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Understanding Paper Weights

The American measures of paper weights are nothing if not confusing. A papers’ weight, for example 80# (80 pound) refers to the weight of 500 sheets (or one ream) of paper in its basis size. Each grade of paper has its own basis size, or standard sheet size. For instance, the weight and grade of paper you probably use in your copier at home is 20# bond. Bond paper comes in a basis size of 17" x 22" (although you buy it already trimmed to 8.5 x 11, or other common size). But 500 sheets of 17 x 22 copier paper would weigh 20 pounds-hence 20# bond.

Here’s where things get tricky. Because different paper grades, ie. text and cover, come in different basis sizes, it’s possible for them to have the same basis weights, even though the weight of each individual sheet is quite different. So, despite the fact that an 80# text sheet is quite thinner than an 80# cover, they have the same "technical" weight.

Paper weights are also indicated in grams, via the metric system, which is a bit easier to understand. Following the metric system, an 80# text sheet would weigh 119 g/m2, and an 80# cover sheet would weigh 216 g/m2. Here the difference is visible, with the cover weight being significantly heavier than the text weight.

The chart below should make things easier to understand: