A thick card is a brand's first physical touchpoint - a 0.5mm card does half the talking before a word is said. To custom-print thick cards, settle three questions first: minimum quantity, price per card, and how to add foil stamping and spot UV. All 6 ZprintPro greeting card SKUs start at 10 MOQ: premium cards US$0.13-0.23/pc, thick 400gsm cards US$0.15-0.27/pc, foil-stamped US$0.23-0.41/pc, spot UV US$0.18-0.33/pc, standard size 127x178mm (thick cards also in 90x54mm), standard production 5-7 working days. Below: gsm-to-thickness conversion, the 6-SKU price table, finishing surcharges, artwork specs and FAQs.
Quick Answer: How much does thick card printing cost?
400gsm thick cards US$0.15-0.27/pc from 10 MOQ; foil-stamped US$0.23-0.41/pc. Run the 30-second AI quote for a firm number.
Quick Answer: What is the minimum order?
All 6 SKUs start at 10 pieces. Digital short runs available same-day; offset gets cheaper at 100+.
Quick Answer: What does 0.5mm mean in card stock?
A 400gsm thick card runs about 0.40-0.50mm; tri-layer lamination at 700-810gsm reaches 0.8mm+.
Want a firm price now? Send quantity, paper weight, finishing (foil / spot UV / lamination) and size to WhatsApp +86 198 8085 1334, or run the 30-second AI quote yourself.
How does gsm map to thickness? Is 400gsm really 0.5mm?
Gsm is the weight of one square meter of paper. Thickness depends on density as well - the same 400gsm stock can differ nearly 2x between coated board and cotton paper. Industry rule-of-thumb ranges (actual varies by paper mill batch):
| Weight | Typical thickness | Feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300gsm coated board | ~0.30-0.35mm | Standard stiffness | Everyday greeting / thank-you cards |
| 400gsm thick board | ~0.40-0.50mm | Noticeably weighty | Brand cards, VIP cards, premium greeting cards |
| 700-810gsm tri-layer laminated | ~0.80-1.00mm | Card-grade, hard to bend | Luxury invitation and commemorative cards |
So a "0.5mm thick card" sits at the top of the 400gsm band; to go thicker you need tri-layer lamination (three sheets mounted together) - supported on the thick 400gsm card product page at 700-810gsm.
6-SKU spec and price comparison
| SKU | Spec | Price band (US$/pc) | MOQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium greeting cards | 300gsm coated / 250gsm matte art, 127x178mm | 0.13-0.23 | 10 |
| Thick 400gsm cards | 400gsm, upgradable to 700-810gsm tri-layer, 90x54mm / 54x54mm | 0.15-0.27 | 10 |
| Foil-stamped cards | 300gsm + gold / silver / rose-gold foil | 0.23-0.41 | 10 |
| Spot UV cards | 300gsm + spot UV (20-30 micron dimensional gloss) | 0.18-0.33 | 10 |
| Matte laminated cards | 300gsm matte art + matte lamination | 0.14-0.24 | 10 |
| Rounded-corner cards | 300gsm, R3mm rounded die-cut | 0.13-0.22 | 10 |
Price bands are per-card figures derived from each product page's 100-piece list price (2026-10 pricing), varying with quantity, size and finishing. All 6 SKUs sit in the greeting cards category; one artwork file can be split across SKUs in a single order to save shipping.
Adding foil stamping, spot UV and lamination
Finishing is where card quality shows. Surcharges on the premium card configurator:
| Finishing | Effect | Configurator surcharge (HK$) |
|---|---|---|
| Matte lamination | Silky matte, anti-fingerprint | +30 |
| Upgrade to 400gsm | Markedly stiffer feel | +100 |
| Spot UV | Logo / pattern gloss highlight against a matte base | +80 |
| Gold / silver foil | Metallic shine, the most premium look | +150 |
Foil comes in gold, silver and rose-gold; spot UV floods light-cured varnish onto chosen areas only, so they catch light against the matte board. The two can be combined (separate plates) - a matte base with a gold-foil logo plus UV highlight is the classic premium build. Gloss lamination is also available for vivid color designs.
Artwork specs
- File format: AI / PDF, 300dpi, CMYK four-color
- Bleed: 3mm on all four sides
- Fonts: outlined or embedded to avoid substitution
- Black text: single black K100; 4-color black shifts on fine type
- Foil / UV areas: supply as separate spot plates (foil plate / UV plate), kept apart from the CMYK file
- Free proofing: digital proof within 1 hour of file submission
Use cases and ordering timeline
| Use case | Recommended spec | Ordering timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas cards | 300gsm + foil / spot UV | Submit artwork by mid-November for the December window |
| New Year cards | 400gsm thick + foil | December to January, earlier is safer |
| Wedding thank-you cards | Matte / rounded corner | Submit 3-4 weeks before the wedding |
| Corporate invitation cards | Tri-layer lamination + foil | Order 4 weeks before the event |
Related reads: the 2027 CNY red packet printing guide and 3 foil stamping applications playbook for the festive season, plus the wedding invitation envelope printing guide - combine everything in one order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What does 0.5mm mean in card printing?
A: 0.5mm sits at the top of the 400gsm thick card band (roughly 0.40-0.50mm depending on stock density). For thicker, choose 700-810gsm tri-layer lamination at 0.8-1.0mm, ideal for luxury invitations.
Q2: What is the minimum order for card printing?
A: All 6 SKUs start at 10 pieces with digital printing available same-day; offset gets more economical at 100+ and the unit price falls with quantity. For spec questions, WhatsApp +86 198 8085 1334.
Q3: Can foil stamping and spot UV be combined?
A: Yes. They are two separate passes with separate plates and can stack on one card - the classic build is a matte base with a gold-foil logo plus a UV highlight. Ask for a free proof to check placement first.
Q4: What artwork format do you need?
A: AI or PDF at 300dpi in CMYK with 3mm bleed on all sides. Foil and UV areas need separate spot plates, fonts outlined or embedded, and black text as single black K100.
Q5: When should I submit artwork for the Christmas season?
A: Standard production is 5-7 working days. Submit by mid-November to leave room for proofing and revisions; if you are truly last-minute, digital short runs can be ready same-day - ask about rush slots on WhatsApp.
Q6: How long is delivery to Hong Kong and overseas?
A: Hong Kong local delivery via SF Express takes 1-2 working days; overseas DHL reaches most countries in 2-4 working days. Cards can ship together with red packets and stickers in one parcel, direct to a hotel or venue. For shipping details, just WhatsApp us.
Author: ZprintPro print engineering team - Last updated: October 7, 2026
