A dull coated printing paper that is bulky (low in density) having a density of 0.90 to 1.15 g/cm.sup.3 and yet offers excellent pliability, superior surface smoothness, high degree of print gloss and minimal small-scale gloss variations in the image area are obtained by forming a coating layer comprising a pigment and an adhesive on a base paper which contains an organic compound having an action to inhibit binding between pulp fibers and then carrying out calender treatment at a line pressure for the treatment of 50 to 150 kg/cm.