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define the term paper weight

About Paper Weights

Learn about paper weights, please check out our new paper weight meters on every paper page.

Understanding paperweights can be difficult. Trust us, we know. So we here at Paperworks.com have designed this sheet to try and simplify the different terms you may hear in association with paperweight. The term paperweight, and number corresponding with each weight, refers to the thickness and sturdiness of the paper, not the actual weight of the sheet. We have recently provided paper weight meters on every page to help you pick the perfect paper weight.

Learn more about Paper Weights .

This is why, sometimes, the same "weight" paper may be referred to as two different things. For instance, regular everyday copy paper is most commonly referred to as a "20 lb. bond" but is other times referred to as a "50 lb. text weight." To eliminate as much confusion as possible, we have chosen GSM as our conversion reference point because it is a definite and universal measure of the paper. GSM stands for grams per square meter, which is the actual weight of the sheet.

Calculate lbs to gsm

Calculate gsm to lbs, in order from lightest weight to heaviest.

*Please remember that the greater the "lb" associated with a paper not always determines that it is a thicker sheet. Notice that the 67lb Vellum Bristol has a lower gsm than a 65lb cover because they are two different categories of cardstocks and are scaled differently.

We hope this clarifies the difference between paperweights, and gives you a better understanding of what will fit your application best! With any further questions, please feel free to contact our paper professionals at 888-631-9170 !

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Paper 101 - paper weight guide, paper weight basics.

Are you finding paper weights to be confusing? Why is 80 lb. "text" paper  lighter and thinner than 65 lb. "cover"?  Follow along as we explain how paper weight is calculated and what it means.

  • Paper weight, also known as BASIS WEIGHT, is measured in LBS (pounds) and GSM (grams per square meter)
  • GSM is a universal measurement and applies to all paper types, making it a better measurement of a paper's weight
  • LBS alone does  not adequately convey the weight of paper
  • The TYPE of paper is a key element when using LBS  because . . .
  • Paper comes in many types or categories, each with a unique weight in LBS because of the way it is calculated. Let's explain further!

COMMON TYPES OF PAPER

Here are a few common paper types:

Bond, Book, Text, Index, Bristol, Laid, Wove, and Cover

  • Each type of paper has a different "standard sheet" size. Here are a few examples of paper type standard sheet sizes:
  • Paper weight is measured in pounds per 500 standard sheets  within its type 
  • Each type of paper has it's own range of basis weights because  their standard sizes are different
  • If 500 sheets of a paper's standard sheet size weighs 100 lbs., then the paper weight or basis weight of that type of paper will be 100 lb.
  • So a larger standard size sheet of a lighter thinner text-weight paper can weigh more than a smaller standard size sheet of a thicker heavier cover-weight paper
  • When standard size sheets are cut down to commonly used sizes, they are still referred to by their original basis weight calculation
  • The heavier paper grade commonly referred to as "cardstock" is technically known as "cover"

PAPER THICKNESS or CALIPER

  • The measurement of a paper's thickness is also known as it's "caliper" and is measured using a tool called a micrometer
  • Caliper is expressed as a point size in thousandths of an inch
  • One point equals 1/1000 of an inch and can be expressed as 1 pt. or .001
  • Paper weight gives a good indication of the range of thickness of a paper type, however, thickness can vary due to the materials used in making the paper, and how much it is compressed or compacted together during the paper making process called "calendering"
  • Calendering is the smoothing and compressing of paper which will determine how rough or smooth the paper will become 
  • Two papers of the same weight can have different caliper measurements

PAPER WEIGHT CHART

Here is a chart to further illustrate:

define the term paper weight

PAPER WEIGHT EXAMPLES 

(refer to chart above)

Light Weight Paper

  • Like pages of a book or regular copy paper
  • Can be folded without scoring
  • Very flexible and easy to manipulate
  • Prints in most home printers

see additional note about printing below

Medium Weight Paper

  • Like a standard greeting card
  • Should be scored before folding
  • Noticeably thicker than a light-weight paper

Heavy weight paper

  • Like a heavy greeting card
  • Often used for single panel cards and business cards
  • Must be scored before folding
  • May not print in some home printers

Extra-Heavy Weight Paper

  • Extra heavy weights are similar to gift box weight or chipboard
  • Can be DT (double-thick) meaning two sheets are pasted together
  • Often used for packaging and letterpress
  • Can only be printed by professional printers

Note: Printing is dependant on the printer meeting a paper's specific printing requirements. Not all paper can be printed on any printer. Visit our Printing 101 Page for information on printing.

