GSM – KB

GSM in paper stands for Grams per Square Meter. It is the standard metric measurement of a paper’s weight or density. Essentially, it tells you how much one square meter of a specific paper weighs; the higher the GSM number, the heavier and generally thicker the paper. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Understanding GSM helps you choose the right paper for your specific project. Different weights are standard for different types of documents:

60 – 90 GSM: Standard, lightweight paper commonly used for everyday office printing, photocopies, or standard notebook pages.
100 – 120 GSM: Slightly heavier, premium paper often used for high-quality letterheads, flyers, and personal stationery.
130 – 200 GSM: Mid-weight paper used for magazine pages, posters, or folding brochures.
200 – 300+ GSM: Thick cardstock (often referred to as cover stock or board) used for business cards, book covers, greeting cards, and luxury packaging. [1, 7, 8, 9, 10]

For more details on how to select the best paper weight for your needs, you can check out this comprehensive GSM Paper Guide.

https://www.instantprint.co.uk/printspiration/print-design-tips/what-is-gsm-and-how-do-you-choose-which-one-you-need

AI responses may include mistakes.

What does GSM paper mean in printing?

GSM stands for ‘grams per square metre’ and refers to the weight of the paper. The heavier the paper, the higher the number of grams per square metre – and, generally, the higher the perceived quality of the stock.

This is sometimes referred to as the paper’s ‘grammage’.

For example, a 150gsm flyer is thin and easy to fold or bend, whereas a 250gsm flyer is a lot thicker and takes more effort to fold.

To find out this measurement, a square metre of the paper is cut to size and weighed. When it’s cut down to the correct size (e.g. A5 for an A5 flyer), it will obviously weigh less, but it would still be the same GSM because GSM is measured per square metre.

GSM paper guide: why do different GSMs exist?

Simply put, different products suit different GSMs. For example, a greetings card needs to be a heavier stock than a poster because greetings cards need to be free-standing when displayed, whereas a poster is usually stuck to a wall or framed.

Another great example is letterheads. Letterhead paper needs to be heavy enough to feel premium when received by a client, but thin enough to run through a standard office printer to print out the letter.

Bulk flyers for posting through letterboxes or takeaway menus are generally printed on thinner stocks because it’s more cost effective, whereas restaurant menus are printed on thicker stocks because they’re more likely to be reused.

Thinner stocks generally connote a lower quality, whereas thicker tends to feel more impressive. That’s why our premium business card range is available on 450gsm – a lot thicker and higher quality than the standard 350gsm cards most printers offer.

https://www.instantprint.co.uk/printspiration/print-design-tips/what-is-gsm-and-how-do-you-choose-which-one-you-need