Uses of Chipboard: What to Make With Each Thickness
Chipboard is stiff, solid brown paperboard, and its uses depend on one number: the thickness in points. Thin 20 and 24 point sheets make tags, notepad backs, and mailer stiffeners, 46 point makes journal covers and sturdy backers, and 60 to 100 point makes album covers, book boards, and menu boards.
This guide shows what each thickness is good for, how to cut it, and how restaurants, crafters, and small shops put it to work. Every sheet we sell is cut to size in our shop in Nampa, Idaho.
Chipboard thickness, explained in points
A point is one thousandth of an inch. A 20 point sheet measures about .020 inch, and a 100 point sheet measures about .100 inch, close to a tenth of an inch. The easy way to picture it is a stack of copy paper. Our 20 point board is about as thick as 5 sheets of 20 lb copy paper. Our 100 point board is about as thick as 25 of them.
Chipboard has no wavy middle layer like a shipping box. It is solid board, pressed flat, with a brown surface you can write, draw, paint, or stamp on. It is too thick for most printers, so print your design on cardstock and mount it to the board.
Chipboard thickness chart
| Thickness | About | Same as this many sheets of 20 lb copy paper | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 point | .020 inch | 5 | Gift tags, card stiffeners, box inserts, light backing |
| 24 point | .024 inch | 6 | Cricut shapes, cake toppers, photo mailers, small boxes |
| 46 point | .046 inch | 11.5 | Notepad backs, junk journal covers, sign and badge backers |
| 60 point | .060 inch | 15 | Menu boards, frame backs, storage dividers, album pages |
| 80 point | .080 inch | 20 | Book covers, sewn journals, scrapbook album covers |
| 100 point | .100 inch | 25 | Hard covers, models, display boards, the stiffest backing |
The 46, 60, 80, and 100 point sheets are cut long grain. Most thicknesses come in sizes from 3x5 up to 12x18, so you can order the size your project needs and skip the cutting.
"This chipboard did not disappoint. Some that claim to be 100pt, and you get it and it is flimsy. Don't hesitate to purchase."
Dana Monaco, 100 point chipboard
Craft uses for chipboard
Crafters reach for chipboard when cardstock bends too much. Here are the jobs we see most often in our orders and reviews.
- Scrapbook albums and junk journals. Use 60 to 100 point for the covers and 46 point for a softer, lighter cover. Wrap the board in patterned paper or fabric, or leave the brown showing.
- Book binding. Coptic sewn journals and hard covers need 80 or 100 point. One customer, Deb B, uses our 80 point for Coptic journals and planned to go thicker for cloth covered books.
- Gift tags and ornaments. 20 to 46 point holds a stamp, a punch hole, and a piece of twine without curling.
- Cricut shapes. Allison cut a cake topper from our 24 point on the Cricut chipboard setting.
- Stencils and game pieces. Cut letters, shapes, or giant board game tiles from 46 or 60 point. Pre cut 3x5 and 4x4 sheets save hours here.
Practical uses at home and at work
Chipboard does a lot of quiet work behind other paper.
- Notepad backs. 46 point is the classic weight for the board behind a pad of paper. Glue the top edge with padding compound and you have a pad.
- Mailing prints and cards. Artists and photographers slide a sheet behind a print, photo card, or watercolor before it goes in the envelope. If you mail homemade cards, our Christmas card guide covers the card side.
- Badge and sign backers. One buyer slides 46 point behind 4x6 auction number cards in plastic sleeves so they hang straight on a lanyard.
- Folding and storage. A 60 point sheet makes a shirt folding board, a drawer divider, or a flat backer for loose label sheets.
- Frame backs. 60 to 100 point fills the back of a picture frame and keeps the print flat.
"These are perfect for my notepads! I love the thickness of them, they are always perfectly cut."
Lauren, 46 point chipboard
Chipboard for restaurants: menu boards and backers
A paper menu on a stiff board feels better in a guest's hands than a loose sheet. Print the menu on 80 lb cardstock, then glue or clip it to 60 or 80 point chipboard cut to the same size. The brown edge gives a farm to table or coffee shop look, and the board stays flat on the table.
Other restaurant jobs for chipboard:
- Clip menus. A 60 point board with a binder clip holds a daily specials sheet you swap each morning.
- Server pad backs. 46 point behind order pads gives a firm surface to write on.
- Kids' menus. Mount a coloring sheet on 46 point so it does not fold over in small hands.
Chipboard is real paper, so keep it away from spills and swap a board when it looks worn. For the menu sheet itself, see our guide to the best paper for restaurant menus.
How to cut chipboard with clean edges
Thin board and thick board need different tools.
- 20 and 24 point: sharp scissors, a paper trimmer, or a cutting machine.
- 46 point and up: a craft knife with a fresh blade and a metal ruler. Make three or four light passes instead of one hard push. A heavy duty rotary trimmer or a guillotine cutter also works.
- Folds: score the line first with the back of a knife or a bone folder, then bend it over a table edge.
The easiest cut is the one you skip. Order the finished size and the sheets come ready to use. If your project needs tear lines, our paper perforation guide shows how.
Cut to order in Nampa, Idaho
We cut every chipboard order on our own paper cutter in Nampa, Idaho. The sheets are packed flat with chipboard front and back, then shrink wrapped. You pick the thickness and the size, and we cut the stack to match.
Chipboard FAQ
Is chipboard the same as cardboard?
No. Cardboard boxes have a wavy layer inside. Chipboard is one solid, pressed sheet, so it stays flat and cuts clean.
Can you print on chipboard?
Most home and office printers cannot feed it. Print on cardstock and glue the print to the board.
Is chipboard waterproof?
No. It is paper, so a spill will soak in. Keep it dry and replace boards that get wet.
Is 80 point or 100 point better for book covers?
Both work. Use 80 point for smaller journals and 100 point when you want the stiffest hard cover.
Can a Cricut cut chipboard?
Customers cut our 24 point with the Cricut chipboard setting. Thicker board is easier with a craft knife.
Shop chipboard
Shop All Chipboard
Every thickness from 20 to 100 point in one place.
Shop 46 Point Chipboard
The notepad, journal cover, and backer weight.
Shop 80 Point Chipboard
Book covers, albums, and menu boards.
Shop 100 Point Chipboard
Our stiffest board for hard covers and displays.
Try our papers free
Mounting a menu or a print on chipboard? Feel the paper first. Our free Paper Sample Pack has ten of our most popular papers as 3x5 cards: linen, parchment cardstock, parchment paper, and smooth cardstock. Every pack includes a 10% off code for your order.
ThunderBolt Paper Team
thunderboltpaper.com
