Why the card stock changes the price more than the design
When people compare name card quotes in Singapore, they usually focus on quantity and turnaround. The stock, meaning the paper or material the card is printed on, often makes a bigger difference. The same design printed on standard art card, on thick cotton, and on PVC can produce three quotes that look like they came from different industries.
This comparison goes through the main name card stocks offered by Singapore printers, what each one looks and feels like, how it prints, and what drives its cost. It is written for buyers who want to choose with their eyes open, whether they are ordering 100 cards for themselves or 50 boxes for a sales team.
The quick comparison
| Stock | Feel | Print method | Relative cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art card, matte or gloss | Smooth, familiar | Digital or offset | Lowest | Teams, large runs, everyday use |
| Textured and linen | Visible surface pattern | Digital or offset | Moderate | Professional services, hospitality |
| Cotton | Soft, thick, slightly spongy | Offset, letterpress, some digital | High | Studios, boutique brands, premium cards |
| Kraft | Brown, natural, uncoated | Digital or offset, white ink for contrast | Moderate | Cafes, craft and eco brands |
| PVC and plastic | Rigid or flexible plastic | Digital on plastic, screen | Moderate to high | Cards that must survive water and wear |
"Relative cost" here is a ranking, not a quote. The actual price depends on quantity, finishing and the printer's setup, and we cover the drivers further down.
Art card: the default for a reason
Most name cards in Singapore are printed on coated art card in the range of about 260 to 350 gsm, with around 300 to 310 gsm the usual default. It prints colour sharply, accepts lamination, spot UV and foil, and is stocked by every printer. That availability is why it is cheap and fast.
- Matte art card reduces glare and takes pen better than gloss, so people can write notes on it.
- Gloss art card makes photos and bright colours pop, but shows fingerprints and is hard to write on.
- Laminated art card, usually with matte or soft-touch film, feels thicker and resists scuffing in a wallet.
If you need cards for a team of 30 who reorder every few months, art card is almost always the right base. You can make it feel more premium with finishing instead of changing stock. Our comparison of print finishing options goes through lamination, spot UV, foil and edge painting.
Textured and linen stocks
Textured stocks have a pattern pressed into the surface: linen, felt, laid lines or a fine grain. They are uncoated or lightly coated, so colours print a little softer and darker than on art card. Solid areas of colour may show the texture through the ink, which some designers like and others do not.
They suit firms where the card should feel considered without being flashy, such as law, accounting, architecture or a hotel front desk. The cost is moderate because these papers are bought in smaller quantities than art card and sometimes need to be ordered in, which also adds lead time.
Ask for a printed sample, not just a swatch. A pattern that looks subtle on a blank sheet can fight with fine text or a thin logo once ink is on it.
Cotton: thick, soft and expensive
Cotton stock is made wholly or partly from cotton fibre instead of wood pulp. It is soft, absorbent and can be very thick, and it is the classic stock for letterpress, where the type is pressed into the paper and leaves a visible impression.
What drives the cost of cotton cards
- The paper itself costs much more per sheet than art card.
- Thick cards are often duplexed, meaning two sheets glued together, which adds a production step. A coloured core between two white sheets is a popular look and adds further to the price.
- Letterpress and foil each need plates or dies, which are a fixed cost spread over your quantity.
- Edge painting, often paired with cotton, is done by hand or semi-manually.
Cotton is a good choice when a card is a statement piece and the quantity is small, such as a founder's card or a boutique studio. For a whole sales team, it usually makes more sense to keep art card and use cotton only for senior staff or special occasions.
Kraft: natural look, colour trade-offs
Kraft card is brown, uncoated and often made with recycled content. It signals craft, sustainability or a hands-on business, and is common for cafes, bakeries, florists and handmade product brands.
The trade-off is colour. Standard CMYK inks are transparent, so they mix with the brown of the paper. Light colours almost disappear, and bright brand colours turn muddy. Dark ink, especially black or a deep brand colour, prints well. If you need white text or light colours, ask whether the printer offers white ink underneath, which adds cost and is not available everywhere.
If an eco claim is part of why you chose kraft, check what the paper actually is. Not all kraft card is recycled or certified. Our guide to FSC, recycled and eco paper explains what the labels mean.
PVC and plastic cards
Plastic name cards come in several forms: frosted translucent PVC, clear PVC, white PVC similar to a membership card, and thin flexible plastic. They are waterproof, hard to bend and almost impossible to tear.
- Frosted and clear cards look distinctive, but the design must work with see-through areas, and white ink is often needed for text to read clearly.
- White PVC cards are practical for people who work outdoors or in wet environments, such as tradespeople, boat operators or field staff.
- Cost is driven by the material and by setup. Plastic cards can need a different press or process, and minimum quantities are often higher than for paper cards.
Plastic cards are harder to write on and are not recyclable in the usual paper stream. They make sense when durability is a real need, not just for novelty.
What actually drives the price of a name card order
Beyond the stock itself, these factors make the biggest difference to a quote:
- Quantity per design. Ten people with 100 cards each is ten jobs, not one job of 1,000. Ganging names on one run helps, and our article on minimum order quantities and price breaks explains where the steps are.
- Print method. Digital printing suits short runs and quick changes. Offset becomes cheaper per card at higher quantities. Letterpress and foil add plates and dies.
- Finishing. Lamination, rounded corners, spot UV, foil and painted edges each add a step.
- Stock availability. A stock the printer keeps on the shelf is cheaper and faster than one ordered in for your job.
- Turnaround. Same-day or next-day cards are usually limited to stocks the printer has in house.
When you compare quotes, check that each printer is quoting the same stock and weight. "Premium card" from one supplier and "350 gsm matte laminated" from another are not the same thing. Our guide to comparing print quotes has a checklist.
Choosing a stock with us
We print name cards on art card, textured, cotton, kraft and PVC stocks, with finishing from simple matte lamination to foil and painted edges. If you are unsure which stock fits your brand and budget, ask us for a sample pack and we will send printed examples on the stocks we recommend for your use, so you can feel the difference before you order.
For teams, we can keep one stock and template on file and add new staff in small runs without changing the look. You can browse our name card printing options or send us your design and quantity through our contact page for a side-by-side quote on two or three stocks.
