The Best Laminating Sheets

Buying Guide

Whether you want to protect photos, certificates, artwork or other documents, laminating sheets and pouches are a good solution. These plastic films keep paper from getting torn, wet or stained so that it lasts longer, and they also provide a more professional appearance. Plus, they don’t affect the attractiveness or readability of the sealed document since the finish is clear and often shiny.

Some laminating sheets and pouches are self-adhesive so that you don’t need to have a laminating machine. These provide the simplest and cheapest way to get started with protecting documents. A self-adhesive pouch is usually the most convenient since you can stick your item inside and press down firmly to seal the entire thing. Self-adhesive sheets take a bit more work since you’ll need to apply separate sheets to each side of the document and ensure you line them up together properly.

If you have a laminating machine or are willing to invest in one, you can use laminating pouches that get sealed by the machine’s heat. These offer the convenience similar to self-adhesive pouches since you just put your document inside and run the pouch through the machine. These pouches often work with most brands of laminating machines, but some are labeled as recommended for a particular brand.

Both laminating sheets and pouches usually come in sizes that fit traditional letter paper measuring 8.5 inches by 11 inches. However, the measurements may be slightly larger such as 9.5 inches by 12 inches or 9 inches by 11.5 inches. The lamination is easy to cut, though, so you can easily adjust the size as needed for smaller documents like business cards. 

You’ll also want to consider how many laminating sheets or pouches you need. They often come in quantities ranging from 24 to 300. If you opt for sheets, remember to get double the number of the pages you need to laminate since you’ll need a sheet for each side.

Some laminating sheets and pouches have features suiting certain uses. For example, many are made to be safe to use with dry-erase markers or are acid-free to avoid damaging photos and artwork. You can also find options with different levels of glossiness and thickness.

• Removing your document from the laminating sheet will be very difficult or impossible. So, you should think carefully before sealing any important document. In some cases, the heat from a laminating machine could destroy the document, or the film could render security features such as special seals invalid. The Social Security Administration warns against laminating your Social Security card for this reason.
• Whether you choose self-adhesive sheets or thermal laminating pouches, it’s important to position your document appropriately. It’s best to center the document and leave around one quarter inch of space between its edges and the edges of the laminating sheet or pouch. Even if the thing you’re laminating is small, this won’t be a problem since you can trim away the rest of the film after you’ve sealed it.
• If you want something more durable, look for laminating sheets that are around five millimeters thick versus the typical three millimeters. These are ideal for documents that will experience heavy use and where increased rigidity isn’t a problem. The downside is the finish won’t look as clear due to the increased thickness.
•  Always make sure the document is clean and dry before you start using laminating sheets or pouches. 
• When using a laminating machine, make sure that you’ve let the machine warm up and chosen the same thickness setting as your laminating pouch. After you’ve properly positioned the document in the pouch, you can insert it in the machine for sealing. Make sure to let the machine cool down per the manufacturer’s instructions before you shut it down.
• If you notice that your laminated document has bubbles after you put it through the machine, the issue could involve the heat setting, the speed you’re pushing the document through or the quality of the film you’re using. Make sure you’re using the right temperature, not putting the document through too quickly or slowly, and following the manufacturer’s instructions.