Some print just feels different. Ultra thick printing uses 32 to 38 pt cardstock, about twice the thickness of standard cards and thicker than a credit card, so every piece feels solid, premium and worth keeping. Then there’s the edge: a crisp black core, a stripe of color, a clean white core or a painted edge in 16 colors. In a stack of ordinary cards, an ultra thick one is the piece people notice first.

Here’s everything we print on ultra thick stock, from business cards and postcards to invitations, trading cards, bookmarks and hang tags. It’s an affordable way to give your brand a luxury feel in the hand.

Shop Ultra Thick Products

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Ultra Thick Paper Stocks Compared

StockWhat it isEdge lookSurfaceRounded cornersProducts
32 pt Black Core3 layers: 9 pt white + 14 pt black core + 9 pt whiteBlack stripe (black edge)Uncoated, writableNoBusiness cards, postcards, invitations, trading cards, bookmarks, hang tags
36 pt Color CoreSmooth white faces with a colored coreBlack, blue, red, orange or aqua stripeSmooth, coatedYes (business cards)Business cards, postcards, invitations
38 pt White CoreOur thickest stock, solid ultra whiteClean white edgeExtra thick ultra whiteNoBusiness cards, postcards, invitations
32 pt Painted EdgeUltra thick uncoated card, edges painted16 colors + unpainted white; Metallic Gold is the bestsellerUncoated, writableNoBusiness cards, postcards

Why no rounded corners on uncoated stock? On soft, uncoated layers, a rounded cut starts to peel at the edge much sooner. The coated 36 pt stock holds a clean rounded corner, so that’s where we offer it.

How Thick Is Ultra Thick Paper?

CardThicknessIn inches / mm
Standard card stock14–16 pt0.014–0.016″ / 0.36–0.41 mm
Credit cardabout 30 pt0.030″ / 0.76 mm
Ultra Thick 32 pt32 pt0.032″ / 0.81 mm
Ultra Thick 36 pt36 pt0.036″ / 0.91 mm
Ultra Thick 38 pt38 pt0.038″ / 0.97 mm

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Which Ultra Thick Product Is Right for You?

I want to…Choose
Hand out a business card people rememberUltra Thick Business Cards or Painted Edge Business Cards
Match my brand color on the edgePainted Edge Business Cards or Painted Edge Postcards (17 edge options)
Add rounded corners to a thick cardUltra Thick Business Cards on 36 pt color core
Send luxury direct mail or thank-you cardsUltra Thick Postcards
Invite guests to a wedding or galaUltra Thick Invitation Cards
Make team cards or a premium card gameUltra Thick Trading Cards
Give away something people use for monthsUltra Thick Bookmarks
Make my products look premium on the rackUltra Thick Hang Tags

Core Colors and Edge Colors at a Glance

  • Black core (black edge): on every 32 pt product. A neutral that goes with any brand.
  • Color core: black, blue, red, orange or aqua on 36 pt business cards, postcards and invitations. Choose one that complements your palette.
  • White core: the 38 pt ultra white stock, solid white all the way through.
  • Painted edge: 9 standard colors and 7 metallics, plus unpainted white, on business cards and postcards. Pick the one closest to your brand color.

Painted Edge, Metallic Gold and Gold Foil

Metallic Gold is our bestselling painted edge color. It’s a thin line of gold around a thick card that instantly reads as premium. Want gold foil on the front as well? We combine gold foil, or any foil color, with a Metallic Gold painted edge on 32 pt stock as a custom order.

Request a custom quote for gold foil + gold edge cards

Prefer standard foil without a painted edge? Foil Business Cards include foil stamping as a standard option on a 32 pt white card with no color core.

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Create a Matching Ultra Thick Set

Who Loves Ultra Thick Printing?

Real estate agents, law firms, financial advisors, luxury retail and jewelers, salons and spas, restaurants and wineries, photographers and designers, wedding and event planners, authors and publishers, sports teams and leagues, fashion and handmade brands, and trade show teams who want the card people keep.

Ultra Thick Printing at PrintMagic

Every ultra thick order comes with free templates and a proof before anything prints. Choose 2–4 or 5–7 business days, and add our design service if you’d like help. Want the full story on each stock? Read our ultra thick paper guide.

Ultra Thick Printing FAQs

What is ultra thick paper?

Ultra thick paper is cardstock from 32 to 38 pt, about twice as thick as standard 14–16 pt card stock and thicker than a credit card. At PrintMagic it comes as 32 pt black core, 36 pt color core, 38 pt white core and 32 pt painted edge.

Which products can I print on ultra thick stock?

Business cards, postcards, invitation cards, trading cards, bookmarks and hang tags. Business cards and postcards also come in painted edge versions.

What's the difference between color core and painted edge?

A color core is a colored layer inside the paper that shows as a stripe on the edge, in black, blue, red, orange or aqua (36 pt). A painted edge is color applied to the outside edges of a 32 pt card, in 16 colors including Metallic Gold.

What is a black core or black edge card?

It's a 32 pt, three-layer card: two 9 pt white uncoated faces bonded to a 14 pt black core, which shows as a thin black edge.

Is there a white core option?

Yes. Our 38 pt extra thick ultra white stock is solid white all the way through, with no colored stripe. It's available on business cards, postcards and invitations.

Which ultra thick cards can have rounded corners?

Only the 36 pt color core stock, on business cards. The 32 pt and 38 pt stocks are uncoated, and rounded corners on uncoated layers peel at the edge sooner.

What's the most popular painted edge color?

Metallic Gold. It looks especially striking on black, navy and white designs.

Can I add foil to ultra thick cards?

Yes. Foil Business Cards include foil stamping as a standard option on a 32 pt white card. To combine gold foil with a Metallic Gold painted edge, request a custom quote.

Can you write on ultra thick cards?

Yes, on the uncoated 32 pt stocks (black core and painted edge). They take pen and pencil well, which makes them great for notes, autographs and prices.

Can ultra thick postcards be mailed?

Yes. They're too thick for the USPS postcard rate, so they mail at letter rates, and stiff pieces may need a nonmachinable surcharge. Mailing them in an envelope also works well.