By George Hu — July 4, 2026 — Salon Paper
Quick Reference: Playing card paper is classified into four standard grades — PC3 (standard playing card), PC4 (premium), PC5 (casino/super-premium), and UPC (universal playing card). GSM typically ranges from 250 to 350 g/m². Stiffness, thickness, Cobb water absorption, surface roughness, and internal bond strength are the key differentiating metrics. All specifications below follow international ISO and TAPPI test methods.
Complete technical data for all four playing card paper grades, with test methods and tolerance ranges.
| Test Item | Unit | Test Method | Tolerance | PC3 | PC4 | PC5 | UPC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substance (GSM) | g/m² | ISO 536 | ±5 | 310 | 310 | 310 | 280 |
| Stiffness CD | mN | ISO 2493 / TAPPI T489 | ±60 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 7.0 |
| Stiffness MD | mN | ISO 2493 / TAPPI T489 | ±60 | 18.0 | 18.0 | 18.0 | 12.0 |
| Thickness | μm | ISO 534 | ±15 | 390 | 390 | 390 | 350 |
| Moisture | % | ISO 287 | ±1.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Roughness | ml/min | ISO 8791-2 (Bendtsen) | ±100 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Brightness | % ISO | ISO 2470 | ±2.0 | 85.0 | 85.0 | 85.0 | 83.0 |
| Gloss (75°) | % | TAPPI T480 | ±5.0 | 25.0 | 25.0 | 25.0 | 25.0 |
| Opacity | % | ISO 2471 | ±2.0 | 92.0 | 92.0 | 92.0 | 90.0 |
| Pick Speed | m/s | IGT / ISO 3783 | ±0.3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Cobb (60s) | g/m² | ISO 535 / TAPPI T441 | ±5.0 | 35.0 | 35.0 | 35.0 | 40.0 |
| Internal Bond Strength (Scott) | J/m² | TAPPI T569 / ISO 16260 | ±50 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 150 |
| Skewness / Bow | mm | GB/T 451.1 | ±2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Dimensional Tolerance (Sheet) | mm | GB/T 451.1 | ±2.0 | ±1.0 | ±1.0 | ±1.0 | ±1.0 |
Choosing the right card paper grade for your application.
Best for: Standard poker decks, playing cards, souvenir cards, promotional decks.
Features: Blue core card paper with excellent stiffness-to-weight ratio. 310 GSM standard delivers professional snap feel. Good print surface for offset and digital printing. Cost-effective for medium to large print runs.
Typical MOQ: 2-5 tons
Best for: Premium branded decks, high-end souvenir cards, custom playing cards with superior quality requirements.
Features: Enhanced formation and surface smoothness compared to PC3. Tighter thickness tolerance for consistent deck feel. Higher internal bond strength for better durability during repeated shuffling. Preferred by professional card producers.
Typical MOQ: 5-10 tons
Best for: Casino-grade playing cards, professional magic trick decks, high-end trading cards, collector’s edition decks.
Features: Highest stiffness grade with superior snap and feel. Optimized for high-speed casino shuffling machines. Ultra-smooth surface for best print detail. Tightest quality tolerances across all metrics. Premium blue core construction.
Typical MOQ: 10 tons
Best for: Educational flashcards, children’s card games, economy playing cards, promotional giveaways, board game cards.
Features: Standard grade at 280 GSM for cost-sensitive applications. Grey core construction for economical pricing. Suitable for lower-volume printing and basic durability requirements. Good surface for standard printing methods.
Typical MOQ: 2-5 tons
| Core Type | Stiffness | Opacity | Cost | Best Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Core | Highest | Excellent | Highest | Casino-grade, premium playing cards, professional decks |
| Black Core | High | Very Good | Medium | Standard to premium playing cards, games, tarot |
| Grey Core | Standard | Good | Lowest | Educational cards, economy decks, promotional cards |
| Format | Sheet Size (mm) | Common GSM | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Sheet | 787 × 1092 | 280 – 350 | Standard printing, high-volume decks |
| Full Sheet | 889 × 1194 | 280 – 350 | Larger format, import-standard decks |
| Jumbo Roll | Custom width | 250 – 400 | High-speed rotary printing |
| Slit Roll | Custom width | 250 – 400 | Specialty converting |
We provide full technical data sheets for all card paper grades including test reports, certifications (FDA, SGS, FSC), and mill quality certificates.
Contact us for samples and detailed specifications tailored to your production requirements.
Request Spec Sheet →The most common GSM for playing card paper is 310 g/m² (PC3 grade). Premium cards use 310-350 g/m², while economy and educational cards typically use 250-300 g/m². The higher the GSM, the thicker and stiffer the card.
Blue core card paper refers to cardstock with a blue-tinted center layer, indicating high-purity virgin pulp. Blue core paper offers the highest stiffness and durability, making it the preferred choice for casino-grade and professional playing cards.
Stiffness is measured using a Taber stiffness tester following ISO 2493 or TAPPI T489 standards. Both machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD) stiffness values are reported. For playing card paper, PC3-PC5 grades typically require MD stiffness above 18.0 mN and CD stiffness above 12.0 mN.
The Cobb test (ISO 535 / TAPPI T441) measures water absorption over 60 seconds. For playing card paper, a Cobb value of 30-40 g/m² is standard. Lower Cobb values mean better water resistance and sharper print quality.
These are sequential quality grades. PC3 is the standard playing card grade with good stiffness and surface quality. PC4 offers enhanced formation, tighter tolerances, and better durability. PC5 is the highest grade with maximum stiffness, premium surface, and strictest quality control — suitable for casino and luxury card applications.
