Guides / Paper Size & Weight

Paper size and weight terms made easier to compare.

International paper weight is usually shown as gsm, while the USA and Canada often use pound-based basis weights. This guide keeps the common terms in one place.

Basis sizes

English paper basis sizes.

Paper type	Width x length (inches)	Basis area
Text, book, bible, offset	25 x 38	950 sq in
Cover	20 x 26	520 sq in
Bond, writing, ledger, manifold	17 x 22	374 sq in
Index	25.5 x 30.5	778 sq in
Vellum bristol	22.5 x 28.5	641 sq in
Poster, tissues, newsprinting, tag	24 x 36	864 sq in
Manuscript	18 x 31	558 sq in

Equivalent weight

Common paper weight comparisons.

The English or British weight system denotes in pounds the weight of 500 sheets, or a ream, of a particular size paper assorted according to the end use.

100# Text Paper

500 sheets at 25" x 38"

Basis area: 950 square inches

100# Cover Paper

500 sheets at 20" x 26"

Basis area: 520 square inches

Result

Same pound, different thickness

The same pound value does not mean the same thickness.

100# Cover Paper is about twice as thick as 100# Text Paper.

Use the equivalent weight table as a practical reference. Final paper selection should still be confirmed by sample, finish, and binding requirements.

Text / Book	Cover	Bond / Ledger	Poster / Tag	Index	Points	Gsm (g/m)
40	22	16	37	33	3.2	60
45	24	18	41	37	3.6	68
50	28	20	46	42	3.8	75
60	33	24	56	50	4.8	90
70	39	28	64	58	5.8	105
73	40	29	62	60	6	109
81	45	31	73	66	6.1	117
90	48	35	80	74	6.2	131
100	56	40	93	83	7.3	150
110	60	43	100	90	7.4	162
120	65	47	108	97	8	177
135	74	53	122	110	9	199
137	75	54	125	113	9	203
146	80	58	134	120	9.5	218
165	90	65	150	135	10	244
170	93	67	156	140	10.5	252
183	100	72	166	150	11	271
192	105	76	175	158	13	286
208	114	82	189	170	14	308
220	120	87	200	180	15	312

Paper sizes

International and North American paper sizes.

ISO size	W x L (mm)	W x L (inch)
A0	841 x 1189	33 x 46
A1	594 x 841	23.38 x 33
A2	420 x 594	16.5 x 23.38
A3	297 x 420	11.75 x 16.5
A4	210 x 297	8.25 x 11.75
A5	148 x 210	5.88 x 8.25
A6	105 x 148	4.13 x 6.88
B0	1000 x 1414	39.38 x 55.75
B1	707 x 1000	27.75 x 39.38
B2	500 x 707	19.75 x 27.75
B3	353 x 500	13.88 x 19.75
B4	250 x 353	9.88 x 13.88
B5	176 x 250	7 x 9.88

American size	W x L (mm)	W x L (inch)
Letter	216 x 279	8.5 x 11
Legal	216 x 356	8.5 x 14
Executive	190 x 254	7.5 x 10
Ledger / Tabloid	279 x 432	11 x 17