14PT vs 16PT business cards: which stock should you pick?
Customers ask about card thickness more than any other print detail. Here is what actually changes between 14PT and 16PT, and when I tell people to skip the upgrade.
Print & marketing · Updated August 22, 2026 · 4 min read
What PT actually means
PT is points — thousandths of an inch of thickness. A 14PT card is 0.014 inches thick, a 16PT card is 0.016 inches. That sounds like nothing written down, and it is obvious the second you hold both.
Nothing else changes. Same press, same full-color printing on both sides, same standard 3.5 x 2 inch cut. You are choosing how the card feels in somebody's hand, not how it prints.
Our standard weight — sturdy, professional, great value. vs Thicker, heavier stock with a premium hand feel.
Published pricing
14PT vs 16PT, side by side
These are the same prices you pay ordering online — no quote needed.
| Quantity | 14PT cardstock | 16PT premium | Upgrade cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 cards | $110 | $135 | +$25 |
| 1,000 cards | $155 | $185 | +$30 |
| 2,500 cards | $245 | $295 | +$50 |
| 5,000 cards | $375 | $450 | +$75 |
Minimum order: 500 cards. Rush service available — call the shop.
How to choose
Which one I would tell you to buy
Pick 14PT if…
- You go through cards fast and hand out a lot of them.
- Cards sit on a counter, in a mailer or in a display holder.
- You are printing a first batch and may change the design soon.
- You want the lowest cost per card at any quantity.
Pick 16PT if…
- You hand cards to clients face to face and want it to land.
- Your card lives in wallets and card cases for months.
- You are in a trade where the card is part of the pitch.
- Your design is dark or heavily inked — heavier stock carries it better.
One more option worth knowing: rounded corners is $25 on the whole order. On 16PT stock especially, rounded corners make a card feel deliberate rather than generic.
Files
Getting the artwork right
Send a print-ready PDF at 300 DPI with 0.125" bleed, or let us design it — custom card design starts at $65.
Two things cause almost every business card reprint I have seen: text sitting too close to the trim edge, and low-resolution logos pulled off a website. Keep important text at least an eighth of an inch inside the edge, and send the highest-resolution logo you have. We proof every card before printing, so you will see problems before they cost you anything.
Questions
Business card stock questions
+ What is the real difference between 14PT and 16PT?
Both are the same full-color print on the same press. 16PT is a thicker sheet — you feel it immediately when you hand one over, and it resists bending in a wallet or a card case. 14PT is the standard weight most printed cards use.
+ Is 16PT worth the upgrade?
It depends on how the card gets used. If you hand cards to clients in person and the card is doing some of the selling for you, the heavier stock is worth it. If cards go in mailers, on a counter or into a fishbowl, 14PT is plenty. Across our runs the upgrade is a small share of the order total.
+ Matte or glossy?
Glossy makes photos and saturated color pop but shows fingerprints. Matte looks more understated and is the only choice if anybody needs to write on the card with a pen. Both are available on either stock.
+ Do you have a minimum order?
Yes — 500 cards is the minimum run. Below that the per-card cost stops making sense for anyone.
+ Can you design the card for me?
Yes. Custom card design is $65 and includes two revisions. Otherwise send a print-ready PDF at 300 DPI with 0.125" bleed.
+ How long do business cards take?
2–4 business days after proof approval. Rush service available for an added charge.