Mastering Your Prints: Paper Stock vs. Cardstock Explained

It’s common for people to use the terms paper stock and cardstock interchangeably, but for a professional printing business like Pixel Print USA, we know that subtle differences in material can drastically affect the final look, feel, and durability of your printed products. Choosing the correct paper is a critical step in the customization process. After all, you wouldn’t want to hand out flimsy business cards or struggle to fold a stiff letterhead!

When you think about digital printing or offset printing, the material is key. That’s why, at Pixel Print Usa, we use the umbrella term paper stock as our general descriptor for all materials. This makes the online ordering and custom printing process smoother for our clients. However, for those of you interested in the technical details—the paper weight and paper thickness—here is a detailed breakdown to help you make informed decisions about your next print job.

Paper Stock Fundamentals: Weight and Usage

Paper stock is generally defined as a thinner material used in commercial printing. While it can be a catch-all term for any paper used, it often refers to the lighter materials. For this material, paper thickness is measured by its basis weight in pounds (lb.). This is calculated by weighing 500 sheets of a specific paper size. A higher basis weight means a thicker, more substantial sheet.

This versatile, thinner material is frequently used for high-volume promotional printing like brochures, flyers, and catalogs.

Here’s how some common paper stock weights are used:

• 70 lb. – This is our lightest option, often chosen for stationery printing and mailing materials such as personalized letters, envelopes, and notepads. This opaque smooth white paper is generally compatible with both Laser and Inkjet desktop printers.
• 80 lb. – This weight offers a bit more body. It’s available as 80 lb. Gloss Book and 80 lb. Matte Text, allowing you to choose between a glossy finish or a matte finish. This is excellent for interior pages in catalogs, calendars, and lightweight booklets.
• 100 lb. – The heaviest of our traditional paper stocks, this smooth, lightweight material comes in options like 100 lb. Gloss Book, 100 lb. Gloss Cover, and 100 lb. Matte Cover. This weight provides a premium, luxurious feel to any of the products listed above, elevating your brand identity.

Understanding Cardstock: Rigidity and Durability

Cardstock, often called cover stock, is a significantly thicker paper material that maintains a degree of flexibility. It is much firmer than standard copier paper and highly resistant to bending and tearing. This rigidity makes it the ideal material for prints that need to withstand frequent handling or mailing.

This is why cardstock printing is used for essential business supplies like business cards, sturdy postcards, and memorable greeting cards.

When discussing cardstock, we measure its thickness in points (pt.). A point is 1/1000th of an inch, so a higher point number indicates a thicker material. For example, a 16 pt. cardstock has a thickness of 0.016 inches.

Common Cardstock Weights at Pixel Print Usa:

• 14 pt – This is the standard, reliable cardstock for items like business cards, hang tags, and bookmarks. It’s available in 14 pt. Gloss Cover (which includes a protective UV Coating) and 14 pt. Uncoated options.
• 16 pt – Our 16 pt. Premium Matte provides superior durability while remaining budget-friendly. This heavy-duty paper is the perfect base for luxury print enhancements like Raised UV spot gloss or Raised Foil on special items such as wedding invites and greeting cards.

Elevating Your Brand with Premium Cardstock

At Pixel Print Usa, we offer a line of luxury paper stocks that combine extreme thickness with a high-end, tactile finish. These deluxe print products are designed to make an unforgettable first impression, perfect for high-end events or executive business cards. Many of our premium card stocks feature unique finishes, from a shimmering Pearl effect to the velvety texture of Trifecta.

• 13 pt – Our Linen cardstock is a fine cardstock that features a distinctive textured surface. It’s often chosen for elegant, personal events like wedding invitations and baby shower announcements.
• 18 pt – This mid-range premium stock comes in diverse finishes, including eco-friendly Premium Kraft recycled paper (with a rustic texture), shiny Ultra Premium Pearl, and super soft Ultra Premium Smooth White.
• 38 pt – This is our ultimate, triple-layered Trifecta paper. This is a truly luxurious, ultra-thick stock that includes a striking center layer in a vibrant color like red, blue, or black, finished with a soft-touch coating.

Still Undecided?

We want you to feel confident in your printing choices! If you’re unsure which paper stock or cardstock is right for your project, simply order a Free Sample Kit from Pixel Print Usa. This lets you physically compare coated paper and uncoated paper stocks and see how our vibrant inks look on various thicknesses. Once you’ve experienced the quality of our materials, you can place your order for custom cardstock prints!