Scrapbook album sizes and how to choose one
Choose a scrapbook album size from the items it must hold and where it will be read. Measure the usable page, test your largest keepsake and allow for the thickness of finished spreads.
An 8-inch square has less room for photo groups than a 12-inch square. Check the binding too, especially if the pages will include thick pockets or keepsakes.
Check the internal sheets or sleeves before buying. The cover can be larger than the pages, and the binding may use part of the apparent width.
Try this in your own scrapbook
Arrange your photos on the pages of a digital scrapbook in your browser.
Compare the usable page sizes
Draw the proposed page shapes on spare paper. Try your largest object in each without folding, cutting or hiding any writing.
- Try a 4 by 6-inch photo and a small keepsake on an 8-inch square.
- Try a photo group and a full-size keepsake on a 12-inch square.
- Use an A4 outline of 210 by 297 mm to test documents or tall drawings.
- For a digital book, test the page shape on the screen where it will be read.
Check the binding capacity
A fixed binding has a set capacity. A ring or expandable system may allow additions, but pages still need to turn and lie without straining around thick objects.
Ask whether the stated dimensions refer to the cover, sheet or pocket. A print that matches the advertised size may not fit the usable area.
Choose the size the reader can use
A large book needs a table or lap space and a suitable shelf. A small book is easier to handle but makes handwriting and group faces smaller.
Try the spread with the largest keepsake on spare paper. Choose a page size that leaves its writing readable, then use it for the simpler layouts.
Steps
Measure the objects
List the width and height of the largest photograph, letter and keepsake. Include any sleeve or mount around them.
Draw the page sizes
Sketch an 8-inch square, a 12-inch square or the intended rectangle. Reserve binding space and outer margins on each.
Try the largest keepsake
Place the largest item and its related photographs on the sketches. Compare readability without shrinking them to force a fit.
Test the physical book
For paper, check page turning, closed thickness and the intended shelf. For digital, check the chosen page shape on the recipient's screen.
Questions
Should I choose an 8 by 8 or 12 by 12 scrapbook?
Try the hardest planned page at both sizes. An 8-inch page suits fewer items; a 12-inch page gives more room when keepsakes and photo groups must stay readable.
Does album size tell me how many pages it holds?
No. Capacity depends on the binding and the thickness of the pages. Check the specific album and test bulky arrangements before repeating them.
Can I mix page sizes in a scrapbook?
A compatible ring system may allow it, but small pages can disappear between large ones. Keep section order obvious and test turning the mixed sizes.