Have you wondered why some cards feel sturdy, while others bend too easily after some time? As a business, we know that you want to hand your prospects a solid card for a lasting impression. Cardstock gives printing and packaging projects the structure they need. The hard part is choosing the right weight and thickness.
A greeting card needs to stand upright, while a jewelry card has to hold its shape. An invitation should feel substantial without becoming hard to fold or costly to mail. The difference usually comes down to the type of cardstock.
An iridescent, glossy, or soft-touch matte finish matters, and the numbers on different packs are not always easy to compare. This guide explains what cardstock is, how the measurements work, and how to choose the right option for your project.
What Is Cardstock Paper?
Cardstock is a strong paper used for printing cards, invitations, crafts, covers, and some types of lightweight packaging. It is thicker and stiffer than ordinary writing paper, but remains flexible enough to cut and fold.
Both “cardstock” and “card stock” are accepted spellings. You may also see “card paper” in retail descriptions or the Spanish terms “cartulina” and “cartulinas” on craft supplies.
Most cardstock is made from wood pulp, while specialty grades may contain cotton or other plant fibers. Manufacturers can use different fiber blends, including recycled fibers, to adjust the paper’s strength, texture, and printing surface.
Cardstock isn’t a single grade with one fixed weight. A flexible sheet for folded greeting cards and a firm sheet for product tags can both fall within this category.
Cardstock Weight: Understanding GSM and Pounds
Cardstock weight tells you how much a defined area of paper weighs. It doesn’t directly tell you the sheet’s thickness. Thickness can affect stiffness, but fiber composition, density, grain direction, and coatings also influence how sturdy the cardstock feels. GSM measures weight, while points measure caliper or thickness.
What Is Cardstock GSM?
GSM means grams per square meter, and a 300 GSM stock weighs 300 grams per square meter, regardless of the size of the individual sheets.
That makes GSM useful when comparing different paper categories. Common cardstock options include approximately 160 to 350 GSM, although suppliers sell lighter and heavier grades under the same broad name.
Paper around 120 GSM is often described as heavyweight paper rather than cardstock. It can suit flyers, but it won’t necessarily provide the stiffness needed for a standing card.
How Do You Check Cardstock GSM?
To find the GSM, first check the supplier’s specifications. You can also weigh an unmarked sheet and divide its weight in grams by its area in square meters. Use an accurate scale, and weigh several identical sheets together to improve the estimate.
What Does Cardstock Weight in Pounds Mean?
In the United States, basis weight measures 500 sheets at a specified parent size. Cover paper uses a 20 × 26 inch basis size; text paper uses 25 × 38 inches.
That’s why 80 lb cover and 80 lb text feel different. The number refers to differently sized sheets. Always check the paper category alongside the pounds.
Card Stock Weight Chart
These approximate cover-weight conversions provide starting points for choosing cardstock printing weight. Because pound values depend on the paper category and basis size, use this chart only for cover stock and confirm the manufacturer’s specifications before ordering.
| Cover weight | Approximate GSM | Possible uses |
| 65 lb | 176 GSM | Lightweight cards and craft layers |
| 80 lb | 216 GSM | Folded cards and brochure covers |
| 100 lb | 270 GSM | Invitations and postcards |
| 110 lb | 298 GSM | Business cards and substantial invitations |
| 130 lb | 352 GSM | Firm tags and display cards |
There is no universal standard cardstock weight. Match the stock to the project, then check printing, folding, and mailing requirements.
Cardstock Thickness: Points, Inches, and Millimeters
Cardstock thickness, also called caliper, measures the distance between the sheet’s two surfaces. It can be expressed in points, inches, or millimeters. Thickness contributes to stiffness and handling, so each application may require a different point value.
For paper thickness, one point equals 0.001 inch. These are different from the typographic points used for font sizes.
Thickness in inches = paper points ÷ 1,000.
Card Stock Thickness Guide
Caliper and GSM do not have a fixed conversion. Two sheets with the same cardstock GSM can have different thicknesses because their fibers, density, and coatings differ.
| Paper points | Inches | Millimeters, approximately |
| 12 pt | 0.012 | 0.305 |
| 14 pt | 0.014 | 0.356 |
| 16 pt | 0.016 | 0.406 |
| 18 pt | 0.018 | 0.457 |
| 24 pt | 0.024 | 0.61 |
For custom packaging, ask for both figures and test a sample. People often mix quality with sheet weight, but heavier sheets aren’t automatically the best choice if they crack at the fold or won’t feed through your printer.
Common Cardstock Sizes and Dimensions
Cardstock sizes describe the sheet you buy, which may be larger than the finished card or package. The required dimensions depend on the final product. Greeting cards, playing cards, business cards, and wedding invitations may all be cut from different sheet formats.
| Sheet format | Cardstock dimensions | Common use |
| Letter | 8.5 × 11 inches | Office printing and cardmaking |
| Legal | 8.5 × 14 inches | Longer layouts and certificates |
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm | International printing and crafts |
| Scrapbook square | 12 × 12 inches | Albums and craft layouts |
| Smaller squares | 4 × 4, 5 × 5, or 6 × 6 inches | Cards and decorative pieces |
A4 measures approximately 8.27 × 11.69 inches. Printers also use larger parent sheets and custom cuts to accommodate multiple pieces and trimming space.
