Paper Weights

The various weights of paper, which most people understand indicates it's thickness, can be rather confusing. There are two basic systems for specifying paper weight; the U.S. System, which sizes the weight in pounds per ream, and the Metric system, which sizes the weight in grams per square meter (gsm). 

The U.S. system is more complicated and difficult to understand because the same "weight number" can be used for thicker card stock and thinner papers. In the U.S. System, a paper's "weight", is the weight measured in pounds, of one ream. But different types of paper can have reams consisting of different quantities of sheets of paper! In comparing two papers using the U.S. System, a 65 lb Cover (a very common cardstock) and an 80 lb Text, one might think that the 80 lb Text is a thicker paper (since the specs indicate it weighs more). But if you had a sample of each in your hand, you would easily discern that there is quite a difference in thickness. The 65 lb Cover would be much thicker and stiffer than the 80 lb Text...not at all what one might expect!

The metric system however is standard across all types of papers. It's based on a measurement of one fixed size, one square meter of paper. Grams per square meter (gsm) gives a much better idea as to the actual thickness of a paper. Typically the thicker the one square meter of paper, the more it will weigh.  Using the Metric system however, the two papers above would be specified as 175 gsm (for the 65 lb Cover) and 120 gsm (for the 80 lb Text).

All of the B-muse.com collage sheets are printed on acid free papers, using waterproof ink. The chart below gives approximate US weight vs. metric GSM  for the different papers we use. (Note; the actual gsm of a paper type can very slightly depending upon the manufacturer). We've also included weights for the other paper products we offer.