We're Here to Help . . .

We hope this information helps to demystify paper weights.

Looking for the perfect paper? Click on the Shop All link below.

Use the Paper Finder filter to search our large selection of papers to find the right paper for you.

Still have questions? Contact us using the form below and we'll be glad to answer any additional questions you may have.

  • Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.

define the term paper weight

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Understanding Paper Weight

define the term paper weight

Of all the materials that have been used through the ages, paper has become the most widely employed around the world. In fact, the United States alone uses about 70 million tons of it each year1! But could you differentiate between the countless types, thicknesses and weights of copier paper versus cardstock paper? Probably not.   Understanding paper weight is not common sense and may be a bit confusing. That’s why OKI has provided this resource for those who need a general guide on how to choose the right paper for their specific printing needs. Below you will learn about the most common methods used to understand paper weight, tools to help determine and distinguish between the various print media types and lastly, you will find a paper weight conversion chart that provides a clear comparison of common media weights.   Feel free to bookmark this page as a reference!

Specifying Paper Weights

define the term paper weight

Bristol Paper

define the term paper weight

Cover Paper

define the term paper weight

Index Paper

define the term paper weight

Offset Paper

define the term paper weight

Fortunately, there is a metric measurement that is nearly always displayed alongside the U.S. Basis Weight. The metric measurement (sometimes called grammage) is the actual weight of one sheet of media cut 1 x 1 meter square. Because the same size sheet is always being weighed, GSM (grams per square meter) provides a more uniform scale to judge a paper’s weight and thickness.   Finally, you can always measure the thickness of a sheet of paper using a caliper. Specialty media is often specified in Points or 1/1000 of an inch. Media that measures 0.012 inches thick would be marked as 12-point media.

Paper Weight Conversion Chart

Did you Know? The origins of "bond" paper:

The name for bond paper comes from it having originally been made for documents such as government bonds. It is now used for letterhead, other stationery and as paper for electronic printers.

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define the term paper weight

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by Brian Coale , on June 20, 2014

How do Paper Weights Work?

If you've ever worked with a commercial printer, chances are you've heard them mention paper weights in relation to your job's cost and quality. You can usually get the basic idea that heavier weights amount to higher quality and costs, but it can get really confusing once you start comparing text weights to cover weights, and so forth.

Also, you might wonder why your printer tells you the paper is 26 lbs, but the finished product is considerably lighter — where does that measurement come from, and how do paper weights work anyway?

The Origin of the Pound

OK so here's the secret: When a commercial printer talks about how many pounds a particular paper weight is, they're referring to the weight of 500 parent sheets . So if you took 500 sheets of bond, and it weighed in at 24 lbs, you would have 24# Bond paper.

Note that I put parent sheets in bold to illustrate a very import fact about paper weights: paper weights are derived from the sheets from which they were cut, not the finish size on which you are printing! In other words, if you have a 500ct ream of letter-sized (8½" x 11") 24# bond, it will not weigh 24 lbs.

Clear as mud? OK, good, because...

It Gets Worse

So now that we understand the origin of the weight measurement, we can assume that 24# Letter Bond, 24# Letter Text/Offset and 24# Letter Cover will all be the same weight and thickness, right?

The standard parent sheets for bond, text and cover are not the same! And yes, this does affect the resulting pound measurement of these stocks. Here's a quick chart to put this in perspective:

So as you can see from the chart above, the parent sheet for Cover is slightly larger than the parent sheet for Bond, and the parent sheet for Text/Offset is larger still. What this means is that if you had two stocks of the same weight, and one was Bond while the other was Text, the Text stock would be much lighter and thinner.

