Binding Margin for Printing

Binding margin is the extra space added along the bound edge of an interior page. It keeps text and important artwork from sitting too deep in the spine after the book is assembled.

It is part of the inside Page Margin, not an extra area added to the page size.

Calculate the Inside Margin

Use this simple structure:

Total inside margin = Base page margin + Binding allowance

For example:

• Base inside margin: 12 mm

• Additional binding allowance: 6 mm

• Final inside margin: 18 mm

The 6 mm is only an example. The final value depends on the page count, paper thickness, binding method, and how widely the finished book opens. Minimum inside margins also tend to increase as the page count rises. 

What Affects the Binding Margin?

A thin book usually needs less spine-side allowance than a thick book. A binding that does not open very flat also needs more clearance.

Check these details before finalising the layout:

• Final page count and paper thickness

• Binding structure

• Finished book size

• Position of text, page numbers and captions

• Punching or mechanical binding near the page edge

For spiral and Wire-O books, measure important content from the punched area rather than only from the finished page edge.

Left and Right Pages

In a normal left-to-right book, the binding margin appears on:

• The right side of each left-hand page

• The left side of each right-hand page

A Facing Pages document handles this automatically through Inside and Outside margins. Do not manually use the same left margin on every page.

Set the Binding Margin in Adobe InDesign

InDesign does not have a separate field called “Binding Margin.” Add the required allowance to the Inside margin:

1. Select the pages or parent page in the Pages panel.

2. Open Layout > Margins and Columns.

3. Enter the final value in Inside.

4. Keep Preview enabled while checking the spread.

When Facing Pages is enabled, InDesign changes Left and Right to Inside and Outside so extra space can be added for binding. The Gutter field in the same window controls the gap between columns, not the bound edge of the page.

Keep Important Content Clear

Body text, page numbers, captions and small graphics should stay within the adjusted inside margin. Backgrounds and full-page images can continue toward the spine when the layout requires it, but key details should remain within the Safe Area.

Check the complete spread rather than one page at a time. The inside spacing should look comfortable on both sides of the spine without making the text blocks feel too far apart.

Binding Margin Does Not Apply to the Cover

Binding margin is an interior-page setting. The cover uses its own spine, fold, joint and structural measurements from the approved Book Cover Template.

Do not add the interior binding allowance to the front cover, back cover or spine width.