---
title: Premium Paper | PostGrid
description: Upgrade Canadian self-mailer orders from standard 80lb stock to 100lb cover paper.
---

Premium Paper allows you to upgrade Canadian self-mailers from the standard 80lb stock to 100lb cover, the same weight used for a standard postcard. A self-mailer travels through the mail with no envelope, so the paper is both the message and the packaging. Heavier stock holds the fold and protects the print through automated sorting.

## How does Premium Paper work?

### Step 1: Feature Enablement

Before you can use premium paper on self-mailers, PostGrid’s Customer Success team must enable it for your organization. Contact <customersuccess@postgrid.com> or <support@postgrid.com> to request access.

### Step 2: Select Premium Paper

When creating a self-mailer campaign or individual order, choose your paper from the dropdown menu on the dashboard, or pass the paper ID in the order payload if you are using the API.

### Step 3: Create Your Self-Mailer

Everything else works the same as standard self-mailers. Upload your design, add your recipients, and send.

## Available Premium Paper Options

### Default: Standard 80lb stock

PostGrid currently supports the following premium paper option for self-mailers:

| Premium Paper   | Paper Stock | Finish   | Sizes Supported               | Best for                                                                 |
| --------------- | ----------- | -------- | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **100lb cover** | 100lb cover | Standard | 8.5x11 Bifold, 8.5x11 Trifold | Brand-sensitive campaigns, pieces with tear-offs, premium seasonal drops |

*For any other custom options, please reach out to your Account Executive/Customer Success Manager.*

## Key Benefits

- **Built for an unprotected piece.** 100lb cover holds the fold and the print through automated sorting, where lighter stock scuffs and bends.
- **Per-order selection.** Paper is specified on each order, so you can run premium and standard self-mailer campaigns side by side.
- **Safe defaults.** If no paper is specified, the order uses your organization’s configured default, or falls back to standard 80lb. Existing integrations keep working with no changes.
- **Consistent with postcards and letters.** Use the same selection flow as premium paper on other collateral.
- **Works with Campaigns.** Available in the campaigns flow for recurring and automated self-mailer programs.

## Important Notes

### Availability

- Premium paper must be enabled for your organization by PostGrid’s Customer Success team. Contact <customersuccess@postgrid.com> or <support@postgrid.com> to request access.
- Premium paper is currently available for Canadian self-mailers only. This is the opposite of premium paper for letters and postcards, which is US only.
- It is supported on 8.5x11 Bifold and 8.5x11 Trifold self-mailers.
- Finishes and coatings such as gloss, UV, or satin are postcard options only and are not available for self-mailers.

### SLA Impact

- A paper stock change in weight only has no additional delivery time.

### Pricing

- Premium paper may incur an additional per-unit charge. Contact your Account Executive/Customer Success Manager for pricing details.

## FAQs

**Q: Is the 100lb text weight or cover weight?**

A: Cover weight. Self-mailers are their own envelope, so 100lb cover is the same stock as a standard postcard.

**Q: Which self-mailers can use premium paper?**

A: Canadian self-mailers only, bifold and trifold at 8.5x11. Premium paper is not available on US self-mailers.

**Q: What happens if I do not specify a paper on an order?**

A: The order uses your organization’s configured default. If no default is set, it falls back to standard 80lb. Existing integrations require no changes.

**Q: Can I use my postcard premium paper options on self-mailers?**

A: No. Paper options are scoped by collateral type. Passing a postcard paper option on a self-mailer order returns an error, and the same applies in reverse.

**Q: Does premium paper work in test mode?**

A: Yes. Premium paper selections work in test mode for integration testing. No actual premium paper is used and no charges apply in test mode.

**Q: Will my existing templates work with premium paper?**

A: Yes. You can override the paper selection when creating orders from existing templates.