Paper Stocks at DocuCopies.com:
Weights, Finishes & Coatings Explained
Paper Stocks at DocuCopies.com: Weights, Finishes & Coatings Explained
Unsure about our paper selections? Here you'll find our entire paper catalog with descriptions of each stock. This includes bond, smooth, and text weights; cover stocks; and specialty printer paper such as metallics, linens and C1S/C2S.
But first, let's cover some basic terminology to understand how these papers are defined and categorized. Don't need the primer? Click below to jump to another section:
Paper Weight vs. Thickness
You'll notice we identify most of our paper options by their weight, but in some cases you'll see points instead. What's the difference?
Paper Weight Explained
Paper weight is the most common designation used in the United States to identify paper stocks. This is determined by the basis weight of one ream of paper (500 sheets), typically measured in pounds (lb/lbs/#). For example, one ream of 20# Bond paper sized at 17" x 22" weighs 20 lbs.
Digital vs. Offset Weights: While digital printers use paper with a particular range of standard sizes, offset printers order paper at much larger sizes. This increases the basis weight. Because many of our customers come from an offset printing background, we list most of our paper stocks in both digital and offset weights. For example, with 20/50# Bond, 20# is the basis weight for digital presses, while 50# is the basis weight for offset presses.
Paper Thickness Explained
Points (pt/pts) refer to the thickness of the paper in units of 1/1000th of an inch. For example, 8pt paper has a thickness of .008", while 12pt cover is .012" thick. Points are commonly used to describe card stock paper but are less common with text weights.
Because different paper manufacturers use different processes and materials, there is no universal equation of pounds to points. For example, our 100# Cover Smooth is 14pt, while our 100# Cover Gloss is thinner, sitting around 11.5pts. The same cover weight from another printing company or paper manufacturer might be slightly thinner or thicker.
Text Weight vs. Cover Weight Paper
What are cover weights? What are text weights? And why is 80# Cover thicker and heavier than 80# Text? These are common points of confusion.
Cover weight paper, also called card stock, is thicker and sturdier than text weight paper. The basis weight is the same because the standard paper size prior to trimming is larger than text weight papers. An easy way to keep these ideas separate is to think about book covers versus book pages. A book's cover is typically card stock, while the inside pages (which contain mostly text) are comparable to everyday writing paper and copy paper.
Cover weights are generally used for postcards, business cards, booklet covers, and premium marketing materials. Text weight papers are typically used for flyers, brochures, letterhead, and book pages.
Going Deeper...
Wondering how to choose the right paper for your project? Check out our Guide to Paper Stock: Weight, Thickness, Finish and Coating for detailed help choosing the appropriate paper for your print job.
Cover Paper Finish & Color Comparison
Gloss Paper Spectrum (less sheen to more sheen)
Relative positions for common digital printing papers. Left is less gloss, right is more gloss.
Paper Catalog:
Text Weight Papers
This is common, everyday printer paper intended for economical printing. It has an attractive white shade with a slightly blue hue and is most commonly found in home printers and walk-in, consumer-grade copy shops. Made with Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) virgin fiber content and manufactured under alkaline (acid-free) conditions for increased longevity and performance.
This bond paper comes in a variety of pastel colors. Choose from Blue, Yellow, Green, Tan, Pink, and Salmon. Contains 30% recycled fiber.
Finish: Smooth
This paper features a uniform surface for better resolution and higher opacity for less show-through than the 20/50# paper. If you are printing double sided we recommend not using any lighter paper than this. Made with Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) virgin fiber content and manufactured under alkaline (acid-free) conditions for increased longevity and performance.
This smooth paper comes in a variety of colors. Choose from Ivory, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink, Bright Green, Bright Yellow, Bright Red, Bright Blue, and Bright Orange.
Finish: Smooth
This paper is our most popular because of its affordability and quality, with a bright white opacity and minimal show through. Made with Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) virgin fiber content and manufactured under alkaline (acid-free) conditions for increased longevity and performance.
Finish: Linen
This text weight paper is available in two colors: natural (off white) or brilliant white. The raised paper fibers of the linen texture give this paper a unique look and feel.
Finish: Smooth
This is the highest grade text weight paper we carry. This paper features superb opacity for virtually no show-through. Made with Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) virgin fiber content and manufactured under alkaline (acid-free) conditions for increased longevity and performance.
