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Paper Weight Conversion Calculator

LBS to GSM (U.S. to International)
Quick & Easy Conversions

We provide comprehensive commercial printing services and want to simplify the process for clients using grams. Our calculator makes it easy to convert between pounds (lbs) and grams (gsm), so you can accurately determine the paperweight of your print project.

 

Grams to Pounds & Pounds to Grams

Use this convenient tool to quickly switch between lbs and gsm, ensuring you always know the precise paperweight for your printing needs.

 

Text Paper Weight Conversion – LBS ↔ GSM

LBS to GSM (Text Paper)
lb — gsm
   
GSM to LBS (Text Paper)
gsm — lb

Need to convert pounds (lbs) to grams (gsm)? Use the chart and formulas below to find the right paperweight for your print projects.

 

Common Paper Weights: U.S. (lbs) vs. Metric (gsm)

U.S. BASIS WEIGHT (lbs) METRIC WEIGHT (gsm)

20lb Bond / 50lb Offset 75 gsm

 

STANDARD BASIS WEIGHT (lbs) GRAMS/SQUARE METER (gsm)
 20lb Bond / 50lb Offset  75 gsm
24lb Bond / 60lb Offset 90 gsm
28lb Bond / 70lb Offset 105 gsm
32lb Bond / 80lb Offset 120 gsm
50lb Book / Text / Offset 75 gsm
60lb Book / Text / Offset 90 gsm
70lb Book / Text / Offset 105 gsm
80lb Book / Text / Offset  120 gsm
100lb Book / Text / Offset 150 gsm
65lb Cover 175 gsm
80lb Cover 215 gsm
100lb Cover 270 gsm
130 lb Cover 350 gsm

 

Use this quick-reference guide to make sure your paper weight is always accurate—no matter which system you’re using.

 

Conversion Formulas

Text Paper

1 lb = 1.48 gsm
To convert pounds to gsm, multiply by 1.48.
Example 1: 80 lb text × 1.48 = 118.4 gsm
Example 2: 60 lb text × 1.48 = 88.8 gsm

Cover Paper

1 lb = 2.708 gsm
To convert pounds to gsm, multiply by 2.708.
Example 1: 80 lb cover × 2.708 = 216.64 gsm
Example 2: 100 lb cover × 2.708 = 270.8 gsm

 

Why Different Formulas for Text & Cover?

Text papers typically have a thinner and lighter composition than cover papers.

Cover papers are heavier and thicker, so the conversion factor (lbs to gsm) is higher.

 

Paper Weight Conversions

When discussing paper weights, pounds (lbs) is commonly used in the United States, while grams per square meter (gsm) is the international standard. The conversion between these two systems isn’t just a straightforward number, because paper weights differ based on whether the paper is text (also referred to as book or offset) or cover (also called cardstock).

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