What does the weight of paper mean for your design project? What paper types for printing should you choose? What is paper GSM? What does paper weight mean anyway? In this article, we'll explain all the paper basics you'll need.
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What Is Paper Weight?
So what does paper weight mean for your design project? Before we jump into things like "what is paper GSM", let's start at the beginning. What does the weight of paper mean anyway—and why does it matter?
Paper weight generally refers to the thickness of a sheet of paper. It's more than just "how thick it is", however—this also factors in things like durability and what's most appropriate for the project at hand.
For example, let's say you're looking to print a business card. You'd need to make an appropriate paper selection. Something like an 80 gsm piece of copy paper—something similar to standard office printer paper—would be way too thin for a business card. Not only would it feel strange and unprofessional, but it wouldn't be sturdy enough and could rip. That would be inconvenient to hand out and share as it wouldn't be very durable.
What Is GSM (Paper)?
So what is GSM? Paper is often measured in GSM—grams per square meter. It's a unit of measurement that describes the thickness—or weight—of your paper. The higher the GSM, the thicker and heavier the paper is.
For example, let's say you have a sheet of paper that is 80 gsm. That would mean that one square meter of this paper weighs 80 grams. This particular weight is rather light and would work nicely for something like standard computer printer paper. Office paper or copy paper would likely be around this weight.
On the other hand, something like 140 gsm paper would be much thicker, and a stronger choice for something like a premium flyer or a poster. It still wouldn't be as thick as something you might want for a project like a greeting card.
Here are some common GSM values you might see:
- 80 gsm would be a lightweight paper.
- 100 gsm would be standard office paper. It's lighter, but appropriate for most office tasks.
- 120 gsm would be a little thicker, and appropriate for something like a brochure.
- 200 gsm would be a much heavier paper. Looking at these values, think about something double the thickness of standard office paper—so this would be more like a cardstock.
What Is Paper GSM vs. Pounds (lbs)?
Paper GSM (again, grams per square meter) is a common means of measuring the weight or thickness of paper. Pounds (lbs) is another unit that is commonly used in a similar way. Each unit basically provides a way to quantify the density of your paper. Different regions of the world may favor different units of measurement, but they still serve the same purpose.
Paper GSM, for example:
- Paper GSM tends to be a more globally prevalent unit for measuring paper weight and thickness. Again, it is the weight of one square meter of paper.
- A higher GSM value means thicker and heavier paper. Likewise, a lower GSM value corresponds to thinner and lighter paper.
Pounds, on the other hand:
- In the United States, paper weight is often measured in pounds (lbs). This is a common unit of measurement in this part of the world, in general.
- 500 sheets of paper is typically used to measure the paper's weight in pounds.
- Like GSM, the higher the amount of pounds, the thicker the paper. Likewise, the lower the number, the lighter and thinner the paper.
Here's a brief comparison of the two:
- 20 lb paper would be around 75 to 80 gsm.
- 100 lb paper would be around 145 gsm.
You can find free calculators online, if you want to try converting one measurement to the other. In general, it's just important to note that the higher the number, the thicker the paper. Whether you use pounds or GSM to measure paper weight depends on your preference and/or what's regionally common. Both can be used similarly to select appropriate paper for your project.
What About Text Paper vs. Cover Paper?
You may also see the terms "text paper" and "cover paper" to describe different papers. They are basically general terms to describe the paper, based on weight and thickness.
Text paper is typically lighter and thinner, and suitable for things like the interior of a book or magazine. These would be papers around 80 gsm—lighter and thinner.
Cover paper, on the other hand, would be paper that is thicker and more suitable for things like the cover of a paperback book. These would be papers like card stock—thicker and more durable.
But Wait... What About Points?
There's another means of measuring paper weights—points. For example, you may see paper described as 14pt cover stock. So how does this compare to GSM and pounds?
Points, when measuring paper, typically refers to the thickness again. However, one point is equivalent to 1/1000th of an inch. This is typically more prevalent with thicker papers, like cardstock or even cardboard. So 14pt cover stock would be paper that is 0.014 inches thick.
What Is Coated Paper?
What is coated paper vs. uncoated paper? This is another important aspect of choosing the right paper for your project.
Coated paper, as it sounds, is a type of paper that has a layer of coating applied to its surface. This coating can give the paper a different finish, such as smooth, glossy, or even matte. This all has a significant impact on how the paper looks, as well as printing and durability. Coated paper is often used for high-quality printing because it can yield crisp, beautiful results. The coating on the paper affects the print—it's less porous due to the coating. This results in particularly crisp dots per inch.
