What Does GSM Mean? Paper Weights Explained with Things You Have Held
Numbers like 170gsm tell you little until you can picture them. Here is what each weight feels like and what it is good for.
From the team at The Printing Shop.
GSM stands for grams per square metre. A single sheet of paper measuring one metre by one metre, at 80gsm, would weigh 80 grams. That is all the number means, but it is a useful shorthand for how thick and stiff a paper feels.
The weights, compared with things you know
| Weight | What it is like | Common uses |
|---|---|---|
| 80gsm | Ordinary office paper. You can see some text through it when held to the light. | Copies, forms, drafts |
| 100 to 120gsm | Good letter paper. It feels a little more expensive. | Letterheads, reports, CVs |
| 130 to 170gsm | A magazine page or a decent leaflet. Bends easily but feels substantial. | Flyers, posters, booklet pages |
| 200 to 250gsm | A thick magazine cover or a thin card. | Booklet covers, menus, certificates |
| 300 to 350gsm | A typical greeting card or a good postcard. | Postcards, greeting cards, business cards |
| 400gsm and up | A very stiff, premium business card. | Premium business cards |
Why two papers of the same weight can feel different
GSM measures weight, not thickness. A soft uncoated paper is bulkier than a smooth coated one of the same gsm, so a 300gsm uncoated card may feel thicker than a 300gsm silk card. A coating also changes how stiff a sheet feels, and lamination adds to its stiffness. That is why it is always worth asking to see a sample rather than choosing from a number alone.
Coated and uncoated paper
- Uncoated paper has a natural feel, takes pen and pencil well, and can make colours look slightly softer.
- Silk has a smooth, low-sheen finish that makes colour look good and keeps text easy to read. It is a popular all-rounder.
- Gloss is shiny and vivid, which suits photographs, but it can show fingerprints and be hard to write on.
How to choose
- Think about how it will be held. A flyer handed to someone is judged by its feel. A poster on a wall is not, so a heavy paper is a waste of money there.
- Think about folding. Heavier paper cracks when folded, especially when a dark colour goes across the fold. It needs scoring first.
- Think about writing. If people need to write on your print, choose uncoated.
- Think about postage. Heavier stock can push you into a more expensive postage band, so weigh a sample before you print a mailer.
- Think about your printer. If a letterhead has to go through your office printer, stay below what your machine can handle.
Quick recommendations
- Door-drop leaflet: 130 to 170gsm silk or gloss
- Handout you want kept: 250 to 300gsm
- Business card: 300 to 400gsm
- Booklet: 130 to 170gsm inside, and 250gsm or more for the cover
- Indoor poster: 170 to 200gsm
- CV or report: 100 to 120gsm uncoated
If you are unsure, tell us what your job is, and we can show you what we would pick. Choosing by feel takes a minute at our counter and it can save you from printing the wrong thing.