Ultra Thick Paper Guide: Color Core, Black Edge & Painted Edge

Ever been handed a business card that made you stop and feel it between your fingers? That’s ultra thick paper at work. At 32 to 38 pt, it’s about twice the thickness of a standard card and even thicker than a credit card. And with a colored core, a crisp black edge or a painted edge, it’s the card that stands out in a stack of ordinary ones.

This guide covers everything you need to choose the right ultra thick stock: how thick each one is, what “color core” and “painted edge” actually mean, which products you can print, and the small design and mailing details that make a big difference.

What Is Ultra Thick Paper?

Ultra thick paper is premium cardstock in the 32 to 38 pt range. Most of it is built in layers: two bright white printing faces bonded to a core in the middle. That core is the secret. Because it’s a different color, it shows as a thin stripe around the edge of every card, so the card looks finished from every angle, not just the front.

How Thick Is 32, 36 and 38 pt Paper?

Paper thickness is measured in points (pt), and 1 pt equals one-thousandth of an inch. Here’s how ultra thick stock compares to everyday cards:

In other words, even our “thinnest” ultra thick stock is thicker than the credit card in your wallet.

The Four Ultra Thick Stocks, Explained

1. 32 pt Black Core (Black Edge)

Two 9 pt bright white uncoated faces are bonded to a 14 pt black core. The result is a rigid, writable card with a sharp black line around the edge. It’s the most versatile ultra thick stock, available on business cards, postcards, invitations, trading cards, bookmarks and hang tags.

2. 36 pt Color Core

Smooth, coated white faces with a colored core in black, blue, red, orange or aqua. Because it’s coated, this is the only ultra thick stock that takes rounded corners (on business cards). It’s available on business cards (3.5″ x 2″), postcards (4″ x 6″ and 5″ x 7″) and invitations (4.25″ x 5.5″ and 5″ x 7″).

3. 38 pt White Core

Our thickest stock: extra thick ultra white, solid all the way through with no colored stripe. It’s the choice for minimal, high-end designs where you want maximum weight and a clean white edge. It’s available on business cards, postcards and invitations in select sizes.

4. 32 pt Painted Edge

Instead of a colored core, painted edge cards have color applied to all four outside edges. You can choose from 9 standard colors and 7 metallics, or leave the edge unpainted white. Metallic Gold is our bestselling edge color, and it’s available on business cards and postcards.

Color Core vs. Black Edge vs. Painted Edge: Which Should You Choose?

Quick rule of thumb: want the most color choice or a metallic shine? Choose painted edge. Want rounded corners or a smooth feel? Choose 36 pt color core. Want a writable card that goes with everything? Choose 32 pt black edge. Want the thickest, cleanest card? Choose 38 pt white core.

Why Rounded Corners Are Only Available on 36 pt

Rounded corners look great, but they’re tough on uncoated paper. On soft, uncoated layers, a rounded cut starts to fray and peel at the edge much sooner, and on painted edge cards the paint can lift at the curve. The coated 36 pt stock holds a clean, sealed rounded corner, so that’s where we offer it. Everything else stays square to keep the edges crisp.

What Can You Print on Ultra Thick Stock?

Business cards

The classic use, and the most impactful. Choose Ultra Thick Business Cards for black, color or white cores, or Painted Edge Business Cards for 16 edge colors. Want shine on the front? Foil Business Cards include foil stamping as a standard option on 32 pt white stock, and gold foil with a Metallic Gold painted edge is available by custom quote.

Postcards

Ultra Thick Postcards and Painted Edge Postcards turn direct mail, thank-you notes and save-the-dates into keepsakes. A postcard this thick gets picked up, not tossed.

Invitation cards

Ultra Thick Color Core Invitation Cards let you match the core to your wedding or event colors, with matching A2, A6, A7 or square envelopes.

Trading cards, bookmarks and hang tags

On 32 pt black core, Ultra Thick Trading Cards feel like collectibles and are easy to autograph, Ultra Thick Bookmarks stay flat for the whole book, and Ultra Thick Hang Tags make apparel, jewelry and handmade goods look premium on the rack.

See every product side by side in our ultra thick printing collection.

Design, Color and Mailing Tips

• Go bold on uncoated stock. 32 pt absorbs more ink, so colors look rich and soft. Keep text at 8 pt or larger and avoid hairline details.
• Design around the edge. Repeat your core or edge color once on the front, in a logo accent, a line or a button, and the whole card looks intentional.
• Background matters with painted edges. The same edge color looks slightly different next to dark and light designs, so solid backgrounds give the most consistent look.
• Use the writable surface. On 32 pt uncoated stock, leave room for handwritten notes, appointment times, autographs or prices.
• Mailing: ultra thick postcards are too thick for the USPS postcard rate (0.016″ max), so they mail at letter rates. Stiff pieces and square envelopes can add a nonmachinable surcharge. Check one piece at your post office before a big mailing, or mail them in an envelope.

Is Ultra Thick Printing Worth It?

Ultra thick cards cost more per piece than standard ones, but they work harder. They feel premium the moment someone touches them, they stand out in a stack, and people keep them longer. For a business card, an invitation or a thank-you note, that’s a smart branding investment. You’re paying for the piece that gets remembered, not the one that gets recycled.

Ready to feel the difference? Browse the ultra thick printing collection, or order a sample kit to see our stocks in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pt mean in paper thickness?

Pt (point) measures paper thickness in thousandths of an inch. A 32 pt card is 0.032″ thick, a 36 pt card is 0.036″, and a 38 pt card is 0.038″.

Is 32 pt paper thicker than a credit card?

Yes. A credit card is about 30 pt (0.76 mm), and 32 pt paper is 0.81 mm, so ultra thick cards are slightly thicker.

What is the difference between color core and painted edge?

Color core cards have a colored layer inside the paper that shows on the edge. Painted edge cards have color applied to the outside edges, with more color choices, including metallics like Metallic Gold.

Which ultra thick cards can have rounded corners?

Only the coated 36 pt color core stock, on business cards. Uncoated 32 pt and 38 pt cards stay square, because rounded corners on uncoated layers peel at the edge sooner.

What is the thickest card PrintMagic offers?

Our 38 pt extra thick ultra white stock, available on business cards, postcards and invitations.

Can I add foil to ultra thick cards?

Yes. Foil Business Cards include foil stamping as a standard option on 32 pt white stock. Gold foil with a Metallic Gold painted edge is available by custom quote.