Photo Album & Scrapbook
Buyer's Guide

Choosing the right photo album or scrapbook to protect your photo collection is essential to ensuring they endure for future generations. These aren't just photos; they're time capsules that preserve precious memories, family history and personal stories. This guide aims to simplify the selection process by laying out the key considerations, styles and features to help you find the perfect fit.

Find What You Need

  1. Important Considerations Before Purchasing an Album
  2. Albums by Binding Type
  3. Features to Consider
  4. Mounting Pages & Protectors by Size
  5. Other Things You May Need for Your Photo Album
  6. Helpful Hints & Additional Resources

Important Considerations Before Purchasing an album

 

Purpose

What is your goal with this album? Do you want to store mixed materials together to tell a cohesive story? Do you want space to write extended captions? Are you more interested in keeping photos organized and accessible, but need it to be quick and simple?

Collection size & expandability

How many photographs are you looking to store? Do you plan on needing to add, remove or rearrange pages in the future?

photo sizes & Types

What types of photos does your collection consist of? Is it mostly 4 x 6" prints or smaller? Are the sizes and types highly varied, but they need to be stored together?

Budget

How much are you willing to spend? Are you looking for a simple all-in-one solution or something that allows for more customization?

Quality

No matter what type of album or scrapbook you're looking for, choosing archival-quality products is still important. Learn more about archival quality >

        • Acid-free, Lignin-free: You want to look for items that are both. Acid-free products that don't say they are also lignin-free are not archival-quality and will not preserve your photos long term. Learn more here >
        • Passed the P.A.T.: This is a test that examines if certain materials are safe for long-term storage. Learn more here >

Albums by Binding Type

post-bound

Post-bound albums use metal binding posts to hold pages together. Typically, they use 2-3 metal binding posts with screw heads on each end. One end of the post is stationary and the other can be removed and replaced to access the pages. When assembled, the binding system is hidden.

  • Provides a clean, professional look
  • Pages can be added, removed or rearranged
  • To remove or rearrange pages, all the pages need to be removed
  • Posts can be lengthened with extenders to accept up to 100 pages
  • Accommodates both top and side-loading page protectors
  • Available in a variety of sizes

Book-Bound

Book-bound albums have a permanent binding similar to a book. The pages are sewn or glued together.
Pages typically have pockets for two or more 4 x 6" landscape or portrait photos. Some have a small space on each page for short captions.

  • It's simple to slide your photos in the pockets and go
  • Often consist of 20-100 pages with multiple pockets per page
  • No way to expand capacity
  • Only holds standard 4 x 6" photographs

Three-Ring Binders

Three-ring binder-style albums use the standard 3-ring binding mechanism to hold pages. Rings can be opened using a lever or other mechanism to remove or add pages.

  • Hold more pages than post-bound or book-bound albums
  • Pages lay flat when the binder is open
  • Accepts standard 3-hole punched mounting pages and page protectors
  • New pages can be added anywhere in the binder
  • Available in a variety of sizes

O-Ring Binders

O-ring binders are circular in shape and are mounted to the spine of the binder. A 1" O-Ring binder can hold up to 150-200 pages.

  • Can cause curving of pages
  • Allows for easier page flipping

D-Ring Binders

D-Ring binders are shaped like the letter D and are typically mounted offset to the back cover. A 1" D-ring binder can hold up to 200-225 pages.

  • Provides easier page insertion and removal
  • Pages lay flat when the binder is closed

Features to Consider

Cover Material

Albums can have covers made from a variety of materials but are typically crafted from:
  • Leatherette – A synthetic material designed to mimic the look and feel of leather.
  • Bonded Leather – A manufactured material created from leather scraps and synthetic binders, typically containing 10-20% genuine leather fibers.
  • Cloth/Fabric – Often referred to as Buckram, this material is typically made from cotton, linen, or hemp fibers woven into a coarse, heavy and open plain weave. It is often coated for added stiffness and durability.
  • Barrier Board – A dense, solid board produced from acid- and lignin-free materials and often buffered to create a high-quality, chemically stable material.

Page Capacity

3-ring Binder and Post-bound style photo albums often offer a range for the number of pages they can accommodate. If you choose to use mounting pages, consider how many photos you want on each page to calculate the number of pages you will need and whether they will fit in the selected album.

Important Note: Especially when using mounting pages and storing mixed materials, anything that increases the thickness of the page will decrease the number of pages your album can hold.

Mounting Pages

These sheets of paper or cardstock are perfect for mounting photos and other memorabilia. Typically available in black or cream, they should always be acid- and lignin-free to safeguard your photos and other materials. Additionally, mounting pages are often buffered to prevent acid migration. They can also function as dividers in page protectors, making displaying photos on both sides possible. Be sure to confirm whether your album includes mounting pages, as many do not.

Page Protectors

These plastic sleeves keep your mounting pages separate when the album is closed, preventing them from rubbing against one another. They also shield your items from harm that can occur due to handling. Here are some considerations for choosing a page protector:
  • Material – Choose page protectors made from chemically stable plastics like archival polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene. Steer clear of those with vinyl or acetate elements, as they can damage your photographs. Discover more about selecting the best plastic for your project >
  • Loading Style – Page protectors usually open either at the top or on the side. Some variants open on three sides, providing easier access to the contents when necessary.
  • Size – Always double-check that the page protector you choose will fit in your selected album.

