Koala Glossy Inkjet Printer Paper Review – Thin, Fast-Drying Flyer Stock
Koala Glossy Thin Inkjet Printer Paper for DIY Chip Bag and Print Brochure Flyer 8.5x11 Inches 100 Sheets 36LB for Inkjet Printers Use DYE INK
KOALA PAPER
- Fast Dry, No smudging, No Smearing, Must use Inkjet Printers and Dye ink
- Glossy Smooth Finish, Single-sided Print, 8.5x11 inch, 100 Sheets, 135gsm Thin Inkjet Glossy Printer Paper
- Single-sided printing with a bright glossy finish, specially designed to produce high-quality prints. Brilliant colors and sharp, crisp details
- Perfect idea for printing detailed graphics and sharp text newsletters, CD inserts, flyers, brochures, reports or presentations containing photos or graphics
Quick Verdict
Pros
- Fast-drying formula eliminated smudging even when I rushed large print jobs
- Glossy finish produces vivid, punchy colors on photos and graphics
- Thin 36LB stock feeds reliably through standard inkjet printers
- Single-sided design leaves a clean writable back for notes or addresses
- 100-sheet pack is a practical size for small-batch flyer and brochure runs
- Affordable price point for premium-looking print output
Cons
- 36LB thickness feels flimsy for high-end brochure covers or framing
- Requires dye ink specifically — pigment ink users should look elsewhere
- Single-sided only; no duplex printing option
- Back-of-sheet writing surface is smooth but absorbs pen ink slowly
- Not suited for laser printers; packaging warning is easy to miss
Quick Verdict
If you need a budget-friendly glossy inkjet printer paper for flyers, brochures, or DIY chip bag graphics, the Koala 36LB glossy stock delivers reliable fast-dry performance and punchy color output. It's not photo paper, and the thin stock won't suit every project, but for small-batch printing jobs at home or in a small office, it earns a solid score. I'd give it 4.2 out of 5.
What Is the Koala Glossy Inkjet Printer Paper?
The Koala glossy inkjet printer paper is a thin, single-sided 36LB (135gsm) glossy stock designed for home and office inkjet printers that use dye-based inks. It ships in a 100-sheet pack of standard 8.5×11 inch (letter-size) sheets, making it a practical mid-sized option for anyone running small print runs without committing to a full 500-sheet ream.
Marketed primarily for DIY chip bag printing, flyer distribution, and brochure layouts, this paper leans into a fast-drying glossy coating that resists smearing — a detail that becomes genuinely important when you're feeding 30 or 40 sheets through a busy printer in a short window. The coating produces what I'd describe as a mid-sheen finish: glossy enough to make colors pop, but not so reflective that it becomes unreadable under office lighting.
Key Features
- Fast-dry coating prevents smudging and smearing during and after printing
- Glossy smooth finish enhances color vibrancy and sharpens text details
- Single-sided design with blank, writable back for annotations or addresses
- Standard 8.5×11 inch (letter) size fits most home and office inkjet printers
- 36LB (135gsm) thin stock suitable for folding, stuffing, or lightweight display
- 100-sheet pack strikes a balance between economy and manageable bulk
- Compatible exclusively with inkjet printers using dye-based inks
Hands-On Review
I first encountered this paper when I needed to knock out 60 promotional flyers for a neighborhood market event on short notice. My usual glossy stock was out, so I grabbed a pack of Koala 36LB based mostly on the price and the fast-dry claim. I'll be honest — I expected middling results. Budget glossy paper has a tendency to look washed out or to curl at the edges when it hits the fuser (well, the inkjet equivalent of a fuser — the output tray).
What I actually got surprised me. The first sheet off my HP Envy 6022 looked noticeably richer than I expected. The cyan and magenta in my flyer header were punchy, the black text was crisp without the fuzzy halo that cheaper papers sometimes produce, and — critically — I could grab the sheet immediately without worrying about smearing. By sheet 15, I had stopped checking for defects and was just printing at full speed. Nothing jammed, nothing smeared, nothing curled in a way that made stacking difficult.
By day two, I had printed roughly 80 sheets across three separate sessions. The paper held up fine in the feeder — no multi-sheet pickups, no skewing. One thing I did notice: the 36LB weight means these sheets have almost no body to them. They're great for stuffing into standard envelope slots or folding into thirds for rack-card handouts, but if you're thinking of using this as a presentation-quality brochure cover or something that needs to feel substantial in hand, the thinness becomes a limitation. I noticed the difference immediately when I stacked my Koala-printed flyers next to some 80LB glossy brochures I had printed previously — the heavier stock just felt more premium.
The writable back is genuinely useful. After printing addresses on the glossy side, I scribbled contact details on the reverse with a ballpoint pen. It takes a moment longer to dry than standard copy paper would, but it works without smearing onto the front. That's a small detail that matters if you're doing event materials that need space for handwritten RSVPs or notes.
Who Should Buy It?
- Small business owners printing event flyers — Fast-dry performance and reliable feeding make this a trustworthy option for runs under 200 sheets.
- Teachers or club organizers — The affordable 100-sheet pack is perfect for one-off projects without committing to a full ream.
- DIY crafters working on chip bags or packaging — The thin, printable glossy stock handles graphic-heavy designs well and folds cleanly.
- Home office users who want vibrant newsletter prints — Better color output than standard copy paper without the cost of photo stock.
Skip this if you need heavyweight brochure covers, laminated inserts, or anything that needs to feel rigid and substantial in hand. The 36LB stock simply won't deliver that premium tactile experience, no matter how good the print quality is. And if you're running a pigment-based ink system, look elsewhere — this paper's coating is tuned for dye inks, and pigment users have reported adhesion issues.
Alternatives Worth Considering
- HP Premium 32 lb Glossy Brochure Paper — Slightly heavier stock with wider printer compatibility, but costs around 30% more per sheet.
- Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte — A better choice if you need a writable matte finish rather than glossy, though drying time is longer.
- Canon Photo Paper Glossy GP-501 — A dedicated photo paper option with superior color depth, best suited for smaller print sizes like 4×6 or 5×7.
FAQ
No — this paper is exclusively for inkjet printers and dye-based inks. Using it in a laser printer can cause severe damage to the fuser and rollers. Always check your printer type before loading.
Final Verdict
The Koala glossy inkjet printer paper earns its place in a home office or small-business print rotation, especially for dye-ink users who run regular flyer or brochure batches. Fast-dry performance is genuinely reliable — I saw zero smearing across nearly 100 sheets — and the color output punches above its price tier. The thin 36LB stock is the main trade-off: it keeps costs down and feeds smoothly, but it won't replace heavier brochure or presentation stock. If your project needs lightweight, vibrant, single-sided prints and you're running a dye-ink inkjet, this paper is worth a try.