Card stock
Card Stock: read the 176 to 297 gsm examples and handling notes. Folding, cutting and glue tips. Find craft uses, sheet sizes and weight equivalents.
Cardstock is a heavier paper used where a sheet needs to stand up. Fibres are formed and pressed into a firm sheet; smooth, textured, coated and uncoated grades behave differently.
- Typical weight
- 176–297 gsm
- US lb · calculated at the named basis
- 65.1–109.8 lb cover equivalent (20 × 26 in, 500 sheets)
Weights to look for
Common cover weights run from 65 lb (about 176 gsm) to 110 lb (about 297 gsm). A 110 lb index sheet is about 199 gsm, so it is lighter than 80 lb cover.
Folding, creasing, cutting and gluing
- Fold
- Best for a few planned folds, rather than a many-layer origami model.
- Crease
- Score with a blunt tool before folding. Where the design allows it, put the fold along the grain to reduce cracking.
- Cut
- Cuts well as a single sheet. Use scissors for broad shapes and a craft knife on a cutting mat for narrow slots.
- Glue
- Put a thin film of PVA on box tabs and hold until set. Use double-sided tape for large flat layers to reduce curl.
What to make
Use it for the open box net, card bases, tags and sturdy templates. It is too bulky for the tissue flower or layered crane.
Common sheet and pack sizes
Common craft formats include 8.5 × 11 and 12 × 12 inches; larger parent sheets are cut down for printing.
65 lb cardstock
65 lb cover converts to 175.7665 gsm, usually labelled about 176 gsm. Start here for light card projects and small scored box nets.
80 lb cardstock
80 lb cover converts to 216.328 gsm. Some suppliers label a nominal 80 lb product at 215 gsm. It gives a firmer card base; score the fold first.
100 lb cardstock
100 lb cover converts to 270.41 gsm, commonly labelled about 270 gsm. It supports sturdy cards and boxes, but small tabs become harder to turn.
110 lb cardstock
110 lb cover converts to 297.451 gsm. 110 lb index converts to only 198.88 gsm. Ask for the basis or gsm before buying; those two sheets are not interchangeable.