1. Best Paper Stocks for Flyer Printing: Which Should You Choose?

    The paper stock you choose for your flyers has a bigger impact on the finished result than most people realise. The same design printed on different stocks can look and feel completely different — more or less premium, more or less vibrant, more or less appropriate for the brand and the context. Understanding the key differences between paper stocks helps you make a more informed choice and get better results from every flyer print run.

    In this guide, we cover the main paper stock options available for flyer printing at Dipol Print, what each one looks and feels like, and which type of flyer each one suits best.

    Silk

    Silk is the most popular paper stock for flyer printing — and for good reason. It has a smooth, semi-matt surface that produces excellent colour reproduction without the full shine of a gloss stock. The result is vibrant, professional and versatile — suitable for almost any type of flyer design.

    Silk sits between gloss and uncoated in terms of surface finish. It has enough coating to produce rich, accurate colour, but not so much that it feels slippery or overtly shiny. It's a reliable, professional choice that works well across a very wide range of designs and industries.

    Best for: Most standard marketing flyers, promotional materials, event flyers, restaurant and hospitality flyers. The default choice when you want professional results without a strong opinion about finish.

    Available weights: 130gsm (standard) and 170gsm (premium feel).

    Gloss

    Gloss stock has a shiny, reflective surface coating that makes colours appear more vivid and saturated than on any other stock. Images look striking, colours pop and the overall impression is high-energy and eye-catching. Gloss is the right choice when visual impact and colour vibrancy are the top priorities.

    The trade-off is that gloss can look less premium than silk or uncoated in certain contexts — particularly for professional services and luxury brands where understatement is part of the brand identity. Gloss also shows fingerprints more readily than other stocks.

    Best for: Bold, image-led designs; retail promotions; event flyers where maximum visual impact is the priority; any design with strong photography or vibrant colour that needs to show at its best.

    Available weights: 130gsm (standard) and 170gsm (heavier, more substantial feel).

    Uncoated

    Uncoated paper has no surface coating — it has a natural, slightly textured surface that absorbs ink rather than sitting on top of it. This produces a softer, more muted colour result than coated stocks, but also a distinctly premium, organic feel that coated stocks cannot replicate. Uncoated paper is writeable, which makes it useful for flyers with fill-in sections, vouchers or response forms.

    Colours on uncoated stock will always appear slightly less saturated than on screen or on coated stocks. If your design relies on very vivid, saturated colour, uncoated is not the best choice. If your brand aesthetic is natural, understated or craft-focused, uncoated can be the most on-brand option available.

    Best for: Eco-conscious brands, artisan businesses, professional services with an understated aesthetic, designs that benefit from a natural, tactile feel. Also good for vouchers and coupons where writing on the flyer is expected.

    Available weights: 90gsm (lightweight, economical) and 120gsm (more substantial).

    Paper Weight: What Does gsm Mean?

    GSM stands for grams per square metre — a measure of paper weight and thickness. The higher the gsm, the heavier and more substantial the paper feels. For flyers, the most common weights are:

    • 90gsm — lightweight. Economical for high-volume distribution. Noticeably thin — more appropriate for inserts and high-volume door drops than brand-critical marketing materials
    • 130gsm — the standard flyer weight. Feels professional without being expensive. The right choice for most standard marketing flyers
    • 170gsm — noticeably heavier and more substantial. Communicates quality and is less likely to be discarded immediately. A worthwhile upgrade for premium brands and important campaigns

    Which Stock for Which Flyer?

    • Event promotion, gig poster, club night — gloss 130gsm for maximum visual impact at competitive cost
    • Restaurant or café menu flyer — silk 130gsm or 170gsm for a professional, on-brand result
    • Luxury brand or professional services — silk 170gsm or uncoated for a premium, understated feel
    • High-volume door drop campaign — silk or gloss 90gsm for cost-effective distribution at scale
    • Eco-conscious or artisan brand — uncoated 120gsm for a natural, on-brand aesthetic
    • Voucher or coupon with fill-in section — uncoated for writeability

    Lamination on Flyers

    For folded leaflets and higher-value flyers, lamination adds both durability and a premium finish. Matt lamination gives a sophisticated, non-reflective surface popular with upmarket brands. Gloss lamination enhances colour vibrancy further beyond standard gloss stock. Velvet lamination adds an extraordinarily soft, tactile surface for a truly premium feel.

    Lamination is typically applied to covers and folded products rather than flat single-sheet flyers, where the cost-to-benefit ratio is less favourable for standard marketing runs. See our folded leaflet printing for lamination options.

    Set Up Your Artwork Correctly

    Print Your Flyers in Brighton & Hove

    Dipol Print offers flyer printing on silk, gloss and uncoated stocks in a range of weights for businesses across Brighton & Hove and the wider UK. Not sure which stock is right for your flyer? Visit our print shop at 97 St James's Street, Brighton BN2 1TP to see and feel paper samples — or get in touch and we'll advise based on your design and budget.