US paper weight is the weight in pounds of 500 sheets at each grade's own basic sheet size, so the number only compares within a grade: 100 lb text is about 148 gsm, while 80 lb cover is about 216 gsm and much stiffer. Grams per square meter (gsm) measures every grade the same way, which makes it the safer number to compare. Points (pt) measure thickness, not weight: one point is 0.001 in, so a 16pt card is 0.016 in thick.
As a rough guide, office copy paper is 20 lb bond (75 gsm), flyers are usually 100 lb text (148 gsm), postcards and rack cards run from 80 lb to 100 lb cover, and business cards start at 14pt.
What is the difference between bond, text, cover and index paper?
They are paper grades, each weighed at a different basic sheet size, which is why the same pound number means different paper. The basic sizes below are from WCP Solutions' basis weight guide.
| Grade | Basic sheet | Typical weights | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bond (writing) | 17 x 22 in | 20 to 32 lb | Copy paper, letterhead, forms |
| Text (book, offset) | 25 x 38 in | 60 to 100 lb | Flyers, brochures, booklet pages |
| Cover (card) | 20 x 26 in | 65 to 130 lb | Postcards, rack cards, booklet covers |
| Index | 25.5 x 30.5 in | 90 to 140 lb | Index cards, file dividers, simple tickets |
| Bristol | 22.5 x 28.5 in | 67 to 100 lb | Heavier cards and folders |
| Tag | 24 x 36 in | Varies | Tags and tickets that take handling |
Many printers simplify this to two families: text for the light, flexible sheets and cover for the stiff ones. Saint Joseph's University's print shop explains it the same way in its paper stock FAQ, with bond, book and offset under text, and bristol, index, tag and card under cover.
What is the difference between lb and gsm?
Pounds weigh a ream of 500 sheets at the grade's basic size, and gsm weighs one square meter of the sheet. Because each grade has its own basic size, each has its own multiplier to gsm: multiply bond by 3.76, text by 1.48, cover by 2.70 and index by 1.81. These factors follow directly from the basic sheet sizes. One worked example: 20 lb bond and 50 lb text both come to about 75 gsm, which is why they feel alike.
Paper weight conversion chart: lb to gsm
| Stock | Approx. gsm | Feels like | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 lb bond | 75 gsm | Everyday copy paper | Forms, drafts, internal documents |
| 24 lb bond | 90 gsm | Firmer office sheet | Letterhead, reports |
| 28 lb bond | 105 gsm | Premium letter paper | Letterhead, resumes |
| 70 lb text | 104 gsm | Light printed sheet | Handbills, inserts |
| 80 lb text | 118 gsm | Crisp, light flyer | Budget flyers, booklet pages |
| 100 lb text | 148 gsm | The standard flyer sheet | Flyers, brochures, sell sheets |
| 65 lb cover | 176 gsm | Light card | Booklet covers, light cards |
| 80 lb cover | 216 gsm | Stiff, light card | Rack cards, rip cards, heavy flyers |
| 100 lb cover | 270 gsm | Firm card | Postcards, posted flyers, bookmarks |
| 110 lb index | 199 gsm | Smooth, stiff card | Index cards, dividers |
| 130 lb cover | 352 gsm | Heavy card | Invitations, premium postcards |
So 100 lb text and 100 lb cover are very different papers: about 148 gsm against about 270 gsm. Always give the grade with the pound number, or quote gsm.
Is 10 pt or 12 pt a paper weight?
No. Points measure caliper, or thickness, in thousandths of an inch. The Saint Joseph's FAQ gives rough equivalents: a 10 pt card is about as thick as 140 lb index, and a 12 pt card about as thick as 100 lb cover. There is no exact conversion, because two sheets of the same weight can differ in thickness depending on how dense and how coated they are.
- 14pt: the standard business card and postcard thickness, 0.014 in.
- 16pt: a noticeably firmer card, the most common upgrade.
- C2S and C1S: coated two sides or coated one side. 16pt C2S is a 0.016 in card coated on both faces, so both print well.
- 18pt to 32pt: premium business cards. 32pt is the stock used for painted edges.
Thickness also matters in the mail. USPS requires cards to be at least 0.007 in thick, or 0.009 in if larger than 4.25 x 6 in, and no thicker than 0.016 in, under the Domestic Mail Manual, section 201. For card stocks and finishes in detail, read our business card stocks guide.
Coated or uncoated: which paper should I choose?
Choose coated paper for photographs and strong color, and uncoated paper for anything people will write on or that should feel like paper rather than an ad.
- Gloss: a shiny coating that makes photos and saturated color look their best. Glare under strong light, and ink from a pen smears.
- Silk or satin: a smooth coating with a low sheen, between gloss and matte. Good color, easy to read.
- Matte: a coated sheet with no shine. Readable at any angle and a safe default for text-heavy pieces.
- Uncoated: absorbs ink, so colors print softer. Takes pen, pencil and stamps.
- Linen: an uncoated sheet embossed with a fine crosshatch like woven cloth, used for letterhead and invitations.
Coating changes color as well as feel; our guide to why printed colors differ from your screen explains how. For flyer stocks in particular, see flyer sizes and paper weights.
What paper weight is cardstock?
Cardstock is a retail name, not a grade. It usually means cover stock from about 65 lb to 110 lb cover, sometimes index. If you plan to feed cardstock through an office or home printer, check the maximum paper weight in the printer's specifications, usually given in gsm; heavy card that exceeds it jams or prints with poor toner adhesion. We print on cover and card stocks, including weights heavier than most office machines accept.
What is the thickest paper you can print on?
For business cards we print stocks from 14pt up to 32pt, and duplex cards bond two sheets together for an even thicker card. Beyond paper, rigid boards such as foam board and PVC are printed for signs and displays, which is the route when a piece has to stand up on its own.
Can you print on recycled paper?
Yes. We can print on recycled paper, in text and cover weights, and the weights work the same way: 100 lb recycled text is still about 148 gsm. Recycled content is usually stated as a percentage, often of post-consumer waste (PCW), which means paper that people used and recycled. Uncoated recycled sheets can be a slightly warmer white, so ask for a sample if the color of the paper matters to the design.
The most common paper mistake on orders is a pound number without a grade. "80 lb" can mean a light text sheet or a stiff card, and the price, the mailing weight and whether it folds cleanly all depend on which. Heavier cover stock also has to be scored before it is folded, or it cracks along the fold. When in doubt, ask us for a sample of the actual stock, and give the gsm when you compare quotes.
Paper weight questions
What is 100 lb paper in gsm?
100 lb text is about 148 gsm and 100 lb cover is about 270 gsm. The grade matters as much as the number.
Is 100 lb text thicker than 80 lb cover?
No. 80 lb cover is about 216 gsm and much stiffer than 100 lb text at about 148 gsm, because cover and text are weighed at different basic sheet sizes.
What is 14pt paper in lbs?
There is no exact conversion, because pt measures thickness and lb measures weight. 14pt is 0.014 in thick, the standard for business cards and postcards, and thicker than 100 lb cover, which is roughly 12pt.
What is silk paper for printing?
Coated paper with a smooth, low-sheen finish between gloss and matte. It holds color well and is easier to read than gloss under bright light.
What gsm is cardstock?
Usually about 176 to 300 gsm, which covers 65 lb to 110 lb cover. Check your printer's maximum gsm before feeding cardstock through an office machine.
Ask us for a quote on flyers, postcards and other marketing print on the stock that suits the job, and we will tell you the gsm and send a sample if you want to feel it first.
Need this printed? We are at 40 Wall Street, and we deliver free anywhere in Manhattan.