{"id":920,"date":"2026-06-24T08:00:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T07:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.banana-print.co.uk\/blog\/?p=920"},"modified":"2026-08-06T09:53:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T08:53:06","slug":"what-is-gsm-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.banana-print.co.uk\/blog\/what-is-gsm-paper\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is GSM Paper? Complete Guide to Paper Weight & Thickness"},"content":{"rendered":"

First published: 17 August 2018 | Updated: 24 June 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

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If you have ever ordered business cards, invitations, or some other printed paper product, you may have heard of the term “GSM.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Or, perhaps you ordered a printed product in bulk and had to iron out the nitty-gritty details of your purchase, including paper size and thickness. You may have encountered this term during that process.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you haven’t heard of it, it’s time you did, especially if you’re constantly ordering printed products. This term can help you more precisely specify exactly what you want, whether you’re ordering business cards, flyers, posters, signs, stickers, or any other type of printed matter.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is GSM Paper?<\/b><\/h2>\n

GSM stands for “grams per square meter.” For this standard, the weight of various types of paper is measured from a sample sheet cut to one square meter in size. No matter what final size the paper is cut into (like A4, Letter, or a giant poster), its GSM remains the same because it represents the weight of a 1m x 1m sheet for that specific paper.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, paper with a weight of 55 gsm will be much, much lighter and thinner than paper weighing 400 gsm. The 400 gsm paper, meanwhile, will be heavy, thick, and much more durable. In addition, 55 gsm paper will not weigh that much when cut to letter- or poster-size.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, both are still considered 55 gsm paper, because that number represents a certain thickness or thinness.<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, the letter-size paper is A4, 55 gsm paper. The first measurement refers to length and width, while the second refers to weight and thickness.<\/span><\/p>\n

GSM Comparison Table: Common Weights and Their Uses<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
GSM Range<\/th>\nFeel & Appearance<\/th>\nThickness<\/th>\nCommon Uses<\/th>\nBanana Print Products<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
35\u201355 GSM<\/td>\nLightweight, translucent<\/td>\nVery thin<\/td>\nTracing paper, newsprint<\/td>\nLightweight documents<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
75\u201390 GSM<\/td>\nThin, flexible<\/td>\nNotebook weight<\/td>\nSketchpads, notebooks<\/td>\nNotepads<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
90\u2013100 GSM<\/td>\nStandard printer paper<\/td>\nMedium-thin<\/td>\nHousehold printer paper, letters<\/td>\nStandard copy paper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
120\u2013140 GSM<\/td>\nSlightly sturdier<\/td>\nMedium<\/td>\nPromotional posters, flyers<\/td>\nStandard posters, flyers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
210\u2013300 GSM<\/td>\nPremium, substantial<\/td>\nThick<\/td>\nMagazine covers, art paper, watercolour paper<\/td>\nPremium flyers, posters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
350\u2013450 GSM<\/td>\nRigid, cardstock-like<\/td>\nVery thick<\/td>\nBusiness cards, invitations, luxury packaging<\/td>\nBusiness cards, premium invitations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Know your GSM? Choose your product below and start your order<\/b><\/p>\n

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Start Your Order<\/a><\/center> <\/p>\n

Why Does the Weight of Paper Matter?<\/b><\/h2>\n

As you can probably guess, paper with a lighter weight is best suited for specific applications, while thicker, heavier paper is better for others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing the ideal GSM for your paper product can help you make a good decision regarding design and the way it will be used.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s an example: <\/span>Business cards<\/a><\/strong> are small but contain important information. They’re often saved or even shared among contacts, business partners, and potential customers. As such, they need to be thicker, stiffer, and more durable than your average piece of paper.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, flyers announcing a sale or an event have a temporary use. They communicate information to whoever receives them, and then they’re usually thrown away. As a result, these are often printed on flimsier paper with a lower GSM.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are GSM Paper Types and How Are They Used?<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are many standards for GSM paper. The weight determines what the paper is used for, and is often called the paper’s “grammage.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s a breakdown of the standard weights and their applications:<\/span><\/p>\n