Greyboard (Grey Board) vs Chipboard
Greyboard, also called chipboard or rigid board, is a dense, stiff board made from compressed recycled fibre. It is not a printing surface; it is a structural core. It provides the rigidity behind rigid (set-up) boxes, hardcover book cases, mounted displays, and puzzle/game boards, and is then wrapped in a printed paper that carries the graphics.
At a glance
- Type
- Compressed recycled fibre board
- Measured by
- Thickness (mm / microns), not GSM
- Typical thickness
- 1.0 – 3.0 mm for rigid boxes
- Role
- Structural core, wrapped in printed paper
- Rigidity
- Very high, holds shape under load
- Printable
- No, needs a printed wrap
In more detail
Its defining property is stiffness: measured by thickness (in mm or microns) rather than GSM, greyboard is what makes a rigid box feel solid and hold its shape. LeRoy Print Packs uses greyboard as the backbone of its rigid-box and premium presentation work.
Strengths
- Exceptional rigidity, the reason rigid boxes feel premium
- Made from recycled fibre
- Stable, flat, and dimensionally consistent
- Pairs with any printed wrap, foil, or finish on the outer paper
Things to consider
- Not printable itself, always needs a wrapping paper
- Heavy and ships pre-assembled (bulky) in finished boxes
Best for
The structural core of rigid (set-up) gift boxes, hardcover book cases, and mounted point-of-sale displays.
Common questions
What thickness of greyboard is used for rigid boxes?
Most rigid boxes use greyboard between 1.5 and 2.5 mm. Lighter presentation boxes can use ~1.2 mm; heavy or large luxury boxes go to 3 mm for maximum rigidity. Thickness is chosen for the box size and the weight it must hold.
Can you print directly on greyboard?
No. Greyboard is a structural core, not a print surface. The graphics are printed on a separate wrapping paper (or printed cartonboard) which is then mounted over the greyboard. This is how rigid boxes and book covers combine rigidity with high-quality print.
Is greyboard the same as chipboard?
In packaging, the terms are used interchangeably for the dense recycled board used in rigid boxes and book covers. (Note that 'chipboard' can mean a wood product in other industries, but in print and packaging it means this rigid paper board.)
Related materials
Products made with it
Written by LeRoy Print Packs, a printing and packaging manufacturer making cartons, corrugated boxes and labels in-house. Get a quote