With hundreds of available paper stocks, the decision of which paper to use for your print run can be overwhelming. Most of all, it’s a decision determined by the type of book you are printing. A children’s or coffee table book? You’ll need a thick glossy sheet to help your color images stand out. A novel? Go cheap.

Book paper weights are different than the paper weight measurements you will see in an office supply store. A 20# bond that you would find at Staples is similar to a 50# offset at a book printer. A 24# bond is similar to 60# offset, 28# is similar to 70# offset, etc.

Most black & white books with no photos are printed on either 50# or 60# offset. Going with 50# is adequate for most books and will save you some money. However, if you want your book to have a nicer feel to it, check out the extra cost for 60#. It might be worth it to you.

One thing I cannot emphasize enough – get print samples. There are a couple times when I have had a client tell me they knew exactly what type of paper they wanted to use, but then they were disappointed when they got the final product. Why? A friend of theirs had told them which paper stock to choose, and they ordered their books without ever seeing a paper sample. Don’t make the same mistake!

Children’s books or coffee table books that are printed in full color need a different paper stock than black & white books. You’ll want to think about whether to bump up to a glossy stock to make your pictures really shine on the paper. If you don’t like the glare of a glossy sheet, ask your printer if they have any matte coated stocks that would bring out the color of your images without the extra sheen.

Also, if you are printing in full color, you’ll definitely want a thicker paper stock. You don’t want any see-through for your color images from one side of the page to another. I usually recommend 80# gloss for most color books. If you want a little thicker, step up to 100# gloss. If you are trying to save cost, drop down to 70# gloss – but never less than that.

Again — always get samples before making your decision!

Always ask for your book covers to include gloss lamination. Standard paperback cover stock is 10 pt. C1S. A C1S cover means that it is coated on one side for durability and to help the colors “pop” a little more. If your book is on the large side, consider bumping up to a 12 pt. cover for extra durability.