How to Laminate Paper Products at Home (with Pictures) (2024)

Co-authored byAimee Payne, MFAReviewed byAmy Guerrero

Last Updated: June 3, 2024Fact Checked

Easy Steps for Laminating Paper

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1. 1

   Choose a laminating machine that suits your needs. Most home users buy laminating machines that can accept documents as large as the standard 8-1/2" x 11" letter size (216 by 279 mm).

2. 2

   Turn on the machine and allow it to warm up. Most laminating machines have an indicator light to tell you when the machine is ready.

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3. 3

   Place your document inside the laminating pouch. These are 2 sheets of laminating plastic attached at one end.^[1]

   • If the pouch is only slightly larger than your document (for instance, if you are laminating a business card with business-card size pouch) carefully center the document so there will be an even border all around.
   • If the document is significantly smaller than the pouch, it's not necessary to center the document because you can trim the edges.
4. 4

   Place the laminating pouch containing the document inside a carrier. A lamination carrier is 2 sheets of treated cardstock that protect the laminating machine from adhesive buildup. The sealed end of the laminating pouch should be snug against the sealed end of the carrier.^[2]

5. 5

   Feed the carrier through the machine. Insert the sealed end first until the machine grabs it. Don't force the carrier through the machine; it must go slowly enough for the machine to fuse the sheets.^[3]

6. 6

   Allow the pouch to cool before removing it from the carrier.

7. 7

   Trim the edges if needed using a paper cutter or scissors. Leave at least a 1/16" (2mm) border.^[4]

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1. 1

   Buy self-adhesive laminating sheets. The best self-adhesive laminating sheets come with a grid on the backing, allowing you to reposition the paper if you make an error placing it on the sheets.^[5]

2. 2

   Remove the backing to expose the adhesive. Handle it by the edges so you don't leave fingerprints in the adhesive. If the backing has a grid, save it as a guide when placing your document.

3. 3

   Position the adhesive. Lay the sheet on your work surface adhesive side up with a grid under it. You can use the grid on the backing you just removed, a sheet of graph paper, or a grid you drew on a plain sheet of paper. Tape the grid down so it doesn't slide around.

4. 4

   Line up your document so it's centered on the sheet. With small documents on large laminating sheets, alignment isn't important. You may need to adjust the laminating sheet on the grid.

5. 5

   Press 1 corner onto the sheet. Press the corner down with your finger.

6. See Also

   A Beginner's Guide to Document LaminatingHow To Laminate Paper At Home: A Step-By-Step Guide To Diy Lamination - Improve WorkspaceHow to Laminate at Home Without a Machine - WorksionHow to Laminate Paper at Home: Know Easy and Quick Methods

   6

   Secure the rest of the paper onto the laminating sheet. Smooth the paper with your hand so it lies flat with no wrinkles or air bubbles.

7. 7

   Expose the adhesive on a second laminating sheet by removing the backing. Discard the backing.

8. 8

   Add the second sheet on top of the first. Start at 1 corner and smooth the sheet down a bit at a time to remove wrinkles and air bubbles. You can also use a tool called a brayer to smooth the sheet, or you can burnish it with the edge of a credit card.

9. 9

   Trim the edges with a paper cutter or scissors. Leave a 1/16" (2 mm) border so the laminate doesn't loosen.

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1. 1

   Lay out strips of packing tape with the sticky side up. Tear off a strip of clear packing tape about an inch longer than the paper you’re laminating. Place it on the table with the sticky side up.^[6]

   • This method works best with smaller items, but you can use it on larger ones by slightly overlapping strips of tape across the paper’s width.
2. 2

   Trim the paper you’re laminating and press it onto the tape. Use scissors or a paper cutter to trim any unwanted borders from the paper. Position the paper in the center of the strip of tape and press down lightly to stick it in place.^[7]

3. 3

   Place a strip of tape sticky side down on the paper and tape. Tear off another strip of tape and carefully place it sticky side down on the paper.^[8] Try to match the edges as much as possible to reduce tape waste.

   • The tape edges don’t have to match perfectly since you trim off the excess in the next step.
4. 4

   Smooth the tape and use scissors to trim around the edge. Rub your fingers, a brayer, or a credit card on both sides to make the tape as smooth as possible.<ref> Use sharp scissors to trim off the excess tape.

   • Avoid cutting too close to the paper’s edge, or you may break the tape seal. This can allow dirt or oil to get on the tape’s adhesive surface and cause it to lift off the paper.

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Things You'll Need

Using a Laminating Machine

Laminating with Self-Adhesive Sheets

Using Packing Tape to Laminate

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