FAQs

How to determine paper thickness

Paper Weights & Thickness 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"
 

Basis Weight ("Equivalent") Table

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.

To use the chart read across to find the equivalent, example 16 Lb. Bond paper weight is equivalent to 40 Lb. Offset paper weigh

 
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
224
220
18
.0175
.445
385.06 gsm

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