The name cardstock comes from “card stock,” which originally meant the stock of card as received from the manufacturer. Today, cardstock, for which cover stock is sometimes used as a synonym, is used for a range of paper weights that are in demand for scrapbooking, as mounting surfaces for prints to be framed, for making business cards and greeting cards, and for a variety of paper crafts. The main features that distinguish a sheet of cardstock are weight, fiber, color, finish and surface texture, and size. Of these, weight is the feature that actually defines cardstock.

Weight: Paper is described in several ways: by point sizes that measure the thickness of a single sheet in thousandths of an inch, and by basis weight, a measurement in pounds of the weight of 500 sheets of the standard size of the paper, whatever that may be. Because the size of different types of paper is not consistent, comparing basis weights is complicated. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) paper industry standard is considered the most consistent way to compare paper weights. The ISO measures weight in grams per square meter (gsm). With this measurement system, it is much easier to see what cardstock means and what the various types are:

Sometimes the division between tissue and textweight paper is given as 40 gsm, rather than 35 gsm.

Fiber. Cardstock is characteristically made from paper pulp or pure cellulose, but some brands are sold specifically as pulp free. One can purchase 100% hemp and 100% kenaf cardstock — the latter made of fiber from the Hibiscus plant — as well as cardstock made from 100% residual vegetable fiber, all of which are made without any material from trees (tree-free). In addition to whatever basic fiber they use, inclusion cardstock may have mulberry fiber, rice husks, flower petals, seeds, bark, leaves, or sparkles.

Color. Cardstock is available in a wide range of colors and is sometimes sold in color families, including deep, dark, medium, and light hues. There are bright, parchment, and pastel shades of cardstock, with metallic colors available as well. In addition, there is cardstock with intricate patterns, similar to fine wrapping paper or wallpaper, which is sometimes called “embellishment paper.” Natural fibers and dyes extend the range of colors.

Finish and/or Surface Texture. The word finish is used by manufacturers to describe two different features of paper in general and cardstock in particular. First, it describes the sheen, with a range including matte or matt, semi-matte or luster, semi-gloss, and glossy. Though much cardstock has a matte finish, there are a few glossy options available. Second, finish can refer to the surface texture. Surface texture, or finish in the second sense, covers an array of choices which include the following textures found in cardstock:

• Laid: machine-made paper with a pattern of parallel lines.
• Vellum: a paper finished to appear like the writing material vellum, which may be either prepared animal skin or parchment, i.e., a slightly rough finish.
• Linen: a paper finished to appear like linen, a woven cloth that can be used as canvas.
• Felt: paper that is textured by being pressed with patterned wool or felt during the manufacturing process.
• Embossed: a paper with a raised design created by pressing or hammering the design onto its back.

Size. A variety of sizes are available, partly depending on the expected use and the creation process. Some popular sizes of cardstock are:

• 3.5 x 5 inches (8.89 x 12.7 cm)
• 4 x 6 inches (10.16 x 15.24 cm)
• 5 x 7 inches (12.7 X 17.78 cm)
• 6.25-inch square (15.875-cm square)
• 5 ½ x 11 inches (13.97 x 27.94 cm)
• 8.5 x 11 inches (21.59 x 27.94 cm)
• 12-inch square (30.48-cm square)