Free Printer Paper Weight Chart: Bond, Text, Cover and GSM Equivalents, Which Paper to Use for Each Print Job, and a Paper Weight Converter (PDF, Word, Excel)

What is on the page

Bond

Everyday writing and printer paper, weighed as a ream of 17 x 22 inch sheets. 20 lb bond is standard copy paper.

Text

Book and brochure paper, weighed as a ream of 25 x 38 inch sheets, so the number is higher than bond for the same paper.

Cover

Card stock, weighed as a ream of 20 x 26 inch sheets. 65 lb cover is light card; 100 lb and up feels like a business card.

GSM

Grams per square meter, the weight of one square meter of the paper. It is the same measure for every type of paper.

Finish

Uncoated paper writes and prints well on office printers; gloss and silk coatings make colors brighter but are harder to write on.

Why paper weights are confusing

In the US, paper weight is the weight of 500 sheets in the paper's "basic size" which is different for each kind of paper. Bond is weighed in 17 x 22 inch sheets, text in 25 x 38 inch sheets and cover in 20 x 26 inch sheets. That's why ordinary 20 lb bond paper is the same as about 50 lb text, and why 80 lb text paper is much thinner than 80 lb cover. Grams per square meter (gsm) avoids the problem by measuring every paper the same way, so it is the easiest number to compare. The chart lines up all three with gsm.

Choosing paper for a job

For everyday printing, 20 lb bond is fine. Step up to 24 lb for letters and documents that go to clients; it feels better and shows less through when printed on both sides. Resumes look good on 24-32 lb paper. Flyers and brochures use text weights, often with a gloss or matte finish. For cards, invitations and printable planners that get handled a lot, use cover stock; 65 lb is the heaviest many home printers handle well, while postcards and business cards need 100 lb or more, usually from a print shop. The sizes themselves are on the paper size chart.

Converting gsm to pounds

Paper from Europe and Asia, and many online print shops, use gsm. Type the gsm into the converter and Excel shows the bond, text, cover and index equivalents in pounds, rounded to whole numbers. Use it to match a spec, compare suppliers, or check that your printer can take the paper. Order supplies on the supply request form.

Editing the files

The charts print ready to use. In Excel, type any gsm value into the converter.

Questions

What is the difference between 20 lb and 24 lb paper?

24 lb bond (90 gsm) is about 20% heavier than 20 lb bond (75 gsm): thicker, more opaque and better for documents printed on both sides.

Is 80 lb text the same as 80 lb cover?

No. 80 lb text (about 118 gsm) is paper; 80 lb cover (about 216 gsm) is card stock, nearly twice as heavy.

What paper weight is card stock?

Usually 65 lb cover (about 176 gsm) and heavier.

What paper is best for resumes?

Usually 24 to 32 lb bond, often in a cotton or linen finish.

How do I convert gsm to pounds?

Divide gsm by 3.76 for bond, 1.48 for text, 2.70 for cover or 1.81 for index.