Business Card Paper Weights Explained: 300gsm vs 350gsm vs 400gsm

What gsm actually measures

Gsm stands for grams per square metre, and it is the standard way paper and card weight is measured in the UK. It is a measure of density and stiffness rather than physical thickness on its own, though in practice a higher gsm card is almost always thicker and stiffer to hold. Standard printer paper sits around 80-100gsm, so even the lightest business card stock at 300gsm is roughly three times heavier than an office document.

300gsm vs 350gsm vs 400gsm in practice

300gsm is the lightest weight commonly used for business cards, and it is a reasonable, cost-effective choice if budget is the main concern or you are ordering a large run. It still feels noticeably more substantial than a flyer or a standard printed sheet, but next to a 400gsm card in the same stack, it can feel slightly thin. 350gsm sits in the middle and is a popular choice precisely because it splits the difference: sturdy enough to feel premium without the cost jump of the heaviest stock. 400gsm is the heaviest commonly available weight, giving the stiffest, most substantial card, the kind that is hard to bend accidentally in a wallet or pocket. At Star Printers, business cards are available across this range so you can choose based on how the card will actually be carried and used, not just on price.

When a lighter weight still makes sense

Weight is not automatically better. If you are testing a new design, a new business name, or ordering ahead of an event where cards might be handed out in bulk and not kept long-term, a lighter 300gsm run keeps costs down without wasting a heavier stock on cards that may only be used once. Save the heavier weights for a card you expect to be final, kept, and referred back to.

How weight interacts with finish

The weight you choose also affects how a laminate finish reads. A matt or silk laminate on a 400gsm card gives the most premium, rigid feel of any combination, while the same finish on a 300gsm card can feel slightly less substantial even though the surface finish is identical. If a premium feel matters more than cost, pairing the heaviest stock with a laminate finish is generally the combination that gives the best result.

Getting the weight right for your card

If you are not sure which weight suits your design and budget, bring a sample business card you like into the Star Printers shop in Tooting, or call and describe the feel you are after, and we can advise on the closest match from the stock we carry. Browse our business card printing options or see the full range of printing services we offer, or contact us to talk through your order before you print.