Coated paper is paper which has been treated (either one side or both sides) with a compound to impart certain qualities of the paper, including weight, surface gloss, smoothness and absorbency. The most prevalent coatings are dull, gloss, matte, satin and silk

Coatings are applied to paper to achieve uniformity of surface. Coated paper generally produces sharper, brighter images and has better reflectivity than an uncoated sheet. As a coated sheet typically is smoother, has better ink holdout and is less absorbent than uncoated sheets, these sheets are more suitable for certain types of overprint finishing techniques such as flood or spot coating with varnish or other finish coatings.

A super smooth, high gloss coated paper is cast-coated.

Photo papers for inkjet printing typically have UV coatings.