Best Papers for Letterpress Printing

Why paper matters more for letterpress

Letterpress printing works by pressing an inked plate into the paper surface. Unlike digital or offset printing, which deposits ink on top of the paper, letterpress physically deforms the stock. This means the paper's composition — its fiber content, density, and thickness — directly determines how deep, how crisp, and how lasting the impression will be.

On the wrong paper, letterpress looks flat and underwhelming. On the right paper, it creates a tactile experience that digital printing simply cannot replicate.

Cotton vs wood pulp

Cotton paper (also called rag paper) is the gold standard for letterpress. Cotton fibers are longer and more flexible than wood pulp fibers, which means the paper compresses more evenly under pressure and holds the impression without cracking or tearing. The result is a deep, clean deboss with soft, pillowy edges.

Wood pulp paper can be letterpress-printed, but the results are noticeably different. The fibers are shorter and more rigid, producing a shallower impression with sharper, sometimes rough edges. For business cards, we strongly recommend cotton stock for any letterpress project.

Recommended stocks

Our letterpress business cards use 100% cotton stock in two weights:

• 32pt cotton — Deep impression with a substantial feel. Our most popular letterpress stock.
• 48pt cotton — Maximum impression depth. Feels like holding a piece of furniture. Pairs beautifully with edge painting.

Both stocks are bright white with a soft, uncoated surface texture. The natural warmth of cotton paper adds an organic quality that coated stocks lack.

How thickness affects impression depth

Thicker paper allows for deeper impressions because there's more material to compress. On 32pt cotton, you can achieve a visually striking deboss. On 48pt, the impression is dramatic — visible from across a table. Our thickness guide covers the full range of paper weights we offer.

There's a practical limit: too much pressure on too-thin paper will punch through the stock. That's why we don't recommend letterpress on anything thinner than 24pt, and 32pt is our suggested minimum for business cards.

Pairing letterpress with other finishes

Letterpress combines beautifully with foil stamping — the debossed impression filled with metallic foil creates a tactile and visual contrast that's hard to achieve any other way. Blind letterpress (no ink, just the impression) paired with a foil-stamped logo is one of our most requested combinations.

Edge painting also pairs naturally with thick letterpress cards, adding a pop of color to the card's visible edge. For these multi-technique combinations, explore our embossed & letterpress collection or request a custom quote.