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Paper Weight Conversions

Ever get confused when your printer talks about a 70# text paper and a 70# cover? How does that compare to the 24# bond letterhead you use or the 140# index you’ve been using? This page can help educate you about basis weights and convert a paper weight to an equivalent in another. The highlighted areas are the standard basis weights for the paper types listed in the first column on the left. To find the equivalent weight of 20 lb. bond to other paper types, locate 20 lb. in the bond paper section and read across the other columns.

Paper Types
Basis weight
Book
(25” x 38”)
Bond
(17” x 22”)
Index
(25.5” x 30.5”)
Cover
(20” x 26”)
Bristol
(22.5" x 28.5”)
  LB. LB. LB. LB. LB.
Book (Text) 30 12 25 16 20
40 16 33 22 27
45 18 37 25 30
50 20 41 27 34
55 22 45 30 37
60 24 49 33 41
65 26 53 36 44
70 28 57 38 47
75 30 61 41 51
80 32 65 44 54
90 36 74 49 61
100 39 82 55 68
120 47 98 66 81
Bond 33 13 27 18 22
41 16 33 22 27
51 20 42 28 34
61 24 50 33 41
71 28 58 39 48
81 32 67 45 55
91 36 75 50 62
102 40 83 56 69
Index 110 43 90 60 74
134 53 110 74 91
171 67 140 94 115
208 82 170 114 140
Cover 91 36 75 50 62
100 40 82 55 68
110 43 90 60 74
119 47 97 65 80
146 58 120 80 99
164 65 135 90 111
183 72 150 100 123
238 94 194 130 160
Bristol 84 33 69 46 57
99 39 81 54 67
114 45 93 62 77
119 47 97 65 80
148 58 121 81 100
178 70 146 97 120

Basis Weight: Basis weight is the standard measurement of an amount of paper. For example, the basis weight of bond is determined by the weight of 500 sheets of 17” x 22” paper (the parent size). If a ream of 17” x 22” paper weighs 20 pounds, this is called 20 lb. paper.

Parent Sheet Sizes:
Book: 25” x 38”
Bond: 17” x 22”
Index: 25.5” x 30.5”
Cover: 20” x 26”
Bristol: 22” x 28.5”

Other Paper Terms:
Cut size paper: Any sheet of paper that is cut to a smaller size than the parent sheet.
Caliper: The thickness of paper, usually expressed in thousands of an inch (mils). 20 lb. bond is usually 3.5 point (mils).