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Paper explained
Business card paper weight explained: which gsm to choose.
The gsm figure on a business card tells you how heavy the board is, and that is most of what decides how the card feels when you hand it over. Here is what the common weights mean, what duplex and triplex cards are, and which of our cards come in which weight.
- 5 minute read
- Updated October 2026
- Written by Printlogik
In short
- What gsm means: grams per square metre. The higher the number, the heavier the board, and usually the thicker and stiffer the card.
- The usual range: a typical business card is 350 to 450gsm. Our single-sheet card stocks run from 250gsm to 450gsm.
- Heavier than that: cards are made by bonding layers of board together. Two layers is duplex, three is triplex. Our triplex cards are 810gsm.
- A safe choice: 350gsm silk for an everyday card, 450gsm silk if you want it to feel noticeably thicker.
What gsm means on a business card
Gsm stands for grams per square metre. It is the weight of one square metre of that paper or board. Office copier paper is usually around 80gsm, so a 350gsm business card is more than four times the weight of the sheet in your printer.
Gsm measures weight, not thickness. Heavier board is usually thicker and stiffer, but two stocks of the same gsm can feel different. A soft uncoated or textured board tends to feel bulkier than a smooth coated silk board of the same weight.
So read the weight and the stock name together. "350gsm Silk" and "350gsm Recycled Uncoated" weigh the same and feel quite different in the hand.
How the common weights feel
- 250gsm. The lightest stock in our business card range, and it appears once: the felt-marked Rives Shetland on our textured business cards. Here the surface is the point, not the weight.
- 300gsm. The weight of most of our uncoated, kraft, cotton and pearl stocks. It is easy to write on and stamp, which suits appointment and loyalty cards.
- 350gsm. The balanced choice. In silk it is smooth, bright and sturdy. It is also the weight of our recycled uncoated board.
- 400gsm. A step up in stiffness. We offer 400gsm silk art board on our metallic foil business cards.
- 450gsm. Noticeably thicker, with a more premium feel in the hand. It is the heaviest stock on our Premium Classic business cards.
- 810gsm. Triplex. Around twice the weight of a typical card and rigid in the hand.
Lamination adds to the feel as well. It is a thin plastic film over the print, in gloss, matt or soft-touch, and it protects against scuffs. A laminated card cannot be written on as easily as an uncoated one.
Duplex and triplex cards
A single sheet of board only goes so heavy. To make a thicker card, sheets are bonded together.
- Duplex is two layers of board bonded into one card. The finished weight is roughly the two sheets added together.
- Triplex is three layers. The two outer layers carry your print, and the middle layer can be a different colour, so a stripe of colour shows on every edge.
We do not offer duplex cards. For a heavier card we offer the triplex business card instead: three layers bonded into one 810gsm card, with an uncoated or kraft face and a coloured core in eleven colours. It comes in the standard 85 × 55mm size or a 55 × 55mm square.
Be honest with yourself about how you will use it. A triplex card is thick enough to feel like an object, which is the appeal. It also means fewer cards fit in a card holder or a wallet slot than with a standard card.
Which of our cards come in which weight
Every card in our business cards range, with the weights you can order it in.
| Product | Weights | What it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Classic | 300gsm smooth white, 350gsm silk, 350gsm recycled uncoated, 450gsm silk | Everyday networking, new starters and anyone who needs a dependable card |
| Creative | 300gsm textured uncoated, pearl, uncoated cotton or brown kraft, 325gsm hemp blend, 350gsm textured linen, 375gsm woven bamboo | Design studios, photographers, makers and brands that want texture |
| Recycled | 350gsm recycled uncoated | Independent shops, cafés and salons, and cards that get written on or stamped |
| Uncoated | 300gsm brown kraft, textured uncoated, smooth white or natural uncoated, 350gsm recycled uncoated | Appointment and loyalty cards |
| Metallic Foil | 350gsm uncoated, 350gsm recycled silk, 400gsm silk | Consultants, studios and wedding suppliers who want a strong first impression |
| Textured | 250gsm Rives Shetland, 300gsm textured uncoated | Designers, makers and boutiques where the feel of the card is part of the pitch |
| Square | 300gsm magnetic, 350gsm silk, 350gsm recycled uncoated, 810gsm triplex (uncoated or kraft) | Thank-you cards, product inserts and e-commerce brands |
| Triplex | 810gsm triplex uncoated or kraft | Luxury services, creative studios and consultants |
| Plastic | Not measured in gsm: 570 or 760 micron white PVC | Membership and loyalty schemes, and cards that need to last |
Plastic cards are the odd one out. PVC is a plastic, and it is sold by thickness in microns, not by weight. The 760 micron option is the same thickness as a bank card.
How to choose
Start with what the card has to do, then pick the weight.
- You will write or stamp on it. Choose an uncoated stock at 300 or 350gsm and leave it unlaminated.
- You want a dependable, professional card. 350gsm silk, with matt or gloss lamination if you want the extra protection.
- You want it to feel heavier than most. 450gsm silk, or 400gsm silk with foil.
- You want the card to be the talking point. 810gsm triplex with a core colour from your brand.
- You care more about texture than weight. Pick the stock first. A 300gsm cotton or kraft card can say more than a heavier plain one.
Weight matters beyond business cards too. Our UK paper weight and mailing cost guide covers gsm across other print and what it means for postage.
Still not sure which weight?
Tell us what the card is for and how you want it to feel. A real person will recommend a stock, and we check every file before it is printed.
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Business cards you can order today
Questions
Business card weight, answered
What paper weight is a business card?
A typical business card is 350 to 450gsm. Our card stocks start at 250gsm for one textured paper and go up to 810gsm for triplex.
Are 400gsm business cards too thick?
No. 400gsm sits inside the normal range for a business card and feels a little stiffer than 350gsm. We offer 400gsm silk art board on our metallic foil business cards.
Do you print 450gsm business cards?
Yes. 450gsm silk art board is the heaviest stock on our Premium Classic business cards, with gloss, matt or soft-touch lamination if you want it.
What is duplexing, and what weights can it reach?
Duplexing bonds two sheets of board into one card, so the weight is roughly the two sheets added together. Three layers is triplex, which is how our 810gsm cards are made. We do not offer duplex cards; we offer triplex instead.
Which UK company prints premium heavy business cards?
We do. For a heavy single-sheet card choose 450gsm silk, and for the heaviest card we make choose 810gsm triplex. We deliver UK-wide.
How do I choose the right paper quality for business cards?
Decide what the card has to do first. Uncoated stocks can be written on, silk is smooth and bright, and a heavier weight feels more substantial. If you are unsure, call 01332 890222 and we will recommend one.
Right weight. Right stock. Right card.
Ready to print? Shop business cards.