How Is Card Stock Measured?

Card stock's weight and size are determined by the size of the original parent stock sheet.

Card stock is different from paper primarily because of its weight and stiffness. Card stock is generally used for printed materials that need to be more durable and resistant to bending, creasing and constant handling. Business cards, report covers, greeting cards and door hangers are some examples of items printed on card stock. Measuring card stock is similar to measuring regular paper, with a few noticeable exceptions.

Size

Card stock is measured both as the parent size for the stock and the cut size. Parent stock consists of the large sheets cut at the paper mill directly from the paper-making machine. The same machines making paper also produce card stock. Adjusting the space between various rollers and increasing the volume of wood pulp to the paper-making process produces card stock of varying thicknesses.

Parent stock can be as large as 6 feet by 8 feet (for producing large outdoor signboards) or as small as 8.5 inches by 11 inches. Mills rarely cut card stock smaller than the latter, except for special orders.

Weight

All card stock is measured by the weight of 1,000 sheets of the parent stock. Eighty-pound offset card stock means 1,000 sheets of parent stock (measuring 38 inches by 25 inches) weigh 80 pounds. No matter how the card stock is cut and wrapped later, the stock weight is reflective of the original parent stock. One thing to remember is that weight does not always mean one stock is heavier and thicker than another. Eighty-pound offset comes from sheets that measure 38 by 25 inches, but 65 pound offset comes from parent stock sheets that measure 28 by 22 inches. So 1,000 sheets of the much smaller parent stock weigh 65 pounds. Thus, each individual sheet is thicker and heavier than the 80-pound card stock.

Thickness

Card stock thickness is measured in points. A point is a printer's measurement of 1/72 of an inch. Card stock can be 6, 8, 10 or 12 point. Some very heavy cardboard stock is as much as 16-point board. Card stock points are always even numbers, as this is the caliper setting used for the rollers on the paper machine manufacturing the card stock.

Finish

Card stock is also measured according to its finish. It can be vellum, coated (glossy slick), patina (a flat-coated finish) or textured. Some textures simulate wood grain, stone and other exotic feels for the card stock surface.

Color

Card stock comes in pastels, classics, fluorescents and various shades of white. Classic colors are the ivory and beige tints associated with older felt and handmade papers. Fluorescents are bright, vibrant, modern colors. White can vary from bright whites (no color) to off whites ranging from very light beige to very light gray tints. Pastels can best be described as the colors associated with blackboard chalk: light, rather creamy and subdued.

References

• The Paper Mill Store: Which Card Stock Is Right For You?
• Ink Jet Art: Sizes of Papers