The effect of soft nip calendering variables including pressure, temperature, nip residence time and sheet moisture on the properties of coated papers was investigated. The change of gloss, opacity, bulk and brightness were determined after calendering. Increase of calendering pressure and temperature increased gloss, but it decreased opacity, bulk and brightness of coated papers. Nip residence time and sheet moisture content showed similar effects on these properties. Calendering conditions of 16$0^{circ}C$ of temperature, 146kg$_{f}$/cm of line load or less were found to provide optimum conditions to obtain reasonable gloss and smoothness while minimizing the loss of bulk and opacity for coated papers.s.