How to Print on Cardstock at Home: Settings, Paper Types, and Troubleshooting Guide
By Sophia Al-Mansoor
Paper weights in the United States create persistent confusion because pound ratings vary depending on the base sheet size of each paper grade. A sheet of 65 lb cover stock is significantly thicker and heavier than a sheet of 65 lb index paper. Grams per square meter (GSM) provides an absolute, universal standard across all manufacturers.
Standard multi-purpose copy paper registers at roughly 75 to 80 GSM (20 lb bond). Light cardstock, frequently used for greeting cards or presentation covers, measures between 160 and 216 GSM (60 lb to 80 lb cover). Heavy business card paper thickness often begins at 250 GSM and climbs past 300 GSM (110 lb cover or higher). The distinction between cover stock vs pasteboard is also critical for desktop hardware: cover stock consists of a dense, flexible single-ply or multi-ply sheet intended for printing, whereas pasteboard or structural mounting boards are rigid, laminated paperboards that will break consumer feed rollers instantly.
Checking the printer's technical specification sheet reveals its maximum rated GSM. Exceeding that figure by even 15 GSM can stall feed tires or warp internal registration gates.
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