Paper Weight Guide: GSM vs lb vs pt.
By Long Island Custom Printing · Huntington, NY · Updated May 2026
Three different measurements, all describing the same physical paper. Here is what each one actually means and how to read a paper spec without getting tricked.
TL;DR
GSM (grams per square meter) is the international weight standard and is the cleanest way to compare any two papers. The US "lb" system measures the weight of 500 sheets at the paper's basis size, which differs by paper family, so 80lb text and 80lb cover are very different papers. "Pt" (points) measures caliper thickness in 1/1000 inch and is used for cover stocks. Higher pt and higher GSM both mean heavier, stiffer paper.
What is paper weight?
Paper weight is how the print industry describes how heavy, dense, and stiff a sheet of paper is. Heavier paper feels more substantial in the hand, holds ink better, and communicates quality. But weight in print is measured three different ways depending on where you are and what kind of paper you are buying.
The three measurements
GSM (grams per square meter)
The international standard. GSM is the literal weight in grams of a 1m x 1m square of the paper. Because it is tied to a fixed area, GSM compares cleanly across paper types: 200 GSM linen and 200 GSM coated stock weigh the same per area.
lb (pounds, US basis weight)
The US system. "lb" is the weight of 500 sheets (one ream) of the paper cut to its "basis size." The catch: every paper family has a different basis size. Text stock uses 25 x 38 inch, cover stock uses 20 x 26 inch, bond uses 17 x 22 inch. This is why 80lb text and 80lb cover are not the same weight per area.
pt (points, caliper thickness)
A measurement of how thick the sheet is, where 1 pt = 0.001 inch. 14pt = 0.014 inch, 16pt = 0.016 inch, 18pt = 0.018 inch. Used almost exclusively for cover stocks (business cards, postcards, door hangers). Points describe thickness, not weight, although the two are correlated.
Common conversions
Exact GSM varies slightly by manufacturer. These are typical industry values.
| US weight | Family | ~GSM | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20lb bond | Bond | ~75 | Copy paper |
| 24lb bond | Bond | ~90 | Letterhead |
| 70lb text | Text | ~104 | Letterhead, linen |
| 80lb text | Text | ~118 | Flyers |
| 100lb text | Text | ~148 | Brochures, premium flyers |
| 80lb cover | Cover | ~218 | Light card stock |
| 100lb cover | Cover | ~270 | Postcards, brochure covers |
| 14pt cover | Cover | ~324 | Standard business cards |
| 16pt cover | Cover | ~352 | Premium business cards |
| 18pt cover | Cover | ~380 | Luxury laminated cards |
Why "14pt" cover is not the same as "14pt" anything else
Caliper measures one thing: how thick the sheet is when you stack it under a gauge. But a 14pt cover sheet and a 14pt text sheet are not interchangeable. Cover stock is manufactured with greater fiber density and a stiffer build, so even at the same thickness it feels markedly more rigid. In practice, when a printer says "14pt" they mean 14pt cover stock unless otherwise specified.
The flip side is the same trap with lb. "80lb" with no family name is ambiguous. Always read it as "80lb text" or "80lb cover." The latter is nearly twice the GSM of the former.
When weight matters
- Business cards: The thickness/weight is the perceived quality signal. 14pt vs 16pt vs 18pt is the single biggest tactile difference between a budget and a premium card.
- Postcards and door hangers: 14pt or 16pt cover keeps the piece flat through the mail or on a doorknob. Light stocks crease and look cheap.
- Brochures and flyers: 100lb text reads as more premium than 80lb without becoming card-stiff. For tri-fold and bi-fold layouts, 100lb is the standard quality bar.
- Booklets: Inner pages are typically 80lb or 100lb text. Covers are typically 100lb cover or heavier so they protect the inside.
What LICP offers at each weight
- 14pt AQ business cards — standard cover weight.
- 16pt matte business cards — premium step-up.
- 18pt matte lamination cards — thickest standard.
- 100lb UV flyers — heavy text-weight flyer.
- 100lb matte AQ brochures — premium tri-fold weight.
FAQs
- What is GSM in paper?
- GSM stands for grams per square meter. It is a direct measure of how much one square meter of the paper weighs, independent of sheet size. GSM is the international standard and the easiest measure to compare across paper types because it does not depend on sheet dimensions.
- What does "80lb" or "100lb" mean on paper?
- In the United States, "lb" is the weight of one ream (500 sheets) of the paper cut to its "basis size." Each paper family has a different basis size, which is why 80lb cover and 80lb text feel very different. 80lb cover is roughly 218 GSM, while 80lb text is roughly 118 GSM.
- What is a "pt" measurement?
- A point ("pt") is a caliper thickness measurement, where 1 pt equals 1/1000 of an inch (0.001 inch). 14pt is 0.014 inch thick, 16pt is 0.016 inch, and 18pt is 0.018 inch. Points measure how thick the sheet is, not how much it weighs.
- Is 14pt cover the same thickness as 14pt anything?
- No. Cover stocks are denser per pt than text stocks because of how they are manufactured. A 14pt cover sheet is calipered the same as a 14pt text sheet, but the fiber compression and finish are different. In practice 14pt nearly always refers to cover stock.
- How do I convert lb to GSM?
- You cannot convert directly because the conversion depends on the paper family. As approximate rules: 80lb text is around 118 GSM, 100lb text is around 148 GSM, 80lb cover is around 218 GSM, 100lb cover is around 270 GSM. Always check the spec sheet for the exact paper.
- What weight is "standard" printer paper?
- Standard copy paper is typically 20lb bond, which is about 75 GSM. Letterhead is commonly 24lb bond (90 GSM) or 70lb text (104 GSM). Anything labeled "cover" or "card stock" is meaningfully heavier and stiffer.
Related guides
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