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Hardcover Book Printing
Choose between square spine and rounded spine formats. Every book is case bound with attention to detail, designed to meet high standards for strength and finish. Hardcover binding is especially well suited for coffee table books, art books, photography books, children’s books, and special editions.
Hardcover Book Paper Options
Choosing the right paper is essential to balance visual impact, durability, and interactivity:
● Gloss Art Paper: Bright finish that enhances color depth—great for illustration-heavy books.
● Matte Art Paper: Subtle sheen with excellent print quality and comfortable reading.
● Uncoated Paper: Best for coloring, writing, and interactive formats; prevents bleed-through.
Gloss Art Paper
Matte Art Paper
Uncoated Paper
Finish Options
We offer a full range of finishing options to make your book stand out and look truly professional. These include:
Gloss Lamination
Shiny and reflective, perfect for vibrant graphics and photos.
Varnishing
Glossy highlights on specific areas for a striking contrast.
Matte Lamination
Smooth and non-reflective for a simple yet professional design.
Soft Touch Lamination
Similar to matte lamination, but the resulting surface has a delightful, almost velvet feel.
Spot UV
A glossy finish applied to specific areas for a bold and distinct look.
Foil Stamping
Metallic or pigmented foil for a shiny, eye-catching effect.
Emboss
Raised designs for added texture and elegance.
Deboss
A recessed design that creates a tactile impression on the cover, adding texture and sophistication.
Gilded Edges
Thin metallic foil—usually gold, silver, or bronze—is applied to the trimmed edges of your book's pages.
Painted Edges
Custom patterns and images are sprayed on the edges for a truly unique appearance.
Holographic Cover
Print your design on a special paper that reflects light in a rainbow-like pattern.
Leather Cover
Wrap your book in a durable synthetic leather material.
Cloth Cover
Cover your book with woven linen or cotton fabric .
Die Cut
Uses a custom-made metal die to cut paper into specific shapes.
Perforated Line
A row of small holes that makes it easy to tear off part of the paper.
Tear Strip
A built-in tape that allows the paper to be opened easily and cleanly by pulling along the strip.
Can't find what you want? Contact us!
We’re always happy to discuss new formats or unusual specifications. If you don’t see what you’re looking for above, get in touch. Our team will be glad to help.
Our Book Printing Options
Cloth-Bound Covers
We offer a wide range of cloth materials, with over 20 fabric color and texture options shown below. If you're looking for something different, we can provide additional samples to match your project. Cloth binding adds a tactile, classic look to hardcover books and is a popular choice for art and limited edition titles.
Fabric-5119
Fabric-5403
Fabric-5409
Fabric-5531
Fabric-5529
Fabric-5411
Fabric-5402
Fabric-5135
Fabric-5111
Fabric-5413
Fabric-5103
Fabric-5206
Fabric-5425
Fabric-5515
Fabric-5219
Fabric-5139
Fabric-5213
Fabric-5522
Fabric-5104
Fabric-5526
As cloth wrapping is a specialist process, please contact us to speak with one of our team.
Faux Leather Covers
Faux leather covers offer a durable, stylish, cruelty-free alternative to natural leather and cloth. We stock a broad selection of colors and finishes, including smooth, grained, and textured surfaces. Twelve popular choices are shown below, but more are available.
PH-16 cream grey
PH-21 brown
PH-22 forest green
PH-23 dark rose
PH-24 black
PH-28 wine
T301-5 dark rose
T301-8 egyptian blue
T301-10 saddle brown
T301-11 wine
T301-12 grey
T301-13 black
T302-1 grey
T302-2 brown
T302-4 dark green
T302-5 dark rose
T302-6 navy
T302-7 black
T302-8 orange
T302-9 red
If you need help to select the right material, just ask. Faux leather is often used for premium hardcover books, corporate gifts, or presentation editions.
Landscape Hardcover Book Format
Landscape-format hardcover books are ideal for wide images and panoramic layouts. They’re often used for photography books, architecture portfolios, and visual reports. We use Smyth-sewn binding, so the pages lie flat when open—without gutter loss or distortion.
There’s no added charge for landscape formats, and we handle large and short runs with equal care.
Portrait Hardcover Book Format
Portrait orientation is the most common format for hardcover printing. It’s suitable for fiction and nonfiction, academic titles, catalogs, and more. Page counts range from 32 to 800, depending on paper weight.
All books are Smyth-sewn by default, giving them a professional finish and long shelf life.
Hardcover Books with Dust Jackets
Dust jackets add extra protection and a polished look. They include five printable areas: front cover, back cover, spine, and two inside flaps. Finish options include gloss or matte coating, foil stamping, embossing, debossing, and lamination.
This format is especially common in publishing and retail.
Slipcases for Hardcover Books
Slipcases are custom-made boxes that hold one or more books. They’re built from rigid board and covered in printed paper or fabric, with one open side that reveals the spine. Slipcases protect the book while adding weight and presence—often used for box sets, special editions, or presentation copies. We can match the case material to the book cover for a consistent look.
How We Bind Hardcover Books
We use sewn case binding to produce strong, durable hardcover books. Here’s a quick look at the process:
1. Page Grouping
Pages are printed in folded sections called signatures.
2. Sewing
Signatures are stitched together with thread to form a book block.
3. Trimming and Gluing
The block is trimmed and glued along the spine.
4. Casing In
The block is inserted into a rigid cover wrapped in cloth, faux leather, or printed paper and glued into place with a powerful, flexible adhesive.
This method is long-lasting and widely used for custom hardcover book printing.
Free File Checking Service
Not sure if your files are print-ready? You’ve nothing to worry about! Our team will check your files for free to make sure everything’s in order—things like page size, bleed, color mode, and image resolution. If something’s off, we’ll let you know and suggest how to fix it before anything goes to print.
