6 Different Types of Paper for Printing

Paper plays a role in our lives' most important moments.

From love letters to diplomas, wedding invitations to birth certificates, a piece of paper documents life's milestones. However, you may not often think about the type of printer paper used to print these documents out. 

It's not until a printing issue arises that paper types become important. A document might appear dull and gray, photos can look washed out, or a printer might jam in the middle of an important job. In many cases, the problem originates from the paper.

The type of paper you choose affects everything from print clarity and color vibrancy to how smoothly your printer operates. Using the wrong paper can lead to wasted prints, paper jams, and unnecessary costs.

After nearly four decades working with printers, copiers, and office print environments, we’ve seen firsthand how much of a difference the right paper can make. While our company doesn’t sell printer paper, we work with printing equipment every day, and the paper used in those machines plays a major role in print quality and device performance.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the six most common types of printer paper, explain how paper weight and coatings affect print results, and help you determine which type of paper works best for different print jobs. 

Choosing the right type of printer paper is essential, but size also matters. The wrong size can lead to printing errors, wasted materials, and frustration. Check out our guide to standard printer paper sizes to learn which sizes work best for different print jobs.

Table of Contents

• What Are the Different Types of Printer Paper?

• The 6 Most Common Types of Printer Paper

• Understanding Paper Weight (Bond, Text and Cover)

• Coated vs. Uncoated Paper

• How to Choose the Right Paper for Your Print Job

• 3 Key Features to Look for in Printer Paper

• Common Paper Problems Businesses Face

• FAQ

What Are the Different Types of Printer Paper?

The most common types of printer paper include matte paper, glossy paper, bright white paper, photo paper, heavyweight paper (cardstock), and inkjet paper. Each type is designed for specific printing needs such as everyday office documents, photographs, presentations, or thicker printed materials like postcards and invitations.

Choosing the right type of paper helps improve print quality, prevent smudging, and reduce paper jams in your printer.

The 6 Most Common Types of Printer Paper

 Let’s look at the six types of printer paper most commonly used in offices and homes.

1. Matte Paper

Matte paper is the most commonly used type of printer paper for everyday printing. It has a smooth but non-glossy surface that absorbs ink quickly, which helps prevent smudging and allows documents to dry faster.

Because matte paper doesn’t reflect light, it’s ideal for text-heavy documents and everyday office printing.

Best uses for matte paper include:

• Office documents
• Internal reports
• School assignments
• Draft prints

For most businesses, this is the standard copy paper or bond paper used in office printers.

2. Glossy Paper

Glossy paper has a shiny, coated surface that enhances color vibrancy and sharpness. This polymer coating helps images appear more vivid and detailed compared to standard matte paper.

Because of its reflective surface, glossy paper is commonly used for high-quality image printing and marketing materials.

Example of glossy paper, courtesy of Hygloss Products

Best uses include:

• Photographs
• Marketing flyers
• Brochures
• Presentation materials

One thing to keep in mind is that glossy paper can take slightly longer to dry, especially with inkjet printers.

3. Bright White Paper

Bright white paper looks similar to regular office paper but has a higher brightness rating and a smoother finish. This allows colors and text to appear sharper and more vibrant.

Many businesses use bright white paper when printing materials that need a more polished appearance without a glossy shine.

Common uses include:

• Presentations
• Client-facing documents
• Marketing materials
• Reports with images or charts

4. Photo Paper

Bright white paper looks similar to regular office paper but has a higher brightness rating and a smoother finish. This allows colors and text to appear sharper and more vibrant.

Many businesses use bright white paper when printing materials that need a more polished appearance without a glossy shine.

Common uses include:

• Presentations
• Client-facing documents
• Marketing materials
• Reports with images or charts
• Marketing visuals

5. Heavyweight Paper

Heavyweight paper, often called cardstock, is much thicker than standard office paper. This added thickness makes it more durable and better suited for prints that need structure or rigidity.

Cardstock is commonly used for printed materials that need to hold their shape.

Common uses include:

• Postcards
• Invitations
• Business cards
• Greeting cards
• Presentation covers

Pro Tip: Before using heavyweight paper, always check your printer’s specifications to ensure it supports thicker media and which tray can be used for it.

6. Inkjet Paper

Inkjet paper is specially designed for printers that use liquid ink rather than toner. The paper surface is optimized to absorb ink quickly while maintaining image sharpness.

Using paper designed for inkjet printers helps prevent ink bleeding and improves overall print clarity.

