Are you using the right type of paper for your flyers?

So you have your beautiful design for your flyers, but what paper type should you print it on? Printing flyers online is easy, only sometimes it can be difficult to make a choice, as there are so many types, sizes and finishes for flyers!

In this article, we’ll explain all the available types and finishes, as well as provide you with a way to decide which paper type fits your flyer best.

What is grammage and why is it important for your flyers?

Paper exists in varying grades of thickness, which is called grammage. Essentially grammage is the density of paper. But how exactly does that work? The amount of grams is measured per square meter and is indicated as gsm. A paper type of 135 gsm has the same thickness whether your flyer is an A4 or an A7 size.

There are numerous paper thickness weights and each can bring a different look and feel to your flyers. It all depends on your aims. When choosing your flyer grammage, think about how long you want the flyers to last and who will receive them. To give you a good idea of the grammage which fits your flyer best, we have some examples of popular choices below.

Ideal for advertising

A 135 gsm flyer is especially convenient for distribution. They’re very lightweight, but still 1.5 x the thickness of printing paper. This makes them more sturdy and less prone to crinkling, compared to printing paper. This type of flyers is often used when the costs have to be kept low because they’re to be handed out to a large number of people.

Flyers for trade shows

A 170 gsm flyer is often called a business flyer. This name is given to the 170 gsm because many customers order these flyers for usage at a trade show or fair. 170 gsm paper is 2 x as thick as printing paper, and the sturdiness of this flyer makes it impervious to crinkles to a large extent, which gives the flyer a professional look and feel!

Hospitality and retail promotion

250gsm flyers are mainly used in the hospitality and retail industries. These are 3x as thick as printing paper and therefore feel nice and robust, so are a popular choice when you want to provide a luxury feel.

Long living premium flyers

400gsm flyers are the thickest option, and can be compared in thickness to a postcard. This paperweight is saved for the most important messages, when you want to give the impression that this is something to keep a hold of, and not a throw-away flyer.

Paper finishes

Ok so now you have your paperweight sorted, what finish should you choose? Here we have an easy way to make your choice and ensure your printed flyers are looking at their best!

Mostly visuals & some text – Go with gloss, it has a nice shiny finish, which will make your images look their best and the text will also be easily readable. It’s the best of both worlds, the gloss is sure to catch the attention of your customers and once they start reading, they are for sure to appreciate your design.

Mostly text & some visuals – Go with matte, as this will make your text easily readable, without too much of a distracting shiny reflection. If you still want to have an element that is popping out to easily attract customers, make use of colours, there are amazing colours that look incredible with a matte finish.

Very visual – Go for high gloss. Super eye-catching and will bring your visuals to life with a luxury look. It will make you photography extremely vibrant. Flyers with a high gloss finish are great to leave in waiting rooms, because they will for sure stand out from the stack of magazines.

Scribbleable  – Would it be handy if your flyer can be written on? Maybe its a form you would like to be filled out? In this case our writable uncoated paper is the perfect choice! Get some scribbleable flyers for your next trade show, that way your salespeople don’t have to fuss when writing their phone numbers for customers.

Not every paperweight can be selected in every finish, but a little tip, 250gsm is available in all four! All of our flyers can be found on the flyer page. If you also want a thorough explanation on sizing, check out our article on flyer sizes and measurements.

Got any more questions? Contact us, we’d love to help! You can find more ideas about how to advertise with print here.