Hardcover Book Printing and Binding

Top quality hard cover case bound book printing in as fast as 5 days.

Questions? Call us at 856-460-8069

What's a hardcover book?

Hardcover books, also known as case bound books, are all about showcasing quality. With a sleek, sturdy look and prominent sizing, they instantly pique curiosity and stand out on the bookshelf. Hardcover books are also designed for durability due to its book binding, making them a valuable addition to any reader's collection.

What's the difference between hardback and hardcover?

Nothing. Hardcover books go by many names, but they're commonly made with the same book binding process. It starts with the case binding, which arranges and glues your page contents together into a text block. That text block then adheres to book covers typically made of cardboard topped with paper, cloth, or another protective fabric. Most hardcover books are also printed on acid-free paper, preserving the quality of your work throughout the years.

How much does it cost to make a hardcover book?

Pricing your hardcover book varies based on which book printing service options you choose for your book, from the cover style to the page count. Learn more about what goes into hardcover book printing services, or you can price your hardcover books right now.

Which genres are best suited for hardcover book printing?

Maybe you're printing a memoir to pass on a powerful lesson. Or perhaps you want to present your photography portfolio to clients in a memorable way. If delivering a premium presentation is your goal, then hardcover book printing service is just what you need.

Want to see which popular trim sizes fit your hardcover book? Find your genre here.

Hardcover books have many names—hard bound, hardback, bound book—but they all share the same meaning: quality presentation.

Build your book

Hardcover Book Printing Elements

Learn about the cover styles, trim sizes, and paper stocks that make your hardcover book unique.

Hardcover bookbinding

Select between a standard hardcover with adhesive case wrapping or add a glossy dust jacket for added protection.

Adhesive case wrap

Adhesive case wrap and Dust jacket

The widest range of hardcover trim sizes

Choosing the perfect book trim size depends on your genre, readers' preferences, industry standards, and other factors. But we provide hardcover book trim size recommendations so you can cut to the chase. Find the trim size that's best for your book:

5.5" x 8.5"

Digest

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6" x 9"

US trade

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8" x 10"

Portrait

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9" x 7"

Landscape

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8.5" x 11"

US letter

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8.5" x 8.5"

Square

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10" x 10"

Large Square

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11" x 8.5"

Landscape

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Paper stock

The heavier the paper stock, the greater the look and feel, making 80lb. gloss paper stock the standard choice for photos, a photo book, artwork, or any full-color project you have planned.

420 PPI, 94 Opacity, SFI Certified

Uncoated & Off-white

Best for lengthy novels,
prose and non-fiction.

500 PPI, 93 Opacity, SFI Certified

Uncoated & White

Best for lengthy novels
and extended text.

556 PPI, 95 Opacity, SFI Certified

Heaviest & White

Best for photos and
full color printing books or photo book types.

Build your book

What type of color printing are you really buying?

The first question and most important question that you must ask your book printer:
Do you use inkjet printers or toner-based printers?
Here’s the difference:

Inkjet printing

Inkjet printing is known as standard color or economy color. It uses a technology where ink is sprayed on the page. Think of hundreds of inkjet heads in rows. As the paper passes beneath, these heads spray various amounts of color to build up the ink coverage. This is definitely not recommended for books with color pictures or graphics. It's virtually impossible to get crisp, precise, photo-quality images. Inkjet printing is a low-cost process usually reserved for cheap print work like supermarket coupons.

Toner based printing

Toner based printing is known as premium color. BookBaby color printing is achieved through 100% toner-based printing. We have Xeikon presses in our shop, and they're the best of the best in eco-friendly color printing technology. Xeikon presses use roll-fed printing technology, which allows for paper efficiency and reduced waste. With this technology, dry toner electrophotography is used to produce toner particles that are pulled onto a roller. These particles are then transferred to a roll of paper. Not only can our print shop staff members control how the press reacts to the paper, but they can also control the moisture content of it, ensuring that the marriage of paper to ink is the best it can be. The result is superior, photo-quality image printing with increased durability.

