Add Binding Margins (Gutter) - Free Online Browser Tool

Add left/right gutter margins for hole punching or spiral binding.

Content that disappears into the binding is the classic home-printing problem: a comb binder covers the left edge, a spiral coil eats into the margin, and the first few characters of every line end up unreadable. This tool adds a proper gutter and shifts the content inwards so nothing is lost.

This add binding margins (gutter) utility runs completely inside your web browser. Your document is opened locally and processed on your own device using JavaScript and WebAssembly, so your file is never uploaded to any server. There is no signup, no watermark and no limit on how many documents you can handle.

  • 100% client-side - files never leave your device
  • Instant processing, no upload wait
  • Works on desktop, tablet and mobile
  • Free forever, no account required

Common next steps: Book Spine Width Calculator & Cover Generator, Add Extra Margins, Insert Blank Pages, Booklet Maker.

How to Use the Add Binding Margins (Gutter) Tool

Four steps, and the whole thing runs locally on your own device.

  1. Load the PDF

    Drop in the document you plan to bind.

  2. Choose the binding side

    Gutters go on the left for single-sided binding on the left edge; choose the right-side option for right-to-left or mirrored layouts.

  3. Set the gutter width

    Enter the extra margin your binding needs — a few millimetres for a comb binder, more for a thick or rigid binding.

  4. Apply and download

    Press Add Binding Margins. Page size grows by the gutter and content shifts in to clear it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much gutter do I actually need?

A thin comb or spiral binder needs roughly 5–10 mm of clearance; a thick perfect-bound book needs considerably more. If in doubt, print one page and check where the holes land.

Does the page size change?

Yes — the canvas grows by the gutter width so the extra space is real paper rather than an overlap.

Should I mirror the gutter for duplex printing?

Yes, when printing double-sided you want the gutter on the bound edge of both sides. This tool offers left and right placement so you can match your layout.

Can I add different gutters to odd and even pages?

Use the left/right option and apply it in two passes, selecting odd pages then even pages, so each side gets its gutter on the bound edge.

What is the difference between this and Add Extra Margins?

Add Margins pads all edges uniformly for annotation space. This tool adds a binding-specific gutter on the bound edge and shifts the content to stay clear of it.