Question
What is basis weight?
Answer
Basis weight is the US system for describing paper weight. It is the weight, in pounds, of a full ream (500 sheets) of that paper cut to the standard basic size for its grade. Because each grade has a different basic sheet size, the same number can mean very different thicknesses.
- Grade-dependent: an 80# cover and an 80# text are not the same. Cover stock is measured from a smaller basic sheet, so 80# cover is much thicker and stiffer than 80# text.
- Read it with the grade: always note whether a weight is cover, text, bond, or index to know what you are actually getting.
- Metric equivalent: GSM avoids this confusion by measuring every stock the same way, per square meter.
| Marking | Grade | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| 80# text | Text | Light, foldable |
| 80# cover | Cover | Rigid, card-like |
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