Low Prices. Guaranteed.

Learn more about BookBaby's Low Price Promise

Hardcover books made in the USA

Our Philadelphia-area print shop is calibrated to fulfill master certification requirements. It's a qualification presented only to the best printers in the marketplace, which guarantees we give your book the utmost care. So whether you need one book in full-color or 10,000 copies from our digital offset press, every book will meet digital printing's highest standards. And we'll even have your order ready faster than anywhere else—in as fast as 5 days.

“We're master certified. It's a qualification presented only to the best printers in the marketplace, which guarantees we give your book the utmost care. Our print shop uses 100% toner-based printing on top-tier Xeikon presses. It's why we can guarantee your books will have superior printing quality—on every page and across every copy. Your book deserves nothing less.“

Johnny Quach, Master Printer

Customers love us

We had a 10-year-old manuscript published into an 840 page, hardback book. Everything from the dust jacket to the print and paper is absolutely perfect. For the best experience, I highly advised speaking with their Support or Publishing Specialists to have a clear understanding of how they can meet your expectations. We made several contacts with various people via email and phone and highly rate their services as friendly and professional.

Evelyn

The proof is in the printing

Print a retail-quality copy of your hardcover book for $99.

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100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

If you're not thrilled with our work—whether it's eBook conversion, cover design, or print quality—we'll work with you until you are. That's our publishing promise to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hardcover book?

Hardcover books, also known as case bound books, are all about showcasing quality. With a sleek, sturdy look and prominent sizing, they instantly pique curiosity and stand out on the bookshelf. Hardcover books are also designed for durability, making them a valuable addition to any reader's collection.

What is the difference between a hardback and a hardcover?

Nothing. Hardcover books go by many names, but they're commonly made with the same process. It starts with the case binding, which arranges and glues your page contents together into a text block. That text block then adheres to book covers typically made of cardboard topped with paper, cloth, or another protective fabric. Most hardcover books are also printed on acid-free paper, preserving the quality of your work throughout the years.

How do I turn my book into a hardcover?

Turning your book into a hardcover is easy with BookBaby. When you have your finished manuscript ready, you'll have tons of options to choose from in making the book of your dreams – including what type of cover fits your book best. You can pick between hardcover or paperback (also know as soft cover), as well as your choice of paper stock and binding.

You can start creating your hardcover book today by saving a quote, or contacting a Publishing Specialist at 856-460-8069.

How do I copyright my hardcover book?

Putting your book out into the world is certainly exciting, and with that, you want to ensure that you remain in control of your work. That's why it's always a safe bet to register your book with the Copyright Office, Library of Congress. This ensures that if you find yourself dealing with litigation in the future, your words are protected.

Registering to copyright your book is an easy process. You can register directly with the Copyright Office online for a $45 fee, or copyright your book with Cosynd to ensure your application is free from any errors. You can learn more about your book copyright options here.

How much does it cost to print a hardcover book?

Pricing your hardcover book varies based on which printing services and options you choose for your book, from the cover style to the page count. At BookBaby, we provide many different options for you to choose from, so that you can create the book of your dreams while remaining within your budget.

You can choose from our Self-Publishing Packages to get everything you need to publish your book, or check out our different hardcover trim sizes and styles.

What materials are used to make hardcover books?

One of the best parts about creating your book with BookBaby is that you'll have plenty of choices when it comes to customizing and designing. That means that a wide variety of materials can be used, especially when it comes to making hardcover books – and it's all up to you!

To start, you'll want to choose your trim style, binding, and paper stock options. This might depend on the genre of your book – for example, 60lb. opaque paper stock is great for lengthy novels, while 80lb. gloss paper stock is best for photo books. Then, you can choose your book cover style and binding options. Adhesive case wrap or adhesive case wrap and dust jacket are typical for hardcover books. To learn more about your hardcover book design, contact us today!