Edit Article

  • 11 Editors

  • Edited

Plastic binders are a great, affordable way to store and organize documents at home, work, or school. Unfortunately, these common organizational tools have one annoying flaw - it's often tough to slip labels into the tight plastic sleeve on the spine of the binder. With the right know-how, creating a label and inserting it into your binder's spine can be quick and easy. See Step 1 below to get started.



  1. Insert a Label Into a Binder Spine Step 1.jpg
    Create your labels. You can make them by hand or on the computer. If you use the computer, be sure to use the "Landscape" paper setup.
  2. Insert a Label Into a Binder Spine Step 2.jpg
    Trim your label to the appropriate width for your binder. This is typically 1/6 narrower than the width of the binder spine. For example, if the spine of your binder is 3", then a 2.5" label will easily slide down the spine. If in doubt, make it a bit narrower.
  3. Insert a Label Into a Binder Spine Step 3.jpg
    Slide your label in vertically. If this gives you trouble, open the binder all the way, so that the spine seems to be in between the two covers. This opens up the outer layer a bit.
    • Try stretching the plastic by carefully inserting a ruler into the spine and sliding it slowly from left to right. This should do the trick.
    • Use an engineer's rule. This is often called a steel ruler. Any decent place that supplies engineers tools will have these, even the better stationers might stock them. The sort to buy is usually 30 centimeter (11.8 in) or 12" long by 1.2cm (1/2") wide. The best sort to buy is made of stainless steel, cheaper ones are made of carbon steel and will go rusty. (Once you have it guard it carefully, when other people see how easily you can slide a label in using this as a guide they will borrow / steal it from you.)
  4. Insert a Label Into a Binder Spine Intro.jpg

We could really use your help!

Can you tell us about
Yes I can
how to start an online business
Can you tell us about
case studies?
Yes I can
case studies
how to do a case study
Can you tell us about
Yes I can
how to choose a camera shutter speed
Can you tell us about
Yes I can
recruting staff
Thanks for helping! Please tell us everything you know about
Provide Details.
Don't say: Eat more fats.


  • If possible, use a stiffer paper, such as card or label stock. It will help keep the labels from collapsing.
  • If your binder has holes in the plastic, stick a piece of tape to the label, then insert the label tape-first under the plastic. You can also guide the label past the holes with your fingers.


  • Don't be reckless with your ruler.

Article Info

Categories: Binders Files and Folders

Recent edits by: Nicole Willson, Maluniu, Katy Linsao

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 34,941 times.

Did this article help you?
Yes No

an Author!

Write an Article