Children's Book Printing
Bring stories to life with vivid, high-quality children's book printing for every page and picture
At 4edge, we professionally print children's books for authors, publishers, schools and organisations. Choose from hardback, perfect bound or staple bound formats, with a wide range of sizes, paper stocks, cover options and finishes to bring illustrated stories, picture books and educational titles to life.
With expert artwork support, cost-effective digital printing and reliable UK production, we make it easy to create high-quality children's books for publishing, education, gifts and limited editions.
The Benefits of Online Children's Book Printing
Cost-effective digital printing
Professional print quality
Expert artwork checking
Personal customer support
Printed in Hockley, Essex
Children's Book Specifications
Children's book sizes
| Size | Width (mm) | Height (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| A6 | 105 | 148 |
| A5 | 148 | 210 |
| A4 | 210 | 297 |
| A3 | 297 | 420 |
| Novel | 127 | 203 |
| Standard | 132 | 197 |
| Demy | 138 | 216 |
| US Royal | 152 | 229 |
| Royal | 156 | 234 |
| Square | 210 | 210 |
- Custom sizes
Paper types
- Silk: 115-170 gsm
- Gloss: 115-170 gsm
- Uncoated: 70-170 gsm
- Offset: 80-120 gsm
- White Bookwove: 80 gsm
- Cream Bookwove: 70 gsm
Binding options
- Hardback / casebound
- Perfect bound (PUR)
- Staple bound / saddle stitched
Cover options
- Self cover
- 230 gsm cover stock
- 300 gsm cover stock
- 350 gsm cover stock
- Printed case covers
- Wibalin covers
- Faux leather covers
- Dust jackets
Finishes & Special Options
- Matt lamination
- Gloss lamination
- Soft-touch lamination
- Foil blocking
- Ribbon markers for hardback children's books
- Head and tail bands for hardback children's books
- Custom endpapers for hardback children's books
How to Print Your Children's Books
The files you need to supply depend on the binding option you choose.
Staple bound children's books
Supply one print-ready PDF containing all pages in reading order as single pages, not spreads. The cover pages should be included in the same PDF and the total page count must be in multiples of four.
Perfect bound children's books
Please provide two print-ready PDF files:
- Cover PDF – outer and inner cover spreads, including the spine
- Inner pages PDF – all pages supplied in reading order as single pages, not spreads
The correct spine width depends on the number of pages and chosen paper stock. The 4edge team can confirm the required dimensions before you supply final artwork.
Do not provide the spine as a separate file.
Hardback children's books
Please provide two print-ready PDF files:
- Cover PDF – back cover, spine and front cover supplied as one continuous outer spread
- Inner pages PDF – all pages supplied in reading order as single pages, not spreads
The correct spine width depends on the number of pages and chosen paper stock. The 4edge team can confirm the required dimensions before you supply final artwork.
Do not provide the spine as a separate file.
Colour and image quality
For the best print results:
- Set artwork to CMYK colour
- Use images at 300 dpi
- Set black text to 100% black
- Convert greyscale artwork to greyscale before supplying it
RGB artwork can be converted to CMYK, but some colours may change during conversion.
Bleed and quiet areas
Where artwork runs to the edge of the page, add 3 mm bleed around the outer edges.
Keep important content at least 3 mm inside all trim edges.
Additional quiet areas are required for the following:
- Perfect bound children's books – 5 mm on the binding edge of inner pages
- Hardback children's book inner pages – 8 mm on the binding edge
- Hardback children's book covers – 8 mm around the finished cover edges, hinges and spine
Hardback covers also require 20 mm bleed around the outer edges and 5 mm hinges either side of the spine.
Keep text, illustrations, page numbers and other important content outside these areas.
Lamination
Where lamination is selected, it is applied to the outer cover surface.
Before Supplying Your Artwork
Please check that:
- The artwork matches the quoted finished size
- The correct file setup has been used for the chosen binding
- Inner pages are supplied as single pages in reading order
- Staple bound page counts are in multiples of four
- All fonts are embedded
- Images and illustrations are supplied at suitable resolution
- Bleed and quiet areas have been included
- Any required blank pages are present
Please review your proof carefully before approving your children's book for print.
Need help?
Call 01702 200243 to speak to the 4edge customer service team.
Email: admin@4edge.co.uk
Children's Book Printers in Essex
4edge provides professional children's book printing for authors, publishers, schools and organisations across the UK.
Based in Hockley, Essex, we print and finish children's books in the UK using digital production and a choice of hardback, perfect bound and staple bound formats. Our team can support your project from artwork preparation and proofing through to printing, finishing and delivery.
Print-ready files can be retained to make future reorders straightforward, whether you are producing a picture book, illustrated story, educational title or limited-edition publication.
What binding options are available for children's books?
4edge offers hardback / casebound, perfect bound (PUR) and staple bound / saddle stitched children's books.
What size should a children's book be?
A4 and A5 are popular choices for picture books and illustrated titles, while square formats work well for image-led layouts. The best size depends on the artwork, age group and how the book will be used.
Can I choose a custom children's book size?
Yes. 4edge can produce custom sizes by cutting down from standard industry sizes, such as A4, depending on your chosen specification.
What paper is best for children's books?
Silk and gloss papers are popular for illustrated children's books because they reproduce colour and imagery clearly, while uncoated papers provide a softer, more natural finish.
Should I supply single pages or spreads?
Please supply inner pages as individual pages in reading order, not spreads. Perfect bound and hardback children's books require a separate cover PDF, while staple bound books are supplied as one print-ready PDF with the cover pages included in reading order.
How is the spine width calculated?
For perfect bound and hardback children's books, the spine width depends on the number of pages and the thickness of your chosen paper stock. The 4edge team can calculate the correct spine width and provide the dimensions needed for your cover artwork. Staple bound children's books do not require a spine.
Can illustrations run to the edge of the page?
Yes. Where artwork runs to the edge, add 3 mm bleed around the outer edges. Hardback cover artwork requires 20 mm bleed to allow the printed cover to wrap around the case.
Do children's book page counts need to be in multiples of four?
Staple bound children's books must have a page count in multiples of four. Depending on the specification, blank pages may also be required in perfect bound or hardback books to complete the final printed section.
Can I check my children's book before printing?
Yes. Please review your proof carefully before production, checking illustrations, colour, page order, text, cover artwork and, where applicable, the spine.
Is VAT charged on printed children's books?
Printed children's books are normally zero-rated for VAT in the UK where they meet the relevant requirements.