If you want to learn more about the differences between printer technologies, check out our guide comparing inkjet vs. laser printers.

Understanding Paper Weight (Bond, Text, and Cover)

Paper weight refers to how thick or heavy a sheet of paper is. It’s typically measured in pounds (lb) or grams per square meter (GSM).

Three common paper weight categories include:

Most everyday office printing uses 20 lb bond paper, which balances affordability, durability, and print quality.

Cardstock and other thicker materials fall into the cover paper category.

Understanding paper weight can help prevent printer jams and ensure your printer can handle the paper you’re using.

Coated vs. Uncoated Paper

Another important difference between paper types is whether the paper is coated or uncoated.

Coated paper has a smooth surface treatment that helps ink sit on top of the paper. This produces sharper images and more vibrant colors.

Examples of coated paper include:

• Glossy paper
• Photo paper
• Satin or semi-gloss paper

Uncoated paper has a more natural surface that absorbs ink quickly. It’s ideal for everyday printing and writing.

Examples include:

• Matte paper
• Copy paper
• Bond paper

For most office environments, uncoated paper works best for everyday documents, while coated paper is used for image-heavy prints.

How to Choose the Right Paper for Your Print Job

Depending on your printing project, you’ll require different types of paper. Choosing the right option leads to higher-quality prints and less waste.

Here's a simple guide to help you choose:

By selecting paper based on the purpose of the print job, you can make a noticeable difference in how professional the final result looks.

3 Key Features to Look for in Printer Paper

 In addition to paper type, there are three important characteristics that affect printing results.

1. Coating

 The coating is the type of polymer, or synthetic substance, layered onto the paper to make it glossy and bright. Coatings help improve color reproduction and image sharpness. Papers designed for photos and graphics often include special coatings.

2. Brightness

 Brightness measures how white a sheet of paper appears. The brightness scale typically ranges from 80 to 100. Anything falling within this range is the sweet spot for a quality print.

A general rule of thumb is that the higher the brightness levels, the more vibrant colors appear and the sharper the text appears.

3. Paper Weight

 Paper weight refers to the thickness and weight of your printing paper. It’s typically determined by the weight of a ream of uncut paper (around 500 sheets). Paper weight is measured in pounds (lbs) or in grams per square meter (gsm), known as basis weight. 

Paper weight affects the durability and thickness of a sheet. Standard office paper usually weighs 20 lb (75–80 GSM), while cardstock can weigh 65 lb (175 GSM) or more.

Choosing the correct weight ensures your printer can feed the paper properly.

If you want to learn more about paper weight and how to choose the appropriate one for your project, the Paris Corporation's Paper Weight Guide is a great resource.

Common Paper Problems Businesses Face

 Even with high-quality paper, many businesses still run into printing challenges. Some of the most common issues include:

• Frequent paper jams caused by incompatible paper types
• Wasted prints from incorrect settings
• Inconsistent print quality
• Rising printing costs due to unnecessary prints
• Supply shortages

Sometimes these problems aren’t caused by the paper itself but by how the overall printing environment is managed.

Many organizations address these issues by implementing print management software or Managed Print Services (MPS) to better control print usage and optimize their print infrastructure.

FAQ

What paper do most printers use?

Most office printers use 20 lb bond copy paper, which has a balance of affordability, durability, and reliable print quality for everyday documents.

What type of paper is best for printing?

The best paper depends on the print job. Matte paper works best for everyday documents, while glossy or photo paper is better for images and marketing materials.

What is regular printer paper called?

Regular printer paper is commonly called copy paper or bond paper, and it typically weighs 20 lb (about 75–80 GSM).

Does paper type affect print quality?

Yes. Paper type affects how ink or toner bonds to the surface. Using the correct paper improves color accuracy, sharpness, and overall print clarity.

Want Help Choosing the Best Printer Paper?

Now that you understand the different types of printer paper, the next step is choosing the right one for your needs. We suggest trying out different options when deciding on the correct type of paper to use. Start by buying the smallest sample size of the paper you're interested in and test it to see if you like the results. If you're unsatisfied, try a different kind of paper and keep looking until you find the one that works best for you.

Explore our guides to the best printer paper options for different situations.

• Best Budget Printer Paper
• Best Paper for Teachers
• Best Eco-Friendly Printer Paper
• Best Photo Printer Paper

If you're still experiencing paper jams, wasted prints, or rising print costs, the issue may not be your printer paper but your print environment.

Contact us to see how print management software and managed print services can help your organization reduce waste and control printing costs.