Paper stock & GSM — what to print on, explained
The numbers, the finishes, and the choices that decide whether your print feels premium or falls apart — from the studio that prints it every day.
Every print job starts with the same question: what's it printed on? Choose the right stock and a simple flyer feels premium; choose wrong and a beautiful design feels cheap. Here's the plain-English guide we give every client — no jargon, just what each stock is actually for.
GSM, decoded — and why it matters
GSM stands for grams per square metre — literally how much one square metre of the sheet weighs. Heavier stock = thicker, stiffer, more expensive. It's the single biggest driver of how your print feels in the hand.
| Stock | Weight | What it's right for |
|---|---|---|
| Bond / letterhead | 100–120gsm | Letterheads, with-compliments slips, invoice pads — anything that goes through an office printer or envelope. |
| Flyer stock | 115–130gsm | High-volume letterbox drops and handouts. Light enough to bundle by the thousand, sturdy enough not to arrive creased. |
| Premium flyer | 150–170gsm | Menus, price lists and counter handouts meant to survive a week on a bench top. |
| Card stock | 250–310gsm | Postcards, appointment cards, swing tags, invitation-style pieces — stiff, holds a crease, survives a handbag. |
| Business card | 350–400gsm | The business weight. With matte laminate it's the card that gets kept, not binned. |
| Premium card | 400–600gsm | The "show other people" tier — velvet-touch, foil and spot-UV finishes live here. |
Finish changes everything — the feel test
The modern default. Smooth, fingerprint-proof, writes-on with most pens. Makes colours look deep rather than shiny — the safe choice for premium brands.
Colours pop hardest, especially photography. Great for tradies, hospitality and event flyers. One catch: pen won't write on it.
Paper the way paper used to feel — tactile, warm, and the only choice if people will write on it. Soaks ink slightly, so fine type loses a little crispness.
The middle road: smoother than uncoated, not shiny like gloss. Reads well, photographs well, and takes light pen pressure.
Five stock mistakes we fix every week
- Going too light to save money. A 115gsm "business card" is a flyer. If it's supposed to represent you, start at 350gsm — the upgrade costs a few cents a card.
- Gloss where a pen needs to go. Loyalty cards, vouchers and appointment cards need uncoated or write-on stock. Plan the pen before the finish.
- Heavy stock that won't fold. Anything over 250gsm needs scoring before it folds, or the fibre cracks on the crease. We score it properly — no cracked spines.
- Designing for the wrong process. Office printers jam over ~200gsm. If a piece is going through your own printer later, tell us — we'll keep it laser-friendly.
- Ignoring the envelope. A DL flyer is 99×210mm; a DL envelope is 110×220mm. Get the maths wrong and every card goes in crooked — or doesn't go in at all.
Not sure which stock suits your job? Send us what it's for and we'll recommend two or three options with real prices — usually the same day. Start with our print pricing or browse the full range in the online shop. Sizing it out? Read our guide to business card sizes in Australia, and if you're supplying artwork, the print-ready file guide covers the rest. Want your logo consistent across every stock you choose? That's our business logo printing service.
Need this done properly?
Quotes are free and fast — tell us what it's for and we'll pick the stock with you.