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" 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"
|
|
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)
|
|
Equivalent
|
16
|
40
|
22
|
37
|
33
|
3.2
|
.0032
|
0.081
|
60.2 gsm
|
|
Weight
|
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
|
International
Metric Paper Sizes - ISO Standard
|
SIZE
|
WIDTH (mm)
|
HEIGHT (mm)
|
WIDTH (in.)
|
HEIGHT(in.)
|
|
A0
|
841 mm
|
1,189 mm
|
33.11 in.
|
46.81 in.
|
|
A1
|
594 mm
|
841 mm
|
23.39 in.
|
33.11 in.
|
|
A2
|
420 mm
|
594 mm
|
16.54 in.
|
23.39 in.
|
|
A3
|
297 mm
|
420 mm
|
11.69 in.
|
16.54 in.
|
|
A4
|
210 mm
|
297 mm
|
8.27 in.
|
11.69 in.
|
|
A5
|
148 mm
|
210 mm
|
5.83 in.
|
8.27 in.
|
|
A6
|
105 mm
|
148 mm
|
4.13 in.
|
5.83 in.
|
|
A7
|
74 mm
|
105 mm
|
2.91 in.
|
4.13 in.
|
|
B0
|
1,028 mm
|
1,456 mm
|
40.48 in.
|
57.32 in.
|
|
B1
|
707 mm
|
1,000 mm
|
28.66 in.
|
40.48 in.
|
|
B2
|
514 mm
|
728 mm
|
20.24 in.
|
28.66
|
|
B3
|
364 mm
|
514 mm
|
14.33 in.
|
20.24 in.
|
|
B4
|
257 mm
|
364 mm
|
10.12 in.
|
14.33 in.
|
|
B5
|
182 mm
|
257 mm
|
7.17 in.
|
10.12 in.
|
|
B6
|
128 mm
|
182 mm
|
5.04 in.
|
7.17 in.
|
Glossary of Paper
Terms
· Acid Free Paper
Paper manufactured to a neutral pH reading (7).
Used for fine art prints, limited edition printing, scrapbooking
· Antique Finish
Random surface quality created by "felts" in the manufacturing
process
· Brightness
Light reflecting property of paper when measured under a specially calibrated
blue light.
· Basis Weight
The weight of one ream of paper (500 sheets) when cut to the industry standard
for that specific grade of paper.
· Bristols
Solid or laminated heavy-weight printing paper made to a thickness of
.006" or higher. Bristols are often used for printed items that require
repeated handling.
· Bulk
The thickness of paper when compared to its weight. A high bulk paper is
thicker but less compact than a low-bulk paper of the same weight and size.
· Calendering
Part of the paper manufacturing process where the paper "web" passes
between polished metal rolls. This increases the paper's smoothness and
provides a uniform thickness (caliper).
Additional Definitions of Standard Paper
Terminology and Abbreviations
|
Bond
|
Uncoated "plain" paper - free from impurities.
Also referred to as "free sheet."
|
|
Recycled
|
Paper manufactured from the waste paper stream.
All Micro Format recycled products contain a minimum of
100% recycled material including 40% post consumer waste
|
|
Waste Paper Stream
|
Waste paper created during the paper manufacturing
process
|
|
Post Consumer Waste
|
Processed Paper that has been re-used in manufacturing new
paper products
|
|
Carbonless
|
Paper coated with special encapsulated chemicals that
produce
a duplicate copy without the use of carbon paper
|
|
Thermal
|
A paper coated with special chemicals that produce
an image when heat is applied
|
|
Groundwood
|
A low cost paper that contains unprocessed wood
fibers.
|
|
Symbol "#"
|
"pound" - used to describe paper weight
Click for additional information on PAPER WEIGHT
|
|
Symbol "M"
|
Meter - 1 meter=39.37 inches
|
|
Symbol "mm"
|
Millimeter - 1 inch=25.4 millimeters
|
|
Symbol "sc"
|
Self Contained Paper
paper that can be imaged in a printer without the use of a ribbon
|
|
Symbol "cb"
|
Coated Back - Carbonless Paper (part 1)
|
|
Symbol "cfb"
|
Coated Front and Back - Carbonless Paper
internal part in a multipul part form
|
|
Symbol "cf"
|
Coated Front - Carbonless Paper (last part in set)
|
|
Symbol "sccb"
|
Self Contained sheet with carbonless coating on back
normally used as part one in a multi part set in an impact printer
using no ribbon
|
|
Symbol "sccb/cf"
|
Carbonless set - Self Contained Coated Back Sheet Part 1
Coated Front Sheet Part 2
|
|
Symbol "w"
|
Paper Color - White
|
|
Symbol "c"
|
Paper Color - Canary
|
|
Symbol "p"
|
Paper Color - Pink
|
|
Symbol "g"
|
Paper Color - Green
|
|
Symbol "b"
|
Paper Color - Blue
|
ADDITIONAL COVERSION TABLES
How to Convert to Metric
Length and Distance
|
When you know
|
Multiply by
|
To Find
|
|
inches
|
2.54
|
centimeters
|
|
feet
|
30.480
|
centimeters
|
|
miles
|
1.609
|
kilometers
|
|
centimeters
|
0.394
|
inches
|
|
meters
|
1.094
|
yards
|
|
kilometers
|
0.621
|
miles
|
|
Weight
|
When you know
|
Multiply by
|
To Find
|
|
pounds
|
0.454
|
kilograms
|
|
tons
|
0.907
|
metric tons
|
|
kilograms
|
2.205
|
pounds
|
|
metric tons
|
1.202
|
tons
|
|
|
Decimal Equivalents
|
1/64
|
=
|
0.015625
|
|
1/16
|
=
|
0.0625
|
|
1/8
|
=
|
0.125
|
|
3/16
|
=
|
0.1875
|
|
1/4
|
=
|
0.25
|
|
5/16
|
=
|
0.3125
|
|
3/8
|
=
|
0.375
|
|
7/16
|
=
|
0.4375
|
|
1/2
|
=
|
0.5
|
|
9/16
|
=
|
0.5625
|
|
5/8
|
=
|
0.625
|
|
11/16
|
=
|
0.6875
|
|
3/4
|
=
|
0.75
|
|
13/16
|
=
|
0.8125
|
|
7/8
|
=
|
0.875
|
|
15/16
|
=
|
0.9375
|
|
1
|
=
|
1.0
|
|
|
|
|
|