Flyer paper weights are confusing on purpose. The numbers refer to the weight of 500 sheets of a parent-size paper, which means a "100lb text" stock isn't 100 pounds of anything you'll ever hold. For practical purposes, ignore the math and remember this: higher number on a "text" stock means thicker flyer; the jump from 80lb to 100lb is the smallest one most people can feel by hand.
The four flyer paper weights we carry
60lb offset uncoated
The lightest stock in our flyer line. Reads as "internal handout" or "menu insert" — close to the paper feel of a quality letter. Cheap per unit, weighs little for shipping, and accepts pen ink so you can hand-annotate copies. Worst at carrying photography because uncoated stock absorbs ink and dulls colour.
Use it for: classroom handouts, internal meeting collateral, quick-print restaurant menus, low-budget event flyers.
70lb linen uncoated
Same weight neighbourhood as 60lb but with a mechanical linen texture. The texture survives full-bleed colour because it's pressed into the paper, not printed onto it. Reads more premium than a smooth uncoated stock at the same weight.
Use it for: spa and wellness flyers, wedding venue collateral, anything where you want the recipient's fingertip to register texture before their eyes register the design.
80lb enviro uncoated
Recycled-content uncoated stock. Slightly warmer (off-white) than bright-white office paper. Reads sustainable without needing a "printed on recycled paper" disclaimer. Takes ink slightly more muted than 60lb offset; design accordingly.
Use it for: brand-conscious small businesses, farmer's market flyers, anywhere "we care about this" is a brand pillar.
80lb / 100lb gloss text
The standard glossy flyer. Photography pops. Colours look saturated. Marketing collateral defaults here for a reason — it looks professional even when the design is mediocre.
The choice between 80lb and 100lb gloss text is purely a stiffness question. 100lb resists curling in a stack and feels noticeably better in the hand at point-of-pickup. If your flyers will be loose-stacked on a counter or held in someone's hand at a trade show, the upgrade pays for itself in perception.
100lb matte / satin AQ text
Same paper weight as the gloss above, with an aqueous matte coat instead of gloss. Photography stays sharp; copy reads easier; glare under fluorescent light disappears. The default for editorial-style flyers — copy-heavy, type-driven, designed for reading not skimming.
100lb UV high gloss text
Gloss text with a UV coating on top. Heavier saturation than standard gloss, comes out almost shiny. Premium tier for photography-led flyers — real estate, hospitality menus, retail seasonal promotions.
What's the practical difference?
Three signals matter to a recipient who only has the flyer in hand for a second:
- Stiffness. Stiff = professional. Floppy = disposable. 80lb gloss text is the floor for anything billed as "professional".
- Sheen. Matte reads editorial; gloss reads promotional; UV gloss reads "this cost real money".
- Hand-feel uniqueness. Smooth coated stock is forgettable. Texture (linen, enviro, kraft) is memorable.
Decision shortcuts
- Budget mass run, internal use → 60lb offset.
- Editorial flyer for a thoughtful audience → 70lb linen or 100lb matte.
- Marketing collateral, photo-led → 100lb gloss text.
- Premium handout, photo-led → 100lb UV high gloss.
- Sustainability-coded brand → 80lb enviro.