Matte business cards are usually the better all-round choice: they have no glare, feel more premium in the hand and, in their uncoated form, can be written on. Gloss cards make photos and bright colours pop, but they show fingerprints and are hard to write on, so they suit image-led brands more than service businesses.
The bigger choice is often not matte or gloss at all, but whether the card is uncoated, coated or laminated. This guide explains the difference, what each finish is like to write on and carry around, which suits which kind of business, and what our options cost.
The quick answer
| If you want... | Choose |
|---|---|
| To write appointment times or notes on the card | Uncoated |
| A smooth, premium feel that survives a wallet | Matt laminate |
| Photos, food or bright colour to look rich | Gloss (coated or gloss laminate) |
| The lowest price for a short run | An unlaminated card |
| A velvety, luxury feel | Soft-touch laminate |
Coated, uncoated and laminated: what is the difference?
Uncoated
Uncoated board is plain card with nothing on the surface. It feels slightly textured and natural, like good writing paper. Ink soaks a little into the fibres, so colours look softer and slightly flatter than on coated stock, and very fine detail can spread a touch. The big advantage is that any pen or pencil writes on it. See uncoated stock.
Coated
Coated board has a thin clay coating applied at the mill that fills in the fibres. Ink sits on top rather than soaking in, so colours are sharper and brighter. Coated stocks come in gloss, satin (silk) and matt versions. Gloss coating reflects light; matt coating diffuses it. Coated cards without any laminate are the usual budget option.
Laminated (celloglaze)
Lamination bonds a thin plastic film to the printed card. In Australia this is often called celloglaze, and you will see "matt cello" or "gloss cello" on quotes. It is the same thing as lamination. The film protects the print from scuffs, moisture and bending, and adds a little thickness and stiffness. It comes in three common versions:
- Matt laminate: smooth, low-sheen, no glare. The most popular premium finish. See matt laminate.
- Gloss laminate: shiny and vivid, with deeper blacks and stronger colour. See gloss finish.
- Soft-touch laminate: a matt film with a velvety, almost rubbery feel. See soft-touch laminate.
Varnishes and UV coatings are a fourth family. They are liquid coatings rather than film, and are often used for spot effects. Our spot UV, embossing and foil guide covers those.
Matte vs gloss compared
| Uncoated | Matt laminate | Gloss (coated or laminated) | Soft-touch laminate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Natural, soft colour | Rich but calm, no glare | Bright, high contrast, shiny | Deep, muted colour |
| Feel | Textured, papery | Smooth, slightly silky | Slick | Velvety |
| Photos and bright colour | Fair | Good | Best | Good |
| Writing with a ballpoint | Easy | Unreliable | Very hard | Unreliable |
| Fingerprints | Hidden | Mostly hidden | Visible | Can show marks |
| Scuffing on dark colours | Can rub and look worn | Can show shiny rub marks | Scratches show | Marks easily |
| Durability in a wallet | Edges soften | Very good | Good (laminated) | Good |
| Relative cost | Low | Medium | Low to medium | Higher |
Can you write on matte or gloss business cards?
This matters more than most people expect. If your staff write appointment times, quotes or a mobile number on the back of the card, the finish decides whether that works.
- Uncoated: any ballpoint, pencil or fineliner works, and the ink dries quickly. This is the safe choice for appointment cards.
- Matt laminate: a ballpoint often skips because the film is smooth and non-absorbent. A fine permanent marker or some gel pens work better. Test the pen you actually use.
- Gloss coated or gloss laminate: most pens smear or will not write. Only permanent markers are reliable.
Our laminates go on both sides or on the front only, so if you need to write on the card, choose 325gsm smooth uncoated card or a card with no laminate, or laminate the front only and write on the plain back. Test your pen first.
Scuffing and dark solid colours
Large areas of black, navy or other dark solid colour show wear more than anything else on a business card. This is worth thinking about before you choose a finish.
- On uncoated stock, dark solids look slightly less rich, and heavy coverage can rub a little when cards are packed tightly together or carried loose in a pocket.
- On matt laminate, the film protects the ink, but rubbing can polish small patches to a slight shine, which shows on black.
- On gloss, fine scratches catch the light.
- Soft-touch is the most prone to marking. It feels luxurious but scuffs easily on dark designs.
If your design is mostly black, matt laminate is still the most forgiving everyday choice. If you do not need large dark areas, a white or light background avoids most of the problem.
Which finish suits which business?
| Business | Usually best | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Health and allied health, salons, clinics | Uncoated | Appointment times are written on the back |
| Trades and construction | Uncoated or matt laminate | Writable, or tough enough for a work ute |
| Lawyers, accountants, consultants | Matt laminate | Calm, premium, no glare under office lighting |
| Real estate | Matt laminate | Durable, handled a lot, often has a photo |
| Photographers, cafes, restaurants, florists | Gloss | Photos and food look their best |
| Designers and creative studios | Uncoated or soft-touch | Tactile feel is part of the brand |
| Events, short promotions | Unlaminated | Lowest cost for a card that is used once |
The answer to "what looks more professional, matte or gloss?" is usually matte. A matt finish reads as considered and quiet, while gloss can look promotional. But a photographer with gloss cards is making the right call, because the card is a sample of their work.
