Paper Weight - Let’s End the Confusion
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 Paper | Basic Size - 500 Sheets |
| Bond: Ledger, Mimeo, Duplicator, Rag Paper | 17" × 22" |
| Offset: Book, Text, Coated Paper | 25" × 38" |
| Cover | 20" × 26" |
| Tag Stock | 24" × 36" |
| Index | 25-1/2" x 30-1/2" |
The Values in the table below are intended to serve as a guide only. They should not be used as specifications because there are variances within the same basis weight due to other characteristics of the papers. Similar weight papers may vary between different paper manufacturers.
| Bond Ledger | Offset Text | Cover | Tag | Index | Points | *Caliper(inches) | millimeters | Metric(grams/sq meter) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 40 | 22 | 37 | 33 | 3.2 | .0032 | 0.081 | 60.2 gsm |
| 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 |
• The darker colored boxes above represent the "most common paper weights" for that category.
• Normal paper manufacturing tolerance within a paper production run is + or - 5% to 7% caliper
• This Table was compiled by Micro Format, Inc.
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