How to determine paper thickness
Paper Weights & Thickness Chart
In an effort to help eliminate the "Paper Weight" confusion problem, we have compiled the comprehensive table listed below. Now you can compare various types of paper and their "Equivalent Weights."
Definitions:
Basis Weight - The basis weight of a paper is the designated fixed weight of 500 sheets, measured in pounds, in that paper's basic sheet size. It is important to note that the "basic sheet size" is not the same for all types of paper.
Caliper - Caliper refers to the thickness of a sheet of paper expressed in thousandth of an inch. This measurement is taken with a micro meter. Normally, paper caliper should not have more than a + or - 5% variance within a sheet. Generally, the relation between caliper and basis weight – the greater the caliper (the thicker the paper), the greater the paper weight.
Equivalent Weight - While different paper types have different basic sizes, papers can still be compared by using equivalent weight.
Basis Weight ("Category") Table
| Type of Paper | Basic Size |
| "Bond" Ledger Mimeo Duplicator Rag Paper | 17" x 22" |
| "Offset" Book Text Coated Paper | 25" x 38" |
| "Cover" | 20" x 26" |
| "Tag Stock" | 24" x 36" |
| "Index" | 25-1/2" x 30-1/2" |
Basis Weight ("Equivalent") Table
The Values in the table below are intended to serve as a guide only. They should not be used as specifications because there are variances within the same basis weight due to other characteristics of the papers. Similar weight papers may vary between different paper manufacturers.
To use the chart read across to find the equivalent, example 16 Lb. Bond paper weight is equivalent to 40 Lb. Offset paper weigh
|
Bond Ledger
|
Offset Text
|
Cover
|
Tag
|
Index
|
Points
|
*Caliper (inches)
|
millimeters
|
Metric (grams/sq meter)
|
|
16
|
40
|
22
|
37
|
33
|
3.2
|
.0032
|
0.081
|
60.2 gsm
|
|
18
|
45
|
24
|
41
|
37
|
3.6
|
.0036
|
0.092
|
67.72 gsm
|
|
20
|
50
|
28
|
46
|
42
|
3.8
|
.0038
|
0.097
|
75.2 gsm
|
|
24
|
60
|
33
|
56
|
50
|
4.8
|
.0048
|
0.12
|
90.3 gsm
|
|
28
|
70
|
39
|
64
|
58
|
5.8
|
.0058
|
0.147
|
105.35 gsm
|
|
29
|
73
|
40
|
62
|
60
|
6
|
.0060
|
0.152
|
109.11 gsm
|
|
31
|
81
|
45
|
73
|
66
|
6.1
|
.0061
|
0.155
|
116.63 gsm
|
|
35
|
90
|
48
|
80
|
74
|
6.2
|
.0062
|
0.157
|
131.68 gsm
|
|
36
|
90
|
50
|
82
|
75
|
6.8
|
.0068
|
0.173
|
135.45 gsm
|
|
39
|
100
|
54
|
90
|
81
|
7.2
|
.0072
|
0.183
|
146.73 gsm
|
|
40
|
100
|
56
|
93
|
83
|
7.3
|
.0073
|
0.185
|
150.5 gsm
|
|
43
|
110
|
60
|
100
|
90
|
7.4
|
.0074
|
0.188
|
161.78 gsm
|
|
44
|
110
|
61
|
102
|
92
|
7.6
|
.0076
|
0.193
|
165.55 gsm
|
|
47
|
120
|
65
|
108
|
97
|
8
|
.0078
|
0.198
|
176.83 gsm
|
|
53
|
135
|
74
|
122
|
110
|
9
|
.0085
|
0.216
|
199.41 gsm
|
|
54
|
137
|
75
|
125
|
113
|
9
|
.009
|
0.229
|
203.17 gsm
|
|
58
|
146
|
80
|
134
|
120
|
9.5
|
.0092
|
0.234
|
218.22 gsm
|
|
65
|
165
|
90
|
150
|
135
|
10
|
.0095
|
0.241
|
244.56 gsm
|
|
67
|
170
|
93
|
156
|
140
|
10.5
|
.010
|
0.25
|
252.08 gsm
|
|
72
|
183
|
100
|
166
|
150
|
11
|
.011
|
0.289
|
270.9 gsm
|
|
76
|
192
|
105
|
175
|
158
|
13
|
.013
|
0.33
|
285.95 gsm
|
|
82
|
208
|
114
|
189
|
170
|
14
|
.014
|
0.356
|
308.52 gsm
|
|
87
|
220
|
120
|
200
|
180
|
15
|
.015
|
0.38
|
312 gsm
|
|
105
|
267
|
146
|
224
|
220
|
18
|
.0175
|
.445
|
385.06 gsm
|