Finish: Gloss
Featuring superior toner adhesion for better image reproduction that rivals offset printing. The high quality semi-gloss finish makes this a perfect paper choice for high-end marketing collateral, advertising, annual reports and photo books, short run catalogs and magazines, brochures and more. Manufactured in North America.
Finish: Gloss
Heaviest text weight paper available. The high quality semi-gloss finish gives a magazine like look and feel. Common for high-end brochures, pamphlets, and books and manuals, this paper is meant to hold up to abuse while looking and feeling exceptionally professional.
Cover Weight Papers
This paper comes in a variety of colors. Choose from Blue, Green, Bright Yellow, Bright Green, Bright Blue, Bright Red, Bright Orange, Xmas Green, and Xmas Red. Bright Blue, Bright Orange, Xmas Green, and Xmas Red are 30% post consumer recycled.
Finish: Smooth
A medium cover weight (cardstock) paper, the 80# Cover Smooth is a good choice for book and booklet covers or products that you may want to hang up like posters.
Finish: Gloss
This paper is similar to the 80# Cover Smooth but has a slightly lighter feel and semi-gloss finish. The gloss finish lends itself well to items with photos or a lot of color coverage.
Finish: Smooth
One of the thicker cover weight (cardstock) papers, the 100# Cover Smooth is better for business cards, postcards, and book covers than the 80# cover weight papers.
Finish: Gloss
This is similar to the 100# Cover Smooth but has a slightly lighter feel and semi-gloss finish.
Finish: Linen
This 100# cover weight paper is available in two colors: natural (off white) or brilliant white. The raised paper fibers of the linen texture give this paper a unique look and feel.
Finish: Ultra Smooth
This 8pt synthetic paper is ideal for situations where moisture or wear are of concern. The paper is waterproof and tearproof making it an ideal stock for menus, cookbooks, manuals, and other high use products.
Finish: High Gloss
The 12pt Cover High Gloss C1S (coated one side) cover stock offers a beautiful high gloss coating on one side and an uncoated surface on the other. The high gloss side really reflects the light in unprinted areas or where the white of the paper shows through. The uncoated side has a similar finish to the cover laser white cover stocks.
Finish: Smooth (Matte-like)
Extra thick 16pt cardstock. Excellent for business cards, postcards, greeting cards, and other collateral that requires the use of thick paper stock.
Finish: Coated Both Sides
Similar feel as the 16pt Extra Thick Cover Smooth, but with a slightly shiny coating.
Finish: Coated Both Sides
Heaviest paper we offer. Great for extra protection on book covers. Also ideal to create thick postcards and business cards.
Metallic Papers
Beautiful mica coated metallic surface will add a shimmer of sophistication and elegance to any print job. FSC certified. Elemental chlorine free. Acid free. Lignin free.
Recycled Papers
Finish: Smooth
100% post consumer recycled fiber. Acid free. Manufactured with windpower. Unique digital imaging surface for enhanced toner transfer and color copy image quality.
Finish: Smooth
100% post consumer recycled fiber. Acid free. Manufactured with windpower. Unique digital imaging surface for enhanced toner transfer and color copy image quality.
Carbonless (Form) Papers
The 2 part carbonless form consists of a white and canary sheet while the 3 part carbonless form consists of a white, canary, and pink sheet. Carbonless forms are sometimes referred to as carbon copies or NCR forms.
Wide Format Papers
Finish: Semi-Gloss
Beautiful high quality paper that will make your posters stand out from the crowd. The semi-gloss coating adds a slight shine to the finished product.
Finish: High-Gloss
Go for the high gloss when you really want your posters to shine.
Finish: Scrim
Great for short-term outdoor use. 3-6 months.
Finish: Matte
This slightly textured matte canvas provides great color quality that can stand the test of time - up to 200 years lifespan away from direct sunlight. This is ideal for artists, photographers, and other graphics professionals.
Finish: Matte
This paper has a beautiful Matte finish and is a self-adhesive polypropylene perfect for mounting on foam board or other surfaces. Great for sign up boards or other items that may need to be written on.
Finish: Matte
This repositionable self-adhesive fabric is 7 mil, or 13 mil including the self-adhesive backing (which is peeled off before adhering). Fantastic print quality, scratch resistance and durability make this a great choice for large format graphics that need to be repositioned and adhered again and again.