Photo Pages

If you don't want mounting pages but need to keep photographs separate, consider these archival plastic photo pages from Print File. They come in a variety of pocket sizes for different photo sizes so you can mix and match to fit your collection.

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Dust & Light Protection

Slipcases or boxes can safeguard your album and photographs from damage caused by dust and light.

Need something custom to fit your album? Check out our Custom Box Builder.

Note: Deep lid drop-front boxes work best for storing photo albums and scrapbooks, as they provide thorough protection while allowing for easy removal.

Mounting Pages & Page Protectors by size

For Albums that fit 8 1/2 x 11" pages

Mounting Pages Page Protectors Mounting Pages with Protectors
Unpunched Mounting Pages (50-Pack)

Unpunched Mounting Pages (50-Pack)

These 8 1/2 x 11" Unpunched Mounting Pages (50-Pack) are made from heavy-weight, acid-free card stock. 

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Polypropylene Clear Sheet Protectors (50-Pack)

Polypropylene Clear Sheet Protectors (50-Pack)

Polypropylene Clear Sheet Protectors (50-Pack)  are made from archival-quality polypropylene that won't stick to your items. They are 3-hole punched for storage in binders.

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Archival Polyester Sheet Protectors with Mounting Pages (50-Pack)

Archival Polyester Sheet Protectors with Mounting Pages (50-Pack)

Guard keepsakes from dirt, chemical reactions and fingerprints with these 2 mil Archival Polyester Sheet Protectors with Mounting Pages (50-Pack). The black mounting pages provide a dramatic background for photos, newspaper clippings and more. The side-loading sheet protectors are sealed on one side and 3-hole punched for use in binders.

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For Albums that fit 9 1/2 x 12" pages

Mounting Pages Page Protectors Mounting Pages with Protectors
Gaylord Archival® 9 1/2 x 11

Gaylord Archival® 9 1/2 x 11" 3-Hole Punched Mounting Pages (50-Pack)

These Gaylord Archival® 9 1/2 x 11" 3-Hole Punched Mounting Pages (50-Pack) are sized to fit most ring albums. The acid- and lignin-free pages are also buffered to protect your photos and keepsakes.

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Gaylord Archival® 3 mil Polyester Page Protectors (50-Pack)

Gaylord Archival® 3 mil Polyester Page Protectors (50-Pack)

Our Gaylord Archival® 3 mil Polyester Page Protectors (50-Pack) protect photographs and memorabilia from dirt and fingerprints. They open at the top and bottom for easy page loading and are 3-hole punched to fit in standard ring binders.

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Archival Polyester Sheet Protectors with Mounting Pages (50-Pack)

Archival Polyester Sheet Protectors with Mounting Pages (50-Pack)

These 9 1/2 x 11 1/2" 3-Hole Punched Mounting Pages with Protectors (25-Pack) are sized to fit most ring albums. The acid- and lignin-free pages are also buffered to protect your photos and keepsakes. The page protectors are made from inert archival polyester for further protection and open on three sides for easy page insertion.

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For Albums that fit 12 x 12" pages

Mounting Pages Page Protectors Mounting Pages with Protectors
12 x 12

12 x 12" 3-Hole Punched Mounting Pages (25-Pack)

Use these 12 x 12" 3-Hole Punched Mounting Pages (25-Pack) in your scrapbooks and ring binders. They're acid-free and buffered to protect your photos and memorabilia for years to come.

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Gaylord Archival® 3 mil Archival Polyester Page Protectors (25-Pack)

Gaylord Archival® 3 mil Archival Polyester Page Protectors (25-Pack)

Use these Gaylord Archival® 3 mil Archival Polyester Page Protectors (25-Pack) to guard against dust, fingerprints and other pollutants that can harm the photos and documents in your 3-ring binders. Made from inert archival polyester, they won't harm your memorabilia. 

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Pioneer® 12 x 12

Pioneer® 12 x 12" 3-Hole Punched Mounting Pages with Protectors (5-Pack)

Use these Pioneer® 12 x 12" 3-Hole Punched Mounting Pages with Protectors (5-Pack) to increase the capacity in your 12 x 12" Memory scrapbook. The acid- and lignin-free page inserts are protected with top-loading polypropylene page protectors.

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Other Things You May Need for Your photo album

Photo Corners

Photo Corners

Adhesives

Acid-Free Photo Glue Stick

Pens & Pencils

Shop Pens & Pencils

Self-adhesive pockets

Self-Adhesive Pockets

helpful-hints

Helpful Hints

  • If you're creating a scrapbook, it's recommended that you utilize copies of the materials you want to feature. Low-quality paper such as newspaper is highly acidic, so a copy is better for extending the life of your photos.
  • Adhesives should NEVER be directly applied to your photos or ephemera. Photo corners allow for attaching the photo to the page without adhesives touching the photograph.

Other photo preservation Resources
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