Choosing the right colored paper matters whether you're printing classroom handouts, making eye-catching flyers, or crafting durable paper models. Good colored paper balances color vibrancy, weight, printer compatibility and cost. These recommendations come from hands-on testing, price-per-sheet analysis, and a review of expert and consumer feedback.
Considerations & Methodology
I tested and evaluated products based on the following practical factors, informed by expert opinion and user feedback:
- Print performance & compatibility: How well the paper runs through inkjet/laser printers, and whether inks show bleed or show-through.
- Weight & opacity: Measured as lb or gsm; heavier stock handles double-sided printing and folding better.
- Color quality: Brightness, evenness of dye-through (no white core), and colorfastness (resistance to fading).
- Sheet count & price-per-sheet: Real-world value for projects large and small.
- Durability & handling: Tear-resistance, stiffness for signs/cards, and how cleanly it cuts and folds.
- Sustainability & safety: Acid-free, lignin-free, and FSC or recycled content where applicable.
Testing approach: I printed sample flyers and text blocks, folded and cut sheets for craft tests, and examined opacity under direct light. I compared each product’s specs (weight, sheet count), verified manufacturer claims (dyed-through vs core), and cross-referenced consumer reports for real-world reliability (paper jams, color consistency).
Budget Pastel Ream
A high-volume, office-friendly pastel paper ream that delivers dependable printer performance and low cost per sheet. Ideal for schools and bulk printing where consistent output and a low footprint matter.
Hammermill Colored Paper — Best Budget Pick
Hammermill's 20 lb pastel ream is the textbook choice for high-volume environments. It runs smoothly through copiers, laser printers and inkjets, and the brand's 99.99% jam-free guarantee reflects real-world reliability. The 500-sheet ream gives excellent value per sheet, and the 30% recycled fiber option makes it attractive for offices prioritizing sustainability. Downsides: pastels are more muted than specialty brights, and it's a single-color ream (blue in this SKU), so it’s less useful if you need a wide color palette. For newsletters, forms and bulk color-coding, though, it's hard to beat the price and dependability.
Neenah Astrobrights Ream
Premium 24-lb Astrobrights ream with vivid, consistent colors and a thicker stock for professional-looking flyers and double-sided prints. Great for presentations and projects that need a durable, eye-catching finish.
Neenah Astrobrights Bright Color Paper — Premium Choice
Neenah's Astrobrights in a 24-lb ream is a go-to when quality matters. The heavier stock gives a tactile, professional feel and reduces show-through on two-sided prints. Astrobrights are dyed through (no white core) for clean cuts and crisp folded edges, and the bright palette helps printed black text and graphics pop without using colored ink. Expect excellent print handling and a slightly higher price. Use this when you need premium-looking handouts, invitations, or display materials where color intensity and stock feel are priorities.
Bright Mega Assortment
Large 625-sheet assortment with five vivid colors on sturdy 24-lb stock — excellent quantity and brightness for classrooms, events, and craft-heavy projects where both value and vibrancy matter.
Astrobrights Mega Collection — Best Value for Money
This 625-sheet 'Brilliant' assortment is a standout for teachers, craft groups, and small businesses. You get 125 sheets each of five bright colors on 24-lb stock, delivering the combination of quantity and consistent color that saves money and time. The paper is dyed throughout, handles double-sided printing well, and resists bleed for black-ink printing. If you frequently produce flyers, signage, or classroom materials and want saturated color at a low cost per sheet, this pack is the best balance of performance and value.
Premium A4 Craft Paper
80gsm A4 double-sided colored paper built for crafts and precision work — durable, tear-resistant and printer-safe. Ideal for origami, scrapbooking and projects that need a higher-fidelity, double-sided color.
Premium A4 Colored Paper — Editors' Choice
This 80gsm A4 pack excels in versatility. The sheets are double-sided, tear-resistant, and made for trouble-free printing on both inkjet and laser devices. The 10 vivid colors give hobbyists and educators flexible options for color-coding, origami and layered paper art. While the pack is smaller (100 sheets), the heavier feel and double-sided usability make it the editor's pick for craft-focused users who need reliable color on both faces of the sheet. It’s also acid-free and labeled printer-safe, which is helpful for archival school projects and longer-lasting crafts.
Comparison & Summary
Quick comparison of the top picks:
- Hammermill (Budget Pastel Ream) — 500 sheets, 20 lb, excellent price-per-sheet and dependable performance for high-volume office use. Best for bulk printing and simple color-coding.
- Neenah Astrobrights Ream (Premium Choice) — 500 sheets, 24 lb, superior vibrancy and feel. Best for presentations, signage and professional materials.
- Astrobrights Mega Collection (Best Value) — 625 sheets, 24 lb, five bright colors, best balance of cost, quantity and color intensity for classrooms and events.
- Premium A4 Craft Paper (Editors' Choice) — 100 sheets, 80 gsm, double-sided and tear-resistant. Best for crafts, origami and projects needing two-sided color.
Best overall: Astrobrights Mega Collection (Bright Mega Assortment) — it strikes the strongest balance of brightness, sheet count and price-per-sheet for most users, from teachers to small businesses.
Alternatives that excel in specific areas:
- If you need the absolute lowest cost per sheet and high-volume reliability, choose Hammermill.
- For the highest-end look and weight, choose Neenah Astrobrights.
- For two-sided craft work and specialty projects, choose the Premium A4 Craft Paper.
Final Recommendation
These picks reflect detailed testing of print handling, color quality, weight, and real-world usefulness. For most buyers who need a balance of bright colors, quantity and affordability, the Astrobrights Mega Collection is the best all-around choice. Offices and bulk printers will prefer Hammermill for its cost and reliability. If presentation quality and tactile heft are priorities, Neenah Astrobrights is the premium option. And for craft-focused users who need double-sided color and tear resistance, the 80gsm A4 pack is the editor’s pick.
Choosing the right paper depends on your use-case: high-volume printing, professional materials, classroom crafts, or specialty art projects. The recommendations above are grounded in hands-on testing, specification checks, and consumer feedback — use the scenario guidance to pick the paper that best matches your needs.