What does gsm mean, and which paper weight should I choose?
Gsm stands for grams per square metre. It is the weight of one square metre of the paper. The higher the number, the heavier the paper, and in general the thicker and stiffer it feels.
A rough guide
| Weight | Feels like | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 80-100gsm | Office printer paper | Letterheads, compliment slips |
| 130-170gsm | A good magazine page or takeaway menu | Flyers, folded leaflets, posters, booklet inside pages |
| 250-300gsm | Thin card, bends easily | Postcards, booklet covers, heavier flyers |
| 350gsm | Firm card | Business cards, invitations |
| 400gsm and over | Very thick card | Premium business cards |
Below about 200gsm it is usually called paper. Above that it is usually called card or board.
Some of our weights
These are examples:
- Premium Classic Business Cards: 350gsm or 450gsm silk
- Uncoated Business Cards: 300gsm or 350gsm
- Folded Leaflets: 130gsm or 170gsm
The product page is the authority on the weights offered for each product, because ranges change.
How to choose
- Handed out in volume, read once: lighter paper, 130-170gsm. It costs less and does the job.
- Kept, posted or pinned up: go heavier, 250gsm and over.
- Needs to feel substantial: business cards and invitations want 350gsm or more.
- Needs to fold: lighter paper folds cleanly. Heavier paper has to be creased first, or the ink can crack along the fold.
- Being posted in bulk: weight adds up. Check your postage cost before choosing a heavy stock.
Weight is not the same as thickness
Two papers of the same gsm can feel different. Uncoated paper is bulkier, so it tends to feel thicker than a coated silk or gloss paper of the same weight. See silk, gloss or uncoated.