How To Laminate Paper (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Laminate Paper, Cards, & Documents

Download Article 3 easy methods for protecting precious papers Co-authored by Aimee Payne, MFA Reviewed by Amy Guerrero

Last Updated: December 3, 2025 Fact Checked

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Using a Laminating Machine

Self-Adhesive Laminating Sheets

Packing Tape

Video

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

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This article was reviewed by Amy Guerrero and by wikiHow staff writer, Aimee Payne, MFA. Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 641,024 times.

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.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Using a Laminating Machine

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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 Turn on the laminator and allow it to warm up. Most laminating machines have an indicator light to tell you when the machine is ready. Advertisement
3 Place your document inside the laminating pouch. These are 2 sheets of laminating plastic attached at one end.[1] X Research source
- 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 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 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 Allow the pouch to cool before removing it from the carrier.
7 Trim the edges if needed using a paper cutter or scissors. Leave at least a 1/16" (2mm) border.[4]

Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Laminating with Self-Adhesive Sheets

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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.
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 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 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 Press 1 corner onto the sheet. Press the corner down with your finger.
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 Expose the adhesive on a second laminating sheet by removing the backing. Discard the backing.
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 Trim the edges with a paper cutter or scissors. 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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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.[5] X Research source
- 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 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.[6]
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.[7] X Research source 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 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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 11 Helpful 57
Question 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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 59
Question 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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 55

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Video

Tips

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. Thanks Helpful 21 Not Helpful 6
You can also laminate paper using clear contact paper. Contact paper is available by the roll in most home improvement or home decorating stores. Thanks Helpful 22 Not Helpful 7

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Warnings

A hot laminator is not appropriate for heat-sensitive documents, such as photos or artwork created with wax crayons. Thanks Helpful 36 Not Helpful 5
Avoid laminating valuable historical documents. Thanks Helpful 25 Not Helpful 13