Printing Employee Handbooks: All Print Options Explained

  • Apr 7, 2025

Printing employee handbooks requires careful consideration of format, binding, paper quality, and design elements. Companies need employee handbooks that communicate policies clearly while reflecting their brand identity.

Speedprint offers multiple printing options to help businesses create professional, durable, and visually appealing handbooks for their staff. This guide explains all available print options to help you choose the right format for your company's needs.

Why Your Employee Handbook Format Matters

The physical format of your employee handbook affects how employees interact with it. A well-designed handbook encourages staff to read important information and keeps it accessible for future reference.

Employee handbooks play a crucial role in the onboarding process for new hires, introducing them to workplace safety protocols and vision statements. With decades of experience printing entire documents like training manuals and manuals for companies, Speedprint understands that the right format:

  • Reflects your company culture and brand values
  • Improves information retention through visual appeal
  • Ensures durability for long-term use
  • Allows for easy updates when policies change
  • Creates a professional first impression for new hires

Common Binding Options for Employee Handbooks

Spiral Binding

Spiral binding uses a coiled plastic or metal spine to hold pages together. This option allows handbooks to lay flat when open, making them easier to read and reference.

Benefits:

  • Pages lay flat when open
  • Durable for frequent use
  • Available in various colors to match branding
  • Accommodates different page counts

Best for: Medium to large handbooks that employees will reference often. Spiral binding works well for handbooks between 20-200 pages.

Perfect Binding

Perfect binding creates a flat spine similar to paperback books. Pages are glued to the spine, creating a clean, professional look.

Benefits:

  • Professional, book-like appearance
  • Allows for spine printing
  • Stores easily on shelves
  • Looks impressive for formal corporate environments

Best for: Larger companies with formal corporate cultures or handbooks with high page counts (60+ pages).

Saddle Stitching

Saddle stitching uses staples along the fold line to bind pages together. This simple method works well for shorter handbooks.

Benefits:

  • Cost-effective for small runs
  • Quick production time
  • Lies relatively flat when open
  • Lightweight and easy to handle

Best for: Small businesses with brief handbooks (under 40 pages) or companies with limited budgets.

Three-Ring Binders

Binders offer the most flexibility for updates and additions to handbook content.

Benefits:

  • Easy to update individual pages
  • Allows for section dividers
  • Can include additional pockets for supplementary materials
  • Offers a professional, organized appearance

Best for: Companies with frequently changing policies or those who want to include additional materials with their handbook.

Paper Options and Quality Considerations

Paper Weight

Paper weight affects durability, feel, and professional appearance of your handbook.

Standard Options:

  • 20-24 lb bond: Standard copy paper weight, economical but less durable
  • 28-32 lb bond: Heavier paper with improved durability and feel
  • 80-100 lb cover stock: Heavy paper ideal for covers and dividers

Speedprint recommends at least 28 lb paper for handbook pages and 80-100 lb stock for covers to ensure longevity.

Paper Finish

Paper finish affects readability and appearance of your printed handbook.

Common Finishes:

  • Matte: Non-reflective finish ideal for text-heavy pages
  • Gloss: Shiny finish that enhances colors and images
  • Satin/Silk: Middle ground with slight sheen and good readability

Most employee handbooks use matte finish for interior pages to reduce glare and improve readability, with glossier finishes reserved for covers.

Color vs. Black and White

Color printing enhances visual appeal but increases costs. Consider these approaches:

Full-Color Throughout: Best for handbooks with many images, graphics, and charts.

Color Cover with B&W Interior: Cost-effective compromise that still provides visual appeal.

Spot Color: Using one or two colors strategically throughout a mainly black and white document to highlight important information.

