Text vs cover
Text weight is the flexible paper used for flyers, letterhead and booklet insides. Cover (or card stock) is thicker and stiffer, used for business cards, postcards and booklet covers. The pound (lb) number is the weight of 500 sheets at a "basis size" that differs by category, so an 80 lb cover is far heavier than an 80 lb text. That is why many printers prefer gsm (grams per square metre), which compares every paper on the same scale.
Weight conversion chart
| US weight | Approx. gsm | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 20 lb bond / 50 lb text | 75 | Copy paper, forms, letterhead |
| 24 lb bond / 60 lb text | 90 | Premium letterhead, inserts |
| 70 lb text | 104 | Flyers, newsletters |
| 80 lb text | 118 | Flyers, brochures, booklet pages |
| 100 lb text | 148 | Premium brochures and flyers |
| 65 lb cover | 176 | Light covers, inexpensive cards |
| 80 lb cover | 216 | Postcards, booklet covers, rack cards |
| 100 lb cover | 270 | Business cards, postcards |
| 130 lb cover | 350 | Heavy business cards, premium invitations |
Conversions are approximate and vary slightly by mill.
Finishes
| Finish | Look and feel | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloss | Shiny, vivid colour, sharp photos | Photo-heavy flyers, postcards, catalogs | Glare; hard to write on |
| Matte / silk (dull) | Smooth, low glare, refined | Brochures, reports, text-heavy pieces | Slightly less colour punch than gloss |
| Uncoated | Natural paper feel, absorbs ink | Letterhead, forms, notepads, anything written on | Colours look softer; images slightly less crisp |
Tips
- Anything people write on (forms, notepads, reply cards) should be uncoated.
- USPS postcards must be at least 0.007" thick; 80 lb cover and up is a safe choice.
- Folded cover stock needs scoring.
- Want extra durability? Ask about coatings and laminating.
Frequently asked questions
- Is 80 lb text or 80 lb cover thicker?
- 80 lb cover is much thicker (about 216 gsm vs 118 gsm). The pound numbers use different basis sizes, so they can't be compared directly.
- What paper is best for business cards?
- Usually 100 lb to 130 lb cover (about 270–350 gsm), in gloss, matte or uncoated depending on the look you want.
Related services
Helpful customer tools
- Business Card Maker (available to customers with a free account)
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