The Best Paper

Buying Guide

Whether you’re using paper to print photos or just basic documents, you’ll need to have the right type for the job. Since you might not notice much physically different when you look at packs of paper from multiple manufacturers, it can be hard to know which to choose. This means you’ll need to consider factors such as the paper’s purpose, size, weight, brightness and finish.

You’ll often see paper labeled as multipurpose, copy, laser, inkjet, photo or cardstock paper. While the laser and inkjet options are made for use with their respective printer types, multipurpose and copy paper may be thinner and can work with any printer. Photo paper is thicker and more suitable for printing vibrant photos. Cardstock paper, on the other hand, is very thick and may not work in all printers.

Paper most often comes in letter size and measures 8.5 inches by 11 inches for wide compatibility with printers and document types. Another common option is the legal size that measures longer at 8.5 inches by 14 inches. You can find other larger and smaller paper sizes for special purposes too. For example, photo paper can come in typical picture sizes such as 3 inches by 5 inches, 5 inches by 7 inches or 8 inches by 10 inches.

Paper comes in multiple weights in pounds that will affect the price, expected durability and suitability for different uses. The heavier the paper, the more durable and opaque it will be. The standard paper weight is 20 pounds and is thin and suitable for printing basic documents and emails. Mid-weight paper runs from 22 to 24 pounds and is more durable for important documents such as resumes and contracts. Heavyweight paper with a weight of 24 pounds or more offers high durability, but it costs more and is mostly used for greeting cards, signs and other documents you need to last long.

While most everyday paper options are white in color, you’ll find differences in the brightness. Brightness scales go up to 100, with most paper ranging from 80 and up. A brightness of 92 is common for printer paper, and this kind of higher brightness ensures the image won’t come out too dark.

You’ll also want to be aware of any finish or technology the paper has. For example, you can choose between matte and glossy photo paper to fit the desired look. Other types of printing paper can have special properties to make colors look better.

• Most often, you can expect to get 500 sheets of paper since that’s the number in a standard ream. If you go through paper quickly or just want to not have to buy any for a long time, you might seek options that provide you with 1,500 sheets or more. Larger quantities might also be easier on your budget when you calculate the price per page, so you can do the math to find out.
• While much of the everyday paper you find will be white, you can also opt for paper in pastel colors and even neon shades. You might find colored paper handy for making eye-catching flyers or creating craft projects. If you do use this paper, however, you’ll want to make sure the color doesn’t clash with the ink colors of whatever you’re printing.
• If you’re printing on heavyweight paper, you’ll want to make sure your printer can handle the specific weight since some can’t. When using a standard home printer, you’ll run into the most problems with cardstock with a weight of 80 pounds or more. Even if your printer can handle such heavy paper, be safe and do a test print before printing out something important.
• Consider whether any special paper qualities interest you. For example, some manufacturers sell sustainable paper from recycled materials if you’re concerned about the environment. Another unique option is water-soluble paper that breaks down fast once put in water; this is handy for science experiments or magic tricks.