Skip to content

mywikipaper.org

Grammage guide

Grammage is the mass of one square metre of paper or board, expressed in grams per square metre (g/m², often written gsm). It is the most common way to specify how heavy a paper is. In North America basis weight is also given in pounds per ream, which depends on the sheet size used for that grade.

Grammage is not the same as thickness. Thickness (caliper) is measured in micrometres, and the ratio between the two – bulk – varies widely: a bulky board can be much thicker than a dense paper of the same grammage. A commonly used dividing line between paper and board is around 224–250 g/m², but there are many exceptions, such as lightweight boards and heavy papers.

The ranges in this database are typical commercial ranges, not standards. The chart below shows every grade on a logarithmic scale from 5 to 3,000 g/m².

Tissue & Hygiene

Facial Tissue12–16 g/m² Toilet / Bath Tissue15–35 g/m² Napkin / Serviette17–24 g/m² Crepe Wadding / Medical Crepe17–30 g/m² TAD / Structured Tissue18–40 g/m² Kitchen / Household Towel20–45 g/m² Hand Towel (AfH)30–45 g/m² Industrial Wiper40–80 g/m² Sterilisation Pouch Paper (medical MG)40–80 g/m² Airlaid Paper40–300 g/m² Sterilisation Wrap (Medical Crepe Paper)55–75 g/m² Fluff Pulp (Absorbent Core)400–900 g/m²

Newsprint & Mechanical Printing

Directory Paper26–45 g/m² Ultra Light Weight Coated33–40 g/m² Light Weight Coated39–72 g/m² Standard Newsprint40–55 g/m² Coloured Newsprint42–52 g/m² Supercalendered B/C45–60 g/m² Improved Newsprint45–65 g/m² Machine Finished Coated48–90 g/m² Supercalendered A50–65 g/m² MF Special / Improved Mechanical50–80 g/m² Bulky Book Paper (mechanical)50–100 g/m² Medium Weight Coated70–100 g/m² High Weight Coated100–135 g/m²

Woodfree Uncoated (Graphic & Office)

Lightweight Opaque / Bible Paper22–45 g/m² Carbonless Paper (NCR)50–80 g/m² Offset50–150 g/m² Continuous / Listing Paper55–80 g/m² Book / Novel Paper (woodfree bulky)55–100 g/m² Bond60–120 g/m² Woodfree Uncoated Copy Paper70–100 g/m² Recycled Woodfree Uncoated70–120 g/m² Digital / Inkjet Uncoated70–250 g/m² Writing / Letterhead Paper80–120 g/m² Coloured Woodfree Paper80–160 g/m² Cover / Bristol Board150–400 g/m²

Woodfree Coated (Graphic)

Coated One Side60–150 g/m² Glossy Coated / Art Paper80–300 g/m² Cast Coated Paper / Board80–400 g/m² Matt / Silk Coated Woodfree90–350 g/m² Digital Coated Paper90–350 g/m² Photo Base / Photographic Paper Base150–260 g/m²

Cartonboard / Boxboard

Binder / Index / Tag Board150–500 g/m² Folding Boxboard - coated top160–450 g/m² Cup Stock / Cup Carton170–400 g/m² Gypsum / Plasterboard Liner180–350 g/m² Solid Bleached Board / Sulphate180–450 g/m² Liquid Packaging Board190–400 g/m² Folding Boxboard - fully coated200–450 g/m² Solid Unbleached Board200–450 g/m² White Lined Chipboard200–600 g/m² White Lined Chipboard - kraft back200–600 g/m² Uncoated Recycled Board200–600 g/m² Graphic / Display Board200–600 g/m² Core Board / Tube Board200–1,200 g/m² Plate & Tray Board250–450 g/m² Greyboard / Chipboard (solid)300–3,000 g/m²

Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers

Tissue Wrapping / MG Tissue17–30 g/m² Machine Glazed Kraft (unbleached)20–120 g/m² Bleached MG Kraft20–120 g/m² Twisting Paper25–70 g/m² Interleaving / Slip Sheet Paper30–120 g/m² Laminating / Coating Base Kraft40–120 g/m² Gift Wrap Base Paper50–80 g/m² Crepe Kraft / Creped Kraft50–120 g/m² Packing / Wrapping Paper (recycled)50–120 g/m² Grocery / SOS Bag Paper60–100 g/m² Machine Finished Kraft60–150 g/m² Wet Strength Kraft60–150 g/m² Unglazed Kraft60–200 g/m² Semi-Extensible Sack Kraft70–100 g/m² Sack Kraft (unbleached)70–120 g/m² Extensible / Clupak Sack Kraft70–120 g/m² Bleached Sack Kraft70–120 g/m² Ribbed Kraft70–120 g/m² Shopping / Carrier Bag Paper70–130 g/m² Anti-Slip / Layer Pad Paper70–140 g/m² Honeycomb / Core Paper (packaging)80–160 g/m² Absorbent / Saturating Kraft100–450 g/m² Reel Wrap / Mill Wrapper120–250 g/m²

Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier

Tea Bag Paper12–25 g/m² Fibrous Sausage Casing Base17–28 g/m² Fruit & Produce Wrapping Tissue17–30 g/m² Glassine20–150 g/m² Patty / Food Interleaving Paper25–45 g/m² Sandwich / Burger Wrap25–50 g/m² Candy Twist Wrap30–50 g/m² Imitation Greaseproof30–60 g/m² Aluminium Laminate Base Paper30–80 g/m² Greaseproof Paper30–90 g/m² Coffee Filter Paper30–100 g/m² Vegetable Parchment30–150 g/m² Baking Paper (siliconised)35–60 g/m² Butter / Cheese Wrap35–60 g/m² Baking Cup / Muffin Cup Base35–60 g/m² Bakery Bag Paper (window bags)35–60 g/m² Susceptor / Microwave Base Paper35–60 g/m² Grease-Resistant Bag Paper35–70 g/m² Freezer Paper40–70 g/m² Wax / Paraffin Coated Paper40–120 g/m² Barrier Paper (dispersion coated)40–150 g/m² PE / PLA Extrusion Coated Paper40–300 g/m² Sugar / Flour Bag Paper60–100 g/m² Paper Straw Base60–120 g/m² Moulded Fibre / Pulp Packaging200–1,500 g/m²

Label, Release & Flexible Packaging

Flexible Packaging Paper (MG)30–90 g/m² Thermal Base Paper45–90 g/m² Glassine Release Liner50–80 g/m² Metallised Paper50–100 g/m² Wet-Glue Label Paper60–100 g/m² Self-Adhesive Facestock60–100 g/m² In-Mould Label Paper60–100 g/m² Gummed / Kraft Tape Base Paper60–130 g/m² Envelope Paper70–120 g/m² Paper Mailer / E-commerce Bag Paper80–140 g/m² Clay Coated Kraft Liner80–160 g/m² Poly Coated Kraft Liner90–180 g/m²