On the surface, a binder might seem like a pretty simple, straightforward piece of marketing collateral; just snap in your documents and you’re good to go. But what some people don’t realize is that there’s not always a one-size-fits-all option when it comes to binders. Depending on the type of paper you’re using and the precise dimensions of your documents, you might need a binder that’s a completely different size.

We’ve assembled some of the most common questions that people tend to have when it comes to choosing the proper binder size for a particular project.

CompanyFolders.com offers an extensive selection of 3-ring binders; be sure to take a look if you need a specific style or size.

How do I measure a 3-ring binder’s size?

Binders are a little tricky compared to other forms of marketing collateral because there tends to be some confusion surrounding how they’re measured. It’s not always as simple as measuring the binder’s width or height, or even its spine dimensions.

Knowing how to measure a 3-ring binder’s size all comes to down the diameter of its rings. A binder with normal round rings that are 1 inch in diameter, for instance, would be referred to as a “1 inch binder.” For other ring types that aren’t exactly round (such as D ring and slant D ring), the size is measured using the length of the straight edge.

Many laymen, however, will still refer to “binder size” when they really mean to reference the binder’s dimensions (such as a width of 9” and height of 12”).

What are the most standard binder dimenstions?

Generally, the most standard binder dimension is 9" x 12" with 1" round rings. This type of binder is suitable for holding letter-size materials, and it’s the type that people are most likely to see as the “default.” That doesn’t necessarily mean that this is the best size for you, however—particularly if you need to hold legal size documents or a larger quantity. Mini-binders (7" x 9") are also available to hold small materials, like a folded letter size sheet.

How many pages fit in a 3-ring binder?

Different sized binders hold different amounts of paper, depending on the diameter of the rings and the thickness of the paper. A binder with 3” D rings (one of the largest available sizes of 3-ring binders) has a capacity of approximately 750 pages of 80# Text Gloss stock. This helpful binder size chart will show you how much paper different binder sizes can hold.

How do the dimensions of a binder compare to the dimensions of the paper inside?

Binders are always slightly larger than the paper they are intended to hold. A letter size binder, for instance, is suitable for holding 8.5” x 11” paper, which means the binder itself is likely to be somewhere in the ballpark of 9” x 12”. In general, it’s best to aim for a width and height at least one half inch larger than the original paper.

How should I punch holes into my paper so that it will fit into a binder?

The spacing between rings can vary from binder to binder. In most cases, standard three-hole punched paper has holes that are placed 4.25” apart, and will fit easily into a letter size binder. For a 7” x 9” piece, however, you’re going to want your paper’s holes to be placed 2.75” apart.

Before you purchase a binder for a marketing project, make sure you’ve done your research. Choosing the wrong one could be a costly mistake, especially when buying a large quantity. Take careful measurements of your documents and ensure that they will fit comfortably into the binder’s rings or pockets. Above all, make sure you fully understand how the binder’s size is measured; you don’t want to end up with something completely different from what you’re looking for.