The Best Paper Types for Book Printing: A Complete Guide

One of the best things about bringing a project to life through printing is being able to hold your book in your hands. In just one printed package, your hard work is made tangible. Understanding the right paper choice for your project is a significant part of bringing it to life, allowing for the best possible reading experience and extended longevity. So, what are the best paper types for books? Let’s jump right in! 

Understanding the Paper Stock Jargon

As you explore the different paper types on offer in book printing, you’ll no doubt come across a bucketload of printing jargon that you might be unfamiliar with. There is a whole vocabulary to illustrate the varied elements of printing onto paper, and none of it is as complicated as it may at first appear. 

GSM

Let’s start with the common words and phases. GSM is an acronym that you’ll see everywhere - what this is referring to is ‘grams per square meter’, and generally used to compare the thickness of paper by its weight. It’s become a standard unit of measure as the higher the GSM number is, the thicker the paper stock will be. 

However, this isn’t necessarily the most accurate way to measure the thickness of paper because it’s actually only measuring the paper’s weight (grams per square meter). One 90gsm paper stock may not be literally as thick as another 90gsm stock of a different brand or variety. GSM is a good indication for how it’ll likely feel, but the actual approximate thickness or height of a paper is measured in microns (thousandth of a millimetre). Check out our paper range to see the types of papers we have available for printing and you’ll see that not all papers with the same GSM are the same thickness in microns.

Coated & Uncoated Paper

Uncoated (also called offset paper) and coated will also be common terms you’ll come across. What these are simply referring to are if the paper has been coated with a liquid substance at some point during processing or not before it’s ready to be printed on. Coated papers include gloss and silk (or satin), as the paper is coated and layered with a mixture to give it that shiny, reflective surface. 

Which Paper Types are the Best for Commercial, Retail and Premium Business Books?

When it comes to printing your written work, there are a few factors to consider in the process of bringing your novel (fiction or nonfiction), memoir, autobiography, poetry collection, self-published book or short story compilation to life. You’ll want to consider one of the popular print sizes, and then choose the best paper type to go along with it. 

For softcover or paperback books, coloured covers are best printed on a coated gloss paper - offering a long-lasting and very high shine factor, great for contrasting colours in images - or coated silk/satin paper - which has a little less coating that culminates in a slight sheen, with a paper weight of 150 to 300 GSM, to allow the cover to bend slightly while remaining sturdy for durability. For the internal pages, the best paper type to print your book on is often an uncoated paper with a weight of 60 to 80 GSM. This is a great combination that allows for high readability of your text, as well as being lighter and full of subtle texture. 

Perhaps you’re a business or professional that is instead interested in publishing high-impact, branded materials, like leadership books, sales and pitch books, annual reports or strategic documents - if that’s the case, your project can also benefit from the same paper type specifications. That being said, a popular configuration for professional books and editorial materials print their internal pages on a matching coated silk/satin (in a thinner/lighter GSM of 60-90) for further impact.

The Best Paper Types for Educational and Training Materials

When printing materials for educational or training purposes - like workbooks, training guides, instruction manuals or course readers for classrooms, workshops or professional development - the best paper types will vary slightly from retail books. An uncoated or 100% recycled paper stock (made from recycled pulp) and a paper weight of 65 to 90 GSM will be your best option, allowing for an affordable yet accessible finish.

The Best Paper Types for Children’s Books, Learning, Visual and Creative Books

As anyone who has been around children knows, durability is a vital element to take into consideration when designing products for them. This is why you’ll find that the best children’s and learning books - whether it be illustrated storybooks, early learning books, phonics and literacy series or activity-based content - use a higher GSM than your average commercial or retail book. 

For the cover, it’s best to consider a gloss or silk paper finish with a 200 to 300 GSM so that the external surfaces of the book can tolerate whatever things a kid throws at it (e.g. food spills). Inside, you’ll find that a gloss or silk finish also works best alongside a 100 to 150 GSM so that the entirety of the book can withstand bending and creasing from excited little fingers, as well as illustrate the colours in as much rich detail as possible, ensuring they don’t show through on the other side of the page.

Interestingly, visual and creative books, like art books, coffee table books, lookbooks, illustration compilations, visual portfolios, brand books, recipe and cookbooks, and any other kind of book showcasing a visual medium, can also be printed with the same paper finish and weight as children’s and learning books. This is because both formats centre colour and imagery at the focal point of the publication, showcasing work in a predominantly visual format - hence working best with a higher finish and weight than other types of books. However, in the last few years, uncoated papers in higher GSM (200-300gsm) have also become a popular choice, for its ability to exude luxury and a premium construction. 

The Best Paper Types for Product and Promotional Books

Lastly, if you’re looking to stun your audience with marketing-led materials that inform, persuade, and leave a lasting impression, utilising a gloss or silk paper finish and 75 to 150 GSM is the way to go when creating product and promotional books. This could include branded marketing tools, sales toolkits, magazines, product catalogues, product lookbooks or case study books. This paper weight means it's a lightweight material while also still delivering a beautiful finish with the gloss shine. 

Whether you’re printing your debut novel or crafting educational materials for the classroom, understanding the best paper types to use for your printed project is essential in making your printed publication the best it can be. 

To learn more about our book printing services, get in touch with our team today. We're here to help you navigate the evolving world of book production with confidence.