What is a paperback book?

A paperback book is the most common type of book. It includes a flexible and glued spine which makes the book lightweight and easy to handle. The combination of this practicality and cost effective production backs paperback books to ideal format for novels, self published books and a range of other publications. 

What makes a paperback book?

It’s defined by its flexible and soft cover. The cover itself is usually made from thicker paper stock than the interior pages to provide durability and protect the inner pages. The spine is typically square and can be printed with the book title and author name to ensure its easily identified on shelves. 

The flexibility and cost effectiveness of paperbacks make them suitable for a wide range of books, short self publishing projects to large commercial print runs.

Benefits of paperback books

Cost effective printing

Depending on the print spec, a paperback book is usually cheaper to print. The materials are lighter, similar and the binding usually requires less labour and materials. 

Lightweight

Paperback books are easier to store, carry and ship. Their less bulky and ideal for readers who want to read them on the go.

Professional

The square spine and flexible print finishes allows the book to have a professional appearance. Making them suitable for book stores, libraries and other collections.

Limitations of paperback books

 Less durable

Paperback books by their nature are less durable than hardbacks. The soft cover and glued perfect bound spine can be susceptible to wear and tear, especially where the book is regularly handled. Repeated use can result in the spine weakening. 

Less protection to inner pages

The flexible cover provides less protection against bending and creasing than hardback covers. Paperback formats are not recommended where the book with be used long term or shipped over long distances. 

Perceived value

A paperback book can look professional but they can provide  less prestigious appearance than hardbacks. It’s probably not suitable for premium editions that need to convey a higher quality.

At Print2Demand you can order paperback books from just 10 copies and you can build a paperback printing quote online.