How to Cut your School Laminating Costs in Half

Teachers are constantly striving to improve the learning experience for their students. Laminating in schools has become a common practice for creating engaging and durable educational materials. However, with school budgets tighter than ever, the rising costs of lamination can be a real concern.

This guide presents five practical, innovative teacher tips and hacks that educators can implement to significantly reduce school laminating expenses without compromising on quality or effectiveness. We’ll cover:

• Turn a 2-side lamination pouch into a 1-side laminate sheet
• Reusable laminating alternatives
• Half-pouch laminating
• Laminate multiple small items on one sheet
• Reuse old laminated sheets as dry-erase boards

1. Turn a 2-side lamination pouch into a 1-side laminate sheet

Did you know there’s a way to double your lamination pouch output without sacrificing quality? We’ve got a simple trick that allows you to do just that! Turning a 2-side lamination pouch into a 1-side laminate sheet cuts your cost per laminated sheet in half. Teacher hacks like this save money and promote efficient use of school classroom resources.

This video by Erica Arndt perfectly explains how to execute this lamination hack to turn a 2-side lamination pouch into a 1-side laminate sheet.

You’ll need a few essential items for this cost-saving hack:

• A pouch laminating machine
• Lamination pouches
• Scissors
• 2 printouts

Follow these simple steps to maximize your lamination output:

1. Place your two printouts back-to-back, making sure they’re aligned correctly within the lamination pouch. The borders of the printouts should line up perfectly.
2. Laminate the pouch as you normally would. Always insert the sealed end into the laminating machine first.
3. Once laminated, let the pouch cool on a flat surface briefly.
4. After cooling, use your scissors to trim along the edges of the page without leaving a border. As you trim, you’ll notice the two pages separate, giving you two 1-sided laminated sheets from a single pouch.

2. Reusable laminating alternatives

Transitioning from traditional disposable laminating sheets to reusable alternatives is a game changer for teachers looking to balance budget with quality. It’s cost-effective and eco-friendly to boot. Reusable alternatives like dry-erase pockets or self-laminating pouches are both durable and adaptable. They also reduce the recurring expenses associated with disposable laminating materials.

To make the switch to reusable laminating alternatives, you’ll need the following products:

• Dry-erase pockets: Clear, open-ended plastic sleeves that can hold printed materials. You can write and erase on the surface without damaging the original document and switch documents out as needed.
• Self-laminating pouches: Adhesive pouches that you can apply to documents without needing a laminating machine.

Using these alternatives is a straightforward process:

1. If using a dry-erase pocket, slide your document into the pocket. You can write or draw on it with dry-erase markers and easily wipe it off.
2. If using a self-laminating pouch, insert the document, peel away part of the backing, and apply it to the document to secure it. Then, remove the liner and seal the pouch as you go. Slowly smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles, and you're done!

Laminate multiple small items on one sheet or pouch

Laminating small items one by one can be time-consuming and wasteful. Grouping multiple small items on a single sheet or pouch is a way to consolidate the process so no sheet goes to waste. And the best lamination hack? A simple dot of glue from a glue stick keeps them in place. No more unwanted sliding or misalignment during lamination! These teacher tips are a lifesaver for educators looking to efficiently laminate flashcards, labels, or any other small classroom materials. 

To successfully laminate multiple small items on one sheet, you’ll need:

• A standard lamination pouch or lamination sheet
• The small items you need to laminate (i.e., flashcards, labels, cut-out shapes or letters, etc.)
• A glue stick
• Laminating machine

This lamination method involves a few simple steps:

1. Lay out the lamination pouch or sheet. Prearrange the small items, making sure that they don’t overlap and that there’s a small gap between each.
2. Use the glue stick to dab the back of each item. 
3. Carefully place each glued item onto the lamination pouch and press down to secure them.
4. Once all the items are secured, feed the pouch into the laminating machine. Always insert the sealed edge first.
5. Allow the sheet to cool, then use scissors to cut out each item. Leave a small laminated border around each one.

Reuse Old Laminated Sheets as Mini Dry Erase Boards

You can easily reuse old laminated pouches by simply flipping them over and using the back, plain white side as a dry-erase board. Attach it to a clipboard or glue it down to a lap pad for a more sturdy writing surface. 

Quick FAQs

We’ve compiled a quick FAQ to answer some of the most common questions teachers have about the lamination process and budget-saving lamination hacks.

Can you cut thermal laminating pouches?

Absolutely! You can cut thermal laminating pouches to fit the size of your document as long as you leave a small border around the edges to maintain the seal and protect it.

Can you cut laminated paper in half?

Yes, you can! Use sharp scissors or a paper cutter to get a clean edge and leave a slight border to prevent potential peeling.

How do you reduce lamination?

Consider using thinner pouches, repurposing old laminated sheets, or choosing reusable lamination alternatives like dry-erase pockets. These methods help cut costs and reduce waste.

Save Costs for the School Year

Laminating in schools is essential, but it doesn’t have to strain your budget. Implementing these teacher tips and hacks can help save money and enhance learning experiences—all without compromising on quality.

Are you looking for affordable, high-quality laminating supplies? Shop at Binding101 to see how our large selection can elevate your laminating experience.

Call us (866) 537-2244 or send an email to solutions@buy101.com

About the Author • Mallory Morsa has worked in several different departments in her 10+ years at Binding101. Beginning in customer service and sales, she honed in her skills to provide the customer with professional, fast, and accurate information. Shortly after, she was promoted to sales supervisor and also took on the role of product expert, training the team on new products and offering support wherever needed. Throughout this time, she also wrote content for the site, as well as contributed stock photography and videography. As the team grew, she was able to move to a new official position as the content specialist and social media manager. Her skills in these variety of areas give her the unique expertise to not just create content for the web, but to create content for YOU, the customer.

In her free time, Mallory's favorite things to do include volunteering at the animal shelter bottle feeding neonatal kittens, reading at the park, and binge streaming TV shows with her 3 furbabies and family beside her.