Cardstock is a durable material that differs from regular copy paper primarily in its thickness and paper weight. Weight is an essential factor when choosing the ideal cardstock type. Whether you’re creating business cards, invitations, or DIY book covers, cardstock can offer both functionality and aesthetic appeal. This article delves into its uses, weight, and which printer you need for your cardstock project.
Cardstock explained briefly
Cardstock or cover stock is a sturdy paper that is more flexible than cardboard. It’s ideal for cards like business cards and postcards, and even brochures.
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Definition: Cardstock
Cardstock (also called cover stock or pasteboard) is a type of paper that is thicker and more rigid than regular printer paper but thinner and more flexible than cardboard. It’s widely used in printing projects that require extra durability or a professional feel, such as business cards, brochures, and postcards.
When considering cardstock for hardcover projects like dissertation printing and binding, its price and strength play an essential role in creating a polished final product. Moreover, it can come in various finishes, colors, and patterns, making it a perfect choice for many DIY projects.
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Uses
Cardstock is a versatile paper that can be used for countless projects. Below, we’ve listed some of its many uses.
- Gift box
- Bookmarks
- Art journals
- Home décor
- Playing cards
- Scrapbooking
- Paper flowers
- Greeting cards
- Menus
- Tickets
- Posters
- Postcards
- Invitations
- Certificates
- Business cards
- Magazine covers
Cardstock paper types
Cardstock paper comes in several types: uncoated, coated, and textured.
Uncoated cardstock has a smooth, natural finish that is perfect for writing and printing with inkjet or laser printers. Cardstock can be purchased in natural brown colors similar to kraft paper or in any color of the rainbow. That’s why it’s commonly used for crafting greeting cards and invitations.
With a glossy or matte finish, coated cardstock is ideal for projects where vibrant colors and sharp details are essential. This type of cardstock is often used for professional printing, such as magazine covers or product packaging.
As the name suggests, this type has a textured surface (e.g., linen) that adds an extra layer of elegance and sophistication to printed materials like wedding invitations or certificates.
Weight
Paper weight is measured in pounds (lb) or grams per square meter (gsm), and the higher the weight, the thicker and more durable the cardstock will be. The weight range of cardstock typically spans from 65 lb to 110 lb. In the table below, you can find the most common uses for each weight category.
| Cardstock weight | Used for |
|---|---|
| Greeting cards, menus, postcards, posters, scrapbooking, tickets | |
| 80 lb cover (260 gsm) | Book covers, brochures, business cards, folders, posters, table tents, tickets |
| 100 lb cover (271 gsm) | Covers of magazines & reports, crafts, flat cards, folders, gift cards, greeting cards |
| Certificates, reports & menu covers, premium business cards, rack cards |
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Printing
While both laser and inkjet printers can handle thinner cardstock, laser printers, in general, are more capable of handling paper with a greater paper thickness. The biggest benefit of lasers is that they use toner cartridges and heat to produce text and images, which results in smudge-free prints.
Since cardstock can be quite thick, it is of utmost importance that you change your printer settings by selecting the correct paper type, which would be something like “Cardstock” or “Thick Paper.” Coated cardstock can make printing even more of a hurdle due to possible tearing and printer jams, so make sure to change your settings.
If you don’t have a printer at home or your printer isn’t compatible with thicker cardstock, you can rely on online printing services or a copy shop near you. At BachelorPrint, you can print your documents for as little as $0.10 per B/W page.
FAQs
Cardstock is a type of paper that is thicker than regular printer paper, but thinner than cardboard. It can be used for postcards and business cards.
Yes, cardstock is thick paper. However, it’s still thinner and more flexible than cardboard.
That depends. Laser printers might be more capable in handling thicker paper; either way, it’s important that you change your printer settings to “Cardstock” or “Thick Paper” or, if all else fails, ask a copy shop to do the work for you.
A synonym for cardstock paper is cover stock or pasteboard.