Size and Format Options

Standard Sizes

Common handbook sizes include:

  • Letter size (8.5" x 11"): Standard in the US, provides ample space for content
  • Half-letter (5.5" x 8.5"): More portable and convenient
  • Legal size (8.5" x 14"): Provides extra space for detailed content
  • Custom sizes: Available for unique requirements

Design Elements That Enhance Usability

Table of Contents and Indexing

A well-organized table of contents and comprehensive index improve usability. Consider:

  • Detailed table of contents with page numbers
  • Color-coded sections for quick reference
  • Tabbed dividers for different sections
  • Alphabetical index of key terms

Headers and Footers

Consistent headers and footers improve navigation and provide context:

  • Page numbers
  • Section names
  • Revision dates
  • Company logo
  • Contact information for HR

Typography and Readability

Font choice and text layout significantly impact readability:

  • Sans-serif fonts (like Arial or Calibri) for better readability in print
  • 11-12pt font size for body text
  • Generous line spacing (1.15-1.5)
  • Clear headings with larger font sizes
  • Consistent paragraph formatting

Special Finishing Options

Cover Treatments

Enhanced covers protect your handbook and create a professional impression:

  • Soft-touch lamination for a premium feel
  • Laminated covers that provide durability and water resistance
  • Protective cover options with reinforced corners
  • Embossed company logo for tactile branding
  • Spot UV coating to highlight specific elements
  • Die-cut windows showing content or employee name

Customization Options

Personalization makes handbooks more engaging:

  • Employee name printed on cover
  • Department-specific inserts
  • Role-based addendums
  • Welcome letter from CEO or leadership

Cost Considerations and Quantity Decisions

Print Run Size

The number of handbooks you print affects both unit cost and storage needs:

  • Small runs (under 25): Higher per-unit cost but minimal storage
  • Medium runs (25-100): Better per-unit economics
  • Large runs (100+): Best per-unit cost but requires storage

Speedprint offers variable pricing based on quantity, with significant discounts for bulk printing orders. Our batch printing capabilities ensure consistent quality across all copies.

Budget-Friendly Options

Cost-saving measures without sacrificing quality:

  • Double-sided printing to reduce page count
  • Black and white interior with color cover
  • Saddle-stitched binding for shorter handbooks
  • Standard paper sizes to avoid custom cutting
  • Designing for standard printing processes

We offer a variety of printing options to accommodate different budgets while maintaining professional quality.

How to Prepare Your Handbook for Printing

File Formats and Requirements

To ensure high-quality printing results:

  • Submit files as press-ready PDFs
  • Include bleed (0.125") if design extends to edges
  • Convert fonts to outlines or embed them
  • Use CMYK color mode for color printing
  • Maintain 300 DPI resolution for images
  • Consult with a graphic designer for professional layout

Speedprint can connect you with experienced graphic designers who understand the technical requirements of printing employee handbooks.

Proofing Process

Always review proofs before final printing:

  • Digital proofs for content verification
  • Hard copy proofs for color and material accuracy
  • Mock-up of binding and finishing for complete preview

Working With Speedprint for Your Employee Handbook

Speedprint offers comprehensive services for employee handbook production with decades of experience printing entire documents for businesses of all sizes:

  • Design consultation to align with brand guidelines
  • Format recommendations based on content and usage
  • Paper and binding samples to evaluate options
  • Printing, binding, and finishing under one roof
  • Quick turnaround times for urgent needs
  • Expert advice on both training manuals and employee handbooks
  • Solutions for both small batches and bulk printing needs

Our experienced team guides you through the entire process from initial concept to delivery of your finished handbooks. We understand that employee handbooks are essential to the onboarding process and help communicate workplace safety protocols and company vision statements effectively.

Making Your Decision

When choosing options for printing employee handbooks, consider:

  1. How employees will use the handbook
  2. How often content will need updating
  3. Your budget constraints
  4. Your company's brand image
  5. The amount of visual content vs. text

The right format balances practicality, professionalism, and budget. Speedprint helps businesses select options that meet their specific needs while creating employee handbooks that effectively communicate company policies and culture.

For more information about printing employee handbooks or to request a quote, contact Speedprint today. We help businesses create professional, durable, and visually appealing handbooks that employees will actually read and reference.


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