The weights and settings below come from guides published by commercial coloring-page sites and a paper supplier, not from printer manufacturers. Setting names vary by printer and driver, so confirm them in your own printer's manual before loading heavy stock.
Key points
- For everyday coloring, one guide recommends 32 lb premium paper, about 120 gsm, bright white.
- Copy paper at 20–24 lb (75–90 gsm) is thin but fine for test prints.
- Many home printers top out around 80 lb cover (216 gsm).
- For cardstock: paper type Cardstock, quality Best, rear feed, black ink only, borderless off, one side at a time.
- If your printer can't feed heavy stock, a print shop or library can.
Paper weight chart
Paper weight is listed in pounds (lb), grams per square meter (gsm), or both. Pound ratings depend on the paper category, text or cover, so gsm is the more reliable number to compare.
| Paper | Pounds | gsm | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal copy paper | 20–24 lb | 75–90 gsm | Thin; fine for test prints |
| Thicker printer paper | 32 lb | About 120 gsm | Called great for everyday coloring by one guide |
| Adult coloring book paper, for comparison | 70–80 lb text | 105–120 gsm | What books aimed at adults typically use |
| Art paper | Not listed | 160–200 gsm | Heavier; check your printer's limit |
| Cover stock | 80 lb cover | 216 gsm | Upper limit of many home printers |
| Heavy cardstock | 90–100 lb | About 200–250 gsm | Recommended by a paper supplier; may exceed home printers |
Paper labeled 80 lb text weighs about 120 gsm, while 80 lb cover weighs about 216 gsm. If a pack says only “80 lb,” look for the gsm figure, or the word text or cover, before you buy.
Choosing paper for how you color
- Testing a new design: plain 20–24 lb copy paper. It is thin, but it costs little to find out whether you like a page.
- Everyday coloring: one guide recommends 32 lb premium printer paper, about 120 gsm, bright white, in Letter or A4 size. That puts your printout at the top of the weight range adult coloring books use.
- Gel pens: a paper guide notes that gel pens glide on smooth, medium-weight paper and drag or skip on rough stock. Smoothness matters as much as weight.
- Heavier work: a paper supplier recommends smooth, heavy paper or cardstock between 90 lb and 100 lb, about 200 to 250 gsm. Check that against your printer's limit first.
Paper is the only supply we cover in depth for now. We haven't yet published guidance on colored pencils, markers or watercolor pencils, because we couldn't source it well enough. When we do, every claim will link to its source.
Printer settings for cardstock
A guide to printing coloring books on cardstock from a commercial coloring site suggests the settings below. Your printer's driver may use different names for them.
- Check your printer's paper limitLook up the maximum paper weight in your printer's manual or specifications. Many home printers top out around 80 lb cover (216 gsm).
- Set paper type to CardstockChoose Cardstock in the print dialog, or the closest heavy-paper option your driver offers.
- Choose Best qualitySet print quality to Best.
- Use the rear feed if you have oneLoad heavy sheets into the rear tray if your printer has one.
- Print with black ink onlyColoring pages are black line art, so select black ink only.
- Turn borderless offLeave borderless printing switched off.
- Print one side at a timeSkip double-sided printing on heavy stock.
- Test one sheet firstPrint a single page before a full stack, and check the lines and edges.
The cardstock guide warns that front and back printing on 100 lb cardstock usually jams. If you want two-sided pages on heavy card, a print shop is the safer route.
Letter or A4?
Many printables are sold as A4 files. The Etsy mandala bundle we cite in our selling guide, for example, is an A4 PDF. If your printer is loaded with Letter paper, the file and the sheet won't match exactly. A quick check avoids wasted sheets:
- Open the print preview before printing anything.
- If a design runs off the edge, look for a setting such as fit to page or scale to fit.
- Make sure borderless printing is off.
- Check that the outer lines of the design sit fully on the page.
When your printer can't handle heavy paper
If your printer refuses or misfeeds heavy stock, you don't need a new one. The ColorThese paper guide notes that a print shop or library will print on heavier stock when a home printer can't. Bring your file as a PDF, ask which paper weights they offer, and ask for the gsm figure so you can compare it with the chart above. While you're at the library, ask whether it runs an adult coloring club; some do, and a few provide supplies. See our home page for examples.
Common printing problems
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Jams when printing both sides | Front and back printing on 100 lb cardstock | Print one side only |
| Heavy sheets misfeed or won't load | Paper above your printer's limit | Use lighter stock or a print shop |
| Gel pens drag or skip | Rough paper surface | Switch to smooth, medium-weight paper |
| Design cut off at the edges | Borderless on, or an A4 file on Letter paper | Turn borderless off and scale to fit |
| Page feels thin and flimsy | 20–24 lb copy paper | Move up to 32 lb, about 120 gsm |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best paper for printing coloring pages?
For everyday coloring, one guide recommends 32 lb premium printer paper (about 120 gsm), bright white. Choose heavier cardstock only if your printer can feed it.
Can I print coloring pages on cardstock?
Often, yes. Many home printers handle up to about 80 lb cover (216 gsm). Use the Cardstock paper type, Best quality, the rear feed if you have one, black ink only and borderless off.
Why does my printer jam on cardstock?
Double-sided printing is a common culprit: front and back printing on 100 lb cardstock usually jams. The paper may also be heavier than your printer's limit.
Is printer paper as good as a coloring book?
It can be close. Adult coloring books typically use 70–80 lb text paper (105–120 gsm), and 32 lb printer paper is about 120 gsm.
What if my file is A4 and my paper is Letter?
Open the print preview, use a scale-to-fit option, keep borderless off, and check that no lines are cut off.
Sources
- Best paper for printing coloring pages — SketchJoy
- What is the best paper weight for printing adult coloring pages — GG Image
- Print a coloring book on cardstock — Squiggle Press
- Best paper for coloring pages — ColorThese
- Printable coloring book listings — Etsy