Demystifying Paper Weights

Comparative Weights

Since the weight of a particular stock is measured from the parent sheet, and the measurements of the parent sheet for different stocks are not the same, it can make it difficult to understand how they relate to one another — often making choosing a paper stock for your print job something best left to the printing professionals.

However, you can get a rough idea of how they compare once you have worked with your printer for a while, and to help you get started I'll give you this handy reference of comparative weights:

Typically the heavier the stock, the better the quality, but keep in mind that there are many other factors that affect paper quality, including finish, brightness, color, composition and acidity. The greater your understanding of different paper stocks and how they affect the quality of your print job, the more likely you'll be satisfied with the results.

I hope you all walk away from this post feeling like paper gurus, and if you have any thoughts or questions about Paper Weights, feel free to drop me a message in the comments below. If you need help choosting the right paper for you job, you can have a look at this informational article about the subject , or hit the "Talk to an Expert" button below.

Talk to an Expert ›

About Brian Coale

Creative Director / Marketing Manager for Casey Printing

Connect with Brian Coale

Casey Printing Inc. 398 E. San Antonio Dr. King City, CA 93930

Phone: 831.385.3222

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define the term paper weight

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Understanding Paper Weight and Why it Matters

If you’ve ever experienced the angry wrath of a jammed printer, there’s a good chance incorrect paper weight was a factor. Learn more about why paper weight matters.

You should first understand that paper weight is not simply measured on a scale, the way you would measure, say, a piece of meat (or anything, really). If you like math, you’re in for a treat once we break down the measurement process, but it all stems back to how the paper is made. You probably aren’t surprised to hear that most paper is produced in large paper mills from tree wood and recycled paper. It leaves the mills on massive rolls weighing several hundred pounds, and from there, it is cut into large sheets, often called “parent” sheets or a “basis” sheet. So the weight of the basis sheet is the weight of the paper, right? If only it were that simple! The weight of the paper is determined during this process but there are still other factors that come into play.

Before we get into the math involved in measuring paper weight, we’ll familiarize you with some lingo you are sure to hear when navigating the world of print-solutions. If you consider yourself a “printer-using, paper-loading veteran,” you are probably used to seeing the term “GSM” on the paper you buy. GSM stands for the paper’s weight in Grams per Square Meter. Generally, the GSM rating gets larger as the paper gets thicker, although thicker paper sometimes contains more air, making it lighter, and glossy coating on thin paper will make it heavier. Factors such as thickness and coating are what we were referring to as “other factors” that determine the final weight of the paper. In most cases though, the higher the GSM number, the thicker your paper will be.

Although paper comes in various textures, dimensions, etc., let’s briefly focus on the most common type of printer paper: uncoated, 24-pound, 8 ½” x 11” sheets. A basis sheet – or parent sheet – of bond paper, named for its original use for government and corporate bond prints, measures 17” x 22”. If 500 sheets of basis paper weigh 24-pounds, it will be called 24-pound bond. When you take the 24-pound bond and cut it into four equal parts you’ll have 24-pounds of standard letter size sheets at 8 ½” x 11”. Considering that 500 basis sheets will make 2,000 letter sheets, each ream of 500 letter size sheets should weigh 6-pounds. Go ahead and try it for yourself! Something to also keep in mind is that one ream of letter sized sheets will always weigh a quarter of what’s designated on the label.

Now here’s where things can REALLY get complicated. Different types of paper come in different size basis sheets. A basis sheet of index paper is 25 ½” x 30 ½” and a basis sheet of cover paper is 20” x 26”. Since the basis sheet of index paper is significantly larger than the basis sheet of cover paper, the basis sheet of index paper will produce several more sheets of finished size/sheet. This is why 90-pound index sheets, although they weigh more, are thinner than 80-pound cover sheets. Book, tag, manuscript, offset, and several other types of paper all have different sized basis sheets.

