping cart, you can download a low-resolution PDF proof before proceeding to checkout. Use the proof to review page order, placement, sizing, and overall appearance, and carefully check spelling, images, page numbers, contact information, and other important details before completing your order. Customer-supplied artwork is printed based on the file approved during the ordering process. If Bellia’s in-house design team creates or prepares your booklet artwork, we’ll provide a design proof for your approval before it goes to print.

Can Bellia design my saddle stitched booklet?

Yes. Bellia’s in-house graphic design team can create your booklet from scratch or work with your existing logo, photographs, written content, and brand materials. We can also prepare an existing layout for professional booklet printing.

Have questions about saddle stitched booklets, page setup, paper options, or custom design? We’d love to help.

Call 856.845.2234 Ask About Design Services