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Board Book Printing

Name: Home
Brand: BookPrintingChina
Rating: 4.9 (216 reviews)

We specialize in children’s book printing, with board books remaining one of the most popular choices among our clients. With over 25 years of experience, we provide fully customized solutions—whether you prefer self-cover or hardcover board books, or want special finishes (e.g., foil stamping, embossing) and features such as die-cut shapes, lift-the-flap, pop-up, sound elements, and more. We can handle flexible quantities, from small batches to large print runs, to suit any project.

We have produced millions of board books for publishers, independent creators, educators, and artists worldwide. With competitive pricing, vibrant full-color offset printing, expert artwork guidance, premium service, and door-to-door shipping, we are a trusted partner for clients around the globe.

Our Board Books are Durable and Safe for Kids

Durability and child safety are our highest priorities when producing board books. We use vibrant, non-toxic soy-based inks that are completely safe for children. Each board page is made from 1mm thick, sturdy cardboard—typically two sheets of 350gsm C1S paper mounting together—designed to withstand the enthusiastic handling of little hands. For added safety and comfort, our board books are often finished with rounded corners. By combining quality materials and careful craftsmanship, we create engaging, long-lasting, and child-friendly books.

Our Board Books are Durable and Safe for Kids

Board Book Sizes and Orientation

Common Board Book Sizes

Board books are available in a wide range of sizes, typically ranging from 3 to 8 inches, depending on the age group and design purpose. Among these, 6″ × 6″ is the most popular size in children’s board book printing, offering a balanced layout that is easy for small hands to hold. We offer a full range of custom board book sizes to meet your specific needs. From compact mini books to larger-format designs, our experts are ready to help you choose the ideal size and orientation for your project.

Below are some of the common board book sizes we print for our clients.

Square	5″ x 5″	5.625 x 5.625″	6″ x 6″	6.5″ x 6.5″	7″ x 7″	7.5″ x 7.5″	8″ x 8″	8.5″ x 8.5
Portrait	5″ x 7″	5.625″ x 7.5″	5.5″ x 8.5″	6″ x 8″	6″ x 9″	7″ x 10″	8″ x 10″	8.5″ x 11″
Landscape	7″ x 5″	7.5″ x 5.625″	8.5″ x 5.5″	8″ x 6″	9″ x 6″	10″ x 7″	10″ x 8″	11″ x 8.5

Board Book Orientation

Square formats are especially popular for board books designed for infants, toddlers, and young children. This shape provides balanced space for both illustrations and text, making it ideal for simple layouts and visually driven content.

Portrait formats are taller than they are wide and are commonly used for custom board books featuring more detailed illustrations, educational content, or longer storytelling layouts.

Landscape formats are wider than they are tall and work well for panoramic illustrations, scene-based storytelling, or designs that span multiple images across a two-page spread.

Best Paper for Board Book Printing

We commonly produce board books using white coated one-side (C1S) paper, also known as white cardboard. This material offers a smooth, high-quality printable surface and an uncoated reverse designed for secure mounting. During production, we bond two sheets of C1S paper together on their uncoated sides, while artwork is printed on the coated surfaces to achieve vibrant color results. A glossy or matte lamination is often applied to the coated surface to improve durability, protect the artwork, and provide a smooth, child-safe finish.

For self-cover board books and the interior pages of hardcover board books, we commonly offer the following options:

Two sheets of 250gsm C1S mounted together: Thin and the most economical choice
Two sheets of 300gsm C1S mounted together: a balanced option for strength and cost
Two sheets of 350gsm C1S mounted together: the industry standard and most popular choice
Two sheets of 400gsm C1S mounted together: thicker and more durable, with a higher cost
3, 4, 5 or more layers of C1S paper mounted together: ideal for extra-thick pages and interactive board books such as sound books, pull tabs, lift-the-flap designs, jigsaw puzzles, rotating wheels, and other premium projects

Additional options include mounting C1S paper onto 1–2 mm greyboard for enhanced rigidity and long-term durability.

For hardcover board book covers, we typically use 157gsm coated paper, printed and laminated, then wrapped around a 2–3 mm greyboard. This structure provides a strong, high-end finish with excellent protection and a polished appearance.

Not sure which paper is right for your project? Get in touch with our printing experts for personalized recommendations.

