Paper Weight
Beta
I weigh paper for fun. Yes, I have a very small scale.
Every point weight 4OVER4 actually stocks, and what it measures. A printer's point is one thousandth of an inch, so the number in the stock name is the caliper.
Caliper
0.014 in
0.36 mm. About 71 sheets to the inch.
- Point weight
- 14pt
- Caliper
- 0.014 in
- In millimetres
- 0.356 mm
- In microns
- 356 um
- Sheets to an inch
- 71
- Stocks at this weight
- 9
A point measures thickness, not weight. Two stocks at the same point weight can feel different because of the fibre and the coating, and a coated sheet is denser than an uncoated one at the same caliper.
Pounds are a different system again, and the number depends on the category: 100lb text and 100lb cover are not the same sheet. Where a stock is sold by the pound the name says so, and that is the number to quote us.
| Stock | Caliper | Products |
|---|---|---|
| 14pt Cream Uncoated Cover (30% PCW) | 0.014 in | 12 |
| 14pt Gloss Cover | 0.014 in | 12 |
| 14pt High Gloss UV Front; Coated Back | 0.014 in | 2 |
| 14pt Matte/Dull Cover | 0.014 in | 1 |
| 14pt Matte/Silk Cover | 0.014 in | 2 |
| 14pt Uncoated Cover | 0.014 in | 12 |
| 14pt Uncoated Cover (30% PCW) | 0.014 in | 12 |
| 14pt Uncoated Cover (30% Recycled) | 0.014 in | 2 |
| 14pt White Linen | 0.014 in | 12 |
BetaThis is in beta, so some things may not work yet. We’d love your feedback.Send feedback
What the Standard Business Cards configurator says about size
- Sizes
- The configurator offers 4 sizes for this product. Every one of them is listed above, exactly as the configurator lists it.
- Custom size
- This product takes a custom size. The configurator accepts 1.5 to 2.125 in on the width and 2 to 3.5 in on the height, in steps of 0.1 in.
- Press limits
- On top of the product limits the press bounds apply: the shorter side must be 1.5 to 22 in and the longer side 1.5 to 28 in. The configurator turns the size the same way round before it checks, so 11 x 2.5 and 2.5 x 11 are the same size to it.
- If it is out of range
- This custom size is currently not available for this product. Please select a different combination (switch between width and height values) or try selecting another product from the Print Products Menu. Contact us if you have a Custom Order.
Enjoying this tool?
You might also like Ultra Thick Business Cards
Like your card with some heft? Ultra thick business cards put a heavy stock straight into your customer's hand.
Ultra Thick Business CardsFrom $36.624.7·18 reviewsShop now About the paper weight & thickness
Every point weight 4OVER4 stocks, what it measures, and which stocks you can order at it.
A printer's point is one thousandth of an inch, so 14pt stock is 0.014 inches thick. 4OVER4 stocks 122 papers from 10pt to 80pt, and the point weight in the name is the caliper.
A point is a thousandth of an inch
The number in a stock name is its caliper, not its weight. 14pt stock is 0.014 inches thick, 16pt is 0.016 inches, and 32pt is about as thick as two ordinary business cards stacked together.
That is why a point weight tells you how a card feels in the hand better than a pound figure does. It is a direct measurement of thickness, and it is the number 4OVER4 quotes on nearly every stock.
Pounds are a different system, and they are ambiguous
A pound figure is the weight of five hundred sheets at a base size, and the base size changes with the paper category. That is why 100lb text and 100lb cover are completely different sheets: the text stock is light and flexible, the cover stock is rigid.
Where a 4OVER4 stock is sold by the pound its name says so. Quote us the full stock name rather than the number alone and there is nothing to get wrong.
Common questions
Questions about paper weight
How thick is 14pt cardstock?
0.014 inches, or 0.36 mm. That is the most common business card stock, and about 71 sheets make an inch.
What is the difference between 14pt and 16pt?
Two thousandths of an inch. 16pt is noticeably stiffer in the hand and is the usual upgrade when a card needs to feel premium.
Is 100lb cover the same as 100lb text?
No. The pound figure is measured at a different base size for each category, so 100lb cover is a much heavier, stiffer sheet than 100lb text.
What is the thickest stock 4OVER4 prints?
80pt, which is 0.08 inches. It is used for ultra-thick cards and it will not fold, so it is a flat product only.
Does point weight tell me the paper's weight?
No, it tells you the thickness. Two stocks at the same caliper can weigh differently depending on the fibre and the coating.
Explore more
Where to go next
Spine Width Calculator
Spine width from page count and the real caliper of the stock.
Bleed Calculator
Document size, bleed and safe area for every size 4OVER4 prints.
DPI Calculator
The largest sharp print from your pixels, checked against real sizes.
Business Card Size
Standard, square, round, oval and rounded-corner cards, with the bleed and safe zone drawn on each.