Best Paper for Printing Coloring Pages

For most coloring pages, ordinary copy paper (20 lb bond, roughly 75–80 gsm) works well with crayons and coloured pencils. Choose 24–32 lb paper (roughly 90–120 gsm) to reduce marker show-through, and cardstock (about 65–110 lb cover, roughly 175–300 gsm) for heavy marker work, paint sticks, cards and decorations, as long as your printer can feed it.

By ColoringPark · Updated October 28, 2026

Is regular printer paper good enough for coloring pages?

Yes, for crayons and coloured pencils. Standard copy paper, sold as 20 lb bond in North America and usually 75 or 80 gsm elsewhere, takes crayon and pencil well and feeds through any home printer.

It is also the cheapest option, which matters when you are printing a stack for a rainy day or a class. Its limits show with markers, which can soak through, and with heavy pressure, which can wrinkle or tear thin sheets.

What paper weight is best for markers?

Go a step heavier. Paper around 24–32 lb bond (roughly 90–120 gsm) is thicker and more opaque, so marker colour is less likely to show through or bleed onto the table, and the sheet stays flatter when colour is laid on thickly.

Most home printers handle paper in this range without any change of settings. Some brands sell it as premium or presentation paper.

Washable and water-based markers are gentler on paper than alcohol-based markers, which bleed through almost any printer paper. If you use alcohol markers, use cardstock or put a scrap sheet underneath.

When should you print coloring pages on cardstock?

Use cardstock when the page needs to be sturdy or will take a lot of colour. It suits:

Heavy marker work and alcohol markers.
Paint sticks, oil pastels and other thick media.
Cards, bookmarks, masks and cut-out decorations, such as Christmas coloring pages made into ornaments.
Pages that will be displayed, framed or handled a lot.

Light cardstock is usually labelled around 65 lb cover (roughly 175 gsm); heavier cardstock runs to about 110 lb cover (roughly 300 gsm). Check your printer's manual or specifications for its maximum paper weight before buying, because many home printers top out below the heaviest card.

When printing on card, set the paper type to cardstock or heavy paper in the print dialog, and use the rear or manual feed tray if your printer has one. Feed one sheet at a time if it jams.

Can you use watercolour or paint on printed coloring pages?

Only lightly. Proper watercolour painting needs watercolour paper, and most home inkjet printers cannot feed watercolour paper because it is thick and textured.

On cardstock you can use light washes of watercolour or watercolour pencils with a barely damp brush. Expect some curling, and let the page dry flat. Heavy, wet painting will buckle copy paper and can make printed lines run.

Does it matter if you use an inkjet or laser printer?

It matters mostly for wet media. Laser printers fuse toner onto the paper, so the lines do not run when you colour over them with water-based markers or a light wash.

Inkjet ink sits in the paper and some inks can smear or blur when touched by markers, wet paint or damp hands. To avoid this:

Let freshly printed pages dry for a few minutes before colouring.
Test your markers on a corner or on a spare printout first.
Use crayons or coloured pencils if smearing is a problem, since dry media do not affect the lines.

How do paper weights in lb and gsm compare?

Pounds (lb) and grams per square metre (gsm) measure weight differently, and lb figures depend on the paper category, so a 65 lb cover sheet is much heavier than a 24 lb bond sheet. These equivalents are approximate and vary slightly between manufacturers:

20 lb bond: about 75 gsm (copy paper).
24 lb bond: about 90 gsm.
28 lb bond: about 105 gsm.
32 lb bond: about 120 gsm.
65 lb cover: about 175 gsm (light cardstock).
80 lb cover: about 215 gsm.
110 lb cover: about 300 gsm (heavy cardstock).

Questions

How do I stop markers bleeding through to the table?

Slip a scrap sheet or a piece of card under the page while colouring. Heavier paper also helps, and washable markers bleed less than alcohol markers.

Is glossy photo paper good for coloring pages?

Usually not. Crayons and coloured pencils do not grip the smooth coated surface well, and marker can smudge. Matte paper or plain card works better.

Does the paper size change which paper I should buy?

No. Choose the weight you need in the size your printer uses. Every page is available as a US Letter and an A4 PDF.

Can I try a page before using good paper?

Yes. Print a test copy on plain paper first, or try colours with the Color it online button, then print your final version on heavier paper.