Best Paper and Printer Settings for Printables (Cardstock Guide)

For most party printables, the best paper is a smooth, matte cardstock between 65 and 80 lb cover (about 176 to 216 g/m²). The most important printer setting is "Actual size" or 100% scale, with "Fit to page" and borderless printing turned off. Get those two right and the rest is fine-tuning.

Here's what to use for each piece, and every setting in the order you'll see it.

Which paper for which printable

• Favor boxes, treat boxes — Paper: Matte cardstock; Approx. weight: 80 lb cover · 216 g/m²

• Tent cards, place cards, signs — Paper: Matte cardstock; Approx. weight: 80 lb cover · 216 g/m²

• Cupcake toppers, gift tags — Paper: Matte cardstock; Approx. weight: 65–80 lb cover · 176–216 g/m²

• Invitations (printed) — Paper: Matte or linen cardstock; Approx. weight: 80 lb cover · 216 g/m²

• Bottle and snack labels — Paper: Copy paper or sticker paper; Approx. weight: 20–24 lb bond · 75–90 g/m²

• Stickers — Paper: Printable sticker paper, matte; Approx. weight: Check that it suits your printer type

• Games, coloring pages, tests — Paper: Copy paper; Approx. weight: 20–24 lb bond · 75–90 g/m²

Why matte? It folds with fewer cracks, shows no glare in photos and dries quickly with inkjet ink. Glossy photo paper looks bright but often cracks along folds. For Cricut Print Then Cut, matte also helps the sensor read the marks.

Paper weights: what the numbers mean

In the US, paper weight in pounds depends on the paper's category (bond, text, cover, index), so a bigger number isn't always thicker. Grams per square meter (g/m²) compare directly. Many packs show both.

• 20 lb bond — g/m²: 75

• 24 lb bond — g/m²: 90

• 65 lb cover — g/m²: 176

• 110 lb index — g/m²: 199

• 80 lb cover — g/m²: 216

• 100 lb cover — g/m²: 270

Most home inkjets have a maximum paper weight listed in the manual or spec sheet, often separately for the rear tray and the front cassette. Check it before you buy a pack of heavy cardstock. If your printer can't take the weight you want, a copy shop can. See Where to Print Party Printables: At Home, Staples, FedEx Office or Walgreens.

Inkjet or laser? Buy paper made for your printer type. Inkjet photo papers and some inkjet sticker papers have coatings that can be damaged by the heat of a laser printer. Laser printers need cardstock rated for laser.

Printer settings, step by step

Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader or another PDF reader, not a browser preview. Then go through the print dialog:

Letter is wider, A4 is taller. Use the version made for your paper and keep the design inside the margins.

1. Paper size: Letter or A4. Match the size of the paper in your tray and the version of the file you downloaded.

2. Page sizing: "Actual size" or custom scale 100%. In Acrobat, under Page Sizing & Handling, choose Actual size. Make sure "Fit," "Shrink oversized pages" and "Scale to fit" are off. On a Mac, check that Scale says 100%.

3. Borderless: off. Borderless printing enlarges the page a little so the ink reaches the edges, which crops the design and changes its size.

4. Two-sided printing: off. Unless the template is designed for it.

5. Printer properties (or Preferences): paper or media type. Choose cardstock, matte photo paper, heavyweight or thick paper. The name changes by brand. This tells the printer how much ink to lay down and how to feed the paper.

6. Quality: High or Best. Use Standard or Draft only for test pages.

7. Color: on. Check that grayscale isn't selected from a previous print.

8. Paper source: rear or manual feed tray, if your printer has one.

The test print: one minute that saves a pack of cardstock

Print page 1 on copy paper first, then check it:

Actual size (100%) keeps the template true. Fit to page shrinks it, and boxes stop closing.

• Measure a known dimension with a ruler. If the template shows a measurement or a test square, it should match.

• Look at the edges. Nothing should be cut off.

• Check the color. If it looks washed out or too dark, change the media type before you switch paper.

Only then load the cardstock.

Feeding thick paper without jams

The rear or manual tray gives thick paper a straighter path, so it jams and scuffs less.

• Use the rear or manual tray. Paper from a front cassette makes a tight U-turn inside the printer. Thick cardstock resists that bend and jams, or picks up roller marks.

• One sheet at a time. Thick sheets stick together and double-feed.

• Fan the stack before loading, and make sure the sheets are flat.

• Adjust the paper guides so they touch the edges without squeezing.

• Let each sheet dry for a minute or two before stacking, especially dark colors.

Fixing common print problems

Your box or topper came out smaller. The page was scaled. Reprint at 100% with "Fit to page" off.

Borderless printing enlarges the page slightly and crops the edges. Keep it off for templates.

There's a thin white edge or the design runs off the page. Borderless printing is on, or you printed an A4 file on Letter (or the reverse). Turn borderless off and use the version that matches your paper.

The colors look different from the screen. Screens glow; paper doesn't, so prints usually look a bit darker. Set the correct media type, and don't print on the glossy side of paper meant for matte ink (or the reverse).

Streaks or missing lines. Run the nozzle check or head cleaning from your printer's maintenance menu and check your ink levels.

The ink smears. Choose matte paper made for inkjet, set the right media type and let it dry.

The fold cracks. Score before folding, fold with the paper grain where you can, and use matte rather than glossy. More on folding in How to Make a Favor Box at Home: Print, Cut and Fold.

FAQ

Do I have to change printer settings to print on cardstock?

Yes. Set the paper or media type to cardstock, matte or heavyweight, set quality to high and feed it from the rear tray if you have one. With the plain paper setting, the printer may lay down the wrong amount of ink or fail to feed the sheet.

What's the best weight of cardstock for printables?

65 lb cover (about 176 g/m²) for toppers and tags, 80 lb cover (about 216 g/m²) for boxes, signs and tent cards. Check your printer's maximum paper weight first.

Why won't my printer print on cardstock?

It may be too thick for the tray you're using. Try the rear or manual tray, one sheet at a time, and compare the paper weight with your printer's maximum. If it's over the limit, print at a copy shop.

Shop this post

• Printable cupcake toppers set, hot air balloon theme

• Printable favor box template, Letter and A4

• Printable sticker sheet for birthdays

• Printable food tent cards set

Find toppers ready to print in Cake & Cupcake Toppers.