In the US. measure paper weight in pounds (lb) and points (pt), Asia and Europe measure in millimeters (mm) and grams per square meter (gsm).
Standards vary from country to country, but the charts below will give you some of the possible conversions.
We may alter specifications on a quote if we find a better cost in a different country than used in these charts.
Example: If you print on 60 lb offset in the US, you can use either lighter weight 80 gsm wood free (uncoated paper), or a heavier weight, 100 gsm.
Text stock versus cover stock: The coated stock (first chart below) is for text stock, not cover stock. For instance, business cards are most often printed on 80 lb cover stock. If they were printed on 80 lb text stock, they would be very thin business cards! 80 lb text and 80 lb cover stock are different thicknesses.
Also see “Converting…” at the bottom of this page.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coated stock — Gloss Art or Matte Art for coffee table books
54 lb text wt = 80 gsm
61 lb text wt = 90 gsm
68 lb text wt = 100 gsm
82 lb text wt = 120 gsm
101 lb text wt = 150 gsm
122 lb text wt = 180 gsm
135 lb text wt = 200 gsm
Uncoated stock — Wood Free (offset) novels, children’s books
54 lb = 80 gsm
68 lb = 100 gsm
81 lb = 120 gsm
95 lb = 140 gsm
122 lb = 180 gsm
Perfect Bound cover stock — Art board; C1S, C2S, Gloss art, Matte art,
and Wood free
8 pt = 190 gsm (actual stock closest is 180 gsm)
9 pt = 210 gsm (actual stock closest is 200 gsm)
10 pt = 230 gsm (actual stock closest is 250 gsm)
12 pt = 260 gsm (actual stock closest is 250 gsm)
14 pt = 310 gsm (actual stock closest is 300 gsm)
16 pt = 350 gsm (actual stock closest is 350 gsm)
18 pt = 400 gsm (actual stock closest is 400 gsm)
Hardcover binding board — Grey Board for hardcover books
60 pt = 16 oz. = 1.4 mm = 1,000 gsm
65 pt = 20 oz. = 1.8 mm = 1,100 gsm
70 pt = 24 oz. = 2.0 mm = 1,200 gsm
80 pt = 28 oz. = 2.25 mm = 1,400 gsm
88 pt = 32 oz. = 2.5 mm = 1,600 gsm
92 pt = 36 oz. = 2.8 mm = 1,700 gsm
98 pt = 40 oz. = 3.0 mm = 1,800 gsm
140 pt = 48 oz. = 3.4 mm = 2,200 gsm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Converting USA lbs to the nearest Asia or European gsm
equivalent? Use these formulas to get the answers.
Text stock: multiply lbs by 1.5 to arrive at the gsm
Cover stock: multiply lbs by 2.70 to arrive at the gsm
Examples: (be aware that your answer might be approximate)
lbs to gsm: 60 lb text stock multiplied by 1.5 = 90 gsm.
However, 90 gsm is not standard, so the closest correlate is 100 gsm stock.
gsm to lbs: 120 gsm text stock divided by 1.5 = 80 lbs.
120 gsm converts to 80 lb stock.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roll label stickers