Coaster Materials, Sizes and Print Methods
What our coasters are made of, how big they are, and which board, shape and print method suits your run.
Our custom coasters are printed on beer mat board, a thick, absorbent pulp board made for drink coasters, in two weights: 365gsm and a heavier 390gsm. Every coaster is 95 x 95mm, either round or square with rounded corners.
Board, shape and print method decide how the coaster feels in the hand and what it costs. 365gsm is the everyday stock and the cheaper of the two. 390gsm is stiffer and more substantial, which suits breweries and premium bars. Shape mostly comes down to your artwork, although round costs more than square once you reach 1,000 coasters.
Print method follows quantity. Runs of 500 and 1,000 are printed digitally, and larger runs go offset, which brings the price per coaster down as the numbers climb. Both give sharp full colour. Digital has a slightly different sheen, a subtle difference that reads as a clean, modern finish.
Each guide below takes one choice in turn, and the size guide puts dimensions, shapes and board weights on one page. If coaster printing is new to you, read about beer mat board first, then work through shape and print method.
Guides in this section
- Beer Mat Board Explained: What Is Beer Mat Board?: What beer mat board is made from, why it soaks up condensation, and whether it can be recycled.
- 365gsm vs 390gsm Beer Mat Board: Which Coaster Stock is Right for You?: The difference between our two board weights in weight, feel and cost, and which one suits your venue.
- Round vs Square Coasters: Which Shape is Right for You?: Which shape gives you more room for QR codes and offers, which looks more traditional, and how prices compare.
- Digital vs Offset Printing for Beer Coasters: Which is Best?: When digital printing makes sense, when offset wins on price per coaster, and how the finish differs.
- Coaster Size Guide: Dimensions, Shapes and Board Weights: Exact coaster dimensions, the two shapes we cut, and how 365gsm and 390gsm board compare side by side.
Common Questions
It is if the coaster needs to feel premium in the hand. 390gsm is our heavier board, stiffer and more substantial, which suits breweries, premium bars and corporate branding. For pub, club and restaurant service, 365gsm absorbs just as well, prints crisp full colour and costs less, so it covers most everyday use.
They do. Both shapes are cut from the same beer mat board, so they absorb condensation and hold up in service the same way. The real differences are layout and price. Square gives a little more usable print area for QR codes and offers, round suits bold logos, and round costs more than square from 1,000 coasters up.
Only slightly, and most people would not notice on the table. Both methods give sharp full colour on the same board. Digital, used for runs of 500 and 1,000, has a slightly different sheen with a clean, modern look. Offset, used for larger runs, holds very consistent colour across thousands of coasters, which suits long-running brand work.
Ready to order?
Send the board, shape and quantity you have in mind, and your quote will come back with the print method that suits the run.