Chipboard vs Cardstock for Laser Cutting: Which One Should You Buy?

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Chipboard vs Cardstock for Laser Cutting: How the Two Stocks Differ

The chipboard listings describe a rigid kraft board. Bryco Goods calls its sheets book board, binder’s board and backer board, and lists frames, display backs and boxes among the uses. JNENERY describes its sheets as book board for bookbinding, plus box making, book cover making, framing and scrapbooking. The MagicWater listings describe the same kind of stock for scrapbooking, books, picture frame backing and art projects. That is the chipboard side: board that holds its shape and backs or covers something else.

Cardstock sits on the thinner side of that line. It is the paper sheet often used for cards and layered paper work, where a lighter sheet suits the project. No cardstock listing in this set states a thickness, size or pack count, so this guide gives no cardstock figures and ranks only the chipboard listings below.

All four chipboard listings state the same point rating: 22-point, listed as 22 pt or 22PT. The two MagicWater listings disagree with themselves on inches: their titles state 0.022 inch thick, while their bullets state .020 inch. Treat the point rating as the shared figure and confirm the inch thickness on the listing before cutting to a tight fit.

Match the Sheet Size to the Project

Sheet size decides what fits. The Bryco Goods and JNENERY listings both give 8.5 x 11 inch sheets, the largest size here, which suits book covers, backings and box panels. The MagicWater 8×10 inch sheets suit mid-size pieces such as picture frame backings and notepads. The MagicWater 5×7 inch sheets suit small pieces only, so a project larger than that sheet needs a bigger listing. Pack count decides how far a listing goes: Bryco Goods and the MagicWater 5×7 listing each give 100 sheets, while JNENERY and the MagicWater 8×10 listing each give 10 sheets.

The Chipboard in This Guide, Ranked

Top pick: Bryco Goods 8.5 x 11 inch chipboard, 100 sheets. This listing pairs the full-size sheet with a 100-sheet pack, the largest pack count here, shared with the 5×7 listing. It gives 22-point kraft board, made in the USA from 100% recycled clean fiber. The listing describes it as book board, binder’s board and backer board, and lists frames, display backs and boxes among the uses. The spec table states No Warranty for this listing, so buy it for the board itself, not for warranty cover.

Also strong: JNENERY 8.5 x 11 inch chipboard, 10 sheets. Same full-size sheet and the same 22PT rating, in a smaller 10-sheet pack. The listing describes smooth kraft surfaces with no pointed edges or burs, and a board that resists deforming or bending, for bookbinding, box making, book cover making, framing and scrapbooking. The listing gives an item weight of 9.9 ounces. It ranks behind the Bryco Goods listing on pack count alone, since the sheet size and point rating match.

Solid middle option: MagicWater 8×10 inch chipboard, 10 sheets. A mid-size sheet of 22 pt kraft board, uncoated, for scrapbooking, books, picture frame backing and art projects. The title states a thickness of 0.022 inch while the bullets state .020 inch, so confirm the thickness before cutting to a tight fit. The 8×10 inch size suits frame backings and notepads better than full book covers.

Small-sheet pick: MagicWater 5×7 inch chipboard, 100 sheets. The smallest sheet here, in a 100-sheet pack of 22 pt kraft board for scrapbooking, picture frame backings and notepads. The same thickness wrinkle applies: the title states 0.022 inch and the bullets state .020 inch. The small sheet narrows the project size, so it ranks last for larger cut pieces despite the generous pack count.

Cutting Notes and Ventilation

Cut paper board with the smoke in mind. Vent the exhaust outside rather than into the room, keep a suitable extinguisher within reach, and never leave a running job unattended. The listings here describe craft and bookbinding stock, not laser settings, so run a small offcut first and check the edge before committing a full sheet.

Our best fume extractor for laser engraver guide covers filtered extraction, and the best exhaust fan for laser engraver guide covers fan-first setups.

FAQ: lasers and CNC

Should I pick chipboard or cardstock for laser cutting?

Pick chipboard for rigid pieces such as covers, backings and boxes, and cardstock for lighter paper work such as cards. Every listing in this guide is chipboard, so compare sheet size and pack count within that set.

What thickness are these chipboard sheets?

All four listings state 22-point board. The MagicWater titles state 0.022 inch while their bullets state .020 inch, so confirm the inch thickness on the listing before cutting to a tight fit.

What size sheet should I buy?

Buy 8.5 x 11 inch sheets for book covers and backings, 8×10 inch sheets for frame backings and notepads, and 5×7 inch sheets only for small pieces.

How many sheets come in a pack?

Bryco Goods gives 100 sheets, JNENERY gives 10 sheets, the MagicWater 8×10 listing gives 10 sheets, and the MagicWater 5×7 listing gives 100 sheets.

Is chipboard the same as cardboard?

The listings describe chipboard as kraft board for bookbinding, backing and boxes, and Bryco Goods describes it as an alternative to cardboard sheet and MDF board for crafts. Treat it as its own board stock for this kind of work.

Related: the laser engraver hub, how to choose a laser engraver guide and our laser accessories hub. Also see our engraving materials hub.