Standards for paper weight

Paper[Paper?:paper sample maker cutting machine] weight is measured in pounds per 500 sheets of the standard size of the paper, whatever that may be. Because the size of different types of paper is not consistent, comparing basis paper weights is complicated.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) paper industry standard is considered the most consistent way to compare paper weights. The ISO measures paper weight in grams per square meter (gsm).

Below are some paper weights standards for common types of paper.

10–35 gsm tissue paper
35–70 gsm lighter textweight
70–100 gsm medium textweight
100–120 gsm heavy textweight/light cardstock
120-150 gsm regular cardstock
150-200 gsm heavy cardstock
>200 gsm super heavy cardstock