Need help to prepare your files? We’ve put together a step-by-step guide you can check out here.
And if you’re still unsure, just reach out. We’re always happy to take a look and answer your questions.
SEND YOUR FILES
Printing File Requirements
It’s important to understand how to prepare digital files for printing. Here are a few useful tips to help you prepare yours.
You'll need to add a "bleed zone" of 0.125" around all your pages.
Convert your colour space from RGB to CMYK
If you can't deliver vectors then make sure the resolution is 300 PPI.
Export your files in PDF format for the best results.
To learn more, see our File Checking Guidelines or get in touch directly. We offer an expert file-checking service, free to all our customers.
FAQs
How much does it cost to print a hardcover book?
| Quantity | 100pcs | 500pcs | 1000pcs | 2000pcs | 5000pcs | 10000pcs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 pages | $13.02 each $1,302 total | $3.59 each $1,796 total | $2.53 each $2,531 total | $2.08 each $4,151 total | $1.74 each $8,693 total | $1.65 each $16,533 total |
| 200 pages | $21.22 each $2,122 total | $5.89 each $2,945 total | $4.01 each $4,014 total | $3.15 each $6,297 total | $2.52 each $12,608 total | $2.40 each $23,964 total |
| 300 pages | $30.06 each $3,006 total | $8.34 each $4,172 total | $5.54 each $5,537 total | $4.26 each $8,512 total | $3.33 each $16,653 total | $3.15 each $31,522 total |
- Cover: 157gsm art paper wrapped 2.5mm greyboard
- End sheet: 140gsm offset paper
- Inner: 128gsm gloss art paper
- Please note that all prices are EXW (Ex Works) our facility and do not include shipping costs.
What is the MOQ for hardcover book printing?
The minimum order quantity is 100 copies.
What is the standard production time for hardcover books?
The standard production time is approximately 3 weeks, depending on order quantity and finishing options. Shipping times vary based on your location and shipping method.
What are the available options for cover finishes?
We offer matte, gloss, and soft-touch lamination options. You can also opt for foil stamping, embossing, and UV coating for that custom look. These add some real durability and a special feel to your book.
You can choose the finishes using our instant quote calculator.
What are the available options for book paper?
We offer a wide range of paper options for different parts of your book to ensure the best fit for your project:
- Interior Paper: Choose from coated options (80 gsm to 200 gsm) for vibrant colors and crisp images or uncoated options (80 gsm to 140 gsm) for a natural, easy-to-read finish.
- End Sheets: Available in textured, colored, or uncoated paper, ranging from 120 gsm to 180 gsm, to add a stylish transition between the cover and interior.
- Dust Jackets: Select from coated cover paper (128 gsm to 200 gsm) for durability and a professional look.
- Hardcover Casing: Wrapped in 157 gsm cover paper on 2mm to 3mm grayboard, with additional options like cloth, vinyl, or leatherette for a premium feel.
- Slipcases: Made with 157 gsm coated paper wrapped on a 3mm grayboard, with alternative options like cloth, vinyl, or leatherette for added customization.
Do you offer different colors for foil stamping?
Yes, we can apply metallic foil to various cover elements, including titles, author names, and logos in a wide range of colors. While gold, silver, and bronze are popular choices, we can customize colors for you. For example, white foil, black foil, green foil, red foil, blue foil, and holographic foil, etc.
Can you gild page edges?
Yes, we offer gilded edges for book printing, including gold, silver, and other metallic finishes. If you’re interested, let us know your preferred color, and we’ll provide a quote based on your specifications.
Do you provide document checking services?
Yes, we offer a free manual document-checking service to gurantee that your files are print-ready. Our team will review the document layout, bleed, resolution, and other technical details, allowing you to correct any issues before production begins.
Are there specific design file formats required?
Please submit your artwork and layout in high-resolution PDF format including 3mm bleed with all fonts embedded.
Do you offer paper and printing proofs?
Yes, we provide both digital and physical proofs. Digital proofs help you review the layout on screen, while physical proofs allow you to check the material, color, and finish before mass printing. Visit our Proof Support Page or contact our team for help if you have any questions.
Do you ship internationally?
We deliver worldwide. Shipping options and delivery times vary by region.
Can I choose custom materials?
We offer a wide selection of cloth, faux leather, and printed paper cover materials. Additional options are available on request.
Do your books lay flat?
Yes, our Smyth-sewn binding allows the book to lie flat when open.
Do you offer slipcases and dust jackets?
Yes. Both can be printed and customized to suit your hardcover book.
Why Print Your Book with Intuan?
QinPrinting delivers customized hardcover book printing solutions featuring
Quality and Experience
Over 25 years in offset and case bound book printing
ISO 9001 certified facility
Manufacturing excellence
High consistency in color and finish
Binding tested for strength and longevity
Expert quality controls
100% satisfaction guarantee
Service
Clear communication from quote to delivery
Fast replies and technical support
Experienced production team
Dedicated, named consultant
Free file check and guidance
Custom Options
Cover materials: printed paper,cloth, faux leather
Finishes: gloss, matte, soft-touch
Extras: dust jackets,foil,embossing, slipcases
Interior paper: various weights and coatings available
Formats: portrait,landscape,square
Binding: sewn case binding standard
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Let's talk!
If you’re thinking about printing a book and want it to look and feel just right, we’d love to help. At QinPrinting, we work closely with you from start to finish—whether you need help preparing your files or choosing the finishing touches that will make your book stand out. Big print run or small, we’re here to make sure it turns out beautifully. Get in touch—we’re ready when you are!
