Koala Thick Photo Paper 8.5x11 Inches Heavyweight Double Sid

The Verdict

Most photo papers make you choose between durability and print quality. Koala’s 8.5x11 Heavyweight Double Sided paper tries to give you both, and for the most part, it succeeds. This isn’t the paper you grab for casual snapshots—it’s a specialty stock built for projects that need to survive handling, folding, or display. After testing it through a standard inkjet printer, here’s the honest breakdown.

What You’re Actually Getting

The package contains 50 sheets of 68lb (185 gsm) paper. That’s significantly thicker than standard 20lb office paper (about 4x heavier) and even beefier than most 60lb cardstocks. The finish is high-gloss on both sides, which is rare at this price point. You get true double-sided printing without the ghosting or show-through that plagues cheaper “double-sided” papers. The sheets are letter-sized (8.5x11) and cut cleanly—no jagged edges or misaligned stacks in the box.

Real-World Print Performance

I ran this through a Canon PIXMA inkjet with standard dye-based inks, plus a test sheet on a laser printer. Here’s what matters:

• Ink absorption: The glossy coating grabs ink fast. Colors pop with a wet-look saturation that flat matte papers can’t match. Blacks are deep, not gray.
• Drying time: This is a genuine concern with glossy stock. Koala’s coating accepts ink quickly—dry to the touch in about 60 seconds, fully set in 2-3 minutes. No smearing if you handle it carefully right after printing.
• Double-sided use: The coating is consistent on both faces. Printing a full-bleed photo on side A, then flipping and printing on side B, produced no show-through. The white core is opaque enough for real duplex work.

Laser printer note: Works fine, but the gloss finish is slightly less vivid than inkjet. If you’re a laser-only household, this paper still functions, but you’re leaving some color depth on the table.

What Buyers Consistently Praise

The 4.7-star rating across 235 reviews isn’t luck. Repeated themes in customer feedback:

“These are thick and sturdy—I used them for wedding invitations and they held up through mailing without bending.”

“Finally a double-sided glossy that doesn’t bleed through. I printed 40 recipe cards and both sides look perfect.”

Crafters repeatedly mention this paper for scrapbooking, card making, and photo-heavy projects like family history books. The 68lb weight means it doesn’t curl or buckle under heavy ink saturation—a common failure point for lighter glossy papers.

Where It Falls Short

No paper is perfect, and this one has tradeoffs:

• Not for archival use: The glossy coating is not acid-free or archival-grade. If you’re preserving photos for decades, this isn’t the right pick. It’s a display-and-enjoy paper, not a museum piece.
• Prints can scratch: High-gloss surfaces mark easily. A fingernail or a paperclip dragged across a print will leave a visible scratch. Handle prints by the edges.
• Fingerprints show: Oils from your skin transfer to the surface easily. If you’re handing these around, expect to see smudges.
• Limited to 8.5x11: No larger sizes available in this line. For 13x19 prints, you’ll need a different brand.

Who Should Buy This

• Card makers and crafters: The stiffness and double-sided finish are ideal for greeting cards, invitations, and favor tags.
• Photographers printing for display: If you want gallery-style gloss without the cost of professional lab prints, this delivers 90% of the look for pocket change.
• Teachers and event planners: Print signs, table numbers, or educational materials that need to stand up to handling.

Skip it if: You need archival-grade materials, you’re printing photos for long-term storage, or you’re on a tight budget and only need single-sided prints (cheaper options exist).

FAQ: What Shoppers Ask

Q: Will this jam in a regular home printer? A: No, but feed it one sheet at a time through the manual feed slot if your printer has one. The 68lb weight is within spec for most inkjets, but auto-feeders can occasionally grab two sheets if the stack isn’t fanned first.

Q: Can I write on this paper with a pen? A: Yes, but use a ballpoint or gel pen. The glossy coating resists pencil and most markers—they bead up or smudge. Test on a corner first.

Q: Is it truly double-sided or just “printable on both sides”? A: It’s genuinely double-sided. The coating is identical on both faces, and the paper is opaque enough that printing on one side doesn’t affect the other. I verified this with a full black rectangle on side A and a color photo on side B—no ghosting.

The Verdict

Rating: 4.6/5

Buy it if: You want thick, glossy, double-sided paper for crafts, invitations, or display prints without paying premium archival prices. The weight and coating quality punch well above the cost.

Skip it if: You need archival stability, you’re printing single-sided only (cheaper options exist), or you’re prone to scratching your prints—this finish is unforgiving.

For the price per sheet, Koala’s Heavyweight Double Sided delivers the best balance of durability and print quality I’ve tested in this category. It’s not the last word in fine-art printing, but for everyday creative projects, it’s a reliable workhorse.