Paper weight
50 gsm paper
50 gsm paper equals 13.3 lb bond, 33.8 lb text or 18.5 lb cover. Typical uses: newsprint, paperback novels, directories. Lightweight and inexpensive; often groundwood with lower brightness.
13.3 lbbond / writing
33.8 lbtext / book
18.5 lbcover
≈ 62 µmthickness (uncoated)
Equivalent US basis weights
| Grade | Pounds | Basic sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Bond / Writing | 13.3 lb | 17 x 22 in |
| Text / Book / Offset | 33.8 lb | 25 x 38 in |
| Cover | 18.5 lb | 20 x 26 in |
| Index | 27.7 lb | 25.5 x 30.5 in |
| Bristol | 22.8 lb | 22.5 x 28.5 in |
| Newsprint / Tag | 30.7 lb | 24 x 36 in |
Estimated thickness and pages per inch
| Paper type | Caliper | Points (mil) | Pages per inch | Spine for 300 pp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uncoated offset | 62 µm | 2.5 pt | 813 PPI | 0.369 in |
| Bulky book paper | 75 µm | 3 pt | 677 PPI | 0.443 in |
| Coated (gloss/silk) | 45 µm | 1.8 pt | 1,129 PPI | 0.266 in |
Caliper ≈ grammage × bulk. Ask your printer for the measured caliper of the actual stock.
Sheet and ream weights
| Sheet | One sheet | Ream (500 sheets) |
|---|---|---|
| A4 | 3.12 g | 1.56 kg |
| US Letter | 3.02 g | 3.3 lb |
What it is used for
Newsprint, paperback novels, directories. Lightweight and inexpensive; often groundwood with lower brightness.