Your guide to choosing the best paper for Business Cards

Business Cards are tricky business. Whether it’s the font and color or the shape and size, every detail matters. 

But the most important part? Your choice of paper.

As (quite literally) the foundation of your design, choosing Business Card stock can make or break your end result. That’s why you need to know exactly which type of paper is best for your requirements.

In this handy guide, we’ll answer our customers’ most pressing questions and discuss the best paper for Business Cards for your specific needs.

Table of contents

• Raise your standards with Original
• Make it last with Super
• Elevate the everyday with Luxe
• Show off your values with Eco Signature
• Add serious texture with Feltmark
• Branch out with Cotton
• Look for the FSC® label
• Business Card paper 101
• Paper, set, go

Raise your standards with Original

We believe premium should come as standard. That’s why our Original Business Cards raise the bar. With Original, you get premium Business Card stock you can customise to meet your needs. 

Whether you want a minimalist design or something more elegant, you always get a card that feels just as good as it looks. Take your pick of two unique finishes:

• Matte: Matte Business Cards have a smooth and glare-free finish; the perfect choice for any smart but understated card.
  
• Gloss: If you want colours to pop off the paper, Gloss Business Cards are the way to go. They add depth and make the card stand out with an eye-catching shine. Gloss is the ideal choice for colour logos and photography.

MOO Original Business Cards are thicker and more durable than the average Business Card stock at 16pt and 130lb weight. Print in full color on either side of the card to make the most of your message.

Make it last with Super

Super Business Cards are uniquely designed not to bend despite their slim profile, making them the sturdiest option of the six. Take this durable card stock to the next level with two finishes:

With their Soft Touch finish, they feel like velvet in the hands, meaning they’re perfect if you want someone to hold onto them for a long time. Or, go for High Gloss for a dramatically shiny finish that people can’t stop staring at. 

For an additional wow-factor, you can add a Special Finish:

• Gold or Silver Foil: Add Gold or Silver Foil to your Soft Touch Finish to enhance your design with a hint of elegance. Check out our Gold Foil templates and our community’s beautiful Silver Foil designs for more inspiration.
  
• Spot UV or Raised Spot UV: Spot Gloss brings your design to life and adds transparent shine wherever you like. Raised Spot Gloss has the same effect while also enhancing Business Card texture for an added tactile experience.

Elevate the everyday with Luxe

Luxe Business Cards are made from four layers of Mohawk Superfine – the best paper for Business Cards that need to go the extra mile. A double-thick seam of color is sandwiched in the middle, creating a beautifully thick, naturally textured card. 

Luxe is an uncoated paper and clocks in at 32pt (roughly the same as a bank card). That means it feels heavyweight while also offering a unique tactile experience. Keep it white and minimalist, or choose from eight color seams in the middle of the card.

For a truly one-of-a-kind feel, you can choose a Letterpress finish. This debossed design is a traditional technique that creates a relief pattern on the paper, giving your Business Card serious texture. Choose from 12 different Letterpress templates. 

Show off your values with Eco Signature 

Eco Signature Business Cards have a past. They’re made from 100% recycled paper using wind power, and their next chapter has your logo on it. They’re fully recyclable and FSC® Certified (FSC-C215350) too.

At 19pt, the paper feels thick and premium. Look closely, and you’ll see subtle speckles in the uncoated surface, while colours and finer details print crisp and clear. Choose from MOO and US sizes, with rounded or square corners.

Add serious texture with Feltmark

Feltmark Business Cards are MOO’s first textured Business Cards. Their name comes from the subtle, irregular pattern left on the surface by the felts used during the paper-drying process. 

Feltmark’s distinctive surface adds character to even the simplest design, while crisp print quality keeps every detail sharp. 

At 17pt, it’s uncoated and FSC® Certified. Choose from MOO and US sizes, with rounded or square corners. A nice touch for brands looking to turn every introduction into a conversation.

Branch out with Cotton

Cotton Business Cards have all the qualities of great paper, without the trees. They’re made from cotton linters (the soft fibers around the cotton seed), making them tree-free and 100% recyclable.

At 17pt and 110lb, Cotton is lightweight but durable. It’s naturally bright white, so colours print vividly, with a subtle texture that feels soft in your hand. 

Make it sustainable with FSC® certified paper

Almost all of our Business Cards are made from FSC® certified and other controlled materials, which means you don’t have to compromise on sustainability when you’re choosing the right paper for yours. 

If you’re not sure what FSC® certification is or what it means for MOO products, read this interview with our Head of Sustainability, Luke Landers. 

Business Card paper 101

We’ve answered your most common Business Card questions below.

What type of Business Card paper should I use for photos?

If you want to include colour photography on your Business Card, use stock with a glossy finish, such as Original or Super Business Cards. Gloss adds an eye-catching shine to your card’s colours and helps grab the attention of anyone you hand it to.

What is the most durable paper for Business Cards?

Super Business Cards are printed on uniquely sturdy and non-bendy paper, making them the most durable of our six Business Card paper types.

What’s the difference between Cotton and Eco Signature Business Cards?

They take two different routes. Cotton is tree-free and made from cotton linters, giving it a soft texture and naturally bright white finish. Eco Signature is made from 100% recycled paper using wind power. It’s thicker at 19pt, with an uncoated surface and subtle speckles. Both are fully recyclable, and Eco Signature is FSC® Certified too.

Can I use my own design on any paper?

Yes! With MOO, you can make every card your own. That means you can upload your own design files to make sure your Business Card is made exactly to your expectations. Check out our Business Card design guidelines for more information. 

Can MOO help me design my Business Card?

If you need help kick-starting your design process, MOO has a library of exclusive and customisable templates to help spark some inspiration – no matter the paper stock. 

For more hands-on support, MOO Business Services is here to help. Our in-house Design Services team can help with artwork revisions, technical questions, and custom templates.

Paper, set, go

Whichever Business Card paper type you choose, prioritise readability over anything else. Size and dimensions are important, but make sure your message is crystal clear. 

Use a font that’s heavy enough to show through your finish and design. 

Paper is something you really have to feel for yourself. Order a free Business Card Sample Pack to get a feel for the range. 

Our MOO Business Services team can help you choose the right paper, fine-tune your artwork, create custom templates, and manage bigger orders. Fill out the form below, and someone will be in touch shortly.