What about card weight?
Finish and weight work together. Most quality cards in Australia are 350gsm to 400gsm, and lamination adds stiffness on top of that. A 350gsm laminated card feels firmer than the same stock unlaminated. Thinner cards around 250gsm to 300gsm feel light and can bend in a wallet. Our stock guide and GSM explainer cover weight in more detail.
Our business card options and prices
We print full-colour business cards on one or both sides, in the standard 90 x 55mm and four other sizes. You choose the card, then the finish:
- Uncoated or no laminate: 310gsm, 350gsm or 400gsm card with no laminate, or a speciality card such as 325gsm smooth uncoated card you can write on, linen, felt or recycled. 350gsm double sided with no laminate is our entry-level card for small runs, from 25 cards. See 350gsm business cards from 25.
- Matt, gloss or velvet (soft-touch) laminate: on both sides or on the front only, on 310gsm, 350gsm or 400gsm card. 450gsm, our thickest standard card, comes with gloss or velvet laminate on both sides. You can also have gloss on the front with matt on the back.
- Spot UV, raised gloss or foil: premium finishes on matt or velvet laminate, on 400gsm and 450gsm card. See our spot UV and foil guide.
Not every finish comes on every card, and the configurator greys out combinations we can't print. Starting quantities depend on the option: many cards start at 100, and cards laminated on both sides on 350gsm start at 250.
Double-sided 90 x 55mm prices checked 16 October 2026, for one design, as the order total:
| Quantity | 350gsm, no laminate | 325gsm smooth uncoated | 350gsm matt laminate | 400gsm matt laminate | 400gsm gloss laminate | 400gsm velvet laminate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $78 | $68 | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
| 100 | $81 | $74 | Not offered | $103 | $103 | $126 |
| 250 | $78 | $82 | $93 | $100 | $99 | $127 |
| 500 | $89 | $101 | $101 | $104 | $104 | $128 |
| 1,000 | $101 | $137 | $132 | $116 | $116 | $152 |
| 2,500 | $150 | $309 | $205 | $209 | $216 | $326 |
| 5,000 | $232 | $616 | $336 | $336 | $371 | $599 |
Laminate is on both sides in this table. 350gsm with matt laminate on both sides starts at 250 cards, and the 400gsm cards at 100. Delivery is free Australia-wide, and no GST is charged, so the total you see is the total you pay. On that date the 400gsm matt laminated card cost a few dollars more than the 350gsm one at 250 and 500 cards, less at 1,000, and about the same from 2,500 up. On 400gsm, gloss and matt laminate cost within a dollar of each other up to 1,000 cards, and velvet laminate costs more. On plain 350gsm, 250 cards cost less than 100, and the configurator points this out. Prices change, so check the live price in the business card configurator before you order.
Most cards are dispatched 4 business days after your artwork is approved, and the product page shows a Get it by range for your postcode.
Artwork tips for each finish
- Uncoated: colours print softer, so add a little contrast and avoid very fine light text on dark backgrounds.
- Matt laminate: lamination slightly deepens colours, so check dark photos and large dark areas on your proof.
- All finishes: supply a PDF in CMYK with 3mm bleed (96 x 61mm artwork) and keep text 5mm inside the trim. Our business card templates and size and bleed guide show the setup.
Every order includes a free artwork check and an instant online proof, so you can see your card before it prints.
Last checked: 16 October 2026.
FAQs
Is glossy or matte better for business cards?
Matte suits most businesses: it has no glare, hides fingerprints and feels premium. Gloss is better when photos or bright colour are the point of the card, such as for photographers, cafes and florists.
What finish is best for business cards?
For most people, matt laminate. It protects the card, survives a wallet and looks professional. Choose uncoated if you need to write on the card.
Is matte or uncoated better for business cards?
Uncoated is better if you write on cards or want a natural, textured feel. Matt laminate is better for durability and richer colour. Both avoid glare.
What looks more professional, matte or glossy?
Matte is generally seen as more understated and professional. Gloss can look promotional, though it is the right choice for image-led businesses.
Can you write on matte business cards?
On uncoated cards, yes, with any pen. On matt laminate, ballpoints often skip; a fine permanent marker or gel pen is more reliable. Test your own pen first.
Is celloglaze the same as laminate?
Yes. Celloglaze is the common Australian trade name for film lamination. Matt cello and gloss cello are matt and gloss laminate.
Does matt laminate scratch?
It resists everyday wear well, but rubbing can leave slight shiny marks, which show most on large black or dark areas.
Is 400gsm good for business cards?
Yes. 400gsm is a heavy, premium card, and with matt laminate it feels noticeably firmer than 350gsm. When we checked on 16 October 2026, it cost a few dollars more than the 350gsm matt laminated card at 250 and 500 cards, and less at 1,000.