Finish: Gloss
This paper has a beautiful Gloss finish and is a self-adhesive polypropylene perfect for mounting on foam board or other surfaces. The slightly thicker 8 mil gloss gives the final product a higher shine than the matte finish.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paper Stocks
Common questions and answers about copy paper and other paper stocks used in printing.
What does paper weight mean?
Paper weight describes how heavy, thick and sturdy a sheet feels, which affects how your printed piece looks, handles, and performs. In digital printing, paper weight is commonly listed in pounds (# or lb) using familiar production sheet sizes. Selecting an appropriate paper weight helps support reliable feeding through digital presses, consistent image quality, and the right level of durability for the finished piece.
How is paper weight different from paper thickness?
Paper thickness is often referenced in points (pt) to make it easier to compare stiffness across different paper types. One point equals 1/1000 of an inch, so higher point values indicate a thicker, stiffer sheet. Paper weight (lb or #) and thickness (pt) are related, but they are not the same. Coated papers and cover stocks may be slightly thicker or thinner in points than uncoated papers at the same listed weight.
How do paper types affect print quality?
Paper type and surface finish influence color, contrast, glare, and how crisp text and images appear. Uncoated papers typically provide excellent readability and are easy to write on, while coated papers tend to increase color saturation and image contrast. For digital printing, the right combination of paper weight, finish, and coating helps your piece look intentional and professional while also performing well during production.
What is bond paper?
Bond paper is an uncoated paper designed for readability and writability, with a matte surface that accepts toner cleanly and minimizes glare. Bond papers are often composed partially or entirely of cotton fibers, while most other stocks are made from wood pulp. Common weights range from 20 to 32 lb.
Because bond is uncoated and relatively thin, it is well suited for text-heavy documents, forms, bulk copies, and everyday business printing where high volume matters more than premium image quality. This makes bond paper popular for office copiers, desktop printers, and single-use materials such as disposable restaurant menus.
What is text weight paper?
Text papers cover a wide range of stocks including uncoated bond, smooth-finish, and various coated options. With weights generally ranging from 20 lb to 100 lb, text paper is flexible and lightweight compared to cover stocks and card stocks. It is typically used for booklet pages, letterhead, brochures, flyers, and office or desktop printing.
Our text paper stocks come in a variety of weights and finishes. 32/80 lb Text is available in both Smooth and Gloss, while the premium 100 lb Text comes in Gloss only.
What is cover stock?
Cover stock, also called card stock, is heavier and more rigid than text and bond paper. It is available in a variety of coatings and finishes including gloss, matte, satin, smooth, and C1S/C2S.
Cover stock is typically used for book and booklet covers, postcards, business cards, and high-end marketing materials.
What is smooth paper?
Smooth paper is an uncoated stock with a more refined surface than standard bond. While technically uncoated, it has a consistent matte-like finish that supports sharp text and clean graphics while maintaining strong readability and writability. Smooth papers are commonly selected for professional reports, letterhead, and presentation handouts.
What is linen paper?
Linen paper is an uncoated paper with a subtle embossed crosshatch texture that resembles woven fabric. The textured surface adds a tactile, upscale feel while still supporting clear text and moderate color reproduction. Linen stocks are commonly used for letterhead, certificates, invitations, and professional business materials where appearance and touch are important.
Because of its textured surface, linen paper can slightly reduce image sharpness compared to smooth papers, making it better suited for text-focused designs than detailed photographs.
What is semi gloss paper (coated)?
Semi gloss paper has a light coating that improves color and image contrast while reducing glare compared to a full gloss finish. It provides a balanced appearance that works well for flyers, brochures, and marketing pieces that include photos or graphics. All of the gloss paper stocks on this page, except for the 12pt C1S High Gloss Cover, are technically semi gloss.
What is high gloss C1S cover stock (coated one side)?
High gloss C1S cover stock is a heavy paper coated on one side only. The coated side has a bright, photo-like glossy finish that helps colors appear more vibrant, while the uncoated back can be easier for writing. This stock is commonly used for postcards, covers, and premium promotional pieces.
High gloss C1S is often thicker and commonly measures about 10–14pt depending on weight.
What is coated C2S cover stock (coated two sides)?
Coated C2S cover stock is coated on both sides for consistent color and image quality across the front and back. It is not as glossy as semi gloss or high gloss C1S, but it still has a slight shine that enhances graphics while maintaining a more refined finish. C2S cover stocks are frequently used for menus, double-sided postcards, and durable marketing materials.
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