The Best Construction Paper for Children’s Art Projects and More
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Valued for its bright color and inexpensive price point, colored construction paper is such an essential part of children’s art and crafts that the creators of the kids’ TV show Blue’s Clues used construction paper shapes as key visual elements. But construction paper isn’t just for kids; heavier than copy paper, these fibrous sheets are tough, making them perfect for turning into cards, seasonal decorations, and collages. Although most products tend to look the same, construction paper, like copy paper, can vary widely in structure and workability. Find our top selections for colorful, long-lasting packs of construction paper below.
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ARTNEWS RECOMMENDS
Pacon Tru-Ray Construction Paper
Tru-Ray construction paper is a workhorse that can stand up to any project. At 76 pounds, it is heavy enough to make 3D crafts that require folding and shaping. The company offers a variety of multicolor assortments, plus a huge selection of 50-sheet packs in single colors. The colors of the acid-free paper are bright and don’t fade, even if you choose the 2,000-sheet class pack to keep your supply shelf stocked to the brim. Lots of teachers swear by Tru-Ray paper for its value and quality and the depth of choices its maker offers.
Buy: $2.37–$113.23
Pacon Tru-Ray Construction Paper
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Crayola Construction Paper
Crayola’s classic construction paper is of a medium weight, made with pulp sourced from Sustainable Forestry Initiative–certified forests. Unlike some other construction papers, whose colors fade or look chalky, Crayola sheets are vivid and true. This set includes 480 sheets in 12 popular colors, all in the standard size of 9 by 11 inches.
Buy: Crayola Construction Paper $18.00
ANOTHER GOOD CHOICE
Faber-Castell Construction Paper Pad
The smooth surface of Faber-Castell’s construction paper makes drawing and coloring a joy. Parents will appreciate that the pad is glue-bound to keep sheets organized and undamaged. The 12 included colors in the 60-sheet pad are radiant, and the 9-by-12-inch surface provides plenty of space to let your little one’s imagination run wild. For the environmentally minded, the paper contains 50 percent postconsumer recycled material.
Buy: Faber-Castell Construction Paper Pad $6.00
EDUCATORS’ CHOICE
SunWorks Construction Paper
Among the least expensive options on the market, SunWorks’ construction paper is also among the best-looking. At 50 pounds, it is only slightly heavier than printer paper, but the selection of colors is good and it’s easy for children to color and fold. Teachers will appreciate the fact that the pages are collated rather than grouped by color, so it is a breeze to hand out a matched set for each student. One pack of 9-by-12-inch paper contains sheets in 10 colors, with 50 sheets per color.
Buy: SunWorks Construction Paper $14.99
ARTISTS’ CHOICE
Blick Construction Paper
Blick always has the artist and craftsperson in mind, which makes its construction paper stand out in a number of ways. It is heavy and sturdy, at 80 pounds, it is free of acid and lignin, and it does not fade. It is sized to a smooth matte finish that holds paint, ink, and markers without the telltale feathering of lesser paper. Young artists will appreciate the selection of colors, available in assorted packs or in packages of single hues.
Buy: $1.59–$9.50
Blick Construction Paper
Brought to you by the oldest and most widely circulated art magazine in the world, ARTnews Recommends helps you make the choice that suits you best from products in hundreds of art and craft supply categories. Our offerings are based on intensive research, interviews with artists and craftspeople, and the accumulated experience of the site’s editors and writers. We provide trustworthy and helpful advice about materials to artists ranging from beginner to professional.
1. Colorations Construction Paper Pack
Our top pick is this bulk assortment of construction paper from the kid-friendly Colorations brand, a reliable option to keep on hand for whenever creativity strikes. You get 600 sheets in 10 bold colors, and in a smart move, more commonly used colors come in greater quantities. (There are, for instance, 75 blue and 75 yellow sheets but just 30 brown sheets.) This paper has a 50-pound weight—for comparison, standard copy paper is 20-pound—so it’s thick but not ultra-heavy-duty. The sheets fold easily, cut cleanly, tear without strain, and handle markers and paint with little bleed. You can use them for a wide array of projects, and you probably won’t have to replenish this stash for a while.
Buy: Colorations Construction Paper Pack
2. Pacon Lightweight Construction Paper
We recommend this jumbo set of paper for projects that don’t involve a lot of different media or require intricate paper manipulation. The 500 sheets have a 45-pound weight, so they are a little flimsy and feel only slightly thicker than printer paper. However, the paper is of good quality and is easy for even young children to cut, tear, and fold. Its lightness and flexibility might also be advantageous for certain projects, like making paper chains. All in all, this is an excellent and cost-effective option for easygoing crafting.
Buy: Pacon Lightweight Construction Paper
3. Tru-Ray Assorted Construction Paper
If you like some heft in your construction paper, this product won’t let you down. These sheets are rated at 76 pounds, making them the thickest and sturdiest of our picks. A little lighter than card stock, they have a satisfying stiffness and can withstand complex creasing and curling while still being thin enough to cut without frustration. You can also paint on them without ruining the fibers. This set comes with 144 sheets in 12 bright colors that won’t fade unless kept in direct sunlight over a long period.
Buy: Tru-Ray Assorted Construction Paper
4. Pacon SunWorks Construction Paper
If greater surface area is a priority, we recommend this product, which comes in a pack of 18-by-24-inch sheets. This paper has a 58-pound weight, so it’s neither super thick nor annoyingly light. The colors are opaque and bright, and the surface has a slight texture to it that isn’t overwhelmingly fuzzy. This paper also folds with crisp lines and cuts smoothly. You get 10 colors and 100 sheets—a nice assortment that should fulfill the needs of both individual artists and groups.
Buy: Pacon SunWorks Construction Paper
5. Neenah Astrobrights Colored Cardstock
Although marketed as card stock, Astrobright paper behaves more like construction paper. It actually is lighter than the Tru-Ray paper, with a 65-pound rating, and, like construction paper, has a subtle, pleasing texture. This product stands out for its super-saturated colors, of which you get in a variety of space-themed names like Terra Green, Lunar Blue, and Rocket Red. They aren’t prone to fading, either, so you can hang your art up in sunny areas without worry.
