When designing a hardcover book, every detail matters, including the often-overlooked endpaper, also known as endsheets, endpages or endleaves. Endpaper serve the important purpose of connecting the book block—the main body of pages—to the book’s cover. You’ll find endpaper at the begin and end of most hardcover books.

Endpaper actually consists of two parts: the pastedown and the flyleaf. The pastedown is glued to the inside cover, while the flyleaf remains loose and lies against the first or last page of the book. Together, these pages provide additional strength to the binding while also framing the content of the book. The most common style of endpaper is simply plain white uncoated paper that is slightly heavier than the paper used for the rest of the book’s pages.

But, if you want to add a bit of extra flair to your book we also offer the option of using color or printed endpaper allowing you to set the tone for your book’s content.

Colored endpaper is perfect for making a book feel more cohesive and sophisticated. We can simply print endpaper with the color of your choice. This option is often used for art books and coffee table books.

Perfect bound softcover books don’t use endpaper because the spine of the book block is glued directly to the interior of the cover. If you want to have a similar effect in a softcover book, we do offer the option to print on the inside of the cover. But printing a design or illustration on both the interior of the cover and the first (or last) page of your book you can recreate the effect of printed endpaper. Just let your PufferPrint Print Specialist know when you request your quote!

Endpapers may seem like a small detail, but they make a big impact on the overall quality and perception of a hardcover book. Whether you opt for blank simplicity, vibrant colors, or intricate designs, these pages offer a chance to enhance your book.