Best Paper for the HP Envy 6400: Top Picks for Photos, Cards and Everyday Pages

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Quick answer

For everyday printing on the HP Envy 6400, use a 24 lb bright white inkjet paper. For photos, use HP Advanced Photo Paper (glossy or matte), and for cards, use HP Premium Plus Photo Paper or a 110 lb matte cardstock made for inkjet.

Why paper matters on the HP Envy 6400

The HP Envy 6400 series (6452e, 6455e, 6458e and similar) uses HP 67 / 67XL cartridges with a tri-color cartridge for vivid photo output. It's marketed as a home photo and craft printer, so paper choice is what separates "fine" prints from "wow, did this come out of my Envy?" prints. Thin, dull paper is the single biggest reason home photo prints disappoint.

Best everyday paper: 24 lb bright white

For homework, recipes, and anything that doesn't need photo-grade output, a 24 lb (90 gsm), 96-100 brightness multipurpose paper handles cleanly through the Envy 6400's input tray. HP Printer Paper 24 lb, Hammermill Premium 24 lb, and Boise X-9 are easy picks.

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For photos: HP Advanced or Premium Plus Photo Paper

The HP Envy 6400 was built with photos in mind. HP Advanced Photo Paper (glossy) is the easiest match — it's tuned for HP's tri-color dye inks and dries instantly. If you want gallery-quality 4x6 or 8.5x11 prints, HP Premium Plus Photo Paper steps it up another notch. For a softer look, choose the matte version for portraits and family photos.

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For greeting cards and crafts: matte cardstock

The Envy 6400 handles cardstock well in the manual feed, which makes it great for DIY greeting cards, invitations, and craft printables. Look for inkjet-rated matte cardstock around 65-110 lb cover. Avoid heavily textured stock — it can confuse the feed mechanism.

👉 Shop matte inkjet cardstock on Amazon

Paper sizes the Envy 6400 supports

The HP Envy 6400 accepts Letter (8.5x11), Legal (8.5x14), A4, B5, A6, envelopes (No. 10, A2, C6, DL), 4x6, 5x7, and 8.5x11 photo paper. The single-tray design means you swap paper types as you go, but it handles 16-32 lb plain stock and up to ~80 lb cover for cardstock with manual feed.

What to avoid

Skip glossy paper labeled for laser printers — the coating doesn't absorb dye-based ink, so prints stay tacky and smear. Don't load more than ~80 sheets at once; the Envy 6400's input tray is shallower than full-size HP printers. And avoid sub-90 brightness paper if you're printing anything with photos or color graphics.

Pair the right paper with the right ink

Photo paper only sings if your color cartridge is fresh. If you're due for a refill, our compatible HP 67XL cartridges deliver vibrant photo output at a fraction of OEM pricing.

Related reading

• Glossy vs. Matte vs. Luster Photo Paper
• How to Print Photos at Home That Look Like a Lab Print
• Printer Paper 101: Weight, Brightness, Finish & Size Explained