What GSM is best for a business card?

The best weight for a business card is typically between 300 and 400 GSM. This range provides sufficient rigidity to prevent bending while maintaining a professional, substantial feel in the hand. In caliper terms that is roughly 0.36–0.57 mm (14–22 pt) of art card, depending on the stock’s density — pt measures thickness, so it maps to mm exactly but to GSM only approximately. This thickness supports high-quality finishes like lamination or foil stamping without warping. If you prefer a lighter, more flexible card, you might choose 300 GSM, but 350 GSM is a popular middle ground for durability. Always verify the specific GSM with your printer, as slight variations in paper density can affect the final tactile experience.

Sources

  • ISO 536:2019 — Paper and board: determination of grammage

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