Paper Weight Converter
Convert paper gsm to US bond, text, cover and index pound weights.
About this tool
Enter a weight in gsm or in pounds for any US paper grade. The tool shows the equivalent in gsm and every other grade, plus what that weight is typically used for, from copy paper to rigid business-card stock.
Why paper weights are so confusing
Most of the world measures paper in grams per square metre (gsm), a direct measure of how heavy one square metre of the sheet is. North America uses basis weight: the weight in pounds of a ream of 500 sheets at that grade's basic size. Because bond (17 ร 22 in), text (25 ร 38 in), cover (20 ร 26 in) and index (25.5 ร 30.5 in) all have different basic sizes, the same pound number means very different papers: 80 lb text is far lighter than 80 lb cover. The converter uses the standard factors: 1 lb bond โ 3.76 gsm, 1 lb text โ 1.48 gsm, 1 lb cover โ 2.70 gsm and 1 lb index โ 1.81 gsm. Everyday copy paper at 80 gsm is about 21 lb bond or 54 lb text, and 300 gsm card is about 111 lb cover. Honest limits: gsm measures weight, not thickness; coated and uncoated papers of the same gsm feel different, and printers state their limits in gsm. The paper sizes reference and the print sheet maker are related.
Frequently asked questions
What is 80 gsm in pounds?
About 21 lb bond (20 lb is the US standard copy paper) or about 54 lb text.
What gsm is 100 lb cover?
About 270 gsm, a sturdy card used for postcards and covers.
Why is 80 lb text lighter than 80 lb cover?
Basis weights are measured on different basic sheet sizes, so the same pound number gives different gsm: 80 lb text is about 118 gsm, 80 lb cover about 216 gsm.
What gsm should business cards be?
Usually 300 to 400 gsm; 350 gsm is a common premium choice.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser, and nothing is stored or sent.