---
title: "Sewn binding | Printing glossary | IN TEMPO"
description: "A binding in which the folded sections are sewn together with thread before being glued into the cover. The spine is still square, but the book no longer depends on glue alone."
url: "https://www.intempo.fr/en/glossaire/dos-carre-cousu/"
lang: "en"
---

[Back to the glossary](https://www.intempo.fr/en/glossaire/)

# Sewn binding

Also called Section-sewn, Smyth-sewn, thread-sewn

A binding in which the folded sections are sewn together with thread before being glued into the cover. The spine is still square, but the book no longer depends on glue alone.

![Three bindings in cross-section: in perfect binding, the milled pages are glued into the cover; in sewn binding, the sections are sewn with thread, then glued; in Swiss binding, the cover is glued only to the last leaf.](https://www.intempo.fr/diagrammes/en/perfect-sewn-swiss-binding.png)

Perfect binding, sewn binding and Swiss binding, in cross-section. Diagram: IN TEMPO, licence [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en). [Reuse this diagram](https://www.intempo.fr/en/reutiliser-nos-schemas/)

## In practice

It costs more and takes longer than perfect binding, and earns it on a book that is used often, kept for years, or printed on heavy stock. It opens flatter, which helps spreads. To decide, nothing beats handling a sewn copy on the same paper: the difference shows the first time it is opened.

## Related terms

- [Perfect binding](https://www.intempo.fr/en/glossaire/dos-carre-colle/)
- [Hardback](https://www.intempo.fr/en/glossaire/couverture-cartonnee/)

## Frequently asked

[Perfect bound or sewn?](https://www.intempo.fr/en/questions-frequentes/#dos-carre-colle-ou-cousu)

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