Choosing a paper for your leaflet printing project

When specifying a leaflet for printing there are many different types of paper to choose from. Leaflet printing companies sometimes refer to paper as 'stock'.

Coated paper has a thin coating of clay which gives it a very smooth finish. Coated papers reproduce colours extremely well and are ideal for leaflet printing designs which include full colour photographs or illustrations. Coated paper is available in three different finishes... gloss, silk (or satin) and matt.

Avoid coated papers if your prospects are supposed to write onto your leaflet.

Most people choose a coated paper when specifying their leaflet printing project.

Uncoated paper - as its name suggests - does not have a clay coating. It is therefore not as smooth as coated paper. It is often used for budget leaflet printing projects as uncoated paper tends to be cheaper than coated paper. However, always check with your leaflet printing company as this is not always the case!


Laid paper is mostly used for letterheads and other items of stationery. It is rarely used for leaflet printing projects due to its cost.

Wove paper is a premium quality uncoated paper. Again, rarely used for leaflet printing projects due to its high cost.

The 'tickness' of a leaflet paper is usually measured by weight. A low-cost leaflet may be printed onto 80gsm (grams per square metre) paper. Most leaflet printing projects utilise 150gsm - 170gsm paper. Some people require a more rigid paper for their leaflets and opt for 300gsm which is similar in weight to a postcard. For comparison, business cards are usually printed on 350gsm paper.

Be aware that your choice of paper will affect the colour reproduction of your printing. If you print exactly the same leaflet design onto both a coated and an uncoated paper, the colours are likely to reproduce quite differently.