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Creative Design

Measuring the thickness of a heavier business card
The short answer: a heavier business card only feels more premium when you compare sheets of the same material. Across different stocks, weight tells you very little — surface, fibre and stiffness decide how solid the card feels in the hand.

Why a Heavier Business Card Does Not Always Feel More Premium

When choosing business card material, GSM matters. If you compare the same type of paper, a heavier business card will generally feel thicker, more rigid and more substantial in the hand.

For example, a 360gsm Art Card will feel noticeably more solid and sturdy than a 250gsm Art Card. The 250gsm version feels lighter and more flexible, while the 360gsm version has a stronger presence when you pick it up.

But a heavier business card is not automatically a better card when you compare different materials.

The edge and thickness of a heavier business card

Why a heavier business card is not always better

GSM is grams per square metre, a useful way to compare the weight of the same or similar paper stock. Within the same material range, moving from 250gsm to 310gsm or 360gsm will generally give you a thicker and more substantial card.

The problem starts when you compare different materials.

A 360gsm Art Card may be thicker than a 300gsm Natural White Card, but the Natural White Card can have a completely different feel in the hand. Its structure, surface and paper composition contribute to how firm and substantial it feels.

This is why GSM should not be used as the only measurement when comparing different card materials.

Different Materials, Different Feel

Every material has its own characteristics.

For example, a 335gsm Kraft Card can feel firmer and more rigid in the hand than a 360gsm Natural White Card, even though the Art Card is the heavier sheet on paper.

Similarly, a 360gsm Natural White Card can have a more substantial and solid feel than some heavier business cards made from softer or less rigid materials.

The number may be higher, but the hand feel can be completely different.

A 360gsm Natural White business card

Think About the Material First

When customers ask us, "Which card is the thickest?" GSM is an easy answer.

But if the question is "Which card feels more solid and premium?", we need to look beyond the GSM.

The type of paper, its structure, surface texture and stiffness all contribute to the final feel.

This is especially important when choosing between Art Card, Natural White, Ivory, Cotton, Linen and other specialty materials. Two cards with similar GSM can feel very different, while a lower-GSM card can sometimes feel more substantial than a higher-GSM alternative.

When Should You Choose a Heavier GSM?

If you already like a particular material, choosing a higher GSM within that material range is usually a good way to increase its thickness and rigidity.

For example:

250gsm Art Card

310gsm Art Card

360gsm Art Card

As the GSM increases, a heavier business card generally becomes thicker, firmer and more substantial.

But if you are comparing different materials, don’t simply choose the card with the highest GSM. The material itself may have a bigger influence on the way the card feels.

The Best Way to Compare Business Cards

If the physical feel of the card is important to you, the best way is to compare the actual materials in your hand.

Look at the GSM, but also feel the:

  • Thickness:
    how substantial is the card?
  • Rigidity:
    how easily does it bend?
  • Surface:
    is it smooth, textured or natural?
  • Weight:
    how does it feel when you pick it up?
  • Material character:
    does it feel soft, firm, crisp or textured?

GSM tells you the weight of the paper. It does not tell you the entire story of how the card feels.

A heavier business card will generally feel more substantial when comparing the same material. But when comparing different materials, the material itself can change the entire experience.

That is why choosing a heavier business card is not simply about choosing the highest GSM. It is about finding the right material + thickness + printing + finishing + design combination for the impression you want to create.

Related Reading

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