Looking for paper to use in brochures or business cards? Seeing the term “GSM” is extremely common when it comes to purchasing paper products. If you haven’t heard of it, don’t worry, IJ Graphics is here to explain everything you need to know about GSM paper.
Whether you’re looking to make low-cost flyers, premium flyers, brochure pages and brochure covers, greetings cards, or even covers for paperback books, a Grams per Square Metre measurement is something you will commonly find when it comes to ordering paper.
If you are based in Guildford or the surrounding areas, our experienced and committed team are on hand to offer you the best advice and answers to any questions you may have about GSM paper.
GSM stands for Grams per Square Metre and is used as a standard form of measurement for paper weight. No matter the length or width of a sheet of paper, this measurement is always taken from the weight of the square metre of the sheet.
Many people are much more familiar with the letter value attached to the paper, such as A4 or A5 for example, which refers to the length and width for paper sizing. You could purchase A4, 90 GSM paper and have the ideal printer paper, or change the 90 GSM value to 35 GSM and you instead have an excellent sheet of tracing paper.
It’s easy to equate GSM with paper thickness, as typically the lighter the paper the thinner it is, though it’s not always the case. As an example, both 400 GSM silk paper and 400GSM uncoated paper weigh the same, so it’s easy to assume they’d have the same level of paper thickness. However, silk is a more compact paper and uncoated contains weightless air pockets, so though the latter is thicker it has the same weight as the former. So as well as making sure you’re choosing the right GSM for you, it’s important to consider the type of paper you plan to use.
If you’re someone who frequently orders paper, whether for personal or office use, it’s important to understand GSM and what it means for your paper purchases.
Paper weight matters because it determines the type of paper you end up ordering as some paper types are better suited for certain tasks than others. As an example, business cards are typically small but contain a lot of information that the maker of the business cards has included for a reason. They are frequently passed around between contacts, business partners, clients, and potential customers so they require a sturdier and thicker paper size to make them durable enough to survive this constant changing of hands.
At the other end of the scale, flyers or brochures used for advertisements or marketing are designed for temporary use and are usually quickly discarded. For this reason, a flimsier paper with a light GSM is commonly used. The lighter weight of the paper also makes them easier to move from location to location for posted brochures and lower quality flyers.
To ensure you’re buying the right paper for your requirements, you need to understand the uses of paper weight and what the GSM means to you so that you can make an informed decision on your purchase.
The different GSMs are broken down via number values and typically the higher the GSM, the heavier and thicker the paper stocks are. The common GSM paper sizes are as follows:
35-55 GSM: As the lightest paper type, this GSM is typically used for transparent or very thin paper, such as tracing paper, or the thin paper used in newsprint that is discarded quickly after use.
75-90 GSM: A slightly heavier paper type, this paper GSM is thick enough to easily draw or write on but markers or heavy ink could bleed through. This GSM type is typically used in notepads or sketchbooks.
90-100 GSM: Able to hold ink without bleeding, this GSM paper is generally used in the majority of household printer paper and is sometimes used as office paper.
120-140 GSM: The most common use for this GSM paper is as product posters and promotional materials, such as advertisement posters hanging in shop windows or decorative, smaller posters commonly seen in a teenager’s bedroom, including band or movie posters.
210-300 GSM: This paper type is sturdier but remains bendable, making it ideal for use as high-quality prints or flyers and magazine covers as well as being the most popular paper used for painting as the paint is less likely to bleed through.
350-450 GSM: As the highest GSM paper type, it’s a heavier stock that is extremely similar to thin card and is the sturdiest type of paper available, offering extra durability and ideal for use as business cards, postcards, greetings cards, paperback book covers and more.
Once you understand what GSM means for paper, you are in a good position to make an informed decision about the type of paper you need to suit your requirements. GSM is the common global standard for measuring paper weights and paper thickness, making it even easier to ensure you’re consistently getting the correct paper and print materials for your needs.
Contact Us Today For GSM Paper In Guildford
Here at IJ Graphics, our dedicated team is on hand to offer great service and guidance to ensure you get the correct GSM paper for you. We are based in Guildford and the surrounding areas and have years of experience in the print industry. We are committed to providing advice and quality printed products to our customers.
