The Foldpic field guide / Strips
How to make a photo bookmark at home
To make a photo bookmark, print the photo and a short quote on a strip about 59 × 210 mm, five to a landscape A4 sheet, on 250 gsm card at 100% scale. Cut on the tick marks, punch a hole 10 mm below the top edge and thread a ribbon or a tassel through it.
Strips guide · 4 min read · Updated
Size and paper
A bookmark needs to be narrow enough to sit inside a book and tall enough to stick out of the top. Five bookmarks side by side on a landscape A4 sheet gives about 59 × 210 mm each, which suits most paperbacks and hardbacks; US Letter gives about 56 × 216 mm.
Use the heaviest card your printer feeds, ideally 250–300 gsm. Thin paper bookmarks curl and tear within a week. If your printer's rear or manual feed tray takes card, use it, because the straighter paper path stops heavy card jamming.
Choose the photo and the words
Tall, narrow photos work best: a doorway, a tree, a lighthouse, a person standing. Wide group shots get cropped to a slice. Keep the main subject in the middle third so it survives the narrow frame and the cut.
Add a short line under the photo: a quote from the book you are giving, a line the person always says, or simply a name and a date. Foldpic's Reading Corner template alternates two bookmarks, one with a photo above a quote and one with a full-bleed photo and a title, so a sheet of five never looks repetitive.
Print, cut and punch
Print at 100% scale (Actual size, not Fit to page), one side only. Cut on the tick marks with a craft knife against a metal ruler, or a paper trimmer. Each bookmark has a small circle printed near the top: punch it with a standard single-hole punch, or a 3 mm punch for a finer cord.
Round the two top corners with scissors or a corner punch so the bookmark slides into a book without catching. If you want a double-sided bookmark, print two sheets and glue the bookmarks back to back with a thin layer of glue stick before punching.
Ribbons, tassels and laminating
A 3–6 mm satin ribbon about 200 mm long, folded in half and looped through the hole, is the classic finish. A small tassel or a loop of embroidery thread also works. Tie a knot close to the hole so it does not slip off.
Laminating makes a bookmark nearly indestructible and is worth it for children's books or school presents. Laminate before punching, leave a 3 mm sealed border around the card when you cut, and punch through the laminate afterwards.
Questions people ask
What size should a bookmark be?
About 50–60 mm wide and 150–210 mm tall. Five to an A4 sheet gives 59 × 210 mm.
What paper is best for bookmarks?
250–300 gsm card so it does not curl. Matte card hides fingerprints better than gloss.
Can I make bookmarks double-sided?
Print two sheets and glue the bookmarks back to back before punching the hole.
Should I laminate a photo bookmark?
For heavy use, yes: laminate first, cut with a sealed border, then punch the hole.
Related guides
- How to make photo booth strips at home from your phone photosMake printable photo booth strips from phone photos: five strips per A4 sheet, three or four frames each, printed on one side and cut out in minutes.
- Best paper weights for printing zines and photo booklets at homeWhich gsm to buy for zines, booklets and accordion albums on an inkjet or laser: 80 to 250 gsm explained, tray limits, glossy vs matte, scoring and grain.
- How to score and fold thick card without crackingCard above 200 gsm cracks at the fold unless scored first. Tools that work (bone folder, empty pen, butter knife), which side to score, grain and toner.