Paper & Finishing

What Paper Weight Should I Choose?

Paper weight affects how a printed piece feels in your hand, how sturdy it is, and how professional it looks. This guide translates confusing paper terminology into plain English and helps you match the right weight to your project.

At a Glance

Text weight: 60–100 lb — for flyers, brochures, booklet interiors
Cover weight: 80–130 lb — for business cards, postcards, covers
Point thickness: 12–16 pt — alternative measure of cardstock thickness
GSM: Grams per square meter — international paper weight system
Key rule: "100 lb text" ≠ "100 lb cover" — different scales
Our standard cardstock: 14 pt (≈ 130 lb gloss cover)

Why Paper Weight Is Confusing

The US paper weight system is genuinely confusing — and it's not your fault. The "pound" (lb) rating comes from the weight of 500 sheets at a reference size, but the reference size is different for text stocks and cover stocks. That means 100 lb text is much thinner and lighter than 100 lb cover, even though the number is the same.

On top of that, cardstock is sometimes measured in points (pt), which is actual caliper thickness in thousandths of an inch. And international standards use GSM (grams per square meter), which is more straightforward but less common in US printing.

The good news: you don't need to memorize any of this. You just need to know what weight range works for your product.

Text Weight vs Cover Weight

Text weight (also called "book weight") is lighter, flexible paper. It folds, it bends, and it's what you'd use for flyers, brochure interiors, booklet pages, and inserts. Common text weights: 60 lb text (lightweight flyer), 70 lb text (standard flyer), 80 lb text (premium flyer or brochure), 100 lb text (thick premium brochure page).

Cover weight (also called "card stock") is heavier, stiffer paper for pieces that need to be rigid. Business cards, postcards, book covers, table tents, and hang tags are all printed on cover weight. Common cover weights: 80 lb cover (lightweight card), 100 lb cover (sturdy card), 130 lb cover (premium thick card — our standard cardstock).

The most common confusion: 100 lb text and 100 lb cover are not the same weight. Cover stock is significantly heavier and stiffer. If you order "100 lb" without specifying text or cover, you may get the wrong stock. Always specify which scale you mean.

Point Thickness (pt)

Point thickness measures the actual caliper of the paper in thousandths of an inch. 14 pt means the paper is 0.014 inches thick. This is the most intuitive system because it describes what you can physically feel.

10 pt: Thin cardstock — postcard economy option
12 pt: Medium cardstock — sturdy postcard, budget business card
14 pt: Standard business card thickness — roughly the feel of a credit card
16 pt: Premium thick card — noticeably heavier and stiffer than 14 pt

Point thickness and pound weight overlap. Our 130 lb gloss cover is approximately 14 pt. If you're comparing stocks, ask us — we'll clarify what you'll get.

GSM (Grams per Square Meter)

GSM is the international standard for paper weight. It measures the weight of one square meter of the paper in grams. Unlike the US system, GSM uses a single scale for all paper types — so it's less confusing for comparing different stocks. You'll see GSM referenced on international design platforms and some US suppliers.

GSM	US Equivalent	Typical Use
75–90	20 lb bond (copy paper)	Office printing, internal docs
120–150	80 lb text	Flyers, brochure interiors
170–200	65–80 lb cover	Lightweight postcards, catalog covers
270–300	100 lb cover (12 pt)	Sturdy postcards, greeting cards
350–400	130 lb cover (14–16 pt)	Business cards, premium postcards

What Weight for What Product?

Product	Recommended Weight	Why
Flyers	70–100 lb text	Light enough to hand out, heavy enough to feel substantial
Brochures (interior)	80–100 lb text	Folds cleanly when scored, premium feel
Brochure covers	80–100 lb cover	Sturdy enough to protect interior panels
Booklet interiors	70–80 lb text	Flexible pages that turn easily
Booklet covers	80–100 lb cover	Rigid enough to hold the booklet's shape
Business cards	14–16 pt (130 lb cover)	Substantial, durable, professional
Postcards	14–16 pt (130 lb cover)	Rigid enough to survive the mail
Menus (dine-in)	100 lb cover + lamination	Durable, wipe-clean, rigid
Letterhead	70 lb text (uncoated)	Writable, professional, folds for envelopes
Hang tags	14–16 pt	Stiff enough to hang without flopping
Table tents	14–16 pt	Must stand upright on a table

How Weight Affects Feel and Function

Heavier is not always better. A 16 pt business card feels premium, but a 16 pt brochure would be impossible to fold. A 70 lb text flyer is easy to hand out at an event, but a 60 lb text postcard would feel flimsy in the mail. Match the weight to how the piece will be used.

Thicker stocks cost more per unit because they use more material. If you're printing thousands of flyers for an event, 70 lb text is practical and cost-effective. If you're printing 500 business cards you'll hand out over months, the premium of 16 pt over 14 pt is worth it.

Mailing weight matters too. Heavier paper means heavier envelopes, which can push you into higher postage tiers. For direct mail postcards, 14 pt is the sweet spot — rigid enough to survive processing, light enough to stay within standard postage limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard paper weight for business cards?

Most business cards are printed on 14 pt cardstock, which is approximately 130 lb gloss cover. This is roughly the thickness of a credit card. For a more premium feel, 16 pt is available — noticeably thicker and stiffer.

What's the difference between 100 lb text and 100 lb cover?

They're measured on different scales. 100 lb text is a flexible paper similar to a thick flyer — good for brochures and booklet pages. 100 lb cover is a rigid cardstock — good for postcards and book covers. Cover stock is significantly thicker and stiffer than text stock at the same pound number.

What paper weight should I use for postcards?

14 pt or 16 pt cardstock (approximately 130 lb cover) is standard for postcards. This weight is rigid enough to survive postal processing and feels substantial in the hand. Thinner stocks like 12 pt work for economy mailings but may feel less professional.

Does paper weight affect mailing cost?

It can. Heavier paper means a heavier piece, and postage increases with weight. For standard postcards and business letters, typical paper weights stay well within postal limits. For oversized or multi-page mailers, weight adds up — ask us if you're concerned about a specific mailing.

What does GSM mean on paper?

GSM stands for grams per square meter. It's the international standard for measuring paper weight. A standard business card is about 350 GSM. A standard flyer is about 130–170 GSM. GSM uses a single scale for all paper types, making it less confusing than the US text/cover system.

Not sure which paper weight is right for your project? Tell us what you're printing and we'll recommend the best stock.

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