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Paper Weights and Conversions Table

Because there are so many standards and ways to call paper, we put together this quick reference table of paper in points (pt), pounds (lb), cover, bond, tag, index and weight (g/m2 or gsm).

Note that while this is a reference, each paper manufacturer still makes things differently, so the most reliable is probably the weight and thickness.

Conversion Chart

Bond Lbs	Offset Text Lbs	Cover Lbs	Tag Lbs	Index Lbs	Points	Thickness (inches)	Weight (gsm)
16	40	22	37	33	3.2	0.0032	60.2
18	45	24	41	37	3.6	0.0036	67
20	50	28	46	42	3.8	0.0038	75
24	60	33	56	50	4.8	0.0048	89
28	70	39	64	58	5.8	0.0058	104
29	73	40	62	60	6.0	0.0060	109
31	80	45	73	66	6.1	0.0061	118
35	90	48	80	74	6.2	0.0062	131
36	90	50	82	75	6.8	0.0068	135
39	100	54	90	81	7.2	0.0072	146
40	100	56	93	83	7.3	0.0073	150
43	110	60	100	90	7.4	0.0074	162
44	110	61	102	92	7.6	0.0076	165
47	120	65	108	97	8.0	0.0078	176
53	135	74	122	110	9.0	0.0085	199
54	137	75	125	113	9.0	0.0090	203
58	146	80	134	120	9.5	0.0092	216
65	165	90	150	135	10.0	0.0095	243
67	170	93	156	140	10.5	0.0100	253
72	183	100	166	150	11.0	0.0110	270
76	192	105	175	158	13.0	0.0130	285
79		110		165			297
82	208	114	189	170	14.0	0.0140	307
87	220	120	200	180	15.0	0.0150	312
		130			16.0		351
105	267	146	244	220	18.0	0.0175	385
					24.0		465

Paper Types:

Bond (17" x 22"):
writing papers, office copy paper, including ledger, that accept ink readily and can be erased. tends to be the lightest weight paper and includes translucent and opaque bond papers. Opaque bonds are traditionally used for airmail, letterhead, business forms, copy paper and origami. Translucent bond is traditionally used for envelopes, fly sheets and belly bands.

Coated (25" x 38"):
book paper with a clay coating ensuring smoothness (dull, satin, gloss, matte)

Text (25" x 38"): uncoated book paper, tends to be medium weight and is traditionally used as the inner "text" pages of a brochure or report. Text paper will fold easily to make a brochure or serve as a flyer. The most common Text weights range from 60 lb. to 100 lb. Text.

Offset Text (25" x 38"):
uncoated book paper treated with sizing to resist moisture

Opaque (25" x 38"):
uncoated book paper treated to be less transparent

Cover (20" x 26"):
coated and uncoated; tends to be a heavier weight and is traditionally used in conjunction with matching colored text papers as a cover to a brochure or report, or it’s used on its own for business cards, greeting cards and invitations. Cover paper from 60 to 75 lb. will fold well without scoring. The most common Cover weights range from 60 lb. to 200 lb. Cover and 8 pt. to 12 pt.

Mill Bristol (22.5" x 28.5" and 22.5" x 35"):
a board grade receptive to folding, embossing, and stamping

Index Bristol (25.5" x 30.5"):
an inexpensive, stiff board grade, with a harder surface than Mill Bristol, is known for its stiffness and receptivity to writing ink and is commonly used when a stiff, inexpensive paper is required.

Tag (24" x 36"):
water resistant and foldable, used for tags

Newsprint (24" x 36"):
used for printing newspapers; highly acidic, degrades quickly