Short answer: As a rule of thumb, 80# text is about 120 gsm and 100# text about 150 gsm, while 80# cover is about 215 gsm and 100# cover about 270 gsm; text and cover stocks use different bases, so the same pound number is not the same weight.
North American specs use pound weights (written with #), while most printers outside the U.S. quote in gsm, grams per square meter. Because U.S. pound weight depends on the paper category, converting takes a small table.
Text and book paper
- 60# text: about 90 gsm
- 70# text: about 105 gsm
- 80# text: about 120 gsm
- 100# text: about 150 gsm
Cover paper
- 80# cover: about 215 gsm
- 100# cover: about 270 gsm
- 110# cover: about 300 gsm
Why 80# text and 80# cover differ
Pound weight is the weight of a ream of paper cut to a standard basic size, and the basic size differs by category. Text paper uses a larger basic sheet than cover paper, so the weights do not compare directly: an 80# cover is far heavier than an 80# text sheet.
What to choose
- Magazine and catalog interiors: roughly 90 to 120 gsm.
- A more premium-feeling interior: 120 to 150 gsm.
- Perfect- and saddle-bound covers: roughly 250 to 300 gsm.
The instant quote offers gsm choices from 100 to 300 for covers and 100 to 250 for interiors on the main gloss and matte stocks (other stocks have their own ranges), and the paper weight converter on this site translates between gsm and pound weights.
Values here are approximations to help you specify a quote; ask for a paper sample kit to compare actual thickness by hand.
Frequently asked questions
What gsm is 80# text?
About 120 gsm. Cover stock uses a different basis, so 80# cover is about 215 gsm.
Why are pound weights confusing?
The pound weight depends on the paper category and its basic sheet size, so the same number can mean a very different thickness for text and cover stock.
Related reading
- Paper Thickness, Explained: GSM for U.S. & Canadian Buyers
- Choosing the Right Paper: Gloss vs. Matte vs. Uncoated