Paper Stock
Paper Weight and Paper Conversion
Converting GMS to points and pounds and vice versa.
Paper conversion.
A paper weight chart to compare grams per square meter to points and pounds. This is for book printing stock that we use in Asia, and the comparison to USA paper weights. If printing a book with Star Print Brokers, we will automatically select or suggest the appropriate stock for your book. The paper conversion and paper weight information follows …
Grams per square meter — converting to points and pounds.
Text stock versus cover stock: The coated stock (first section below) is for text stock, not cover stock. For instance, business cards are most often printed on a paper weight of 80 lb cover stock. If they print on 80 lb text stock, they would be very thin business cards! 80 lb text and 80 lb cover paper weight stock are different thicknesses. Also see “Calculating paper conversion” in the right column.
Paper conversion chart.
Coated stock — gloss art or matte art for coffee table books
- 54 lb text wt = 80 gsm
- 61 lb text wt = 90 gsm
- 68 lb text wt = 100 gsm
- 82 lb text wt = 120 gsm
- 101 lb text wt = 150 gsm
- 122 lb text wt = 180 gsm
- 135 lb text wt = 200 gsm
Uncoated stock — wood free (offset) novels, children’s books.
- 54 lb text wt = 80 gsm
- 68 lb text wt = 100 gsm
- 81 lb text wt = 120 gsm
- 95 lb text wt = 140 gsm
- 122 lb text wt = 180 gsm
Perfect Bound cover stock — art board; C1S, C2S, gloss art, matte art, & wood free.
- 8 pt cover wt = 190 gsm (closest stock is 180 gsm)
- 9 pt cover wt = 210 gsm (closest stock is 200 gsm)
- 10 pt cover wt = 230 gsm (closest stock is 250 gsm)
- 12 pt cover wt = 260 gsm (closest stock is 250 gsm)
- 14 pt cover wt = 310 gsm (closest stock is 300 gsm)
- 16 pt cover wt = 350 gsm
- 18 pt cover wt = 400 gsm
Hardcover bindings binding board — grey board for hardcover books.
- 60 pt = 16 oz. = 1.4 mm = 1,000 gsm
- 65 pt = 20 oz. = 1.8 mm = 1,100 gsm
- 70 pt = 24 oz. = 2.0 mm = 1,200 gsm
- 80 pt = 28 oz. = 2.25 mm = 1,400 gsm
- 88 pt = 32 oz. = 2.5 mm = 1,600 gsm
- 92 pt = 36 oz. = 2.8 mm = 1,700 gsm
- 98 pt = 40 oz. = 3.0 mm = 1,800 gsm
- 140 pt = 48 oz. = 3.4 mm = 2,200 gsm
Call (844) 603-1777 toll-free, or (425) 603-1777 in Bellevue, WA.
Please bookmark this paper conversion chart.
Calculating paper conversion for paper weight.
Do you convert USA lbs to the nearest Asia or European gsm equivalent? Use these formulas:
Text stock, paper conversion: multiply lbs by 1.5 to arrive at the gsm
Cover stock, paper conversion: multiply lbs by 2.70 to arrive at the gsm
Examples:
Be aware that the paper weight calculation may be approximate.
lbs to gsm: 60 lb text stock multiplied by 1.5 = 90 gsm. However 90 gsm is not standard, so the closest paper conversion is 100 grams per square meter stock.
gsm to lbs: 120 gsm text stock divided by 1.5 = 80 lbs. 120 grams per square meter paper conversion translates to 80 lb stock.
Please link to us so you can easily find this page again. Also see heavier stock for more information.