Board Book Binding Options

At BookPrintingChina, we offer several binding options for custom board book printing, designed to meet diverse purposes, budgets, and creative requirements. From cost-effective self-cover board book binding to premium hardcover board books and less-common spiral-bound styles, our solutions ensure durability, visual appeal, and functionality. Whether you’re creating children’s board books, photo albums, pop-up books, art books, or specialty editions, we guide you in choosing the ideal binding method to bring your project to life with quality and precision.

If you’re unsure which binding best suits your project or can’t find the option you need, please contact our expert team or visit our “binding” pages for detailed guidance.

Board Book Special Feature Options

To give your book a polished and professional look, we provide various surface finishing options. Here are some popular choices:

Questions & Answers

What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for board book printing?

Our minimum order quantity for board book printing usually starts at 100 copies.

For more complex designs, the MOQ varies depending on features, such as simple interactive board books (e.g., lift-the-flap, simple pop-up): 500 copies; complex pop-up mechanisms or sound board books: 1,000 copies.

How many pages are in a board book?

Board books usually range from 8 to 40 pages (or 4 to 20 spreads), depending on the story length, layout design, and interactive features such as flaps or die-cuts.

Since board books are designed in spreads, each spread represents two facing pages when the book is open. Remember that the total page count must be a multiple of 2, as each spread is made from a folded sheet.

Example of a 6″ × 6″ board book featuring 12 pages (6 double-page spreads)

A 12 page board book has 10 interior pages(5 interior spreads) plus front and back cover(1 cover spread), making a total of 12 pages(6 spreads).

Can I order a sample before ordering?

Yes! You can order a physical sample before placing an order to check our paper, binding, finish and printing quality.

What file format do you accept for printing?

We recommend high-resolution PDF files with embedded fonts and images, including a 3 mm bleed. If your files are created in InDesign or Illustrator, please export them as print-ready PDFs.

How do I send files to you for board book printing?

For small files, you can upload them directly through our online inquiry form or send them via email to sales@bookprintingchina.com. For large files, please share a download link using platforms such as WeTransfer, Dropbox, or Google Drive.

Do you provide design or file setup support?

No, we don’t provide in-house design services, but our prepress team offers free file checking to ensure your files are print-ready. We can also provide templates, spine width calculation, and basic layout guidance if needed.

Do you provide proofing services?

Yes, we offer several proofing options, including PDF proof, physical sample, dummy sample, digital printed sample, and offset printed sample.

After you complete the deposit and before mass production, we usually provide a free digitally printed sample for your confirmation.

If your book includes Pantone colors or requires strict color accuracy, we recommend ordering an offset-printed proof of a few pages. Please note that offset proofs are not free, the cost depends on factors such as the number of pages, Pantone colors, and other specifications.

How long does board book printing take?

The board book production time usually takes 12-16 days after the final file is approved. The exact timeline depends on the order quantity, binding style, design complexity, and our current production schedule. Shipping time will vary based on your destination and chosen shipping method.

How do you ensure printing quality?

We perform strict quality checks at every production stage—printing, trimming, binding, and packaging—to guarantee color accuracy and durable binding for every order.

What shipping methods are available?

We offer air, sea, and express shipping (DHL, FedEx, UPS). Our team will recommend the most cost-effective and reliable method based on your delivery time and budget.

Board Book Cover File Set Up Guide

Self cover board book covers are produced in a similar way to standard book covers; they using a single printed sheet wrapped around thick paperboard to create the cover. Because of this construction method, board book covers must be designed as one continuous spread that includes the back cover, spine, and front cover.

Self Cover Board Book Cover File Setup

1. For the cover file of self-cover board books, the page height and page width of both the front and back covers should match the dimensions of the interior pages.

2. Remember to include the spine width in your cover file. For example, a 12-page board book (including front and back covers) has 6 spreads, which mean using 6 board sheets, each board sheet made from two sheets of 350gsm C1S paper (approximately 1 mm thick each). This results in a total thickness of 6 mm; adding 0.5 mm (don’t add 0.5 mm also not much impact) allowance gives a final spine width of 6.5 mm (0.26″).

3. Your cover file should also include a 0.125-inch bleed on all sides. This bleed area will be trimmed during production, so keep all critical text and graphics at least 0.125 inches inside the trim area. All BookPrintingChina projects are produced using full-bleed printing.

