Eight Common Printing Materials

Coated Paper

Coated paper is a type of paper that has undergone a coating process, giving it a smooth and glossy surface. It is commonly used for advertisements, brochures, and product packaging that require high-quality printing. With excellent printability, it delivers clear and vivid images, making it especially suitable for premium and display packaging.

Advantages: Smooth surface, high gloss, bright colors, and excellent printing results. Ideal for high-end packaging and promotional materials.

Disadvantages: Low strength, easily damaged, not resistant to water or oil, and unsuitable for long-term storage or transportation.

Recommendation: If your packaging design requires high image resolution or vibrant colors, coated paper is an ideal choice—particularly suitable for cosmetics and luxury product packaging.

Offset Paper

Offset paper is a common printing paper with good ink absorption, making it suitable for printing text. It has a matte surface with a soft texture and is often used for books, letterheads, and minimalist-style packaging designs.

Advantages: Matte surface, soft touch, excellent ink absorption, suitable for clear printing of text and graphics.

Disadvantages: Not waterproof or oil-resistant, easily affected by moisture, low strength, and poor durability.

Recommendation: If your product packaging focuses mainly on text or emphasizes an eco-friendly and minimalist style, offset paper is a good choice—especially suitable for food packaging or brands that promote environmental awareness.

Matte Paper

Matte paper has a non-glossy surface but offers a premium feel and good ink absorption, making it suitable for printing complex patterns. It is commonly used for mid-to-high-end product packaging, such as electronics and luxury gift boxes.

Advantages: High-quality texture, non-glossy and delicate surface, excellent printing performance, ideal for premium packaging.

Disadvantages: Not wear-resistant, easily scratched, relatively brittle, and unsuitable for long-distance transportation or high-humidity environments.

Recommendation: If you want your packaging to convey an understated and elegant texture, matte paper is an excellent choice—perfect for products that emphasize a sense of quality, such as fine wines or electronic devices.

White Cardboard

White cardboard is a thick, high-strength paper with excellent stiffness and printability. It is widely used for making food packaging boxes, pharmaceutical packaging, and other carton boxes that require high load-bearing capacity.

Advantages: High strength and hardness, excellent rigidity and load-bearing performance, suitable for making rigid packaging boxes.

Disadvantages: Relatively high cost, and its printing effect is less glossy and refined compared to coated paper.

Recommendation: If your packaging needs to support heavier products or requires a sturdy, high-gloss paper material, white cardboard is an ideal choice.

Kraft Paper

Kraft paper is known for its strength, durability, and eco-friendly qualities. It is widely used in sustainable packaging and vintage-style designs, commonly seen in takeaway bags and courier packaging.

Advantages: Strong, wear-resistant, natural, and environmentally friendly, with excellent tear resistance—ideal for eco-friendly and retro-style packaging.

Disadvantages: Average printing quality, poor color reproduction, and easily affected by moisture, making it unsuitable for high-end or precision printing.

Recommendation: If your brand emphasizes environmental sustainability or aims to highlight a natural and vintage aesthetic, kraft paper is the best choice.

Greyboard

Grey board is a thick cardboard made from recycled pulp, commonly used for the inner layers of packaging boxes or other components requiring high rigidity. It is mainly applied in the packaging of electronic products and household goods.

Advantages: Made from recycled materials, low cost, high hardness, and often used for the inner layers of boxes or structural parts that require strong support.

Disadvantages: Rough surface, unsuitable for direct use as outer packaging, and lacks good water and oil resistance.

Recommendation: If you need a supportive internal structure or secondary packaging material, grey board is an economical and eco-friendly choice

Duplex Board

Duplex board (white-coated grey board) is a type of paperboard with a white front surface and a grey back, suitable for making foldable packaging boxes. It is widely used in the packaging of everyday consumer goods, such as toothpaste boxes and food packaging.

Advantages: Good compression strength, solid structure, suitable for long-distance transportation and large-item packaging, and offers excellent cushioning performance.

Disadvantages: Not suitable for fine printing; has a relatively rough appearance and poor water resistance, easily deformed in humid environments.

Recommendation: If your custom packaging requires a cost-effective material suitable for mass production, duplex board is an excellent and economical choice.

Corrugated Paper

Corrugated paper is a type of cardboard with a wavy, layered structure that provides excellent compression strength. It is widely used in logistics and transportation packaging. Corrugated boxes are an ideal choice for protecting goods from impact during shipping.

Advantages: High compression strength, sturdy structure, suitable for long-distance transportation and large-item packaging, and offers excellent cushioning performance.

Disadvantages: Not suitable for fine printing; has a relatively rough appearance and poor water resistance, and can easily deform in humid environments.

Recommendation: If your products require long-distance transportation or shock protection, corrugated paper is the best choice—especially suitable for packaging large appliances, furniture, and fragile items.