How To Make - Paper weights and conversion tables
📐 Paper Weights & Conversion Guide
Paper weights can be confusing. We’ve compiled a clean reference chart to help you compare systems, understand industry terms, and find the perfect stock for your project.
🧾 Common Weights
- 80 gsm / 21 lb: Standard copy paper weight.
- 100 gsm / 27 lb: Flyers and premium prints.
- 120 gsm / 32 lb: Brochures and certificates.
- 200 gsm / 54 lb: Thick posters or display sheets.
- 300 gsm / 81 lb: Premium cards and packaging.
📘 Glossary
Basis Weight: Weight in lbs of 500 sheets at standard size.
Caliper: Thickness measured in thousandths of an inch (mils).
Equivalent: Method to compare weights across different categories.
📏 Basis Sheet Sizes by Type
| Paper Type | Basic Size (500 Sheets) |
|---|---|
| Bond / Ledger / Rag | 17" × 22" |
| Offset / Text / Coated | 25" × 38" |
| Cover Stock | 20" × 26" |
📊 Weight Conversion: Equivalents Across Categories
Use this guide to convert between Bond, Text, Cover, and Metric (GSM). Values are approximate.
| Bond | Text | Cover | Index | Points | GSM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 50 | 28 | 42 | 3.8 | 75.2 |
| 24 | 60 | 33 | 50 | 4.8 | 90.3 |
| 28 | 70 | 39 | 58 | 5.8 | 105.3 |
| 31 | 81 | 45 | 66 | 6.1 | 116.6 |
| 39 | 100 | 54 | 81 | 7.2 | 146.7 |
| 47 | 120 | 65 | 97 | 8.0 | 176.8 |
| 54 | 137 | 75 | 113 | 9.0 | 203.1 |
| 65 | 165 | 90 | 135 | 10.0 | 244.5 |
| 82 | 208 | 114 | 170 | 14.0 | 308.5 |
| 105 | 267 | 146 | 220 | 18.0 | 385.0 |
* Caliper may vary by ±5–7% depending on manufacturing.
📨 Commercial
No. 10: 4⅛" × 9½"
No. 9: 3⅞" × 8⅞"
Monarch: 3⅞" × 7½"
📣 Announcement
A-2: 4⅜" × 5¾"
A-6: 4¾" × 6½"
A-7: 5¼" × 7¼"
📚 Booklet
6 x 9: No. 6½
9 x 12: No. 9½
10 x 13: No. 13
🖨️ Pro Printing Guidelines
- Acclimate paper for 48 hours in the print environment.
- Store flat in resealable packaging away from heat.
- Fan sheets on all sides before loading to reduce sticking.
- Use the manual feed tray for a straight path through the printer.
ISO 216 Standard A4 (210x297mm) and A3 (297x420mm) sizes available across most specialty stocks.