Question
What does GSM mean?
Answer
GSM stands for grams per square meter, the metric measure of how much a sheet of paper weighs. It is a direct read on density: the higher the GSM, the heavier, thicker, and more rigid the stock tends to feel in the hand.
- What it measures: the weight of one square meter of the paper, no matter the sheet size, so it compares stocks fairly.
- Why it matters: heavier GSM reads as more premium and durable, while lighter GSM folds and mails more easily.
- GSM is not caliper: two sheets can share a GSM yet differ slightly in thickness depending on how the paper is made.
| Product | Typical weight | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Flyers and inside pages | 130 to 170 GSM | Light, foldable |
| Postcards and covers | 250 to 300 GSM | Sturdy |
| Business cards | 300 to 400 GSM | Thick, rigid |
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