Paper Weight Calculator
Calculate the weight of paper by size, GSM, and quantity. Supports A4, A3, Letter, custom sizes, and converts GSM to grams, kg, lbs, and oz.
Paper Weight Calculator
Calculate weight by size, GSM, and quantity
Select a standard paper size or choose custom
Grams per Square Meter (g/m²)
Number of sheets to calculate total weight
Choose your preferred unit for the final weight
Your Paper Weight
Weight, area, and sheet calculations
Enter your paper size, GSM, and quantity, then click Calculate to see the total weight and area.
Paper Weight Benchmarks
Quick reference guide for common paper weights (GSM) and their typical uses.
| Paper Weight (GSM) | Thickness / Feel | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 70-80 GSM | Standard / Thin | Everyday printing, draft documents, notebooks |
| 90-100 GSM | Premium / Standard | High-quality letters, resumes, presentations |
| 120-135 GSM | Thick / Flyer | Flyers, brochures, posters, menus |
| 170-200 GSM | Very Thick / Magazine | Magazine covers, high-end brochures, posters |
| 250-300 GSM | Card / Stiff | Postcards, invitations, greeting cards |
| 350-400 GSM | Heavy Card / Rigid | Business cards, premium packaging, book covers |
Paper Weight FAQ
Everything you need to know about paper weight, GSM, and calculating sheet weights.
GSM stands for Grams per Square Meter. It is the standard international metric measurement for paper weight. It represents the weight of one square meter of paper in grams. A higher GSM indicates a thicker, heavier paper. For example, standard office printer paper is typically 80 GSM, while a thick business card is around 350 GSM.
To calculate the weight of a single sheet of paper, first find its area in square meters by multiplying the width and height (in meters). Then, multiply that area by the paper’s GSM (grams per square meter). For example, an A4 sheet is 0.210m x 0.297m = 0.06237 m². If the paper is 80 GSM, the weight is 0.06237 x 80 = 4.99 grams per sheet.
A standard ream of A4 paper contains 500 sheets. If the paper is 80 GSM (standard office paper), one sheet weighs approximately 5 grams. Therefore, a full ream of 500 sheets weighs about 2,500 grams, or 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lbs). This is the standard weight for a typical box of printer paper.
Converting GSM to US pounds (lbs) is not a direct conversion because the US system is based on the weight of 500 sheets of a specific ‘basic size’ paper, which varies by paper category (e.g., bond, text, cover). However, as a rough guide: 80 GSM bond is approx 20 lbs, 135 GSM text is approx 50 lbs, and 250 GSM cover is approx 65 lbs. For exact weight in pounds, calculate the total weight in grams using GSM and area, then divide by 453.59.
For standard, professional business cards, a paper weight of 300 to 350 GSM (approx 80-100 lb cover) is recommended. This thickness provides a premium feel, durability, and prevents the card from bending easily. For ultra-premium or luxury business cards, you can go up to 400-600 GSM, which feels extremely rigid and substantial.
Yes, the physical size of the paper directly affects its weight, but the GSM remains the same. GSM measures weight per square meter, so a larger sheet of the same GSM paper will weigh more than a smaller sheet because it has more surface area. For example, an A3 sheet is exactly twice the size of an A4 sheet, so an A3 sheet of 80 GSM paper will weigh exactly twice as much as an A4 sheet of 80 GSM paper.