Roll stock paper arrives on rolls rather than cut sheets. Confirm which format your printing or converting equipment accepts.
Types of Cardstock Paper and Finishes
Below are common types of cardstock paper and finishes. Each option has a different appearance, texture, print response, and suitable use.
Matte Cardstock
Matte cardstock has a low-sheen appearance that suits invitations, cards, and restrained packaging designs. Some matte stocks are coated; others are uncoated. Check pen compatibility if customers need to write on them.
Glossy and Coated Cardstock
Coated cardstock can support detailed artwork and strong printed color when matched to the printing process. Gloss adds reflection, but scratch resistance depends on the coating or protective finish.
Textured Cardstock
Linen, felt, and other textured surfaces add a noticeable feel to wedding invitations and presentation pieces. Test small text and fine artwork because texture can affect print detail.
Metallic Cardstock
Metallic and pearlescent stocks reflect light for a decorative effect. They aren’t all made with silver foil. Check how the chosen surface handles ink, toner, folding, and adhesive.
Kraft Cardstock
Kraft cardstock offers a brown, understated appearance for jewelry cards, tags, and packaging sleeves. Its color affects printed artwork. Ask about recycled content and sourcing rather than assuming the brown finish proves environmental benefits.
What Is Cardstock Paper Used For?
Cardstock works when ordinary paper feels too flimsy, but a rigid board would be unnecessary. Art paper is commonly used for image-rich flyers, brochures, and magazines, while cardstock offers more stiffness for cards, tags, inserts, sleeves, and lightweight packaging boxes. The exact use depends on its weight, caliper, coating, and grain direction.
Greeting cards and invitations: Foldable cardstock provides structure while leaving room for a personal message. Score heavier sheets before folding, and test the fold direction to reduce cracking.
Business cards and postcards: Firmer stocks handle repeated use better than ordinary office paper. For mailed postcards, confirm the destination’s postal requirements before choosing dimensions and thickness.
Jewelry cards and packaging: Tags, earring cards, sleeves, inserts, and small cartons need enough stiffness for their contents. Test holes, folds, and loaded samples before ordering production quantities.
Crafts and presentation materials: Scrapbooks, place cards, book covers, calendars, certificates, educational projects, and decorative signs all benefit from different cardstock weights. Choose the surface based on whether the material will be printed, written on, cut, or glued.
Playing cards: Suitable cardstocks need the right stiffness, finish, and handling properties. Ordinary craft cardstock may work for prototypes but won’t necessarily shuffle or wear like commercial playing cards.
Cardstock vs. Paper, Construction Paper, and Cover Stock
Cardstock overlaps with several paper categories, but the terms are not always interchangeable. The comparisons below explain how cardstock differs from copy paper, construction paper, cover stock, photo paper, and paperboard.
Cardstock vs. Paper
Cardstock is itself paper. Compared with ordinary copy paper, it generally offers greater stiffness and durability. Everyday office paper commonly runs around 75 to 90 GSM and suits documents rather than standing cards.
Cardstock vs. Construction Paper
Construction paper usually has a softer, more fibrous surface suited to cutting and classroom crafts. Cardstock generally provides a firmer base for printing and folded projects, although individual grades vary.
Cover Stock Paper vs. Cardstock
Cover stock and cardstock often describe overlapping products. “Cover” is common in commercial printing, while “cardstock” is familiar in retail. Compare actual specifications instead of assuming one term guarantees greater strength.
Cardstock vs. Paperboard
Cardstock is commonly sold for printing, cards, tags, and crafts. Paperboard is an industrial packaging category used for folding cartons and other converted products. Their weight and thickness ranges can overlap, so packaging buyers should compare caliper, stiffness, coating, grain direction, and converting performance rather than relying on the product name alone.
Cardstock vs. Matte Photo Paper
Matte photo paper is designed for image printing with a compatible printer. Matte cardstock describes a broader paper category. Similar appearance doesn’t guarantee the same coating, stiffness, or photographic results.
How Do You Print on Cardstock?
Check your printer’s supported media, maximum thickness, and weight limits first. Manufacturers specify these limits by model, tray, and paper type. A photo-paper rating doesn’t automatically apply to every cardstock.
Use the recommended feed path and media setting. Some machines accept thick sheets through a rear feed, sometimes one at a time. Follow the loading instructions for your printer model.
Choose cardstock for printing that is compatible with inkjet or laser equipment. Print a sample and check drying, smudging, color, and feeding before running the batch. There is no universal ink-coverage setting for every stock.
Store unused sheets flat, dry, and protected from changing humidity. Good cardstock storage helps prevent curled edges and feeding problems.
Where Can You Buy Cardstock Paper?
Craft stores, office suppliers, paper merchants, and commercial printers sell cardstock. For custom printed cardstock packaging in the United States, you can request material options, physical samples, and a quote from NexGen Boxes. Our packaging team can help you compare weight, caliper, finish, printing, and structural requirements. Check whether each quote includes printing, cutting, scoring, and delivery so you can compare the same finished job.
Choose the Right Cardstock for the Job
Start with the finished product, then choose weight, thickness, size, and finish. Request samples before committing to a large order.
For custom cardstock packaging, send NexGen Boxes your dimensions, product weight
