The Best Cardstock for Painting, Drawing, and More
Sometimes you need a heavier paper than what’s in your inkjet printer. Perhaps you plan to make a drawing with high-pigment markers and don’t want the risk of bleed-through, or maybe you want to craft a sign that won’t blow around in the wind. Possibly, you’re on the hunt for a fun arts and crafts project to embark on with your children. Regardless, cardstock is a great alternative to paper on many occasions. This single-ply paper is durable but still foldable and easy to cut. From rainbow tones to bright white classics, find the best cardstock options by considering our picks, below.
1. Spectrum Noir Ultra Smooth Premium Cardstock
This is a great cardstock from a respectable art supply company to keep on hand as it has versatile weight for most projects. At 100 pounds, it is slightly heavier than other options, so it prevents frustrating bleed-through, and it is totally opaque. It is not quick to rip, yet it is easy to cut with scissors. It’s still thin enough to load into most office printers, so you can slip the letter-size sheets into the paper tray and inkjet-print right onto them with little fuss. The surface is bright white, matte, and consistently smooth.

2. Neenah White Index Heavy Cardstock
This cardstock is heavier than most—including our top pick—at 110 pounds. Each of the 300 bright-white sheets measures 8.5 by 11 inches. Though the paper is particularly heavy, it can still be used in most inkjet and laser printers and, whether you are using it for printing or coloring, there is little to no risk of bleed-through. It’s also very smooth, which makes it a great choice for projects like inking, gluing, stamping, and die-cutting (but not so much for illustrating with colored pencils). Read More...