Free Printable Bookmarks

Make your own printable bookmarks in a minute. Pick a pattern and colours, add a quote, a name or a reading log, and print four bookmarks per page with cut lines — or choose colour-your-own outlines for kids.

How to make and print your bookmarks

1. Choose a pattern: stripes, polka dots, waves, chevrons, stars, a plain colour band, or colour-your-own outlines for children.
2. Pick a main colour and an accent colour with the colour pickers.
3. Type the text for each bookmark, separated by a vertical bar ( | ). Use a favourite quote, a name, a class name, or leave it short.
4. Decide what goes on the back: a reading log, blank lines for notes, or nothing.
5. Choose a size and press Print. The front page prints first; if you chose a back, the second page prints the backs in matching positions.
6. Cut along the dashed lines. Punch the small circle for a tassel or ribbon if you like.

For double-sided bookmarks, print the first page, put the sheet back into the printer so the reverse side will be printed, and print the second page — or use your printer's automatic two-sided setting and flip on the long edge.

Choosing paper

Card stock makes bookmarks that last. Around 65–80 lb cover (roughly 175–215 g/m²) feels sturdy and still feeds through most home printers; heavier card may need the manual feed slot. Matte card is easiest to write on, which matters for the reading log. For extra durability, laminate the bookmarks after cutting, leaving a small border of laminate around each, or use self-adhesive laminating sheets.

Bookmark sizes

A bookmark should be a little taller than the book is wide at the spine side, so it peeks out of the top. Six inches suits most paperbacks; seven inches suits larger hardbacks and textbooks.

Using bookmarks to encourage reading

• Reading log bookmarks let children record the date, pages and minutes each day — useful for school reading challenges and summer reading programmes.
• Colour-your-own bookmarks make a calm activity for a library visit, a birthday party or the first day of school.
• Personalised bookmarks with a child's name make simple rewards or party favours.
• Quote bookmarks are thoughtful additions to a book given as a present.
• Class sets in a school colour with the class name help keep track of borrowed books.

Worked example

A teacher prints a class set: the waves pattern in the school's navy and gold, 1.5 × 6 inch size so five fit on a page, with each child's name typed in the text box separated by bars. With 25 names, the text cycles through five pages. The reading log on the back lets children record their nightly reading for a month. On 80 lb card, the whole set costs a few sheets of card and a little ink, and the children colour the dots on their own versions with the colour-your-own option.

Ideas for quotes and text

Short phrases work best on a narrow bookmark — around three to five words. A few favourites: “Just one more chapter”, “Books are uniquely portable magic” (Stephen King), “Reading is dreaming with open eyes”, “So many books, so little time”, or simply the reader's name. If you use a quotation from a book, credit the author in small text or on the back.

Adding a tassel or ribbon

A tassel makes a bookmark easier to find and more of a gift. Punch the circle marked at the top with a standard hole punch, loop a short length of embroidery thread, yarn or ribbon through the hole, and tie it in a lark's head knot. For a tassel, wrap thread about 20 times around a 3-inch piece of card, tie the top, cut the bottom loops and wrap a second thread around the neck.

Printing tips

• Print at 100% scale so the bookmarks keep their size and the back lines up.
• Choose “Best” or “High quality” print mode on card for richer colours.
• Let ink dry fully before cutting or laminating.
• Use a paper trimmer or a craft knife and ruler for straight edges.
• Round the corners with scissors or a corner punch to stop them bending.

Bookmarks as small gifts and fundraisers

Printed bookmarks make inexpensive gifts for book clubs, classroom volunteers, library events and school fairs. A set printed on quality card, laminated and finished with a tassel can be sold in packs at a bake sale or book fair to raise funds. For events, add the event name and date to the text line, or a short thank-you message for volunteers. Because each page prints several bookmarks, producing fifty or a hundred takes only a small stack of card.