Paper Weight and GSM: Which Stock Suits Your Print Job

On a print order form, paper weight is the column that decides how the piece will feel, but the number is not as simple as it looks. You may see 113 gsm, 150 gsm, 250 gsm and 300 gsm beside each stock, while an older US spec still says 80 lb text or 100 lb cover. The question is which of those choices matches the job, not which number is largest.

This guide explains what gsm means, why paper weight is not paper thickness, how lb to gsm conversions work for text and cover grades, and which real stocks suit flyers, brochures, posters, menus, business cards and booklets.

What gsm means when you choose paper

GSM stands for grams per square metre. It describes the weight of one square metre (1,000 x 1,000 mm) of paper or card, and a higher number is a heavier sheet. That is why 300 gsm stock feels like card, while 113 gsm stock behaves like a light page. Coated or uncoated is a finish choice, separate from weight. 150 gsm Gloss and 150 gsm Matte weigh the same, even though their surfaces handle differently.

Paper thickness is not the same as weight

GSM measures weight, not thickness. Thickness, or calliper, is measured in microns and depends on the fibre, the coating and how much the sheet is pressed at the mill. That is why a matte and a gloss of the same weight can feel different. There is no universal formula that turns gsm into thickness, and we do not publish calliper figures for our stocks. A heavier cover helps a booklet hold its shape, while heavier inside pages make a thick book stiffer to turn.

How to read lb to gsm on a US spec

US basis weight, often written lb, is the weight of 500 sheets at a basis sheet size. The basis size differs by paper grade, so text weight and cover weight are not the same scale. That means 100 lb text is a lighter sheet than 100 lb cover. The table gives common approximate conversions.

For a quick lb to gsm estimate, use text lb x 1.48 = gsm and cover lb x 2.71 = gsm. Read a 100 lb text spec as close to the 150 gsm inside stocks, and read a 100 lb cover spec as close to the 250 gsm covers. The exact gsm choice still depends on the product, the handling and the finish.

Paper weight chart for the stocks on the order form

The paper weight chart below lists the real stocks on the order form, grouped by product. It is a quick reference for what is available when you choose a job, not a full mill sheet list.

How the weights behave is as important as the number. Around 113 to 150 gsm folds and turns easily, which suits booklet inside pages and flyers. Around 170 gsm has more body, so it suits flyers and brochures that get handled, and menu inserts. 250 gsm is a light card, useful for booklet covers or a flyer that should feel substantial. 300 gsm and above is card, which suits business cards and menus that are handled often.

For flyers, the list includes 150 gsm Gloss, 170 gsm Matte and 250 gsm Gloss. For posters, the stocks are 200 gsm Satin Paper, 200 gsm Synthetic, 170 gsm Gloss Paper and 350 gsm Artboard; 200 gsm Satin Paper and 200 gsm Synthetic come in A4 to A0, while 170 gsm Gloss Paper and 350 gsm Artboard are A3 and A2 only. The Synthetic is a plastic based sheet that is tear resistant and moisture resistant. For business cards, the options are 300 GSM Matte, 300 GSM Linen, 300 GSM Cotton, 300 GSM Metallic, or 450 GSM Artboard with Velvet Laminate.

Booklet stocks: inside pages, covers and binding

Booklet choices are about two stocks: inside pages and cover. In a saddle stitched booklet, each folded sheet carries 4 printed pages, so a 16 page booklet is 4 folded sheets, and the 4 page cover is counted inside the page total. In a perfect bound or wire bound book, each leaf carries 2 printed pages, front and back. Pages always means printed pages, never sheets.

Saddle stitched booklets use 113 GSM Gloss, 128 GSM Matte, 150 GSM Gloss or 150 GSM Matte for inside pages, and 150 GSM Matte, 150 GSM Gloss, 250 GSM Matte or 250 GSM Gloss for covers. Cover lamination is available on the 250 GSM covers only, and the range runs 8 to 56 printed pages. For perfect bound booklets, the inside pages use 113 GSM Gloss, 128 GSM Matte, 150 GSM Gloss, 150 GSM Matte or 120 GSM Uncoated, with a 250 GSM Gloss or 250 GSM Matte cover, for 36 to 100 printed pages. Wire bound booklets use the same inside list and 250 GSM Gloss or 250 GSM Matte cover, for 12 to 100 printed pages. The booklet printing page lists these page ranges alongside the product choices.

A quick path to choose the right stock

1. Work out what the piece is: a flyer, menu, business card, poster or booklet.
2. Decide how often it will be handled, passed around, sat on or kept in a wallet.
3. Choose the finish first: gloss, matte, silk, uncoated or a textured card.
4. Match the weight to the handling, then check the price at your quantity, because heavier stock costs more and the difference grows with quantity.

If the piece is a menu, choose 300 GSM Matte or 170 GSM Silk, and add laminate if it will be handled often. The product page shows the price as each stock is chosen.

Frequently asked questions

What does gsm stand for?

GSM stands for grams per square metre, so it describes the weight of one square metre of paper or card. A higher number is a heavier sheet. It is a simple way to compare stocks on a print order form, but it is not a measurement of thickness. Two sheets with the same gsm can feel different because finish, fibre, coating and pressing can change calliper. Use gsm as a starting point, then match the stock to how the printed piece will be handled.

Does higher gsm always mean thicker paper?

No. GSM measures weight, not thickness. Thickness, or calliper, is measured in microns and depends on fibre, coating and how much a sheet is pressed at the mill. That is why a matte and a gloss of the same weight can feel different. There is no universal formula that turns gsm into thickness. We do not publish calliper figures for our stocks, so choose the weight by handling and purpose, not by expected thickness.

How do you convert lb to gsm?

US basis weight uses the weight of 500 sheets at a basis sheet size, and the basis size differs by grade. A simple lb to gsm rule is text lb x 1.48 = gsm and cover lb x 2.71 = gsm. For example, 80 lb text is about 118 gsm, while 100 lb cover is about 270 gsm. Because text weight and cover weight use different basis sizes, the same pound number does not mean the same sheet weight.

What weight are the business cards?

Our standard business cards are available in 300 GSM Matte, 300 GSM Linen, 300 GSM Cotton, 300 GSM Metallic, or 450 GSM Artboard with Velvet Laminate. The 300 gsm group is card stock for everyday handling, while the 450 gsm option is a heavier card. The finish is a separate choice from the weight, so choose the look first and let the weight support how often the card will be passed from hand to hand.

What stock should I choose for booklet inside pages and covers?

For booklet inside pages, choose 113 GSM Gloss, 128 GSM Matte, 150 GSM Gloss, 150 GSM Matte, or 120 GSM Uncoated where that option is listed. Saddle stitched covers use 150 GSM Matte, 150 GSM Gloss, 250 GSM Matte, or 250 GSM Gloss. Perfect bound and wire bound covers use 250 GSM Gloss or 250 GSM Matte. A heavier cover helps the booklet hold its shape, while lighter inside pages turn more easily. Saddle stitched booklets run 8 to 56 printed pages, perfect bound booklets run 36 to 100, and wire bound booklets run 12 to 100.

Do page counts mean sheets or pages?

On our order forms, pages means printed pages, not sheets. In a saddle stitched booklet, each folded sheet carries 4 printed pages, so a 16 page booklet is 4 folded sheets, and the 4 page cover is included in the page count. In a perfect bound or wire bound book, each leaf carries 2 printed pages, front and back. This keeps page counts consistent across saddle stitched, perfect bound and wire bound styles, so the number you select is the number of printed faces the reader will see.