A bookplate is a small label pasted inside a book's front cover. It's usually marked Ex Libris ("from the library of") and has a line for the owner's name. People have used them for centuries to say this one's mine. They're also one of the easiest bookish gifts to make yourself: print a sheet, cut, paste, and you're done.
This guide covers how to get clean, true-size results from a regular home printer. We use our Cream City Bookplates printable pack in the examples, but the steps work for any printable bookplate.
What you'll need
- A printable bookplate file (a PDF sheet is best, since it keeps the size exact)
- Paper: one of the options below
- Scissors or a paper trimmer. A trimmer gives straighter edges.
- Adhesive: a glue stick, double-sided tape, or nothing if you're using sticker paper
- A pen with archival or pigment ink, so the name doesn't fade or smear
Step 1: Choose your paper
| Paper | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Matte full-sheet sticker paper | Fastest, cleanest results | Peel and stick. Look for "matte" so you can write on it. |
| Uncoated cardstock (65–80 lb) | A classic, vintage feel | Paste with a glue stick. Bright white or cream both look nice. |
| Acid-free paper | Books you want to keep forever | Won't yellow or damage pages over time. |
| Glossy photo paper | Not recommended | Smudges when you write on it and tends to curl. |
For a gift, cream cardstock and a glue stick look the most traditional. For a big stack of books, sticker paper is faster.
Step 2: Print at actual size
This is where most home prints go wrong. In your print dialog:
- Open the PDF (not a screenshot or phone preview).
- Set scale to 100% / "Actual size." Turn off "Fit to page" and "Shrink oversized pages."
- Choose US Letter (8.5 × 11").
- Pick a high-quality or "best" print setting and match the paper type (cardstock, labels, or matte).
- Print one test page on plain paper first and check the crop marks. If they line up, load your good paper.
No good printer at home? Save the PDF to a flash drive and take it to a local print or office-supply shop. Ask for "actual size, no scaling" on matte cardstock. Lots of Milwaukee-area library branches have public printers too, if you'd rather keep it simple.
Step 3: Cut cleanly
- Let ink dry for 10–15 minutes before handling the sheet, especially on cardstock.
- Cut along the crop marks with a paper trimmer, or with a ruler and craft knife.
Step 4: Paste without wrinkles
- Glue stick: cover the back of the bookplate, not the book. Go all the way to the edges, especially the corners.
- Place it on the inside front cover (the "front pastedown") or the first blank page.
- Smooth it from the center outward with a clean cloth or the side of a ruler.
- Close the book under something heavy for an hour so it dries flat.
- Sticker paper: peel one corner, line up the edge, and smooth across slowly.
Tip for library books and borrowed books: don't. Bookplates are for books you own, or books you're giving to someone.
Step 5: Personalize it
The blank "This book belongs to ___" line is where the gift really happens. A few ideas:
- For a gift: write the recipient's name and add a short note and date underneath: "For Maya, who said she'd never read fantasy. Christmas 2026."
- For a home library: use the same pen and style in every book so your shelves look consistent.
- For a book swap or book club: paste a plate into each book you lend out with "Please return to ___." You'll get more books back.
Choosing a design
Our Cream City Bookplates Reader Pack includes three styles:
- Open Book: navy Victorian engraving with Milwaukee landmarks
- Lake Reader: a soft watercolor Milwaukee skyline with tea and books
- Poet's Midnight Garden: lantern-lit night florals for the dark-academia shelf
Each one comes as a 4-up US Letter sheet with crop marks, plus a mixed sampler sheet and a print guide. It's an instant download, so nothing ships.
If you like making printable gifts, look through the rest of our printables collection. There's a reading journal and a yarn stash and TBR tracker for knitters who read. For more ideas, see our bookish gifts under $25 guide.
Try one free
Want to test your printer and paper before buying a whole pack? Get a free sample bookplate sheet. Join the reader list and we'll email you a printable Lake Reader sheet right away.