Uncoated paper, on the other hand, lacks this coating. Don't write that off as a negative trait, however. If you're looking for something textured and soft, uncoated paper could be a perfect choice. Unlike coated paper, the surface is more porous. It may also be a more comfortable choice for projects that require the user to write on it—imagine writing on a glossy surface, for example. Uncoated paper can still have a finish—for example, you can have a smooth, bright, uncoated paper versus something with a more textured feel.
What Is the Best Paper Choice for My Project?
What does the weight of paper mean for your project? Let's take a look at a few simple examples and see what paper suggestions might be a strong choice for each.
Example 1: Poster Design
Let's say you're designing a poster for an event. It needs to be large and beautiful. Maybe you also want to sell or distribute the posters—being such a large format, it might be advantageous to ship them rolled up (as shipping them flat could be a big hassle).
In this case, it would probably be best to choose a lower paper weight, so the posters can be rolled up (too thick and it wouldn't roll and unroll without damage). However, too low and the paper might be too fragile. Something at 120 gsm or 80 lbs would probably be a strong choice—and consider if you want a coated, glossy surface, which is often a popular choice for posters.
Example 2: Invoice Design
Next, let's say we're designing an invoice for our business. It wouldn't be practical for an invoice to be printed on really thick paper—it would probably be advantageous to print this on something lightweight, like a 75 gsm paper, because it's very much like a receipt. It's also something you may need to hand mark or write on, so uncoated paper would likely work well too.
Example 3: Business Card
As I mentioned earlier, business cards are designed to be handled—we share them, we put them in holders, and we take them out to check a contact. You'll want this to be on heavier paper, like a cardstock with some significant weight. Many business cards will go all out with lovely finishing and coating. A lot of this will depend on what best suits your brand. 14pt stock could work well for a project like this.
Example 4: Resume Design
Let's say you're preparing to hand out a physical copy of your resume. What would be a good paper weight? Again, think about what your goal is here—you want this to be easy to hand out, but not necessarily fragile. This is also a situation where you're aiming to impress—so a cheaper, thinner paper isn't going to communicate things like "quality".
Consider something higher than a copy paper's low weight, but card stock would likely be unusually thick. Something between 90 gsm and 120 gsm would be a strong, professional choice.
Example 5: Menu Design
Menus are designed to be interacted with. Whether you're making a menu that folds and unfolds or a menu that's a solid sheet, this is something that will be handled by customers. If you go with a lightweight paper, it's going to have wear and tear rather quickly. This is fine if the menus are designed to be disposable (but most menus are not). Even an advertisement-style menu needs to survive the mailbox.
Consider a thicker stock here, like something you'd consider for a brochure. You may even want some extra finishing, coating, or even lamination if you foresee your menu going through a lot of extensive use.
On the other hand, let's say your menu is designed for luxury—this would be a very different scenario, wouldn't it? You might even want to go with an uncoated paper for a luxurious texture. Still, you'd likely want a thicker paper.
Common Paper Questions Answered
What Paper Weight Is Cardstock?
A common paper weight question is: "What paper weight is cardstock?" Let's start at the beginning.
What is cardstock? The word "cardstock" is used to describe heavier papers that are thicker than what most people would consider "normal" paper—like you might use for drawing or printing on an office printer.
There is no single weight for cardstock—but you'll generally find that cardstocks can run around 50 lbs or 140 gsm to over 120 lbs or 300 gsm. For example, you could use a medium-thick cardstock around 50 lbs, and this could work well for a project like greeting cards. On the other hand, you might want your business card to use a much heavier cardstock—something like 100 lbs or 240 gsm. This would be even thicker and more rigid.
So, when you see paper described as cardstock, know that it's thicker, but you should still check the paper's weight to see just how thick.
What Size Is Printer Paper?
You might be wondering "What size is printer paper", but keep in mind that not all printers are the same. General printer size may also vary based on what's common in your part of the world. For example, many home office printers in the United States take paper that is 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall, at the largest.
When many people refer to "printer paper", they're talking about standard copy paper, which is typically called "US Letter" (8.5"x11"). A4 is a comparable size (8.27" x 11.69") that is more common internationally.
Coated vs. Uncoated Paper: Which Is Better?
Remember, it's not really a competition when it comes to coated vs. uncoated paper—just like there's no one perfect paper weight either—and both come in varying weights with varying options. It's about what would best benefit your project. Uncoated paper is not automatically cheap-looking or a lesser choice than coated paper. It's just important to know how they differ, so you can make the strongest choice for your project.
Learn More About Printing and Design Techniques
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