GSM to lb converter: paper weight for text, cover and bond
Type a paper weight in gsm or US pounds and get it in every grade: text, cover, bond, index, tag and bristol, with the basis sheet each is weighed on.
To convert gsm to lb, divide by about 1.48 for text weight, 2.70 for cover or 3.76 for bond; multiply to go from lb to gsm. So 100 lb text is about 148 gsm, 80 lb cover about 216 gsm and 20 lb bond about 75 gsm.
US pounds are the weight of 500 sheets at each grade’s basis size (text 25 × 38 in, cover 20 × 26 in, bond 17 × 22 in), so the same number of pounds means a different paper in each grade.The basis sizes, and where the factors come from
A US paper weight is the weight in pounds of 500 sheets (a ream) at the grade’s basis size. GSM is the weight of one square meter of the paper, whatever it’s used for. So the factor for each grade is one pound, 453.59 g, spread over the area of a ream of its basis sheets: for text, 500 × 25 × 38 in = 475,000 square inches, or 306.45 m², which makes 1 lb text = 453.59 ÷ 306.45 = 1.48 gsm.
| Grade | Basis sheet | 1 lb = | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text (book, offset) | 25 × 38 in | 1.480 gsm | Flyers, brochure and booklet pages, letterhead |
| Cover (card stock) | 20 × 26 in | 2.704 gsm | Postcards, covers, cards, menus |
| Bond (writing) | 17 × 22 in | 3.760 gsm | Office paper, letterhead, forms |
| Index | 25½ × 30½ in | 1.808 gsm | Index cards, file cards |
| Tag | 24 × 36 in | 1.627 gsm | Hang tags, tickets |
| Bristol (vellum bristol) | 22½ × 28½ in | 2.193 gsm | Postcards, programs, folders |
Because the cover sheet is so much smaller than the text sheet, the same pounds of cover stock is nearly twice the paper weight: 80 lb cover is about 216 gsm, 80 lb text about 118 gsm. And one weight crosses three grades: 24 lb bond, 60 lb text and about 33 lb cover are all about 90 gsm.
Common paper weights in gsm
Rounded to the nearest gsm. Real papers vary a little, and mills and printers round their own way, so a chart may differ by a gsm or so.
| Weight | GSM | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 50 lb text | 74 gsm | Book pages, forms |
| 60 lb text | 89 gsm | Light flyers, book pages |
| 70 lb text | 104 gsm | Uncoated letterhead, inside pages |
| 80 lb text | 118 gsm | Standard flyers |
| 100 lb text | 148 gsm | Sturdy flyers, brochures, booklet pages |
| 65 lb cover | 176 gsm | Light card, inserts, simple covers |
| 80 lb cover | 216 gsm | Booklet covers, light postcards, menus |
| 100 lb cover | 270 gsm | Postcards, sturdy covers |
| 110 lb cover | 297 gsm | Heavy postcards |
| 120 lb cover | 324 gsm | Business cards, invitations |
| 130 lb cover | 352 gsm | Thick business cards |
| 20 lb bond | 75 gsm | Standard copy paper |
| 24 lb bond | 90 gsm | Better office paper, letterhead |
| 28 lb bond | 105 gsm | Premium letterhead |
| 32 lb bond | 120 gsm | Heavy presentation paper |
| 90 lb index | 163 gsm | Index cards |
| 110 lb index | 199 gsm | Heavier index and file cards |
| 140 lb index | 253 gsm | Stiff cards and dividers |
| 100 lb tag | 163 gsm | Tags and tickets |
| 125 lb tag | 203 gsm | Heavier hang tags |
| 150 lb tag | 244 gsm | Stiff hang tags |
| 67 lb bristol | 147 gsm | Light card for postcards and inserts |
| 80 lb bristol | 175 gsm | Programs, folders |
| 100 lb bristol | 219 gsm | Stiff cards |
Weight isn’t thickness
Card is often sold by thickness instead, in points (1 pt = 0.001 in): a 14 pt business card is 0.014 in thick. There’s no fixed rule from weight to points. A coated sheet is denser, so thinner than an uncoated one of the same gsm, and a soft cotton paper is thicker again, so check the paper’s spec sheet or ask the printer for its caliper, and for a sample if feel matters. The finish matters as much as the weight: see coated vs uncoated paper.
Choosing the size too? The paper sizes guide covers A4, US letter and the rest, with the pixels each needs to print.
Questions
How do I convert GSM to lb?
Why is 80 lb text thinner than 80 lb cover?
What is 100 lb text in gsm?
Is 24 lb bond the same as 60 lb text?
What weight is card stock?
How thick is a paper of a given gsm?
Sources for the basis sizes: Neenah: basis weights by paper grade; Sylvamo: basis weight conversion factors.
Rather have it done? Flyers, menus & brochures, Business cards & stationery or Catalogs, booklets & lookbooks, at a fixed price.
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