Paper Weight Guide

Guide to Understanding Paper Weights

Paper weights are calculated using two basic systems. The U.S. system which measures the weight in pounds and the Metric system which measures the weight in grams per square meter (gsm).

The U.S. system is sometimes difficult to understand because the same number in pounds can be used for different thicknesses of paper. In the U.S. system a paper’s weight is its weight per ream (500 sheets) in its basis (uncut) size. But every type of paper has its own basis size of ream. For example one type of paper may have a basis size of 17” x 22” and another a basis size of 24” x 36”.

The Metric system is standard across all types of paper because it simply measures one square meter. For that reason it is a better indicator of the thickness of a paper.

Paper Weight Chart

Paper Weights

Text Weight papers are associated with documents such as letterhead and brochures, and are generally used to make envelopes.

Cover Weight papers are associated with business cards, postcards and invitations.