How to Laminate Paper, Cards, & Documents

When you laminate paper, you protect the paper from dirt, creasing, aging and discoloration. You may choose to laminate a keepsake document, such as a wedding announcement, or a document that will be handled frequently, such as a menu. This article will teach you to laminate paper either with or without a machine.

Easy Steps for Laminating Paper

Choose a suitable laminating machine.
Switch the laminator on and let it heat up.
Place the paper inside a laminating pouch
Put the paper and laminating pouch inside a lamination carrier
Feed the sealed end of the carrier into the machine.
Allow the carrier to cool before removing the laminated paper.
Trim off any excess lamination with a pair of sharp scissors.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Laminating Machine

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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).
Most laminating machines have an indicator light to tell you when the machine is ready.

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Place your document inside the laminating pouch. These are 2 sheets of laminating plastic attached at one end. ^{[1]
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- 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.
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]
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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]
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Trim the edges if needed using a paper cutter or scissors. Leave at least a 1/16" (2mm) border. ^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Laminating with Self-Adhesive Sheets

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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]
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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.
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.
With small documents on large laminating sheets, alignment isn't important. You may need to adjust the laminating sheet on the grid.
Press the corner down with your finger.
Smooth the paper with your hand so it lies flat with no wrinkles or air bubbles.
Discard the backing.
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.
Leave a 1/16" (2 mm) border so the laminate doesn't loosen.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Packing Tape to Laminate

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

Community Q&A

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Question

Can I use tape to laminate paper?

Community Answer

Yes, to laminate paper with tape, use clear tape and cover all parts that you want laminated. Use packing tape to make the process faster, but small clear tape works as well.

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How can I laminate my paper with everyday household objects? I can't use other stuff.

Community Answer

You could try using clear packing tape or plastic wrap, but it may not look as good as the methods in the article.

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Will my pictures be protected with laminate paper?

Community Answer

A hot laminator is not appropriate for heat-sensitive documents, such as photos or artwork created with wax crayons. It could melt/ negatively impact these documents.

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Tips

You can also laminate paper using clear contact paper. Contact paper is available by the roll in most home improvement or home decorating stores.

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If you frequently laminate documents but don't want a hot laminator, you can buy a cold laminating machine that works with cold laminating pouches. Some hot laminators also have a cold setting.

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Warnings

A hot laminator is not appropriate for heat-sensitive documents, such as photos or artwork created with wax crayons.

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Avoid laminating valuable historical documents.

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