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

Endsheets 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 endsheets 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 endsheets allowing you to set the tone for your book’s content.

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

Perfect bound softcover books don’t use endsheets 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 endsheets. Just let your PufferPrint Print Specialist know when you submit your print files!

Endsheets 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.