Paper Weight Converter: GSM to LB
Convert paper weight between gsm and the US pound systems (bond, text, cover, index, bristol and tag), and between paper and banner material. Enter a weight in any unit to see the rest.
The same weight in every unit
| Unit | Equivalent | Sheet size it is based on |
|---|
Why paper weights are confusing
Outside North America, paper weight is simply grams per square metre (gsm). In the US and Canada, weight is quoted in pounds, and it is the weight of a ream of 500 sheets cut to a basic size. That basic size is different for each type of paper, so the same number of pounds can be very different papers. The converter works through gsm, which is the same for every paper, and shows the equivalent in each pound system.
The pound systems
| Paper type | Basic size (inches) | One pound is about | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bond | 17 x 22 | 3.76 gsm | 20 lb bond = 75 gsm (office paper) |
| Text (book) | 25 x 38 | 1.48 gsm | 80 lb text = 118 gsm, 100 lb text = 148 gsm |
| Cover | 20 x 26 | 2.70 gsm | 80 lb cover = 216 gsm, 100 lb cover = 270 gsm |
| Index | 25.5 x 30.5 | 1.81 gsm | 110 lb index = 199 gsm |
| Bristol | 22.5 x 28.5 | 2.19 gsm | 67 lb bristol = 147 gsm |
| Tag | 24 x 36 | 1.63 gsm | 100 lb tag = 163 gsm |
Which weight for which job?
| Weight (gsm) | Commonly used for |
|---|---|
| Up to 60 | Newsprint and very light inserts |
| 61 to 90 | Office and copy paper, letterheads |
| 91 to 130 | Flyers, menus and thin brochures |
| 131 to 170 | Brochures and posters |
| 171 to 250 | Heavier brochures, covers and light postcards |
| 251 to 350 | Postcards, business cards and folders |
| Over 350 | Premium business cards and rigid cards |
These are common choices, not rules. Coated, uncoated and recycled papers of the same weight feel different, and your printer's stock list is the final guide. Weights also vary slightly by maker, which is why 20 lb bond is sold as both 75 and 80 gsm.
Planning a print job? The print size and DPI calculator checks whether an image is sharp enough, and the bleed and trim calculator sizes your artwork file.