Hopefully this helps clear things up concerning paper weight, if you were concerned at all to begin with. If not, it might come in handy if you’re ever in a trivia contest! If you want to learn more about paper weight , there are several paper conversion tables ready for you to use by conducting a quick Internet search. There are even apps for smartphones, and most are free. Cheers to more random knowledge and to fewer paper jams!

define the term paper weight

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Thick and Thin, Points and Pounds – How to Determine Paper Weight

Paper weight can be a confusing concept for some people to grasp. If you are a print customer, you have probably heard the terms “Points” or “Pounds” in reference to the thickness of the paper types you have to choose from. For example, a 16 point gloss cover stock, or 20-pound bond. What exactly does this mean, though? How is this measured?

Before we start, this post will only be discussing the measurements of paper thickness, we will get into the types of paper in a future article. We do not want to overwhelm you with information!

Paper Weight Explained:

There are two main types of measurement for paper stock. “Pounds” and “Points”. You may see it abbreviated as “#” or “lb” for pounds and “pt” for points.

Pounds ,  as you might have guessed, refers to the weight of the paper. It is normally measured by how much 500 sheets (or a ream) of paper weighs in its basic unit uncut size, which means before being cut to Letter size or Legal size, the paper is weighed and categorized. The thicker the stock, the higher the weight. Weights range from 20 to 80 pounds for bond paper and 50 to 140 pounds for card stock.

Points are used to indicate the thickness of each sheet of paper. Points are measured simply by using calipers to measure the thickness. Each point represents 1/1000th of an inch. Some examples of common point sizes, and how they might be written are as follows: 8 pt, 10 pt, 12 pt,  14 pt, and 16 pt paper. The higher the point value, the thicker the paper.

Finally, a more advanced calculation for paper weight that you might come across would be the paper’s GSM , which stands for ‘ Grams per Square Meter’ .   GSM is a more internationally accepted measurement of paper weight, using the metric system rather than pounds. It refers to the actual substance weight of paper, irrespective of sheet size. For more information about GSM, follow this link .

We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of paper measurements so that you are better prepared and know what you want when having something printed.

Do you still have questions? We have the answers! Visit our new Resources page to download templates and watch video tutorials.

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Paper Thickness and Weight Explained

  • August 29, 2018

Trevor Holding

  • Uncategorised

define the term paper weight

If you’re feeling confused and overwhelmed by all the jargon relating to paper thickness and weight, don’t worry, you’re not alone! Even those of us with many years of print industry experience under our belt are still learning new things every day, and when it comes to paper (or ‘stock’ to use the proper term), there’s certainly enough to learn. We have been in the printing industry for over 40 years printing anything from catalogues,   magazines and brochures to business cards and calendars. We also use different types of printing like Litho and Digital Printing , so it’s fair to say we know a thing or two.

What does ‘GSM’ mean?

The term ‘GSM’ simply stands for ‘Grams per Square Metre’ and is used for measuring paper weight. Put simply, if you were to take a 1m² piece of a certain type of paper, how much would it weigh in grams?

As a unit of measure, GSM connects the wood pulp producers (who sell by weight) with the paper mills (who work on area). Generally, the higher the GSM the more wood pulp is required to produce the paper. For example, one square metre of 400gsm board will use much more wood pulp than a square metre of 100gsm paper.

However, be aware that GSM is a measure of paper weight and doesn’t necessarily directly relate to paper thickness . More on that shortly…

What does ‘Mic’ mean?

‘Mic’ is an abbreviation for ‘Microns’ which is a unit of measure used for gauging paper thickness. One micron = 1000 th of a millimetre, therefore 250mic = 0.25mm and 1000mic = 1mm.

This is where things can get slightly confusing. GSM and Microns are not necessarily directly proportionate to each other. For example, one brand of 100gsm paper can be thicker (in Microns) than another paper of the same weight (in GSM) due to the type of wood pulp it’s made from, or which ‘bulking’ methods are used in its construction. Other manufacturing processes such as ‘calendaring’ involve paper being passed between high pressure rollers to compress the fibres, resulting in paper that is thinner and denser without affecting its weight per 1m².

Why Is Paper Thickness and Weight Important?

Both paper thickness and weight play an important part in the look and feel of the final print result. The right GSM and Mic can create the right first impression before your customer even starts to read what you have to say. Although there is no direct correlation between the weight and quality of your paper, it should be an important factor in your decision about what to use for your print. Certain weights and thicknesses may be more suitable for brochures whereas others may be more suited to desk calendars .

