“What gsm is that?” is print-shop shorthand for “how heavy and substantial is the paper?”. Here is what the number means and which weights suit which jobs.

What gsm measures

GSM stands for grams per square metre — literally the weight of one square metre of the stock. Higher gsm generally means thicker, stiffer and more premium-feeling paper. It is the standard measure used by South African mills.

Typical weights for common jobs

• 80–100 gsm — letterheads, internal documents, book text
• 120–170 gsm — quality flyers, posters, brochure pages
• 250–300 gsm — folders, covers, premium flyers
• 350–400 gsm — business cards, postcards, tags

GSM is not the same as thickness

Two sheets at the same gsm can feel different. A bulky, uncoated stock can be thicker (more microns) than a dense, coated stock of the same weight. If absolute thickness matters — for a rigid card, say — mention it and we will guide you.

Imported stock and pounds (lb)

Imported paper is often quoted in lb, and it is genuinely confusing because the pound figure depends on the paper type — 80 lb text and 80 lb cover are very different sheets. Our paper weight converter handles the conversion for you and also weighs a sheet, ream or box, which is handy for working out courier costs.