How to Choose Between Economy and Premium Bond Paper

Paying premium prices for every page wastes money, but using the cheapest sheet everywhere can cost more in jams and reprints. The right answer is usually a mix.

What separates premium from economy

• Brightness and whiteness: premium sheets usually look brighter, so text and colour print with more contrast.
• Smoothness: smoother surfaces give crisper text and better toner adhesion.
• Consistency: premium papers are often more consistent in thickness and moisture, which helps high-speed devices.
• Price: economy brands cost less per box.

A simple decision rule

Ask: Will anyone outside the organisation see this page?

• Yes: use premium, such as premium bond paper brands.
• No: use economy, such as economy bond paper brands.

Watch your equipment

If a particular economy brand causes jams on your busiest copier, the cost of downtime can outweigh the saving. Test before committing to large lots.

Good news on price

On our price lists, the premium brands (Double A, Xerox Vitality, Reflex Ultra White, Chamex) cost only slightly more per box than the standard brands. For example, 80 GSM A4 is ₱625 vs ₱620. See the wholesale price list.

Our two price lists explained

Our premium price list covers Double A, Xerox Vitality, Reflex Ultra White and Chamex. The standard list covers all other brands, including value brands such as Smartist, Cactus, Copimax and Zap. The gap is small, for example ₱625 vs ₱620 for 80 GSM A4.

When premium pays for itself

• High-speed copiers, where a jam stops a queue of jobs
• Client proposals, tenders and certificates
• Colour-heavy printing, where brightness improves contrast

When economy is the smart choice

• Worksheets, tests and drafts
• Internal records and file copies
• Resale to price-sensitive customers

Mix both in one order to optimise cost, and qualify for discounts from 250 boxes.

Comparison: economy vs premium

A practical split for offices

A common split is 70–80% standard paper for internal printing and 20–30% premium for client-facing documents. Because the difference per box is small, many companies standardise on premium for reception, sales and management printers and use standard paper everywhere else.

A practical split for schools

Schools usually buy standard 70 GSM for worksheets and exams, and a smaller quantity of 80 GSM (standard or premium) for certificates, report cards and records.

Testing before you switch

If you're moving a printer fleet from premium to economy paper, or the reverse, run a standard lot through your busiest machines for a month and track jams and reprints. Then decide on a larger order.