What Paper to Use for Printable Baby Shower Games

Quick answer: for most printable baby shower game sheets, use smooth white or off-white paper around 100–120 gsm. Choose heavier 160–200 gsm card for pieces that guests will handle repeatedly, but check your printer’s maximum paper weight first.

This guide is specifically about choosing and printing on the right material. If you need games that are already designed, visit our six free printable baby shower games. If you want to build your own, use our DIY printable game guide.

Which paper weight should you choose?

Paper weight is normally shown in gsm, or grams per square metre. A higher number usually means a thicker, stiffer sheet. The best choice depends on how the game will be used.

• 80–90 gsm: suitable for draft copies, answer keys and low-ink games used once.
• 100–120 gsm: a useful all-round choice for quiz sheets, word scrambles, predictions and advice cards printed one per A4 page.
• 160–200 gsm: better for bingo cards, small game cards, table instructions and pieces that need to feel more substantial.
• Above 200 gsm: useful for signs or professionally printed cards, but many home printers cannot feed it reliably.

Always check the supported paper weights in your printer manual. Forcing card through a printer that is not designed for it can cause misfeeds, marks or uneven printing.

Choose the material by game type

Quiz sheets, predictions and word games

Use 100–120 gsm uncoated paper. It is easy to write on, feeds through most home printers and feels neater than basic copier paper without adding much bulk.

Bingo cards and reusable game boards

Use 160–200 gsm card if your printer accepts it. Guests can hold the card without it folding, and the surface is more likely to survive several rounds. If you plan to laminate a board, test one sheet first because the finished surface may not work well with every pen.

Small cards and table prompts

Print several cards on one A4 sheet of 160–200 gsm stock, then cut them using crop marks and a ruler or paper trimmer. Leave enough space around the text so a slightly imperfect cut does not remove any instructions.

Welcome signs and group instructions

A4 card works for small tables. For A3 or larger signs, a local print shop is normally easier than joining home-printed sheets. Ask for a matte finish if guests need to read the sign under bright lights.

Matte, glossy or textured paper?

Matte, uncoated paper is the safest choice for games guests must write on. Pencil and ballpoint pen usually mark it clearly, and it creates less glare than a glossy surface.

Gloss or coated paper can make colours appear stronger, but some pens smear or take longer to dry. Reserve it for signs or display pieces unless you have tested the exact pen guests will use.

Textured card can suit a decorative theme, although heavy texture may make small text and fine lines look uneven. Run one test print before buying enough for the full guest list.

Home-printer settings that prevent common problems

1. Select the correct paper size. Most UK home printers use A4. Confirm that both the file and printer settings show A4.
2. Print at actual size or 100%. Avoid “fit to page” when a design includes cut lines or precisely sized cards.
3. Choose the matching media type. Select plain paper, matte paper or card stock as appropriate so the printer adjusts its feed and ink use.
4. Use the rear feed for heavier card. If your printer has a straighter manual-feed path, it may handle card more reliably.
5. Print one complete test. Check the front, back, margins, answer spaces, cut marks and writing surface before printing every copy.

Make the sheets easy for every guest to use

Choose a clear typeface, strong contrast and comfortable text size. Avoid pale grey instructions on patterned backgrounds. Leave generous writing space and do not rely on colour alone to explain the rules. If a game has several pages, add page numbers and a short game title to each sheet.

How many copies should you print?

For individual games, print one copy per participating guest plus two or three spares. For team games, print one per team and keep an extra copy for the host. Print answer keys separately and mark them clearly so they are not handed out by mistake.

A quick test-print checklist

• The paper size is A4 and the design prints at 100%.
• No text or cut line falls outside the printable margin.
• The smallest text is readable in normal room lighting.
• The chosen pen writes cleanly without smudging.
• Any two-sided sheet flips on the intended edge.
• The host has a clearly labelled answer key.

Want the quicker option?

Download our free ready-to-play baby shower games, or choose the delivered Baby Shower Games Bundle if you would rather skip home printing.