What Is Cardstock?

For the right packaging, the material choice is paramount as the product’s safety depends on the quality and type of material used for the packaging. This blog is all about the understanding of cardstock, what it is, its types, benefits, uses, how to choose the right type, and compatibility with different products. This blog guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

Cardstock, also referred to as cover stock or pasteboard, is a paper type that is thicker than normal paper and is also more durable, but is thinner and flexible than cardboard materials.

Key features

• This material is heavier in weight than standard paper, typically 65 lb to 110 lb or 175 gfm to 300+ gsm
• Have smooth, textured, glossy, or matte finishes
• Have options in various colors and patterns
• These are compatible with most home printers, depending on the thickness

Why Is Cardstock Popular?

The main reason of the popularity of these materials is their two opposite features as they offer perfect balance of strength and flexibility in comparison to other durable and strong materials that cannot be folded easily, these material offer flexibility and can be folded into any shape and have uses in almost all the product businesses, other reasons for their hype is

• Print-friendly material that holds the ink well without bleeding or feathering
• Visually appealing, as they offer premium texture and colors to be used professionally
• Strong and durable enough to stand up, but are easy to crease, fold, or score

Types Of Cardstock

This material features many types depending on the thickness, finish, and material composition. The types on their basis are

1. Based on finish

• Glossy cardstock

This type of cardstock features a shiny or reflective surface and is best for photos, marketing flyers, or if you want vibrant color prints.

• Matte cardstock

These are non-reflective and smooth, and are ideal for text-heavy documents and a professional look

• Textured cardstock

This type includes linen, felt, or canvas textures that go well with wedding invites and artistic crafts

• Metallic or pearl cardstock

This type has a shimmery and elegant look and is often used for premium invitations or gift cards

Based on the material

• Standard white cardstock

This card is a wood-pulp-based material and is the most affordable and commonly used type

• Recycled cardstock

This is made from post-consumer paper and is an eco-friendly choice for green brands

• Kraft cardstock

This features an unbleachable pulp composition that gives it a brown natural look and makes it highly biodegradable, being used in rustic or organic designs

• Cotton cardstock

It is made from cotton fibers and is a luxury type of cardstock offering softness that is ideal for letterpress

How To Choose The Right Type?

The right choice of cardstock types depends on the purpose and use of these materials in packaging or creativity, the need for prints and their compatibility with the printer, the finish, and the desired appearance of the box.

Factors to be considered are

• Purposes

Wedding invitations can go for a premium, textured cardstock, while everyday flyers need lighter, glossy stock

• Printer compatibility

Every cardstock can not be handled by home printers. Check your printer’s specs for maximum supported GSM, and then go for it

• Finish preference

Glossy can cause glare while improving colors, while matte provides easy readability, and textured adds sophistication

• Cost

Cost depends upon weight and finishes; the higher the weight and the premium finishes, the more it costs, while bulk orders can reduce per-sheet cost

Benefits Of Cardstock

There are a lot of advantages that are offered by cardstock over standard paper in a presentation, and durability

• These materials can withstand bending and tearing and hold shape during folding, creasing, die cutting and scoring and offer durability and strength.
• They absorb the ink well, offering minimal bleeding and supporting rich colors, being print-compatible
• Their premium feel improves branding and is ideal for a first impression, having a professional appearance
• These go well with die-cut machines, embossing tools, inkjet or laser printers, and can adapt to various creative and professional needs

Cardstock Vs Other Materials

For better understanding and to make the right choice, let’s compare cardstock with different papers to understand the features more widely.

• Cardstock vs Printer Paper

Cardstock is thicker and more durable than printer paper, widely used for cards, invites, and packaging, and is more costly than paper.

• Cardstock vs Cover Stock

Cover stock is heavier and is used in booklet or report covers, while cardstock is more widely used for crafts and printing, being lighter

• Cardstock vs Chipboard

Chipboard is rigid and brown recycled material used in packaging and notebooks, while cardstock is smoother and more refined for printing

Uses Of Cardstock

The common uses of this material in different fields are

Business and Professional printing

• Business cards
• Post cards
• Presentation folders
• Brochures
• Invitations

Packaging

• Custom box inserts
• Lightweight product packaging
• Display cards

Crafting and Scrapbooking

• Handmade greeting cards
• Tags and labels
• Scrapbook pages and embelllishments

Home and DIY

• Wedding and event decor
• Gift tags and wrapping embellishments
• Table numbers and place cards

Cardstock Weight

Cardstock is generally measured by weight and thickness, and helps to determine the right type for your project

Weight in pounds or GSM

• 65 lb or 176 GSM is lightweight and good for flyers and crafting
• 80 lb or 216 GSM is medium weight and suitable for invitation and greeting cards
• 100 lb or 270 GSM is heavyweight and good for business cards and covers
• 110 lb+ or 300+ GSM is extra heavy and used for sturdy packaging or premium cards

Thickness in points or inches

• 10 PT = 0.010 inches
• 12 PT = 0.012 inches standard for postcards
• 16 PT = 0.016 inches thicker business cards or luxury print jobs

Eco-Friendly Cardstock Options

With growing environmental awareness, many brands now offer sustainable cardstock options, including

• Recycled cardstock is made from post-consumer waste
• FSC-certified cardstock obtained from responsibly managed forests
• Kraft cardstock is unbleached and biodegradable
• Cotton cardstock is tree-free and compostable

Cardstock In Packaging

It is a popular choice in packaging due to its lightweight, durability, and professional presentation. Its uses include

• Product display cards
• Retail packaging inserts
• Sleeves and wrappers
• Mini folding boxes, or accessories, or samples

Why Use Cardstock In Packaging?

This material offers many features that make it ideal for packaging that includes

Printable surface for branding and logos

• Foldability for easy assembly
• Customizability for shapes and designs
• Cost-effective for small batches and luxury effects

Final Thoughts

Apparently, cardstock is just a thicker paper, but it has a huge impact on branding, presentation, and durability. Whether you are printing wedding invites, crafting custom boxes, or designing a marketing postcard, cardstock provides the professional feel and structure you need.