90 lb or 110 lb Index Tabs? Which Weight to Order

By John Anselmo · Owner and President, Anselmo Die & Index · making custom index tabs since 1993

Short answer

Order 90 lb index for almost every binder; choose 110 lb, stiffer and slightly more expensive, when a set is pulled daily for years. For tearing, Tabzoola already puts Mylar on every paper tab, and binding-edge reinforcing stops holes ripping out.

Order 90 lb index stock for almost every binder: it is the production standard for tab dividers, and it is what most customers choose. Order 110 lb when a set will be pulled every day for years, such as a client binder that goes home with the client or a reference manual on a shared desk; it is stiffer and costs 5 cents more per tab.

If the worry is dividers tearing, weight is usually not the fix. Every Tabzoola paper tab already carries Mylar film on the tab itself, and the other common failure — holes ripping out of the rings — is what binding-edge reinforcing is for. This guide is published by Tabzoola; the tabs are made at the Anselmo Die & Index, Inc. plant in Schaumburg, Illinois, which has converted index stock into tab dividers since 1993.

The short answer

Both weights are white index stock, both are printed, Mylar-coated on the tab and die-cut the same way, and both ship in about 5 business days from proof approval. The only differences are stiffness and 5 cents a tab.

90 lb index — the standard. Right for case files, exhibit sets, manuals, training binders and most client binders.
110 lb index — stiffer. Worth it for binders handled daily for years, very thick binders where dividers must stand up, and sets that travel.
Tearing at the punched holes — add binding-edge reinforcing (a Mylar strip along the punched edge), at either weight.
Wet, wiped or clinical use — neither paper weight; order solid .015 poly dividers instead.

What 90 lb and 110 lb actually mean

The pound figure is the weight of 500 sheets at index stock's own basis size, so it cannot be compared with copy paper or cardstock labelled in pounds. Compared like for like, 90 lb index is roughly 163 gsm and 110 lb index roughly 199 gsm — about a fifth more substance. Ordinary 20 lb copy paper is about 75 gsm, which is why a tab printed on copy paper folds over within a week.

110 lb is the stiffer sheet and holds its shape better in a thick, heavily used binder. 90 lb is still a firm sheet — it is the production standard for tab dividers.

90 lb index ≈ 163 gsm
110 lb index ≈ 199 gsm
20 lb copy paper ≈ 75 gsm — not a tab stock

What 110 lb does not fix

Dividers fail in two places, and neither is the body of the sheet. The tab extension wears where fingers pull it — and every Tabzoola paper tab already has Mylar film bonded over the tab (clear at minimum, or one of 19 colors), so that is covered at either weight. The other failure is the punched edge: holes stretch and rip out of the rings in a binder that is opened constantly.

Binding-edge reinforcing is a separate option: a clear Mylar strip along the punched edge so the sheet does not tear out of the rings. It is the upgrade that addresses rip-outs, and it costs less than moving to 110 lb. If a set gets heavy daily use, 110 lb and edge reinforcing together is the most durable paper divider we make.

The price difference, to the cent

110 lb adds 5 cents per tab; binding-edge reinforcing adds 2.8 cents per tab. These are the designer's live prices for letter-size paper sets, 3-hole punched, printed one side, uncollated:

8-tab sets × 25: 90 lb $201.60 · 110 lb $211.60 · 90 lb + edge reinforcing $207.20 · 110 lb + edge reinforcing $217.20
8-tab sets × 100: 90 lb $364.40 ($3.64 a set) · 110 lb $404.40 ($4.04 a set) · 90 lb + edge reinforcing $386.80 · both $426.80
8-tab sets × 250: 90 lb $626.00 ($2.50 a set) · 110 lb $726.00 ($2.90 a set) · 90 lb + edge reinforcing $682.00 · both $782.00
Smallest order: 25 sets of 5 tabs, $136.25 unpunched on 90 lb — $142.50 on 110 lb

What customers actually choose

Of the paid orders placed on tabzoola.com so far, seven of nine were on 90 lb, and five of nine added binding-edge reinforcing. Both 110 lb orders came from an elder-law firm, for its estate planning binders. That matches the rule above: stay on 90 lb, reinforce the punched edge when the binder is opened constantly, and move to 110 lb when the binder has to last for years in someone else's hands.

Frequently asked questions

Is 110 lb index thicker than 90 lb?

Yes. 110 lb index is about 199 gsm against about 163 gsm for 90 lb — roughly a fifth more paper — so it is noticeably stiffer and stands up better in thick binders.

How much more does 110 lb cost?

5 cents more per tab. An 8-tab set at 100 sets is $3.64 a set on 90 lb and $4.04 on 110 lb (3-hole punched); the smallest order, 25 sets of 5 tabs, is $136.25 on 90 lb and $142.50 on 110 lb.

Will 110 lb stop my tabs from tearing?

Not by itself. The tab already carries Mylar film on every Tabzoola paper divider, and the other common failure is the punched holes ripping out of the rings — which binding-edge reinforcing fixes at either weight, for 2.8 cents a tab.

Can I get 110 lb with Mylar and edge reinforcing?

Yes. Every paper tab has Mylar on the tab — clear or one of 19 colors — and binding-edge reinforcing and 110 lb stock can both be added. It is the most durable paper divider Tabzoola makes.

Which weight is better for estate planning or client binders?

For a binder the client keeps at home for years, 110 lb with binding-edge reinforcing. For working files and case binders inside the office, 90 lb is the standard, with edge reinforcing if the binder is opened daily.

When should I choose poly instead of heavier paper?

When dividers get wet, wiped down or handled with gloves — medical charts, kitchens, shops and vehicles. Solid .015 poly is one wipeable piece and never needs Mylar; heavier paper is still paper.

Related pages & free resources

Custom tab order data — what 5,700 real tab sets look like Design paper tabs and switch between 90 lb and 110 lb — priced instantly Index stock, Mylar and die-cutting — what the terms mean Mylar tab dividers — 19 colors on the tab Paper vs poly index tabs Why tab dividers fail — diagnosed by symptom Custom estate planning binder tabs Law office binder tabs — case and matter files

Price both weights side by side

Switch the Tab Material option in the designer and the price updates instantly — 25 sets of 5 tabs is $5.45 a set, $1.08 at volume, with a free PDF proof before anything prints.

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