Online Tool Store
Paper Weight (GSM) Converter
Use Paper Weight (GSM) Converter entirely in your browser, with no upload, no sign-up, and no data leaving your device. Runs entirely in your browser with no.
This works right here on your device — nothing gets sent out.
Grams per square metre
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Same paper as US pound weights
Weight of sheets
Common paper weights at a glance
| GSM | lb Bond | lb Text | lb Cover |
|---|
Example shown — 80 lb Text paper. Change the value or unit to convert your own.
How to convert paper weight
- Enter the paper weight and choose its unit: GSM, or pounds for a specific US paper grade (Bond, Text/Book, Cover, Index, Bristol or Tag).
- Read the GSM value and the equivalent pound weight for every other grade at once.
- Optionally pick a sheet size and sheet count to see what the paper weighs, then copy the results.
Why the same pounds mean different GSM
US paper weight is the weight in pounds of 500 sheets (a ream) at the grade's own basic sheet size, so 80 lb Text and 80 lb Cover are different papers. GSM is simply grams per square metre. Converting uses the basic size:
GSM = lb × 453.59237 ÷ (500 × basic width × basic height × 0.0254²) sheet weight (g) = GSM × sheet area (m²)
Basic sizes in inches: Bond 17 × 22, Text/Book 25 × 38, Cover 20 × 26, Index 25.5 × 30.5, Bristol 22.5 × 28.5, Tag 24 × 36. Example: 20 lb Bond = 20 × 453.59237 ÷ (500 × 374 × 0.00064516) = 75.2 gsm, and 80 lb Text = 118.4 gsm. Printed charts sometimes round these to whole numbers (for example 119 gsm), so tiny differences from other charts are rounding, not errors.
FAQ
How do I convert GSM to lb?
Divide the GSM by the grade's factor: about 3.76 for Bond, 1.48 for Text/Book, 2.70 for Cover, 1.81 for Index, 2.19 for Bristol and 1.63 for Tag. You need the paper grade because each US grade is measured on a different basic sheet size.
Why does 80 lb paper have a different GSM depending on the type?
Pounds are measured per ream at the grade's basic sheet size. 80 lb Text uses a 25 × 38 in sheet and is about 118 gsm, while 80 lb Cover uses a 20 × 26 in sheet and is about 216 gsm, so the two are very different papers.
What is 80 gsm paper in pounds?
80 gsm is about 21.3 lb Bond, 54.0 lb Text or 29.6 lb Cover. It is the common everyday office copy paper weight in A4 countries; in the US, standard copy paper is 20 lb Bond, which is about 75 gsm.
How much does a sheet of A4 paper weigh?
An A4 sheet is 0.06237 m², so multiply the GSM by that: 80 gsm A4 weighs about 4.99 g and a 500-sheet ream weighs about 2.5 kg. The tool does this for A3, A5, US Letter, Legal and Tabloid too.
Does this tell me the paper thickness?
No. Thickness depends on the mill, coating and finish, so two papers of the same GSM can differ in caliper. Check the supplier's spec sheet for thickness in points or microns.
Does the tool send my values anywhere?
No. The conversion runs in your browser and nothing you enter is sent to a server.
How we compare
| Feature | Online Tool Store | ColorCopiesUSA | ePack Printing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade-aware lb to GSM conversion | Yes, 6 US grades | Yes, 4 grades (bond, text, cover, index) | Yes, 6 grades with basic sizes |
| Basic sheet size shown for every grade | Yes | Not shown on the page | Yes, in the formula table |
| All equivalents at once | Yes | Yes | Yes, cross-category comparison |
| Sheet and ream weight for common sizes | Yes, A3 to Tabloid | Not listed on the page | Yes, sheets, reams and boxes |
| Copy the results in one click | Yes | Not listed on the page | Not listed on the page |
| Runs in your browser, no signup | Yes | Yes, stated as 100% in-browser | No signup |
ColorCopiesUSA and ePack Printing are both useful, and ColorCopiesUSA also estimates thickness by finish, which this tool leaves out because thickness varies by mill. Choose Online Tool Store when you want a grade-aware conversion, the basic sizes behind it, and sheet weight in one plain browser tool.