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Paper weight chart

Standard copy paper is 20 lb bond = 75 gsm; cardstock runs 65–100 lb cover (176–271 gsm). The catch that confuses everyone: US lb “basis weight” is only comparable within a paper family (bond, text, cover, index each use a different reference size) — so GSM is the only weight you can compare across types. Below is the full conversion.

FamilyUS weightGSMTypical use
Bond / Writing20 lb bond75Everyday copy & printer paper
Bond / Writing24 lb bond90Letterhead, résumés, nicer double-sided
Bond / Writing28 lb bond105Premium documents, presentations
Bond / Writing32 lb bond120Heavy premium paper, brochures
Text / Book70 lb text104Flyers, booklet interiors
Text / Book80 lb text118Quality brochures, catalogues
Text / Book100 lb text148Premium flyers, magazine pages
Cover / Cardstock65 lb cover176Light cardstock, postcards
Cover / Cardstock80 lb cover216Business cards, folders, covers
Cover / Cardstock100 lb cover271Heavy cards, invitations
Index90 lb index163Index cards, tabs
Index110 lb index199Sturdy index cards, dividers

Standard industry conversions; exact GSM varies slightly by mill. GSM is comparable across all families; lb basis weight is not.

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Why GSM is the number that matters

A paper’s lb “basis weight” is the weight of 500 sheets at that family’s standard parent-sheet size — and bond, text, cover and index each use a different parent size. That’s why a 20 lb bond, a 50 lb text and a 27 lb cover can weigh almost the same. GSM is measured the same way for every paper, so it’s the one figure you can trust to compare thickness across types. When a product lists both, read the GSM.

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Frequently asked

What weight is normal printer paper?▾

Standard copy and printer paper is 20 lb bond, which is 75 gsm. Slightly heavier 24 lb bond (90 gsm) feels more substantial and is better for double-sided printing and letterhead because less shows through. Anything at or above 32 lb bond (120 gsm) starts to feel like premium stationery.

Why can't I compare lb weights across paper types?▾

Because US "basis weight" is the weight of 500 sheets of that paper at its family's standard parent-sheet size — and each family (bond, text, cover, index) uses a different parent size. So a 20 lb bond, a 50 lb text and a 27 lb cover can all weigh nearly the same in real terms. GSM (grams per square metre) is measured the same way for every paper, so it is the only weight you can compare directly across types. When in doubt, compare GSM.

What weight is cardstock?▾

Cardstock is in the "cover" family and typically runs 65 lb cover (176 gsm) for light cardstock up to 100 lb cover (271 gsm) for heavy cards. 65 lb cover suits postcards and craft projects; 80 lb cover (216 gsm) is the common business-card and folder weight; 100 lb cover is stiff, premium invitation stock. Note that 110 lb index (199 gsm) is a separate, slightly different card paper often sold for index cards.

Does heavier paper cost more?▾

Yes — heavier paper uses more material per sheet, so cardstock and cover weights cost more per sheet than everyday 20 lb copy paper. For routine documents there is no benefit to paying for a heavier weight; save it for the pieces that need to feel substantial, like résumés, covers and cards. As always, compare cost per sheet, not the pack price.