Hardcover Book Printing
We specialize in hardcover book printing using offset technology and expert binding techniques. Our facility produces hardcover books for publishers, businesses, artists, and independent authors across the globe.
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.
Get an Instant Quote for Hardcover Books
based on your choices
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.
Finish Options
At QinPrinting, we offer a full range of finishing options to make your hardcover book stand out and look truly professional. These include:
Shiny and reflective, perfect for vibrant graphics and photos.
Glossy highlights on specific areas for a striking contrast.
Smooth and non-reflective for a simple yet professional design.
Similar to matte lamination, but the resulting surface has a delightful, almost velvet feel.
A glossy finish applied to specific areas for a bold and distinct look.
Metallic or pigmented foil for a shiny, eye-catching effect.
Raised designs for added texture and elegance.
A recessed design that creates a tactile impression on the cover, adding texture and sophistication.
Uses a custom-made metal die to cut paper into specific shapes.
Thin metallic foil—usually gold, silver, or bronze—is applied to the trimmed edges of your book's pages.
Custom patterns and images are sprayed on the edges for a truly unique appearance.
Print your design on a special paper that reflects light in a rainbow-like pattern.
Wrap your book in a durable synthetic leather material.
Cover your book with woven linen or cotton fabric.
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.
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.
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
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.
How We Bind Hardcover Books
We use sewn case binding to produce strong, durable hardcover books. Here’s a quick look at the process:
- Page Grouping
Pages are printed in folded sections called signatures. - Sewing
Signatures are stitched together with thread to form a book block. - Trimming and Gluing
The block is trimmed and glued along the spine. - 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.
Why Print with QinPrinting?
QinPrinting delivers customized hardcover book printing solutions featuring
Over 25 years in offset and case bound book printing
ISO 9001 certified facility
High consistency in color and finish
Binding tested for strength and longevity
Expert quality controls
100% satisfaction guarantee
Clear communication from quote to delivery
Fast replies and technical support
Experienced production team
Dedicated, named consultant
Free file check and guidance
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
Proofing and File Checks
Our team checks every file manually before printing. We review dimensions, bleed, resolution, color settings, and other technical details. If we find any issues, we’ll let you know and help you resolve them before production.
For more information, see our file checking guide, or get in touch with any questions.
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.
Add a 0.125" bleed to all pages
Convert color from RGB to CMYK
Use 300 DPI resolution
Export files in PDF format
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?
To help you find hardcover book prices quickly, we’ve provided the following price charts. These samples show costs for popular book sizes and page counts.
| 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.
For more accurate pricing tailored to your specific needs, please click the Instant Online Quote button.
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?
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.
QinPrinting Reviews
The product itself is so well made in terms of quality — Every detail was exactly as promised, if not better.
What really stood out to me, though, was the follow-up. Even after the purchase and delivery Nelson checked in to ensure everything was running smoothly and that I was satisfied. That level of care and commitment to customer experience is rare and truly appreciated.
They produced an excellent product that was printed, shipped and arrived within the expected timescales.
Emails were responded to quickly by Susan.
The whole process was smooth and straightforward.
What a delight!
Whenever I have a creative idea, their team goes above and beyond to help bring it to life. I’ve printed four comic books with them, and each time, they’ve exceeded my expectations. If you’re considering a printer, take a chance on these friendly, reliable folks—they truly value your business. - Chad Townsend, Creator of The Black Phantom.
But working with Nelson was an absolute pleasure. He patiently addressed all my concerns, and my final printed book was just as I would hope it would be.
Let's Talk!
Designing and printing an exclusive, high-end hardcover book either as a premium addition to your self-publishing strategy or as an independent business proposal, is always a satisfying creative project which adds immense value to your portfolio of published work. Get in touch today to chat through your hardcover book printing needs or to ask for a no-obligation quote. We can’t wait to help you make your custom hardcover book the most beautiful yet!
