The short answer: a book sleeve is a padded fabric pouch that you slide a book into to carry it, then take the book out to read. A book cover wraps around the book and stays on while you read. Choose a sleeve if you mainly want protection in a bag; choose a cover if you want the book or notebook to look and feel different in your hands. Either way, measure the book first: the height, the width with the cover closed, and the thickness.
We are Sealed & Shelved, a small shop for readers and letter writers. To be clear about what we sell: fabric book covers and book jackets, not padded sleeves. This guide explains both, so you can pick what suits you.
What a book sleeve is
A book sleeve is a soft pouch, usually padded or quilted, with an opening at one end. Many close with a flap, a button, a snap or a zip. You slide the book in before it goes into a bag and take it out again to read. Sleeves are popular with readers who carry a book every day, because the padding takes the knocks from keys, bottles and everything else in a bag.
Sleeves are sized loosely, so one sleeve can hold books of slightly different sizes. Check the inside measurements before you buy, especially for thick hardcovers.
What a fabric book cover is
A fabric book cover wraps around the book itself. On most fabric covers, the book's front and back covers slide into flaps on the inside of the fabric, so the cover stays on while you read. It puts a layer of fabric between the book's own cover and the inside of your bag, and it makes a plain notebook or a well-worn paperback look like something chosen with care.
Because it fits closely, a fabric cover is made for a specific size. Our covers come in two standard paper sizes, A5 and A6 (see the table below).
Sleeve or cover: which one suits you?
| Book sleeve | Fabric book cover | |
|---|---|---|
| How you use it | The book goes in to travel and comes out to read | The cover stays on while you read |
| Protection | Padding against knocks in a bag | A layer of fabric over the book's own cover |
| Fit | Loose; one sleeve fits a range of sizes | Close; made for one size |
| Good for | Hardcovers you want to keep pristine, daily carrying | Notebooks, planners and books of the right size that you use every day |
| Also | Easy to swap between books | Hides a cover you'd rather not show on the train |
Many readers use both: a cover on the notebook they write in every day, and a sleeve for the hardcover they are carrying around this week.
How to measure your book
- Close the book and lay it flat.
- Measure the height from the top edge to the bottom edge.
- Measure the width from the spine to the opposite edge of the cover.
- Measure the thickness across the spine.
- Compare with the size table below and choose the closest size that is at least as large as your book in both height and width.
Paperback and hardcover sizes vary a lot from publisher to publisher, so measure the actual book rather than guessing from its type. If your book is taller or wider than A5 in either direction, an A5 cover will be too small. Our listings don't give a maximum thickness, so very thick books may not fit; measure and compare the spine before ordering.
A5 and A6 sizes explained
A5 and A6 are standard paper sizes, used for many notebooks, planners and some books.
| Size | Inches | Millimeters | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| A6 | about 4.1 × 5.8 in | 105 × 148 mm | Pocket notebooks |
| A5 | about 5.8 × 8.3 in | 148 × 210 mm | Many planners, bullet journals and notebooks |
A5 is exactly twice the size of A6: fold an A5 sheet in half and you get A6.
Our fabric book covers
- Fabric Book Cover, Cherry Blossom & Crane Prints: $17.99 in A6, $18.99 in A5. A gold-tone cherry blossom print on navy or red, or white cranes among green leaves on beige. The close-up photos show the fabric flap on the inside of the cover.
- Fabric Book Jacket, Botanical Embroidery-Style Design: $24.99, A5 only. A soft cloth jacket with white leaf outlines or wildflowers in five colorways. It is the jacket only; the book shown in the photos is not included.
- Book Lover Gift Set: Floral Fabric Book Cover & Zodiac Bookmark: $21.99. The navy cherry blossom cover in A5, plus a zodiac bookmark in its gift box.
- Book Lover Gift Set: Fabric Book Jacket & Zodiac Metal Bookmark: $28.99. The green leaf jacket in A5, plus the zodiac bookmark in its gift box.
All of them ship free within the US. See every option in Book Covers. For other things readers use, from bookmarks to book lights, see Book Accessories for Readers.
A cover for a journal or planner
A5 covers suit A5 journals and planners especially well, because those are made to standard sizes. If you keep a reading journal, our guide How to Start a Reading Journal explains what to write and compares notebooks; a fabric cover is an easy way to make the one you choose feel personal. For gift ideas that pair well with a cover, see Gifts for Book Lovers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a book sleeve and a book cover?
A sleeve is a padded pouch: the book goes inside to travel and comes out to read. A cover wraps around the book and stays on while you read.
What size book sleeve or cover do I need?
Measure the book's height, width and thickness with the cover closed. Choose a size at least as large as the book in height and width. Our covers come in A5 (about 5.8 × 8.3 in) and A6 (about 4.1 × 5.8 in).
Will an A5 cover fit a paperback?
Only if the paperback is no larger than A5, about 5.8 × 8.3 in (148 × 210 mm). Paperback sizes vary a lot, so measure the book first.
Do you sell padded book sleeves?
No. We sell fabric book covers and book jackets, which wrap around the book and stay on while you read.
Is a book cover a good gift for a reader?
Yes, especially paired with a bookmark: it is personal, practical and goes with every book they read. Our book lover gift sets put a cover and a zodiac bookmark together.