Cover Stock Vs Cardstock - What's The Difference | Printmoz

When you read this article, you’re going to learn about cover stock vs cardstock. And when you’re finished, you’ll also know how do you convert points to inches (you’ll be in the rare group of people that know how to do this). I hope this article answers all of your other cardstock and cover stock questions too!

Coverstock and cardstock are both similar and heavier than the regular paper department. But sometimes people get cover stock vs cardstock all mixed up. It’s an easy thing to do because they’re so alike. One good thing though, it’s probably not going to ruin your life if you get them confused.

But we want you to have perfection when you print on cardstock or cover stock. We want your project to be exactly how you like it. So, let’s start with the basics first.

See Cardstock Printing Sizes and Pricing

What Is The Battle Of Cover Stock vs Cardstock?

It’s not quite as extreme as the superhero battle between Batman and Green Lantern. But if you want your project close to perfection, it might be a big deal to you. Before we get into the topis of cover stock vs cardstock, I want to talk about their similarities first.

Cover Stock And Cardstock Kind Of Look-Alike

Both coverstock and cardstock are paper. Cover stock and cardstock are both more durable and thicker than regular printer paper, copy paper, or even construction paper. Both also come in a rainbow of about any color you can imagine. Some also have designs printed on them.

Cover stock vs cardstock can be used the same way (generally). They can pretty much be used interchangeably in all types of printing and craft projects. Whew. You can now breathe a sigh of relief if you ordered cardstock when you thought you were ordering coverstock. Now that we’ve covered their similarities, it’s time to talk about their precise dissimilarities.

Here Are Some Basics In An Easy To Use The Chart For The Differences:

Coverstock	vs	Cardstock
Points	vs	Inches
measured by thickness	vs	measured by weight
1 point	equals	1/1000 inch
24pt cardstock	equals	.33 inch
12pt card stock	equals	.167 inch

Cardstock and cardstock can be used the same way (generally). They can pretty much be used interchangeably in all types of printing and craft projects. Whew. You can now breathe a sigh of relief if you ordered 12pt. card stock when you thought you were ordering 80# coverstock. Now that we’ve covered their similarities, it’s time to talk about their precise dissimilarities.

Difference Between Cardstock And Cover Stock (there's plenty!)

They have different thicknesses, weights, and advertising titles on the package at the craft or office store. Coverstock is usually textured and has a protective coating or finish. Cardstock usually has a smooth surface. That a big way to tell them apart. Cover stock is shinier and possibly even bumpy. Here’s another difference in the cardstock vs cover stock battle your geeky

Coverstock is often measured by thickness in points (not inches or mm). While cardstock is measured and advertised by its pound (#) weight and inches. Cardstock and cover stock have different thicknesses and weights. Here are some suggested ideas for different weights of cardstock.

Here Are Some Ideas For Different Weights Of Paper For Your Paper Weighing Pleasure:

None of the suggestions are set in stone. It can be a sliding scale, depending on what you like the most. Some people love having thick and shimmery business cards, while other folks want thin ones so they can keep more in their wallet. Which do you prefer? Matte? Textured? Thick? Thin? Glossy? Or Smooth? This will help you settle the cover stock vs cardstock in your own life. Let’s answer some questions now.

How Paper Is Classified In Weight

Here are some basics about paperweight — basis weight measured in pounds (or #s). Basis weight is how much 500 sheets of a specific cardstock paper weighs. So, if you see 80#, this means 500 sheets of a particular paper weighs 80 pounds. It can be a little confusing, but I hope this clears it up for you.

Calipers are the measured thickness of the paper. They are measured in points or millimeters. Still, have more questions about 12pt card stock or 24 pt coverstock?

Let’s Use 65 lb vs 110 lb Cardstock As An Example

110 lb cardstock is almost twice the weight of 65 lb cardstock, with 130 lb cardstock being the heaviest (as far as I know) so if you want the heavier of the two, go for the 110 lb cardstock instead of the 65 lb cardstock. So 500 sheets of 65 lb cardstock weigh 65 pounds, while 110 lb cardstock has 500 sheets weighing in at 110 pounds. That’s quite a difference.

If you think you’ll be ordering 500 sheets of anything, think about how heavy an entire reem of 110 lb cardstock will weigh. More than likely if you have a heavier weight on the paper, your shipping cost will also go up. So consider this when deciding which cardstock to use in your project.

Cardstock Invitations Have Several Options For Weight As Well

When considering which cardstock to use for your invitations, keep in mind how to think you want them to be. The size and weight can also change your shipping fees. So if you want something durable, the higher the weight, the more weighty and durable your cardstock will be for your invitationals. Another thing to think about when you order invitations is to think about the kind of statement you want to make. Do you want to send a powerful message? If so, go for the premium cardstock!

How Do You Convert Points to Inches?

If you want to figure out how to go from points to inches, you’ll want to divide the length by 72.

So here’s the formula: 12pt cardstock divided by 72 equals .167 inches.

12pt / 72 = .167 inches

24pt / 72 = .33 inches

That’s simple enough, right?

Now, How Do You Convert Inches To Points?

Basically, you'll reverse the previous formula.

Multiply the length by 72.