Walk into most copy shops and you'll be offered three binding options: comb, spiral (also called coil) and wire. They all do the same basic job — hold your pages together — but they look different, cost different amounts, and each suits a different kind of document. Here's a plain comparison.
Comb binding
How it works: a plastic comb with teeth that clip into rectangular holes punched along the spine.
- Good for: everyday reports, training manuals, anything you might need to edit later
- Cost: the cheapest of the three
- Pages open: they lie flat but don't fold all the way round
- Editable: yes — you can pop the comb open and add or remove pages without starting again
- Capacity: comfortable up to about 400 pages
- Look: functional; the plastic comb is visible on the spine
Choose comb binding if: you're doing an internal report, a training booklet, or anything where budget matters and you want to be able to swap pages later.
Spiral (coil) binding
How it works: a single plastic coil threaded through round holes along the spine, like a spring.
- Good for: notebooks, cookbooks, music scores, anything that gets flipped open often
- Cost: a little more than comb
- Pages open: fully — they fold all the way back, so the book lies completely flat
- Editable: no — once coiled, pages can't be swapped without re-binding
- Capacity: up to around 300 pages comfortably
- Look: neat and modern; coil comes in several colours
Choose spiral binding if: your document will be used hands-on — kept open on a desk, propped on a music stand, or carried around. The 360° fold is the big advantage.
Wire binding (also called wiro or twin-loop)
How it works: a double-loop metal wire threaded through rectangular holes, then crimped shut.
- Good for: dissertations, portfolios, calendars, presentations
- Cost: the most expensive of the three
- Pages open: fully, like spiral, and they stack neatly
- Editable: no — once crimped, pages are fixed
- Capacity: up to around 250 pages
- Look: the most professional of the three; available in silver, black or white
Choose wire binding if: appearance matters — it's the go-to for academic dissertations, company presentations and client-facing portfolios.
At a glance
| Comb | Spiral | Wire | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lowest | Mid | Highest |
| Look | Functional | Modern | Professional |
| Can add/remove pages | Yes | No | No |
| Fully folds back | No | Yes | Yes |
| Max thickness (approx) | 400 pages | 300 pages | 250 pages |
A simple rule of thumb
- Internal office report → comb
- Cookbook, music, notebook → spiral
- Dissertation, client presentation, portfolio → wire
Still not sure? Bring your document in and have a look at samples — we'll happily show you all three side by side. Email quote@copyshopputney.co.uk or call 07376 464869.
Published 15 April 2026 by the Copy Shop Putney team. Shop 395-A, Tildesley Rd, Putney Heath, London SW15 3BD.