Do you want to print your own planner inserts or refills at home but have no idea which paper to use?
Turns out, not all paper are made equal. There are so many options in the market that it can be overwhelming to choose one. Plus, you don't want to end up purchasing a ream (that's 500 sheets!) of paper just to find out it's not the right kind.
This post will talk through the factors to consider when picking out the paper for printing out your planner inserts. I will also share some of my top picks for printing Puffin Pages Co's printable inserts at home.
Factors to consider
PAPER WEIGHT/STOCK
Paper comes in a variety of weight. The standard printer or copier paper is usually 70 or 80gsm (equivalent to 20lb) whilst cardstock paper for things like birthday cards or invitations are usually 220 to 260gsm.
For planner inserts, you would not want a paper that is too thin that it can tear or crinkle easily or cause ink bleed. Equally, you would not want something that is too thick that it makes your planner bulky and makes the cost uneconomical.
BRIGHTNESS AND WHITENESS
Paper brightness refers to the papers' ability to reflect light while paper whiteness refers to the shade of the paper. You would typically want to go for the highest possible brightness (usually on a scale of 0-100) and whiteness (usually around 160 whiteness is good).
COATED VS UNCOATED
Uncoated paper will usually create a matte finish whilst coated paper will have a glossy finish. Personally, I find uncoated paper more comfortable to write on and I prefer the matte finish. Furthermore, using uncoated paper also reduces the risk of ink smudging when printing or writing.
Our Top Picks
Of all the paper that I have tried, the HP 100gsm Premium A4 paper is by far my favourite. I find that 100gsm is the perfect weight for my planner inserts. The paper does not crinkle as easily as the standard 70/80gsm printer paper but at the same time, it does not add bulk to my planner.
I have also never experienced ink bleed with this paper. However, to be fair, I only use ballpoint or gel pens in my planner so if you are a fountain pen user, you might need to do some extra research if you are interested in this paper.
NAVIGATOR 120gsm ULTRA SMOOTH A4 PAPER
With that being said, I do occasionally use 120gsm paper, especially when I need to take product photos. The heavier weight of the Navigator 120gsm Ultra Smooth A4 paper gives planner inserts a higher quality and more luxurious finish. This is perfect when you're taking photos for Instagram and other social media platforms.
Fun fact: Our printed planner inserts are printed on 120gsm premium paper.
HP 32lb PREMIUM 11" x 8.5" PAPER
If you are in the US and use Letter size paper, then check out the HP 32lb Premium 11" x 8.5" paper. 32lb is equivalent to 120gsm. I have not tried this paper personally but it comes highly-recommended in the planner community.
Summary
We hope this post has helped you make a more informed decision when buying the paper for printing your planner inserts at home.
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