80lb text brochures vs 100lb text brochures
Updated 2026-06-01 · 3 min read
80lb and 100lb text are the two body papers brochure orders actually choose between. 80lb is the volume-economy default — light, foldable without scoring, cheap to mail in bulk. 100lb text is the perceived-quality upgrade — slightly stiffer, holds richer color, reads as "premium-print" the moment a reader handles it. The unit-cost gap is real for high-volume runs but vanishes at small quantities.
Spec by spec
| Spec | 80lb text brochures | 100lb text brochures |
|---|---|---|
| Paper weight | 80lb text (~118 GSM) | 100lb text (~148 GSM) |
| Hand feel | Light, paperback-novel feel | Substantial, magazine-grade feel |
| Fold quality | Clean folds without scoring | Cleaner folds; scored on heavier finish |
| Photo reproduction | Good | Vivid; deeper blacks and saturated mid-tones |
| Mailing weight (#10 envelope) | Stays under 1 oz | Often pushes into 2-oz tier |
| Cost per piece (1,000 run) | Baseline | +15–25% over 80lb |
| Best for | Direct mail at volume, takeout menus, conference packets, budget runs | Sales leave-behinds, real-estate brochures, premium brand marketing |
Verdict
Pick 80lb text for high-volume direct-mail brochures, takeout-menu reprints, conference welcome packets, and any case where unit cost dominates the buying decision. The paper is thin enough to mail thousands of pieces affordably.
Pick 100lb text for sales-floor handouts, premium real-estate brochures, brand-led marketing where the brochure is a leave-behind. The thicker paper signals "considered" instead of "thrown together at the printer" and survives sitting in a briefcase for weeks.
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80lb text brochures
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