Covercardboard

Covercardboard is a term used in some industries to describe thick paperboard used as a cover material for books, packaging, and mounting. It is not a fixed industry standard, and the exact composition and thickness can vary between suppliers and applications. In general, covercardboard is a stiff fiberboard made from paper pulp and fibers, often finished with coatings or laminates to improve durability, surface quality, or moisture resistance. Finishes may include uncoated, clay-coated, laminated, or foil- or plastic-backed surfaces. The material is typically described by its weight or thickness rather than a single specification.

Covercardboard is commonly used as book covers or cover boards in hardcover or casebound books, as outer wrappers for packaging, and as a support for mounting posters, artwork, or photographs. It can also be used in crafts and display applications. Availability ranges from consumer-grade boards used in stationery to higher-grade boards used by publishers and packaging manufacturers.

Environmentally, covercardboard can be recycled, provided it is free of mixed materials or contaminants; coated or laminated variants may require separation or specialized processing. Many suppliers offer recycled-content or FSC-certified options to address sustainability concerns.

Related materials include chipboard, cover stock, and other paperboard products used for similar cover and mounting roles.