Free reference
Paper Stock Comparison Chart
Every common print stock side-by-side: GSM weight, PT thickness, lb equivalent, feel, and what each one is best for. Sortable by weight (thinnest to heaviest).
| Stock | Category | GSM | PT | Feel | Best for | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70lb Uncoated Text 70lb | Text | 104 | 4 | Smooth, slightly absorbent, writes well with pen | Cheap flyers, short-life event marketing, internal handouts | Budget |
| 80lb Uncoated Text 80lb | Text | 118 | 5 | Slightly heavier than 70lb, still writable | Booklet interiors, low-cost programs, letterhead | Budget |
| 100lb Gloss Text 100lb | Text | 148 | 5 | Smooth, glossy, vibrant photo reproduction | Standard flyers, restaurant menus, real estate "Just Listed" pieces | Standard |
| 100lb Matte Text 100lb | Text | 148 | 5 | Smooth no-shine surface, easy to read text on | Professional services flyers, wedding invitations, museum announcements | Standard |
| 100lb Gloss Cover 100lb | Cover | 270 | 10 | Postcard thickness, glossy, holds color well | Door hangers, premium postcards, gift card flyers | Standard |
| 14PT Gloss Cover (C2S) ~120lb cover | Cover | 320 | 14 | Standard business card thickness, smooth shine | Default business cards, postcards, mid-tier brochure covers | Standard |
| 14PT Uncoated Cover ~120lb cover | Cover | 320 | 14 | Same thickness as 14PT Gloss but writable | Networking cards where people scribble on the back, vintage feel | Standard |
| 16PT C2S ~140lb cover | Cover | 370 | 16 | Noticeably thicker than 14PT, premium feel | Lawyers, financial advisors, professionals signaling quality | Standard |
| 18PT C1S ~160lb cover | Cover | 420 | 18 | Heaviest standard stock, one side coated | Handwritten notes on the back (appointment cards, referral cards) | Premium |
| 13oz Vinyl Banner 13oz/sq yd | Specialty | 440 | — | Flexible, weather-resistant outdoor vinyl | Outdoor event banners, storefront signage, fundraisers | Standard |
| 4mm Coroplast rigid plastic | Specialty | 500 | — | Lightweight corrugated plastic sign material | Yard signs, real estate, political campaigns, garage sales | Standard |
| 18oz Blockout Vinyl 18oz/sq yd | Specialty | 610 | — | Heavy-duty vinyl, no light bleed-through (great for double-sided) | High-wind locations, double-sided banners, multi-year display | Premium |
| 32PT Suede Laminate ~300lb cover | Specialty | 760 | 32 | Velvet-like soft-touch, very thick (2 stacked 14PT) | Luxury brands, architects, photographers, premium services | Luxury |
| 32PT Painted Edge ~300lb cover | Specialty | 760 | 32 | Ultra-thick with bright colored sides visible from any angle | Statement-making brands, weddings, top-tier creative agencies | Luxury |
| 38PT Silk Laminate ~340lb cover | Specialty | 900 | 38 | Thickest premium stock, soft-touch matte finish | High-end professional services, luxury hospitality, top-shelf brands | Luxury |
| 10mm Coroplast rigid plastic | Specialty | 1200 | — | Thicker corrugated plastic, more rigid | Long-term outdoor signage, contractor jobsite signs | Premium |
Quick-pick by use case
Standard business cards
14PT Gloss Cover (C2S)
Industry default. Premium feel, fair price.
Luxury business cards
32PT Painted Edge or Suede
When the card needs to do the impressing.
Real estate postcards
14PT C2S, 6x9 size
EDDM-eligible, photo-friendly, weather-stable.
Restaurant menus (laminated)
100lb Gloss Cover + matte laminate
Wipes clean, holds up to grease.
Outdoor yard signs
4mm Coroplast or 0.040" Aluminum
Survives weather for 6 months to 5 years depending on tier.
Event banners
13oz Vinyl (or 18oz Blockout for double-sided)
Hemmed and grommeted standard.
Paper weight reference
PT (Point): Most accurate measure of card stock thickness. 1 PT = 0.001 inches. A 14PT card is 0.014" thick.
GSM (Grams per Square Meter): Universal global standard. Higher GSM = thicker, heavier paper. Copy paper is 80 GSM; standard business card stock is ~320 GSM; luxury 32PT is ~760 GSM.
lb (Pound): US-only convention measuring weight of 500 sheets at a base size. "100lb cover" and "100lb text" are different because they\'re measured on different base sheets. Always cross-reference with GSM or PT for accurate comparison.
FAQ
What does PT mean in paper weight?
PT stands for "point" — 1 point = 0.001 inches of caliper (thickness). A 14PT card is 0.014" thick (14/1000ths of an inch). PT is the most accurate way to compare card stock thickness across manufacturers because it measures the physical caliper directly, unlike "lb" which measures weight of 500 sheets at a base size that varies by paper type.
What's the difference between "lb cover" and "lb text"?
They're measured on different base sheet sizes, so the numbers don't directly compare. 100lb cover (~270 GSM) is roughly 2x as thick as 100lb text (~148 GSM). When in doubt, look at GSM (grams per square meter) for a universal comparison — higher GSM = thicker/heavier paper regardless of category.
How thick should business cards be?
14PT C2S Gloss is the industry default — about 0.014" thick, premium-feeling without being aggressively thick. 16PT is the upgrade for higher-end services. 32PT (Suede, Painted Edge) is luxury territory and reads as "this person spent on cards." Below 14PT (10PT, 12PT) starts to feel flimsy and undermines the brand.
What's C2S vs C1S?
C2S = "coated 2 sides" (both sides have a smooth coating, glossy or matte). C1S = "coated 1 side" (one side coated, the other left raw for writing/handwriting). Most business cards are C2S; appointment reminder cards and referral cards (where you write on the back) are C1S.
Is uncoated paper cheaper than coated?
Slightly — about 5-10% less than gloss-coated equivalents. The real reason to choose uncoated is feel and writability, not cost. Uncoated stocks absorb ink differently and feel more "natural" or "vintage." Glossy stocks give vibrant photo color but pen ink beads up on them.
What's GSM and which paper has the highest?
GSM = grams per square meter, the universal paper weight standard outside the US. Our heaviest commonly-printed stock is 38PT Silk laminate at ~900 GSM. For context, normal copy paper is 80 GSM, a standard business card is 320 GSM (14PT C2S), and a postcard is 270 GSM (100lb cover).
Not sure which stock to pick?
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