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Glossary

Basis weight

Basis weight is the weight in pounds of a ream of 500 sheets of paper at the basic sheet size for its grade.

Part of How to choose paper GSM

Published

01 / Two systems

GSM vs basis weight

GSM measures grams per square metre, whatever the sheet size. Basis weight measures pounds per ream of 500 sheets at a basic size, and the basic size changes with the paper type.

Bond paper uses a basic size of 17 × 22 inches. Book and text paper use 25 × 38 inches. So the same pound figure means a different paper weight in each type.

A stack of white machine-finished paper with one sheet curling on top
A ream-sized stack of white paper.

02 / Converting

Converting a pound figure to GSM

Work from the basic size. A ream of 20 lb bond weighs about 9,072 grams across 500 sheets of 17 × 22 inches, or about 120.6 square metres of paper.

Divide 9,072 by 120.6 and you get about 75 GSM. Use the basic size for your paper type, or the answer comes out wrong.

03 / Our grades

How KEIKO PAPERS states weight

We quote every grade in GSM. Butter paper runs 35 to 50 GSM, OGR 35 to 70, MG and MF 40 to 80, and kraft 60 to 120.

If your spec sheet gives a pound figure, send the paper type with the figure and we will convert the figure for you.

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