Emma Davis Print Production Specialist at 4OVER4.COM
Emma is our prepress and print production voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.
Question
What's the difference between text stock and cover stock paper?
Answer
The core difference is thickness and how each stock is used. Text stock is thin and flexible, cover stock is thick and rigid.
| Stock | Feel | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Text stock | Thin, like magazine pages | Brochures, flyers, letterheads, program inserts, booklet pages |
| Cover stock | Thick, like a hardcover book | Business cards, postcards, folders, book covers |
- Text stock folds easily and works where flexibility matters.
- Cover stock holds up to handling and gives a piece a premium, durable feel.
- The same weight number means different thicknesses in each family: an 80lb text sheet is much thinner than an 80lb cover sheet even though the number matches, so always state which category you mean when ordering.
- Some products offer both, so match the weight to how the piece will be used.
If it needs to survive a wallet or a pocket, go cover. If it needs to fold or bind, go text.
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