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Paper Weights

U.S. Standards
In the U.S., paper weight is based in pounds for 500 sheets of the paper according to its basis size for that grade of paper. For example, a 24 lb. bond paper is what 500 sheets of 17" x 22" bond grade paper would weigh. A 60 lb. cover stock is the weight of 500 sheets of 20" x 26" cover grade paper. The paper sizes mentioned represent the 'basis size' for that particular grade of paper. More grades and sizes are listed in the equivalent chart below.

Some paper manufacturers spec their paper on a thousand-sheet basis. The label may state something like "25 x 38 - 140M". This refers to book grade paper (based on basis size), weight of 140 pounds with the "M" standing for 1000 sheets. Since we commonly refer to paper based on basis weight of 500 sheets, this would equate to 70 lb. book stock. The 140M is 140 pounds for 1,000 sheets - divide by 2 and you have 70 lb. for 500 sheets.

Paper with specifications similar to "24/60 lb. (90 g/m²)" refers to a 24 lb. bond or 60 lb. book grade paper. Refer to equivalent chart below.

Metric Standards
This standard is used in almost every country except the U.S. In the metric system, paper is based on the weight of 500 sheets of paper that measures one square meter. This measurement is known as g/m² or grams per square meter (grammage).

Paper Grades

Paper grade define the use of the paper, and usually its purpose is suggested by its name. The most common grades are outlined below.

Bond
This is the most common type of paper used in a business environment. Bond papers are used for standard forms and business letters. Bond paper readily accepts ink from laser printers, inkjets, typewriters and writing pens.

Cover
As the name implies, this grade of paper is generally used for making covers for booklets. Cover stock can be purchased as coated and non-coated, textured and with finishes range from antique to smooth.

Bristol
Bristol is considered a board grade. It's very receptive to inks, has good snap and resilience - in other words - stiff.

Index
Index is commonly used as a cheap substitute to a good quality stiff paper, and is available in smooth and vellum finishes.

Book
As implied by its name, this grade of paper is used for textbooks as well as general printing.

		Paper Weight Equivalent Chart
		Paper Grade (basis trade size)
	g/m² (one square meter)	Bond (17 x 22)	Cover (20 x 26)	Bristol (22.5 x 28.5)	Index (25.5 x 30.5)	Book (25 x 38)
	44	12	16	20	24	30
	49	13	18	22	27	33
	59	16	22	27	33	40
	60	16	22	27	33	41
	61	16	23	28	34	41
	67	18	25	31	37	45
	74	20	27	34	41	50
	75	20	28	34	41	51
	81	22	30	37	45	55
	89	24	33	41	49	60
	90	24	33	41	50	61
	96	26	36	44	53	65
	104	28	38	47	58	70
	105	28	39	48	58	71
	111	30	41	51	61	75
	118	31	44	54	65	80
	120	32	44	55	66	81
	125	33	46	57	69	85
	133	35	49	61	74	90
	135	36	50	62	75	91
	147	39	54	67	81	99
	148	39	55	67	82	100
	149	40	55	68	82	101
	150	40	56	68	83	101
	158	42	58	72	87	107
	162	43	60	74	90	110
	163	43	60	74	90	110
	169	45	63	77	93	114
	175	47	65	80	97	118
	176	47	65	80	97	119
	178	47	66	81	98	120
	199	53	74	91	110	135
	203	54	75	93	112	137
	216	57	80	98	119	146
	219	58	81	100	121	148
	243	65	90	111	134	164
	244	65	90	111	135	165
	252	67	93	115	139	170
	253	67	94	115	140	171
	261	69	97	119	144	176
	263	70	97	120	145	178
	270	72	100	123	149	183
	271	72	100	124	150	183
	284	76	105	130	157	192
	306	81	113	140	169	207
	307	82	114	140	170	208
	326	87	121	149	180	220
	328	87	121	150	181	222
	351	93	130	160	194	237
	352	94	130	161	195	238
	407	108	151	186	225	275
standard basis weights in bold

Common Paper Sizes

Domestic				inches
special				11.70	x	19.50
universal				11.69	x	17.69
ledger, B, double				11.00	x	17.00
legal				8.50	x	14.00
smlegal				8.50	x	13.00
letter, A				8.50	x	11.00
folio				8.28	x	13.00
commercial				8.28	x	10.63
foolscap				8.00	x	13.00
quarto				8.00	x	10.00
executive				7.25	x	10.50
statement, half				5.50	x	8.50

International ISO Paper Sizes
	millimeters			inches
A0	841	x	1189	33.11	x	46.81
A1	594	x	841	23.39	x	33.11
A2	420	x	594	16.54	x	23.39
A3	297	x	420	11.69	x	16.54
A4	210	x	297	8.27	x	11.69
A5	148	x	210	5.83	x	8.27
A6 (postcard)	105	x	148	4.13	x	5.83
A7	74	x	105	2.91	x	4.13
A8	52	x	74	2.05	x	2.91
A9	37	x	52	1.46	x	2.05
A10	26	x	37	1.02	x	1.46
B0	1000	x	1414	39.37	x	55.67
B1	707	x	1000	27.83	x	39.37
B2	500	x	707	19.69	x	27.83
B3	353	x	500	13.90	x	19.69
B4	250	x	353	9.84	x	13.90
B5	176	x	250	6.93	x	9.84
B6	125	x	176	4.92	x	6.93
B7	88	x	125	3.46	x	4.92
B8	62	x	88	2.44	x	3.46
B9	44	x	62	1.73	x	2.44
B10	31	x	44	1.22	x	1.73
C0	917	x	1297	36.10	x	51.06
C1	648	x	917	25.51	x	36.10
C2	458	x	648	18.03	x	25.51
C3	324	x	458	12.76	x	18.03
C4 (envelope)	229	x	324	9.02	x	12.76
C5 (envelope)	162	x	229	6.38	x	9.02
C6 (envelope)	114	x	162	4.49	x	6.38
C7	81	x	114	3.19	x	4.49
C8	57	x	81	2.24	x	3.19
C9	40	x	57	1.57	x	2.24
C10	28	x	40	1.10	x	1.57

Envelopes				inches
COM 9				3.88	x	8.88
COM10				4.13	x	9.50
COM 11				4.50	x	10.39
COM 12				4.75	x	11.00
Monarch E				3.88	x	7.50
DL				4.33	x	8.67
C5				6.38	x	9.02

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