Materials · 6 min read

Business card paper stocks and coatings explained

Stock and coating decide how the card feels, and feel is most of what people remember. The design gets a glance; the thickness and finish get a whole handshake.

Reading the numbers

Cardstock is measured in points, which is thousandths of an inch. 14pt is 0.014″. It is the common weight for a business card and feels like a solid, ordinary card. 16pt is noticeably stiffer and is what most people mean when they say a card feels expensive.

Cover weights are measured in pounds instead, per ream. 100lb cover is a lighter, more paper-like sheet. It takes a fold well and is a good match for textured finishes.

The stocks

14pt cardstock

The default. Sturdy, takes any coating, and the most economical way to get a card that does not feel flimsy.

16pt cardstock

Thicker and stiffer. The upgrade people actually notice when they take the card from you.

100lb cover

Lighter and more natural in the hand. Pairs well with uncoated and linen finishes.

Linen

An embossed cross-hatch texture running through the sheet. Traditional and slightly formal; very good with letterpress-style layouts and bad with large photographs, because the texture breaks up fine detail.

Suede

A soft, matte, almost velvety surface. Rich to hold, and it mutes colour slightly, which suits restrained palettes.

Pearl

A subtle metallic shimmer in the sheet itself. It catches light as the card moves.

Natural

Uncoated and unbleached, with visible fibre. Warm and tactile, and the only stock here you can comfortably write on with any pen.

Waterproof synthetic

A 10pt synthetic sheet rather than paper. It shrugs off water, tearing and creasing, which makes it the right pick for trades, food service, marine and anything that lives in a pocket outdoors.

Magnet

17pt magnetic stock. It goes on a fridge and stays there, which is why service businesses use it.

Plastic

20pt in clear, frosted or white. Clear and frosted let the background show through, so they need a design built around transparency rather than a normal layout dropped onto them.

The coatings

UV high gloss

A hard, shiny, reflective finish. Colours look their most saturated and photographs pop. It shows fingerprints, and you cannot write on it.

Gloss one side

Gloss on the front, uncoated on the back. The usual choice when you want a vivid front and still need to write an appointment on the back.

Matte

A flat, non-reflective finish. Easy to read in any light, modern, and much better than gloss at hiding fingerprints.

Silk

Between matte and gloss. A smooth, slightly soft sheen that feels considerably more expensive than it costs.

Suede

The coating equivalent of the stock: soft-touch and velvety.

Uncoated

No finish at all. Natural, tactile, takes pen and pencil, and colours sit a little flatter because the ink soaks into the fibre.

Choosing quickly

• Photography-led design: 16pt with gloss or silk.
• Type-led, minimal design: 16pt matte, or linen for something more traditional.
• Trades and outdoor work: waterproof synthetic.
• Anything that needs writing on: uncoated or natural.
• Repeat local business: magnet.

Common questions

What is the best paper for business cards?

16pt cardstock with a matte or silk coating suits most businesses. It is stiff enough to feel substantial and reads well in any light.

What is the difference between 14pt and 16pt cardstock?

Thickness. 14pt measures 0.014 inches and 16pt measures 0.016 inches, so 16pt is stiffer and feels more premium in the hand.

Can you write on a business card?

Only on uncoated, natural, or a card that is glossed on one side. Ink will not dry on UV gloss.