The best paper for cake toppers
One sheet of the right cardstock is the difference between a topper that stands and one that curls.
White 80 lb cover cardstock (216 gsm) is the best all-round paper for cake toppers. Anything from 65 to 100 lb cover (176–270 gsm) goes through most home printers and stays upright in buttercream. Avoid 20 lb copy paper: it bends the moment it meets frosting.
Cardstock weight
In the US cardstock is sold by “lb cover”, everywhere else by gsm (grams per square metre). The two scales do not convert neatly, so here they are side by side:
| US weight | Metric | Stiffness on a cake | Home printer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 lb bond (copy paper) | 75–80 gsm | Bends, absorbs moisture | Any |
| 65 lb cover | 176 gsm | Stands on small toppers | Almost any |
| 80 lb cover | 216 gsm | The sweet spot | Most inkjets and lasers |
| 100 lb cover | 270 gsm | Very stiff, good for wide toppers | Many; use the rear or manual feed |
| 110 lb cover | 300 gsm | Rigid | Often jams; check the printer’s maximum |
Check the maximum paper weight in your printer’s manual. Feeding heavier stock than it accepts is the most common cause of crooked prints.
Matte, glossy, pearl or glitter
| Finish | How it looks | Inkjet | Laser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matte | Clean, no glare in photos | Excellent | Excellent |
| Glossy / photo | Vivid colour, reflects flash | Excellent (use the photo setting) | Only laser-rated gloss; normal gloss can melt |
| Pearl / metallic | Soft shimmer, looks premium | Good; let it dry longer | Good |
| Glitter | Sparkle on the surface | Does not print well | Does not print well |
Inkjet or laser
Both work. Inkjet gives richer colour on matte and photo cardstock and handles thick sheets more gently through a straight rear feed. Laser is sharper on text and does not smudge, but the fuser can curl very heavy or coated stock. If you print on an inkjet, give the sheet two or three minutes to dry before you touch it.
Glitter cardstock: layer it, do not print on it
Glitter cardstock is the look people want for a sparkly topper, but ink does not sit on it. The trick is to print the design on plain matte cardstock, cut it out, and glue it onto a slightly larger cut-out of glitter cardstock, so a 2–3 mm glitter border frames it. The how to make a cake topper guide shows the layered method with foam tape.
Shopping list
- A pack of white 80 lb cover matte cardstock, A4 or US Letter to match your printer.
- Optional: metallic or pearl cardstock for gold-effect designs, and one sheet of glitter cardstock for backing.
- Wooden skewers or flat lollipop sticks for wide toppers.
- Clear tape, small sharp scissors and a craft knife for the inside of letters.
Every design prints at true size; the app’s calibration page checks that your printer is at 100%.
Get Topper on Google Play Android · free to download · no accountQuestions about paper
Can I use photo paper for a cake topper?
Yes, if it is heavy photo paper (around 200–250 gsm). Thin photo paper curls. Glossy photo paper reflects the camera flash, so matte is safer for pictures.
Can I glue copy paper onto a cereal box?
It works in an emergency, but the glue waves the paper and the edges show grey. One sheet of real cardstock gives a cleaner result for a few cents.
A4 or US Letter?
Whichever your printer uses. Topper exports both at true size, so the topper comes out at the same width either way.
Last updated 3 November 2026