I handled printing for our local league last year and learned the hard way about paper specs. Cheap paper under 20lb causes endless jams, so make sure to check gsm ratings first. I would suggest keeping this in mind:

• Be careful with ultra-cheap store brands since high dust content damages printer rollers
• Just get any multi-purpose case from Staples when on sale You might want to check the Office Depot price tracker to catch local sales before driving anywhere.

I have been running bulk print jobs for local sports leagues and non-profits for about six years, and honestly I am super satisfied with Sam's Club Member's Mark 20lb paper. It stays consistently right around $35 to $38 a case and I have had zero complaints using it across multiple high-volume inkjet and laser printers. If you want the technical breakdown on why it works so well for heavy printing:

• Brightness and Opacity: It is rated at 92 brightness with solid opacity, so coach rosters and double-sided schedules do not bleed through.
• Poly-wrap packaging: The reams come wrapped in moisture-resistant paper rather than cheap thin plastic, which keeps moisture out if you store cases in humid places like an Ohio garage or basement.
• Precision cut edges: The sheet edges produce virtually no paper dust, which saves your printer feed rollers from slipping over time. For alternative options under your $40 cap:
• Hammermill Copy Plus (Sam's and Walmart often run 10-ream cases for $38).
• Boise X-9 Multi-Use (frequently discounted at regional supply distributors). Costco Kirkland is fine too, but Sam's has been more consistent on price in my experience. If Staples is right down the street, their store brand is decent during sales, but Sam's is the most reliable day-in and day-out deal for the quality you get.

^ This. Also, I tried going the ultra-budget route when I took over printing for our neighborhood group last spring, and unfortunately it was not as good as expected. I bought a super cheap off-brand case at a discount store for $32 thinking I was being smart with our budget, but I had severe issues with thin sheets causing double-feeds and tearing inside the roller. Ended up wasting half a cartridge of expensive toner trying to clear jams. Since then I stick strictly to conservative choices that wont break my machine while keeping under your $40 limit:

• Boise X-9 20lb 10-Ream Case: Walmart online regularly drops this to $36-$38 with free delivery, saving you the drive to Costco entirely.
• Hammermill Copy Plus 20lb: Keep an eye on Amazon or Office Depot sales. It pops up for $39 occasionally and its basically bulletproof against jams.
• Staples Recycling Program: If you use the local store down the street, bring in old ink cartridges for store credit to knock 5 or 10 bucks off their standard case price. Honestly, driving out to Costco just to save two bucks isnt worth the risk or the gas money if you end up with bad paper batches. Sticking with proven names like Boise online has saved me so much hassle.