Paper weight guide: pounds, gsm and points explained

Paper weight tells you how heavy and stiff a sheet is, but the numbers are confusing because the same sheet can be listed in pounds, grams per square meter or points. This guide explains what each number means, converts the common weights and suggests the right weight for each kind of print job.

Why paper weights are confusing

In the United States, paper is sold by basis weight: what 500 sheets weigh at the paper's basic sheet size. The basic size differs by paper type, so a 20 lb bond sheet and a 50 lb text sheet are about the same paper, and an 80 lb cover is much heavier than an 80 lb text. Comparing pounds only works within the same paper type.

Grams per square meter (gsm) solves this. It measures the weight of one square meter of a single sheet, whatever the type, so higher gsm always means a heavier sheet.

The four paper types

• Bond (writing): Office and letterhead paper. Common weights: 20 lb, 24 lb, 28 lb, 32 lb.
• Text (book): Brochures, flyers, newsletters and book pages. Common weights: 50 lb to 100 lb text.
• Cover (cardstock): Business cards, postcards, covers and invitations. Common weights: 65 lb to 130 lb cover and heavier.
• Index: Index cards and file cards, stiffer than text and lighter than most covers.

Paper weight conversion chart

Text and bond weights:

• 20 lb bond = 50 lb text = about 75 gsm
• 24 lb bond = 60 lb text = about 90 gsm
• 28 lb bond = 70 lb text = about 105 gsm
• 32 lb bond = 80 lb text = about 120 gsm
• 100 lb text = about 148 gsm

Cover and cardstock weights:

• 65 lb cover = about 176 gsm
• 80 lb cover = about 216 gsm
• 100 lb cover = about 270 gsm
• 110 lb cover = about 300 gsm
• 120 lb cover = about 325 gsm
• 130 lb cover = about 350 gsm

Conversions are rounded. Mills list exact figures on each sheet's spec, and they vary a little by finish.

Points and thickness

Points (pt) measure thickness, not weight. One point is one thousandth of an inch. Thickness is how most printers describe heavy card: 14pt and 16pt are common for business cards and postcards, and a 32pt card is two heavy sheets laminated together. Two sheets with the same gsm can differ in thickness, because uncoated and recycled papers are often bulkier than coated sheets of the same weight.

Cardstock weight guide

• 65 lb cover: Light cardstock. Folded flyers, menu inserts and crafts.
• 80 lb cover: Brochure covers, light postcards and programs.
• 100 lb cover: Postcards, greeting cards and book covers.
• 110 lb to 130 lb cover: Business cards, invitations and premium postcards.
• 16pt and up: Heavy business cards and postcards that need to feel substantial.

Which weight to use for each job

• Letterhead: 24 lb bond or 70 lb text, a sheet that still runs through an office printer.
• Flyers: 80 lb to 100 lb text.
• Brochures: 80 lb to 100 lb text, or 80 lb cover for a stiffer piece.
• Newsletters and book pages: 50 lb to 70 lb text.
• Postcards: 100 lb to 130 lb cover. USPS requires postcards to be at least 0.007 in thick.
• Business cards: 110 lb to 130 lb cover, 16pt, or 32pt for a heavy card.
• Wedding invitations: 110 lb cotton or 100 lb to 130 lb cover.
• Book covers: 80 lb to 100 lb cover, or heavier for softcover books.

For product pages with the stocks we use, see business cards, postcards, brochures and wedding invitations.

Recycled paper weights

Recycled papers come in the same weights as virgin paper. Our main stocks are 100% post-consumer recycled. Sustana EnviroPrint runs from 60 lb to 80 lb text and 80 lb to 100 lb cover, and Monadnock Astrolite PC 100 runs from 80 lb text to a 150 lb, 16pt cover. Recycled uncoated sheets can feel slightly softer and bulkier than virgin coated paper of the same weight, which many people prefer for cards and stationery.

If you are not sure which weight you need, ask for samples on our paper samples page, or read our guide to types of paper for printing.

Common questions

Is 80 lb paper the same as 80 lb cardstock?

No. 80 lb text is a flyer weight sheet of about 120 gsm. 80 lb cover is a cardstock of about 216 gsm.

What is the best paper weight for business cards?

Most business cards are printed on 110 lb to 130 lb cover or 16pt card. A 32pt card gives a heavy, premium feel.

What weight is normal printer paper?

Standard copy paper is 20 lb bond, about 75 gsm. Many offices use 24 lb bond for a heavier feel.

What gsm is cardstock?

Cardstock usually starts around 176 gsm, which is 65 lb cover, and goes up past 350 gsm for heavy cards.