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  • PAPER WEIGHT CONVERSION CHART

PAPER WEIGHT CONVERSION CHART

In an effort to help eliminate the "Paper Weight" confusion problem, we have compiled the comprehensive table listed below. Now you can compare various types of paper and their "Equivalent Weights."

Definitions:

Basis Weight
The basis weight of a paper is the designated fixed weight of 500 sheets, measured in pounds, in that paper's basic sheet size. It is important to note that the "basic sheet size" is not the same for all types of paper.

Caliper
Caliper refers to the thickness of a sheet of paper expressed in thousandth of an inch. This measurement is taken with a micro meter. Normally, paper caliper should not have more than a + or - 5% variance within a sheet. Generally, the relation between caliper and basis weight – the greater the caliper (the thicker the paper), the greater the paper weight.

Equivalent Weight
While different paper types have different basic sizes, papers can still be compared by using equivalent weight.

Basis Weight ("Category") Table

Type of Paper Basic Size
"Bond"
Ledger
Mimeo
Duplicator
Rag Paper
17" x 22"
"Offset"
Book
Text
Coated Paper
25" x 38"
"Cover" 20" x 26"
"Tag Stock" 24" x 36"
"Index" 25-1/2" x 30-1/2"

Paper Weights Table

 
Bond
Ledger
Offset
Text
Cover
Tag
Index
Points
*Caliper
(inches)
millimeters
Metric
(grams/sq meter)
Equivalent
16
40
22
37
33
3.2
.0032
0.081
60.2 gsm
Weight
18
45
24
41
37
3.6
.0036
0.092
67.72 gsm
 
20
50
28
46
42
3.8
.0038
0.097
75.2 gsm
 
24
60
33
56
50
4.8
.0048
0.12
90.3 gsm
 
28
70
39
64
58
5.8
.0058
0.147
105.35 gsm
 
29
73
40
62
60
6
.0060
0.152
109.11 gsm
 
31
81
45
73
66
6.1
.0061
0.155
116.63 gsm
 
35
90
48
80
74
6.2
.0062
0.157
131.68 gsm
 
36
90
50
82
75
6.8
.0068
0.173
135.45 gsm
 
39
100
54
90
81
7.2
.0072
0.183
146.73 gsm
 
40
100
56
93
83
7.3
.0073
0.185
150.5 gsm
 
43
110
60
100
90
7.4
.0074
0.188
161.78 gsm
 
44
110
61
102
92
7.6
.0076
0.193
165.55 gsm
 
47
120
65
108
97
8
.0078
0.198
176.83 gsm
 
53
135
74
122
110
9
.0085
0.216
199.41 gsm
 
54
137
75
125
113
9
.009
0.229
203.17 gsm
 
58
146
80
134
120
9.5
.0092
0.234
218.22 gsm
 
65
165
90
150
135
10
.0095
0.241
244.56 gsm
 
67
170
93
156
140
10.5
.010
0.25
252.08 gsm
 
72
183
100
166
150
11
.011
0.289
270.9 gsm
 
76
192
105
175
158
13
.013
0.33
285.95 gsm
 
82
208
114
189
170
14
.014
0.356
308.52 gsm
 
87
220
120
200
180
15
.015
0.38
312 gsm
 
105
267
146
244
220
18
.0175
0.445
385.06 gsm