What paper weight should you choose for your book?
YourBookPress
The best paper weight for your book depends on what kind of book it is. For a paperback novel or any text-heavy book, 70# uncoated cream paper reads comfortably and feels substantial. For books that mix text and images, 80# coated white paper holds detail well. For photo books, art books, and color-rich pages, 100# glossy white paper makes images stand out. YourBookPress offers these three interior papers, and this guide helps you pick the right one.
The three paper weights we offer
Every book printed with YourBookPress uses one of three interior papers. Each suits a different kind of book.
- •70# Uncoated (cream): A warm, cream-toned uncoated paper. It is easy on the eyes for long reading sessions, has no glare, and takes pen and pencil marks well. This is the natural choice for novels, memoirs, and text-heavy books.
- •80# Coated (white): A bright white coated paper that holds color and image detail better than uncoated stock. Slightly heavier than 70#, it works well for books that mix text with photos or illustrations.
- •100# Glossy (white): Our heaviest and glossiest paper. It makes color photography and artwork look vivid and rich. This is the paper for photo books, art books, and any page where images are the focus.
The rest of this guide explains which of these three to choose based on the type of book you are making.
Best paper weight for paperback novels and text-heavy books
For a paperback novel, memoir, poetry collection, or any book that is mostly text, 70# uncoated cream paper is the best choice. Uncoated paper has a natural, non-glossy surface that is comfortable to read for long stretches, and the cream tone is softer on the eyes than stark white.
If you have printed with a budget print-on-demand service before, you may have seen lighter 50# or 60# paper. Our 70# uncoated is heavier and more substantial than that lighter stock. Pages feel sturdier, show less show-through from the other side, and give your paperback a more professional, bookstore-quality feel. For most paperback authors, 70# uncoated cream is the right starting point.
Best paper weight for books with images and color
If your book mixes text with photos, charts, or illustrations, 80# coated white paper is a strong choice. The coating helps ink sit crisply on the surface, so images look sharper and colors stay truer than they would on uncoated paper. The bright white shade also makes colors more accurate.
Use 80# coated for cookbooks, how-to books with diagrams, textbooks with figures, and children's books that balance words and pictures. It is the middle option in both weight and purpose: heavier and more image-friendly than 70# uncoated, but not as glossy or premium as 100#.
Best paper weight for photo books, art books, and coffee table books
For books where images are the main attraction, 100# glossy white paper is the best paper weight. It is our heaviest interior stock, and the glossy finish makes color photography and artwork look vivid, rich, and high-end. The weight also gives each page a premium, durable feel.
Choose 100# glossy for photo books, art and illustration books, coffee table books, portfolios, and any project where full-color images need to look their best. This is the paper that makes a visual book feel like a finished, gift-worthy product.
Best paper weight for coloring books and activity books
Coloring books have a special requirement: the paper needs to handle markers, colored pencils, or crayons without bleeding through too badly. For a coloring book, 80# coated or 100# glossy gives you a heavier, more resistant page than thin uncoated stock.
If your coloring book is designed for colored pencils and crayons, 80# coated holds up well. If you expect heavier marker use or want the most durable page, 100# glossy is the sturdier option. Keep in mind that single-sided coloring pages reduce bleed-through concerns regardless of paper choice.
How your color choice affects which paper you can use
At YourBookPress, your interior color choice and your paper choice are linked. This is worth understanding before you order.
- •Standard B&W or Standard Color: All three papers are available. You can choose 70# uncoated, 80# coated, or 100# glossy based on your book type.
- •Premium B&W or Premium Color: Your paper is 100# glossy. The lighter 70# uncoated and 80# coated options are not available with premium printing.
The reason is technical. Premium printing produces sharper detail and richer color, and that level of quality requires the heavier 100# glossy stock to hold the ink properly. Lighter uncoated paper cannot carry premium-quality printing the same way. So if you want premium color for a photo book, the 100# glossy paper is automatically the right match. If you are printing a standard black-and-white novel, you have the full choice of all three papers, and 70# uncoated cream is usually the best fit.
In short: decide your print quality first. If you choose premium, your paper is 100# glossy. If you choose standard, pick the paper that suits your book type.
Cream vs white paper: which should you pick?
Paper shade affects how your book reads and looks. Our 70# uncoated paper is cream-toned, while our 80# coated and 100# glossy papers are white.
Cream paper has a warm, off-white tone that many readers find easier on the eyes for long reading. It is the traditional choice for novels and literary books, and it gives a classic, timeless feel. Our 70# uncoated is cream.
White paper is brighter and makes colors and images look more accurate and vivid. It is the better choice when your book has photos, illustrations, or color that you want to render faithfully. Our 80# coated and 100# glossy are white.
For a text-only novel, cream (70# uncoated) is usually the more comfortable read. For anything image-heavy, white (80# coated or 100# glossy) shows your visuals at their best.
Understanding paper weight: pounds and gsm
Paper weight can be confusing because it is measured in two different systems. In the United States, paper weight is given in pounds, written as a number followed by a pound sign, such as 70#. Internationally, paper weight is given in gsm, which stands for grams per square meter.
The pound number refers to the weight of a standard ream of that paper at its basis size. A higher number means a heavier, thicker, more substantial paper. So 100# is heavier than 80#, which is heavier than 70#.
One source of confusion: the pound system uses different basis sizes for different paper types, so a "70# text" paper and a "70# cover" paper are not the same thickness. This is why gsm is often clearer, since it measures the actual weight directly. When comparing papers, the gsm figure is the most reliable way to judge true weight. If you ever need the gsm equivalent of our papers, contact our team and we can provide it.
