What Paper Works Best For My Packaging?
What paper works best for my packaging?
The type of paper used in product packaging plays a huge role in the look and feel of a finished packaged product. The paper selection also has a large impact on the overall cost and look of your custom box! With many paper thicknesses and styles available, it can be difficult to make a decision on what works for you, but there are guidelines based on product type to make the decision easier. Below is the breakdown.
Common Paper Thickness/Caliper and Uses:
The thickness of the packaging paper varies across packaging types and needs for the product. Below are the levels of thickness and the types of packaging for which they are generally used.
10pt – Door Hangers, Postcards, Book Covers, Gift Card Holders
12pt – Business Cards, Gift Card Holders, Light Product Packaging
14pt – Book Covers, Greeting Cards, Business Cards, Door Hangers, Some Light Product Packaging
18pt – Basis for Lightweight Product Packaging, Small Product Packaging, Heavy Business Cards
24pt – Basis for Heavyweight Product Packaging, Medium to Large Custom Packaging
Packaging Tip: With paper priced by weight, the higher the caliper the more expensive your paper is going to be, so plan accordingly and make sure you’re not overshooting your budget by going with unnecessary thicknesses.
Common Paper Types for Packaging:
SBS Paperboard – This is a high-quality standard for custom paperboard packaging, and our base stock unless specified otherwise. It is white on both sides and comes coated on one side or both sides for optimal printing (C1S and C2S respectively).
SUS Paperboard – Used primarily in freezer boxes and cereal boxes, this stock is white on one side, and kraft on the other. Due to the density of kraft stock and the strength of the white side that has a coating, this board grade is typically stronger than standard SBS Paperboard (if comparing the same calipers of both), but is not as high-quality. A good alternative to achieve the kraft look of this stock, but without the premium cost and minimum order quantities by printing on the kraft side and putting the white side of SUS on the inside!
Kraftpak – This board is “kraft” colored all the way through. Although it has density, it has less strength than SBS and SUS Paperboard because it does not have any sides coated which gives it the strength, so we recommend avoiding it with larger boxes. It does provide a very “rustic” and natural feel, which many find attractive, and has not been bleached to provide a white surface so it is the most eco-friendly paper we provide. Keep in mind that being a “premium” paper (meaning it isn’t ordered often enough to be common for most packaging producers), it typically has a minimum order quantity.
