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Paperback or hardcover: which one fits your book?

Both are printed from your PDF, bound with PUR glue and available from one copy. They differ in cover, page count, paper and price.

Compare them
  • Paperback up to 200 pages
  • Hardcover up to 400 pages
  • Both from one copy

Prices at the same size

One copy with a glossy cover and standard paper.

Per copy, incl. VAT, without shipping.

Pros and cons

Paperback

Best for: Novels, poetry, readers and larger runs

Good to know

  • Light and thin, cheaper to post
  • Easy to read in one hand
  • Cheaper for short books

Keep in mind

  • Up to 200 pages (A6: 120)
  • Corners and spine wear with use
  • One paper type

Hardcover

Best for: Gifts, a thesis to keep, photo books and long manuscripts

Good to know

  • Board cover protects corners and pages
  • Up to 400 pages
  • Four papers, including heavy gloss for photos
  • Extra sizes: 14 × 14, 29 × 35 and 35 × 29 cm

Keep in mind

  • Heavier to post
  • Costs more for short books
  • 14 × 14 cm: up to 200 pages, standard paper only

Specifications

  • Cover

    Paperback
    Flexible card, matte or glossy
    Hardcover
    Board wrapped in your printed design, matte or glossy

  • Binding

    Paperback
    Glued into the cover with PUR
    Hardcover
    Glued with PUR, then hung into the board cover

  • Pages

    Paperback
    24 to 200 (A6: 24 to 120)
    Hardcover
    24 to 400 (14 × 14 cm: 24 to 200)

  • Paper

    Paperback
    One standard paper
    Hardcover
    Standard matte, heavy matte, heavy gloss or recycled (14 × 14 cm: standard only)

  • Sizes

    Paperback
    A6 landscape, A5, A4, 21 × 21 and 30 × 30 cm
    Hardcover
    The same, plus 14 × 14, 29 × 35 and 35 × 29 cm

  • Cover file

    Paperback
    Back, spine and front in one spread, 3 mm bleed
    Hardcover
    Back, spine and front in one spread, 19 mm bleed

The pages PDF works for both. The cover file differs, and its spine width depends on your page count: the product page gives the exact size. More in how to make a print-ready PDF.

Which one for which book

  • A novel or poetry to sell or sharePaperbackLight, what readers expect, and lower in price per copy.
  • A course reader or book club, 20 to 50 copiesPaperbackPrice and weight add up over many copies.
  • A memoir or family history as a giftHardcoverStays in good shape on the shelf for years.
  • Your thesis, a copy for yourselfHardcoverStays flat and looks finished. Check your university's rules for the copies you hand in.
  • A book with many photosHardcoverHeavy gloss or heavy matte paper shows photos better and lets less through.
  • More than 200 pagesHardcoverA paperback stops at 200 pages.

Selling your book

You get an ISBN yourself from your country's ISBN agency and print the barcode on the back cover. We print 1 to 50 copies per order. Proofreading first? Order one copy.

How it works

  1. Upload your file

    Choose a product, a size and options, and add your PDF or photo. We check it right away and show you a preview, before you pay.

  2. We print it

    We print your order in the Netherlands on the paper or material you chose, from a single piece. No minimum order, no account needed.

  3. We bring it to your door

    We ship it to every country of the EU, with tracking. The checkout shows the delivery date for your address.

Questions

Is a hardcover more durable than a paperback?
Yes. Both use PUR glue, so the pages stay in, but the board cover protects the corners and spine much better.
How much more does a hardcover cost?
An A5 of 60 pages is from €27.59 as a paperback and from €29.79 as a hardcover.
Can I choose the paper?
For a hardcover: standard matte, heavy matte, heavy gloss or recycled (14 × 14 cm: standard only). A paperback has one standard paper with a matte or glossy cover.
Does a hardcover lie flat when open?
No, and neither does a paperback: both are glued at the spine. For a book that stays open, choose a spiral book or layflat.

More ideas and guides

All ideas and guides

Print your book

Upload your PDF as a paperback or hardcover and see the preview and price right away.

Make your paperback book
Shipped to the whole EUFast deliveryFree shipping from €50Order with your AI assistant