Hardcover board book covers are made in the same way to standard hardcover book covers, they using a single printed sheet wrapped around 2-3 mm gray board. Here’s our guidelines on created as a hardcover board book cover file.

Board Book File Specifications

At BookPrintingChina, we offer professional file-checking services and custom templates. If you’re unsure how to layout your artwork, feel free to contact us; we’re happy to provide detailed guidelines and support.

How do We Produce High Quality Board Book?

Our board books are printed on state-of-the-art offset presses and often finished with glossy or matte lamination, enhancing colors and durability. Typically, the board is printed on the coated one side only, then the print sheets are laminated, cut, and folded into a series of double-page spreads, which are glued together, back-to-back and one by one, to form a book block using our automated binding machines.

The cover, made from the same material as the interior, is wrapped and glued around the book block, with a scored hinge at the spine to allow the book to lay flat. Finished books feature trimmed edges and rounded corners, making them safer and more child-friendly.

Every book undergoes rigorous quality checks to ensure consistency and perfection before leaving our facility.

Special Board Books We Made

With over 25 years of experience, we do more than produce standard board books; we craft a wide variety of specialty titles, including hardcover board books, die-cut board books, lift-the-flap board books, pop-up board books, sound board books, rotating wheel board books, touch-and-feel board books, jigsaw puzzle board books, board book with mirrors, and many more innovative designs.

If you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for, don’t worry—we specialize in fully customized solutions. Just send your specific requirements to sales@bookprintingchina.com, and our experienced team will carefully review your project. We’ll assess feasibility, suggest the best materials, sizes, and finishes, and provide expert guidance to bring your vision to life. Your unique ideas can be transformed into a high-quality, tailor-made product designed to meet your exact needs.

Order Process at BookPrintingChina

1

Request a Quote

Submit specs and receive your tailored quote within 1-2 hours.

2

Upload Design

Send your print-ready PDF via email or shared link easily.

3

Review Your File

We check your file for free to ensure perfect print readiness.

4

Approve Proof

Pay the deposit, then make a free digital printed proof for approval.

5

Production

Upon approval, we begin full production with strict quality control.

6

Shipping

After balance payment, we pack securely and ship by air or sea.

BookPrintingChina Reviews

Great custom designs!

Ellen at ChinaPrinting4u was responsive and helpful throughout the process of printing my books. The product was excellent, and the books arrived beautifully packed. I give the company high marks for both quality and customer service!

Katherine: 4 days ago

Great custom designs!

Katherine: 4 days ago

Great custom designs!

Katherine: 4 days ago

Great custom designs!

Katherine: 4 days ago

Great custom designs!

Katherine: 4 days ago

Great custom designs!

Katherine: 4 days ago

Great custom designs!

Katherine: 4 days ago

Great custom designs!

Katherine: 4 days ago

Excellent 4.9

Based on 212 reviews

Why Choose Us For Board Book Printing

Unbeatable Pricing

With over 25 years of printing and shipping experience, we help you save 40–60% on costs than other online printers.

100% Satisifiation

We guarantee 100% high quality; if you’re not completely satisfied, we promise a reprint or a full refund.

Expert Support

One-on-one professional, responsive online assistance, including pre-press artwork, material selection, shipping, etc.

Eco-friendly

All interactive books use non-toxic soy-based inks and offer FSC-certified paper options for safe, eco-friendly, sustainable printing.

Full Customization

We provide fully custom options, such as size, paper stock, binding style, finish, or specialty feature to match your vision.

Global Shipping

Secure, cost-efficient worldwide shipping options ensure your board books arrive safely and on time.

Explore More Our Board Book Printing Case

We’re Love to Hear From You

We appreciate your interest in BookPrintingChina. Our goal is to deliver a book printing experience that is smooth, cost-effective, refined, and efficient from start to finish.

For general questions, simply submit the enquiry form and our sales specialists will respond promptly. To receive a precise project quote, we encourage you to use our online Quote Form, which helps us match the best options to your specific requirements. You may also contact us directly at sales@bookprintingchina.com.

Our team is available seven days a week, with most enquiries answered within 1–2 hours. We look forward to turning your ideas into beautifully printed products with the quality and attention to detail BookPrintingChina is known for.

TrustScore: 4.9 | 229 reviews