Choosing the right paper for printing a specific document that saves the copier, the environment and also finances starts with choosing the right paper weight. The paper weight is a parameter that indicates the thickness and sturdiness of the paper, not its weight as it may seem at first glance. In Europe and in most countries of the world, except the United States, Canada and Mexico, a standardised model for indicating paper weight is used, which is governed by ISO 563 on paper, glue and determination of basis weight.

Paper standard definition

This international standard defines paper weight as grams per square metre (g/m2), which is abbreviated as gsm. According to ISO 563, the weight of one sheet of A0 size paper defines the weight of this paper, just as ISO 216 defines that A0 size paper covers an area of one square metre. Thus, an A0 sheet of 80 gsm paper weighs 80 grams, 100 gsm paper weighs 100 grams and so on.

The flat weight or grammage of paper, used in the United States, is calculated as the weight of a stack of 500 sheets of uncut paper, which is measured in pounds. Uncut paper is a term used to refer to the size of paper in the manufacturing process before it is cut to a specific size according to ISO 216. However, this rule does not apply in the US paper weight marking system, where a higher weight number may not indicate a coarser, stronger paper.

And why is it important to be familiar with paper weight?

The reason for poor quality printing in many cases is the use of the wrong paper weight. Using the wrong paper weight can also cause damage to the mechanics of the printing device. The weight, brightness, transparency and texture of the paper used for printing significantly affect the print quality and life of the printers. For every occasion there is a suitable type of paper to serve a specific purpose – for black and white printing of everyday notes, printing invoices and presentations, printing catalogues or invitations to a special event.

When selecting the most suitable type of paper for a particular weight, it is recommended to consider the following criteria:

• Do you plan to print in colour or black and white?
• Do you plan to print single-sided or double-sided?
• Do you plan to print in high volume or piece print?
• Do you plan to print simple images and charts or photos?
• Do you plan to use the prints for internal or representational purposes?

Overview of paper weights and their most common printing applications

Gsm (ISO 536)	Weight in lb (USA, Canada)	Usage
30-50 gsm	20-35 lb	Newsprint, tracing paper
60-70 gsm	40-50 lb	Carbonless forms
70-90 gsm	50-60 lb	Standard office paper, basic documents for everyday printing, CVs, contracts, working paper for notes, letterhead, invoices, orders, delivery notes
90-120 gsm	60-80 lb	Presentations and reports, double-sided printing
120-170 gsm	80-90 lb	Standard flyers, posters and catalogues for one-off purposes
170-250 gsm	90-110 lb	Presentation brochures and presentation material, postcards, greeting cards, food and beverage menus, catalogues for VIP partners and clients
250-300 gsm	110-120 lb	Envelopes, vouchers
300-400 gsm	120-160 lb	Business cards, invitations, vouchers, name tags, postcards and holiday announcements, exclusive luxury printed materials

Paper for the office

The most commonly used office paper is 80 g/m2. This type of paper is uncoated and is suitable for black and white single-sided printing of smaller pieces of paper. Colour printing on 80 gsm paper provides rich colour reproduction only if the paper is specially coated.

Thicker paper for colour printing

For presentations containing colour charts, tables and images, 90 gsm paper is best suited. Printing on lower weight paper could result in two related colours in charts looking almost identical and confusing when printed. It is also recommended to print colour manuals or reports with a larger number of pages, which will save costs by printing on both sides, on 90 g/m2 paper.

Premium printing

Printed materials used for corporate presentation purposes that contain colour graphics are recommended to be printed on premium 90 to 120 g/m2 paper specifically designed for colour printing. This type of paper has a high whiteness and, thanks to the higher grammage, the printed data does not shine through to the other side of the sheet.

Paper suitable for company presentation

Paper with a weight of 120-170 gsm is the most suitable choice for printing standard leaflets, leaflets or posters. It is also an economical choice when printing large quantities of catalogues. Presentation materials for companies, institutions or corporations are recommended to be printed on paper with an even higher grammage of 170 gsm to 250 gsm. This category of presentation material includes food and beverage menus, presentation catalogues and brochures, postcards, greeting cards and other printed materials whose primary purpose is to present and sell.