Custom Notebook Cover Boards: 385gsm, 700gsm & 1200gsm Compared | Valenna

Custom Notebook Cover Boards: 385gsm, 700gsm and 1200gsm

Valenna offers three cover boards for custom notebooks: 385gsm card (soft and flexible), 700gsm board (firm) and 1200gsm hard board (the most rigid). The right one depends on how firm you want the notebook to feel, how it will be handled and your budget.

📘 The three cover options

CoverWhat it feels likeBest for
Card 385gsmLightweight and soft. It can bendSamples, events and larger, economical runs
Board 700gsmFirm, similar in thickness to a counter book coverEveryday notebooks that should keep their shape; the only cover that can take metallic corner protectors
Hard board 1200gsmThe thickest cover we offer. A premium board that does not bend easilyPremium journals and notebooks that get heavy, repeated use

🛡️ Corner protectors

Gold, silver or bronze metallic corner protectors can be selected only with the 700gsm board cover, because that material has the right thickness for the fittings.

✨ Cover and finish are separate choices

Cover thickness and cover finish (glossy or matte, lamination or PVC) are chosen independently. A thicker board does not change how the print looks, and a laminate does not make a thin card rigid. See cover finishes and protective options.

📝 Note: the 1200gsm rigid notebook cover is not the same as the separate 1000gsm glossy triplex board sold in the cardstock range. The triplex is raw board stock, not a notebook cover option.

💡 How to choose

  • Ordering many notebooks for an event or on a tight budget? 385gsm keeps the cost down.
  • Want a notebook that stays flat and feels like a proper book without the premium price? 700gsm.
  • Selling it, gifting it or expecting years of use? 1200gsm.
💡 Tip: still unsure? Order one sample on each cover. Rigidity is much easier to judge in your hands than on screen.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Does the cover board affect how many pages I can have?

No. Page capacity is set by the interior paper: up to 400 printed pages on 80gsm or 200 on 120gsm. Check the cover and wire combination with us if you want a very high page count and a gold wire.

Can I print on both sides of the cover?

Yes. See single-sided vs double-sided cover printing (double-sided adds R10).

Do I need bleed on a hard board cover?

No. All three covers are printed directly at the finished size. See do custom notebooks need bleed?

👉 Related guides and next steps