Side-by-Side Comparison
Paper Weight & Grammage
GSM Grammage vs. Text / Book Weight
Comparing 2 standards across 14 specifications. 14 key differences identified.
Comparing:
GSM Grammage
Text / Book Weight
GSM (Grams per Square Meter / g/m², standardized under ISO 536) is the universal metric measure of paper areal density. Defining the exact physical weight in grams of a 1-square-meter (A0) sheet, it provides a linear, universal scale that eliminates the confusion of different paper grades and sheet sizes.
Text Paper (Basis Weight: Text / Book / Offset, standardized under TAPPI T 410) is a North American commercial printing paper grade defined as the weight in pounds of a 500-sheet ream of uncut master sheets measuring 25 × 38 inches. It is standard for commercial book interiors, magazines, brochures, and marketing collateral.
Specification Comparison Table
14 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Standard Metric Unit
|
g/m² (Grams per Square Meter — GSM) | — |
|
Standard Copy Paper
|
80 gsm (Standard European/Asian office paper — ~20 lb to 22 lb US Bond) | — |
|
Premium Stationery / Letterhead
|
100 to 120 gsm (Smooth premium corporate letterhead / resume paper) | — |
|
Flyers & Magazine Pages
|
130 to 170 gsm (Semi-gloss / silk coated marketing flyers and magazine interiors) | — |
|
Greeting Cards & Booklet Covers
|
200 to 250 gsm (Medium cardstock / folder covers) | — |
|
Heavy Business Cards & Postcards
|
300 to 350 gsm (Heavy rigid cardstock / luxury business cards) | — |
|
Rigid Packaging Boxboard
|
400+ gsm (Folding cartons, cosmetic boxes, presentation covers) | — |
|
Master Parent Sheet Size
|
— | 25.0 × 38.0 inches (yields sixteen 6 × 9 in trade book pages per master sheet) |
|
Standard Ream Basis
|
— | 500 master sheets (25 × 38 in) |
|
50 lb Text Equivalent
|
— | 74.0 gsm (Standard lightweight trade paperback novel interior paper — equals 20 lb Bond) |
|
60 lb Text Equivalent
|
— | 88.8 gsm (Standard quality trade non-fiction book paper — equals 24 lb Bond) |
|
70 lb Text Equivalent
|
— | 103.6 gsm (Heavier illustrated textbook and booklet interior paper) |
|
80 lb Text Equivalent
|
— | 118.4 gsm (Standard commercial full-color brochure and magazine paper) |
|
100 lb Text Equivalent
|
— | 148.0 gsm (Heavy premium annual report and high-end marketing collateral paper) |