Commercial Book Printing: What are my Paper Options?

estimated reading time: 6 minutes

What Paper should I use to Print my Books?

Choosing the right paper is one of the most important decisions you'll make when having books printed. The paper not only affects how your books will look and feel, it also affects the readability and durability of the books.

Commercial printers typically offer a variety of paper options for the pages and covers of books, each of which is suited for a particular purpose. So whether you're planning to print a novel, manual, textbook, marketing publication or any other type of book, understanding the available options will help you decide which type of paper best supports your book's intended use.

Below is a breakdown of the most common paper choices you will likely encounter as you prepare to have your books printed…

Coated Paper vs Uncoated Paper

In commercial printing, coated paper and uncoated paper are two of the most prevalent paper types.

The key distinction lies in whether a surface coating was applied at the paper mill, which directly influences the paper's sheen level, feel, and overall printing performance.

Coated paper has a thin surface layer (usually clay, polymers, pigments, or similar materials) applied during manufacturing. This coating seals the paper fibers, creating a smoother, less porous surface. The coating can be applied to one side or both sides of a paper sheet.

Coatings give paper a smoother finish and help to moderate the amount of ink that is absorbed. The more coating that is applied, the shinier the finish and the more vivid the ink colors will appear when printed.

For example, a gloss coating penetrates and fills the paper fibers more completely than a matte coating. As a result, gloss coatings deliver the highest level of image sharpness and color vibrancy, while matte coatings produce softer visuals with more subdued colors.

Coated paper is better suited for books containing color-rich images or design-heavy layouts, such as product catalogs, magazines, cookbooks, children's picture books, coffee table books, or illustrated instruction manuals.

Coated paper is also a better choice than uncoated paper for the covers of books. In addition to providing a smoother and more professional appearance, coated stocks offer some resistance to scuffs, dirt, and moisture.

Uncoated Paper does not receive a surface coating at the paper mill. This leaves the paper fibers exposed, resulting in paper that has a rougher texture and is more porous.

Uncoated paper maintains its natural, textured feel. Ink easily absorbs into the paper fibers, giving the book's content a softer appearance. Because uncoated paper has no sheen, it is not prone to glare. This allows for improved readability in all light conditions. The printed content will not only be more comfortable for the eyes, the rougher texture of uncoated paper provides some "grip" for easier page turning.

These qualities make uncoated paper the preferred choice for books where readability and a natural feel are more important than high-impact color reproduction. This includes novels, biographies, manuals, textbooks, reference guides, poetry collections, and other text-heavy books.

Plus, because the absorbent surface can capture ink and pencil marks better than coated stocks, uncoated stocks are also recommended for workbooks, journals, planners, notebooks, activity books, and any other books that need a writable surface that won't smudge or smear.

Paper Weight Choices

Commercial printers typically offer a variety of paper thicknesses for the interior pages and covers of book, each of which is suited to specific needs.

In the US, the thickness of a paper stock is often referred to as its "weight." The weight of text stocks are typically specified in pounds, with is abbreviated as lb or #. In any given paper category, a heavier pound weight means thicker paper.

Whereas the paper for a book's interior pages must be flexible enough to turn easily, a book's cover paper is typically thicker and sturdier to boost the book's durability, visual appeal, and overall value.

Known as cover weights or cardstocks, the thickness of these heavier papers is sometimes specified in pounds but is also referred to as points, which is often abbreviated as pt. One point is equal to one thousandth of an inch or .001".

Common Paper Options for the Interior Pages of Books:

50 lb text: Lightweight and economical, often used for high-page-count books to keep the overall book thickness manageable or for books that are expected to see limited use.

60 - 70 lb text: A popular choice that works well for the majority of book projects.

80 - 100 lb text: Thicker and more durable paper, used when a premium feel and/or increased opacity matter more than keeping the book light in weight or low in cost.

Common Paper Options for the Covers of Books:

80 - 100 lb cover: The lighter end of the cover weight class but still fairly durable, commonly used for the covers of saddle-stitched books.

10 - 12 pt cardstock: A very popular choice for perfect bound books.

14 - 16 pt cardstock: A thicker and more rigid stock for premium perfect bound books as well as spiral coil bound or wire-o bound books.

Paper Color Options

There are hundreds of different paper colors available in today's market. However, only a select few are truly suitable for book printing. This is because readability is the primary concern of printed books, and only a limited number of paper colors offer the proper level of contrast between the ink and the sheet.

In addition, commercial printing presses are optimized for the industry's standard ink colors, with black ink being the most common individual color and the four CMYK inks being the most common color system. Using dark or unusual paper colors would alter the appearance and contrast of the printed text and images, thus making these stocks unsuitable for book production.

Having said all that, the most practical paper colors for the pages of books are Bright White, Off-White, and Cream.

Bright White paper is by far the most popular choice for printed books. It is also the most widely available paper color and thus the most cost-effective. Bright White paper is available as a coated or uncoated stock.

Bright White paper offers the highest contrast for text and images. It also ensures accurate color reproduction, which is especially beneficial for books that contain lots of pictures or illustrations.

Off-White paper (also known as natural white, soft white, or warm white) has a softer, ivory-like tone. Its subtle tint sits between Bright White and Cream. Off-White paper is available primarily as an uncoated stock, but some thicknesses of Off-White paper are available as coated.

Off-White paper reduces the ink contrast slightly, but many readers find this to be easier on the eyes during longer reading sessions. As such, Off-White paper is a good fit for text-heavy books like novels, memoirs, and literary nonfiction books.

Cream paper is generally defined as having subtle yellow or beige undertones. Of the three paper colors mentioned here, Cream is the warmest shade.

Like Off-White paper, Cream paper reduces the ink contrast to some extent. This is beneficial to many readers because it reduces eye fatigue. Since Cream paper is intended mostly for interior pages printed in black ink, it is available mainly as an uncoated stock.

Cream paper is often used to give books a classic, more traditional quality. Hence, it is often used for books of poetry, literary nonfiction, and genre fiction such as fantasy, romance, or sci-fi.

Color Vision is Your Trusted Partner for Commercial Book Printing!

If you've been reading up to this point, you have likely realized there is no single "best" paper for commercial book printing…there is only the best paper for your specific project.

So whatever type of book you are planning to have printed, it is important to select paper stocks that provide the properties necessary to achieve your desired outcome.

If you need some guidance in this regard, Color Vision will be happy to help you select the best paper for your specific needs. Just give us a call at 800-543-6299 to discuss your project.

Or, if you already know your specs and are looking for a cost estimate, simply fill out our Quote Request form and we will be happy to email a custom quote to you.

Color Vision has been offering commercial book printing services for over four decades. We have a strong reputation in the industry for producing high-quality book printing at affordable rates. We urge you to get a price quote so you can see for yourself.

As always, we hope to hear from you soon and look forward to working with you!