If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, ARTNews may receive an affiliate commission.
An essential material for any studio, interleaving paper effectively prevents damage to your artworks. Use these acid-free sheets to separate prints, photographs, documents, textiles, and book pages to prevent unwanted chemical reactions and protect scratches or pigment chips. Interleaving paper is also great for securing work in transit, serving as a barrier between art and packaging material, and for covering delicate papers or fabrics. While they might all look the same, interleaving papers do have differences, and it’s critical that you purchase the right product to suit the materials that need preservation. Browse our top picks below.
How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, teachers, and craftspeople.
ARTnews RECOMMENDS
Legion Interleaving Paper
Designed specifically for artists and for interleaving, Legion’s paper is heavier than most, with a 60 gsm or 40-pound weight. This thickness provides top-grade protection for your artworks while still feeling light and folding with ease. Made of pH-neutral, 100 percent high-alpha cellulose, it is buffered, which helps to prevent acid migration to tissue, making this ideal for storing photographs and objects sensitive to higher pH levels. Each is machine-made in the United States so you can expect consistent and crisp white sheets. The papers measure 25 by 38 inches—great for large artworks but also easily customizable for smaller pieces. Note that you have to purchase this product by the sheet.
WE ALSO LIKE
Lineco Interleaving Tissue Paper Pack
Another buffered option, Lineco’s paper pack is made with the addition of a 3 percent calcium carbonate buffer to provide safe and long-term protection of photographs. These acid-free sheets are thinner than our top pick, at 16 gsm or 0.001 inches, making it ideal for artists seeking a balance between protection and bulk. This is also a great option for those who want to buy packs of paper rather than individual sheets, as the papers are sold in 100-sheet packs. The sizes are smaller than Legion’s, but you have five to choose from, from 8 by 10 inches to 16 by 20 inches.
ANOTHER GOOD OPTION
The Linen Lady Archival Tissue Paper
Ann Christine, better known as the Linen Lady, is an established name in preservation. She specializes in high-grade archival tissue carefully formulated for long-term storage and protection. These are unbuffered white sheets that are pH-neutral and safe to use with protein- or vegetable-based materials, whether textiles like silk and wool or finicky cyanotypes. Sold in a pack of 75, each of these sheets has a 10-pound weight and measures 20 by 30 inches. They’re also attractive, designed with a subtle sheen.
STUDENTS’ CHOICE
Colors of Rainbow Acid-Free Tissue Paper
This tissue paper is an environmentally friendly option that tends to be more budget-friendly. The sheets are made entirely out of recycled papers sourced from Forest Stewardship Council–certified producers. We recommend them for students who want to store work without paying a premium and who also might not need to send art off in a professional presentation. Acid-free and sturdy but not stiff, they arrive in a neatly folded bundle so they remain crisp until ready for use. Each measures 15 by 20 inches and comes in a 48-sheet pack.
ALSO CONSIDER
MIP-It MicroChamber Interleaving Paper
This paper is designed to protect comics, but it’s a great choice for books, magazines, and small-size prints. Each is made of 100 percent cotton and cut to size. Every pack comes with 50 sheets, and you can choose from four sizes, from 6½ by 10⅛ inches to 7 3/16 by 10 3/16 inches. The sheets are formulated with a proprietary adsorbent zeolite that absorbs acid from papers. MIP-Its sheets are capable of eliminating odors from smoke, mold, and mildew as well as guarding against airborne pollutants.