When people decide to produce custom business cards, they rarely decide on the thickness of it. For most people the most important part of color business cards is always the design. Therefore, it is just logical to concentrate in this aspect first.

However, since you are creating your own unique and original marketing material, it is also important for you to decide on its thickness. This aspect can affect the quality and cost of your color business cards. Therefore, once all the designs are made, you will probably face the decision to choose the thickness of your custom business cards.

Measuring in points (pt)
Card stock is measured in points. “Points” refer to the relative thickness of the card paper stock. 1 point or “1pt” can be roughly converted to a thickness 1/1000th of an inch. For most card stocks, they usually use a 12-point or a 12pt thickness as the standard. However there are thinner or thicker variations that can be used for various situations in business cards.

Standard 12pt and 14pt
The usual thickness that you will encounter are the standard 12pt cards and the slightly higher end 14 pt cards. These cards are pretty durable and can survive for long periods in your wallet. They are of course thicker than normal paper, but are still easily bended when a slight force is applied. Therefore, most normal people will print their color business card on 12pt thickness as a well-balanced stock, while those who have a little bit more money may go for the 14pt for added durability. Whichever the case, when you want to print a standard business card, you should use these thicknesses.

The quick 10pt
The thinnest card stock that can be considered appropriate for business cards is the 10pt stock. This is usually used for emergency business card printing where you need to print cards within a day or so for immediate release or distribution. Most rush and overnight jobs will typically use this thickness since it is very easy to handle.

Of course printing in this thickness is also usually cheaper than most other cards. The only drawback here is the quality. 10pt ones can hardly be considered high quality. It feels pretty flimsy, and you will not expect it to last long as a card. This is used sparingly for emergencies or if you really are in a budget with business card printing.

Highly durable 16pt
The thickest card stock that is recommended for color business cards is the 16pt cards. This is actually already a custom job unto itself since only a few people use this thickness. However, 16pt cards are very durable and cannot be bended easily. This is something you would use if you really want a lasting impression with your cards. These cards will have a good run and will pass the test of time. Of course, you have to have extra funds to print in this thickness though.

Now you know the various thicknesses that you can use for your custom business cards. Your choice will usually depend on your purpose and your budget for printing business cards. Just choose with care so that you would not have any problem come delivery of the finished material.

By: Kaye Marks

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