Paper weight conversions
US pound weights only compare within a grade, because each grade weighs 500 sheets of its own basis size. To convert to gsm, multiply text pounds by about 1.48, cover pounds by about 2.70, and bond pounds by about 3.76. Board is specified by caliper instead: 14 pt means 0.014 in thick, roughly 320 gsm. All cross-system figures are trade approximations.
| Grade | US weight | gsm | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bond | 20 lb | 75 | Office copy paper |
| Bond | 24 lb | 90 | Letterhead |
| Text | 50 lb | 74 | Book interior |
| Text | 60 lb | 89 | Better book interior, flyers |
| Text | 70 lb | 104 | Brochures, quality flyers |
| Text | 80 lb | 118 | Glossy flyers, booklet interiors |
| Text | 100 lb | 148 | Heavy brochures, art books |
| Cover | 65 lb | 176 | Light card, greeting cards |
| Cover | 80 lb | 216 | Booklet covers, postcards |
| Cover | 100 lb | 270 | Business cards, sturdy covers |
| Cover | 130 lb | 352 | Premium cards, packaging |
| Board (caliper) | 10 pt | approx. 250 | Light packaging, tags |
| Board (caliper) | 12 pt | approx. 285 | Postcards, hang tags |
| Board (caliper) | 14 pt | approx. 320 | Business cards |
| Board (caliper) | 16 pt | approx. 350 | Premium business cards |
The paper weight guide explains why 80 lb text and 80 lb cover are completely different sheets. When estimating, what matters is the cost per press sheet - set it per stock in the estimator's stock library.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert lb to gsm?
Multiply the pound weight by the grade's factor: text and book pounds times 1.48, cover pounds times 2.70, bond pounds times 3.76, all approximate. The factor differs by grade because each grade's basis sheet size differs, which is also why cross-grade pound comparisons mislead.
Is 80 lb text the same as 80 lb cover?
No. 80 lb text is about 118 gsm, a flexible sheet suited to flyers and booklet interiors. 80 lb cover is about 216 gsm, a card stock. The pound numbers match only because each grade weighs 500 sheets of its own, different, basis size.
What gsm is a business card?
Most business cards run 300 to 400 gsm. In US terms that is roughly 100 to 130 lb cover, or 14 to 16 pt board when specified by caliper.
What does pt mean in card stock?
Caliper thickness in thousandths of an inch: 14 pt board is 0.014 in thick. Points measure thickness rather than weight, so pt-to-gsm equivalents are approximations that vary with the board's density and coating.