One of the key factors that will affect the look, feel and price of your board game is the thickness of your token sheets. If you’ve ever played a board game where the tokens felt flimsy, were hard to pick up, or bent too easily, you’ll know how much tokens can impact the play experience.
Choosing the right thickness for your punchboards isn’t solely about durability. It also affects the cost of your game and how players will perceive its overall quality after they buy it.
Like with other game components, we get a lot of questions from game creators about choosing the right token sheet thickness. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know so you can make an informed decision that gives you the best results for your game.
If you’d like to talk to us directly about your token sheets, your game’s artwork, or anything else related to making your game, feel free to get in touch.
What Token Sheets Are
Token sheets are the thick cardboard sheets you find inside most modern board games. They’re sometimes called punchboards and are used to create any coins, markers, counters and other punch-out components your game requires.
Token sheets are made from cardboard. A printed sheet with your game’s artwork is glued to one or both sides, then a protective finish is applied. Finally, the sheets are cut so that players can easily punch out the tokens before they play your game.
The thickness of the core cardboard determines how sturdy your tokens feel in hand. When the tokens in your game are made from thin cardboard, they can bend easily, while thicker tokens are more resistant to wear, stack neatly and have more “presence” on the table.
Common Token Sheet Thicknesses
In modern board game manufacturing, there are a few standard thicknesses you’ll see often in commercial games:
- 1.0mm. Tokens of this thickness are thin, lightweight, and cheap to produce, but can feel flimsy in some cases. These are typically used in smaller, budget-friendly games as they can be manufactured at the lowest cost.
- 1.2mm. This thickness is a good midpoint between the low cost of 1mm and the greater durability of 1.5mm. Using a 1.2mm token sheet thickness can help you to reduce your game’s weight.
- 1.5mm. This thickness is the industry standard for most mid-range board games. Using a 1.5mm token sheet thickness offers a good balance of durability, cost and feel for your game.
- 2mm and above. Token sheets with a 2mm or greater thickness feel more substantial in the player’s hand, are more durable, and can stand up to heavier use. You may want to choose this thickness if you’re making a premium game.
5 Factors to Consider When You’re Choosing Thickness
Like with other game components, it’s easy to overthink your game’s token thickness. Choosing the right token sheet thickness primarily comes down to balancing five main points:
- Gameplay and handling. Thicker tokens are easier to pick up, shuffle and move around the board. If your game involves frequent handling of tokens (for example, currency in an economic game), thicker token sheets can make a difference in playability.
- Durability. Thin tokens can warp, fray at the edges, or get damaged after repeated use if they’re important in your game. Thicker tokens last longer and hold their shape, which matters if you expect players to keep your game in their collection for years.
- Box fit and weight. Each additional millimeter of thickness adds weight to your game and takes up space. If your game has a large number of tokens, thicker token sheets may make the box heavier, which affects storage and shipping costs.
- Cost. Thicker token sheets cost more to produce than thinner ones. Also, the cutting process complexity can also affect costs. If you’re aiming for the lowest manufacturing costs, you’ll want to choose thinner token sheets cut in a simple pattern.
- Perceived quality. A thicker token sheet increases the perceived value of your game, since it gives it a premium feel. If you’re willing to price your game slightly higher and want to achieve a premium brand image, it’s worth considering thicker tokens.
Recommendations & Best Practices
If you’re new to manufacturing board games, it’s easy to overthink thickness and lose track of the bigger picture of making your game. If you’re not sure of where to start, you can contact us to talk to our team and get our suggestions on your token sheet thickness.
Here are a few practical recommendations:
- If you’re in doubt, start with 1.5 mm as your baseline. This is the industry standard for a reason. If you want your game to feel similar to others and neither impress people with its quality nor disappoint them, 1.5mm is usually the best choice.
- Upgrade to 2.0 mm for premium tokens, or if your tokens are used frequently for gameplay. If tokens are central to your game and players handle them constantly, the extra thickness can improve durability and make your game feel premium.
- Ask before you commit. Before you finalize your specs, ask your manufacturer if they can provide sample token sheets at different thicknesses. Handling them in person is a great way to identify what’s best for your game.
- Balance with your other components. Consider how your tokens will look and feel if they’re next to cards, boards or miniatures. Your components should feel cohesive and your token sheets should be similar in quality to your other game components.
- Think about weight. A few extra millimeters of cardboard across multiple sheets can potentially make a difference in your carton dimensions and freight costs, especially if your game has several token sheets.
The Bottom Line on Token Sheet Thickness
Token sheet thickness is one of those little details that players may not consciously think about, but they will absolutely notice when it’s wrong. Overly thin tokens can make an otherwise great game feel cheap, while thick, sturdy ones can give even a simple design weight and value.
By understanding the common thickness options, weighing the five key factors listed above and testing samples before you commit, you can choose a token sheet thickness that matches your budget, your game type and your overall creative vision.
If you need help choosing your token sheets, or with any other step in the board game creation process, feel free to contact us. Our team can answer your questions, help you select the right game components, and assist with every other step in making your game.