To help you make sense of all this, we’ve listed some common paper weights and their corresponding thicknesses in the quick-reference tables below.

(Please be aware that this information should only be used as a guide because relative gsm/mic can vary from one brand of paper to another and there can even be some minor variation in different production batches of the same type of paper).

As you can see, we’ve focused on metric units of measure here, but there are imperial equivalents. American paperweights are calculated in pounds (lbs) based on different types or categories of paper (Bond, Text, Book, Cover, Index and Tag). Paper thickness can also be measured in ‘thou’ (1/1000 of an inch); with 4 inches being equal to 101.6mm, a simple way to convert is to work on approximately 4 thou per 100 microns.

Is Lower Paper Thickness More Sustainable?

There are many factors which affect the sustainability of your paper. If you want to reduce the environmental impact of your printed communications, you can choose paper with a lower GSM. This way you buy less paper because you get more print area per square meter. By using less paper, you are contributing to a lower environmental impact.

Hopefully that’s helped to unravel some paper-related mysteries for you? Should you have any further questions, or would like to discuss an upcoming print project, don’t hesitate to call us on 01444 236204 or  drop us a line  – we’d love to chat!

define the term paper weight

Trevor has accrued 31 years’ experience in the print industry and has a wealth of knowledge in almost every field of print. He has built Action Press to where it is today and has guided the company through changes in both litho and digital media.

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Paper weight and thickness

Paper Weight And Thickness Explained

Gsm and Micron have no direct correlation. You can’t  just convert 1 into another. GSM is weight and micron is thickness. We have measured some of our most popular card stocks.

115gsm = 90 micron

150gsm = 140 micron

160gsm recycled = 180 micron

235gsm (greetings card) = 355 micron

300gsm = 290 micron

300gsm recycled = 340 micron

400gsm = 420 micron

2 men both weigh 85kg each. One man is tall and THIN. The other short and FAT.

2 pieces of paper both weight 180gsm. One is thin. The other is thick.

The most asked question. What is ***gsm in micron? or How many Micron is ***gsm.

What you are actually asking is how thick is 3kg? or How much does 10cm weigh.

Paper Weight – What is GSM

Paper weight and thickness, let’s start with GSM – paper weight.  GSM stands for Grams Per Square Meter,  a measurement used to identify the weight of different types of paper and card. The higher the value of GSM, the heavier card or piece of paper. So a 1msq 400gsm board weighs 400 grams.

So, the difference between our 300gsm Cheap Business Cards and our 400gsm Premium  Business Cards is simply, the weight of the card. Similarly, a 120gsm letterhead is bulkier than a 90gsm letterhead. A heavier card or piece of paper contributes to a more premium feel and lasting effect with your customers.

Brunelone.com provide FREE Print Samples , all you need to do is fill out the sample pack request form . There are various different paper weights and finishes included in the pack.

Definition of Micron – The Thickness of Paper.

Card thickness or calliper is traditionally measured in Microns.

1000 Microns = 1mm, so the higher the value, the thicker the card or paper.  

Usually paper or card is sold by weight as opposed to thickness, but sometimes you may see Microns instead. Thickness of card sold usually starts at around 200 microns, and finishes at around 500 microns.

Micrometer paper thinkness

Micron and GSM – are they linked?

Yes and no. It depends on the type of material used.

Many people confuse paper weight with paper thickness! You could have a situation whereby two 150gsm papers weight the same, But one could be a thick vellum paper containing air and bulk and the other could be calendared a process that involves compressing the paper with high pressure rollers. Both are classified as 150gsm paper stock, but look and feel very different.

1000 micron waterproof PVC material used for banners , has a different weight to 1000 micron silk paper, and therefore has a different Gramme Per Square Meter. When checking between prices for different print products, it is therefore important you look at the type of material, GSM and micron to get an exact comparison. Sometimes you may also see the term ‘sheets’ advertised, where thickness of card refers to how many typical sheets thick it is. At BrunelOne.com , we tend to stick to just GSM and Micron, though.

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