What about the cover?
The paper weights above are for the interior pages of your book. Your cover is handled separately. YourBookPress prints covers on a sturdy cover stock that we select to suit your binding and book type, so you do not need to choose a cover weight yourself.
What you do choose for your cover is the lamination finish: glossy or matte. Glossy lamination gives a shiny, vibrant surface that makes cover colors pop. Matte lamination gives a smooth, soft, non-reflective finish that feels understated and modern. Both protect the cover; the choice is about the look and feel you want.
How paper weight affects your book's thickness and cost
Paper weight influences three things: how thick your finished book is, how it feels in the hand, and the price.
Heavier paper makes a thicker book. A 300-page book on 100# glossy will be noticeably thicker and heavier than the same book on 70# uncoated. If your book has a high page count, a heavier paper can make it bulky, and a lighter paper keeps it manageable. If your book has a low page count, a heavier paper can give it more presence so it does not feel flimsy.
Heavier and coated papers also cost more than lighter uncoated stock. For pricing on your specific book, with your chosen paper, page count, and binding, see the current pricing on our printing pages or use the instant quote tool.
Quick reference: which paper for which book?
- Paperback novel, memoir, poetry: 70# uncoated cream
- Cookbook, textbook, how-to with images: 80# coated white
- Children's book (text and pictures): 80# coated white
- Photo book, art book, coffee table book: 100# glossy white
- Coloring book (pencils and crayons): 80# coated white
- Coloring book (heavy marker use): 100# glossy white
- Any premium color or premium B&W book: 100# glossy white (automatically matched)
Frequently asked questions about paper weight
What is the best paper weight for paperback books?
For paperback novels and text-heavy books, 70# uncoated cream paper is the best choice. It reads comfortably for long stretches, has no glare, and feels more substantial than the lighter 50# or 60# stock used by budget print-on-demand services. For paperbacks with many images, 80# coated or 100# glossy white paper renders color and detail better.
What is 80 lb paper good for?
80# coated white paper is good for books that mix text with images. The coating helps ink sit crisply, so photos look sharper and colors stay truer than on uncoated paper. It works well for cookbooks, textbooks with figures, how-to books with diagrams, and children's books that balance words and pictures. It is heavier and more image-friendly than 70# uncoated.
What paper weight is best for a photo book?
100# glossy white paper is the best paper weight for a photo book. It is the heaviest interior stock, and the glossy finish makes color photography look vivid and rich. The weight gives each page a premium, durable feel, which suits photo books, art books, and coffee table books where images are the focus.
What paper weight is best for a coloring book?
For a coloring book, 80# coated or 100# glossy paper gives a heavier, more resistant page than thin uncoated stock. If the coloring book is designed for colored pencils and crayons, 80# coated holds up well. For heavier marker use or maximum durability, 100# glossy is the sturdier choice. Single-sided coloring pages also reduce bleed-through.
Should I choose cream or white paper for my book?
Cream paper has a warm tone that many readers find easier on the eyes for long reading, and it is the traditional choice for novels. Our 70# uncoated is cream. White paper is brighter and makes colors and images look more accurate, which suits image-heavy books. Our 80# coated and 100# glossy are white. For a text-only novel, cream is usually more comfortable; for visual books, white shows images best.
What is the difference between pounds and gsm in paper weight?
Pounds (written as 70#) is the US system for paper weight, while gsm (grams per square meter) is the international system. A higher number means heavier, thicker paper in both systems. The pound system uses different basis sizes for different paper types, so gsm is often a clearer way to compare true weight. A higher gsm or pound figure always means a more substantial paper.
Does my interior color choice affect which paper I can use?
Yes. With Standard B&W or Standard Color printing, all three papers are available (70# uncoated, 80# coated, 100# glossy). With Premium B&W or Premium Color printing, the paper is 100# glossy only, because premium print quality requires the heavier glossy stock to hold ink detail and color. Choose your print quality first, then your paper if standard, or it is matched automatically if premium.
How does paper weight affect book thickness and cost?
Heavier paper makes a thicker, heavier book and costs more than lighter uncoated stock. A high-page-count book on 100# glossy will be noticeably bulkier than the same book on 70# uncoated. A low-page-count book can benefit from heavier paper so it does not feel flimsy. For exact pricing with your paper, page count, and binding, use the instant quote tool on our printing pages.
Do I need to choose a cover paper weight?
No. YourBookPress selects the cover stock weight to suit your binding and book type, so you do not choose a cover weight. You choose the lamination finish: glossy for a shiny, vibrant surface, or matte for a smooth, soft, non-reflective look. Both finishes protect the cover, so the choice is about appearance and feel.
Is 2 pounds heavy for a book?
A 2 pound book is moderately heavy and typical for a larger hardcover, a thick paperback, or an image-heavy book on heavier paper. Physical book weight depends on page count, trim size, and paper weight together. A standard paperback novel usually weighs well under a pound, while a large photo book on 100# glossy paper can weigh 2 pounds or more.
What paper weight do you offer for book printing?
YourBookPress offers three interior papers: 70# uncoated in a cream tone for text-heavy books like novels, 80# coated in white for books that mix text and images, and 100# glossy in white for photo books and art books. Covers are printed on a sturdy stock we select, with your choice of glossy or matte lamination.
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- Paperback Book Printing for perfect bound paperbacks
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