Paper - The Graphic Design: Reference and Specification - page 65

b a s i s w e i g h t e q u i v a l e n t s
In North America, the term basis weight or ream weight is used to define the weight in
pounds of a ream of paper cut to a given size. (A ream is defined a 500 sheets of the
basic size of a paper.) Basis weight is stated in pounds as represented by the # symbol.

The basic size of a sheet varies according to its grade. (Note that the basic size is only
one of many standard sizes for each grade and is only used as a means of determining
basis weight.) Basic sizes used to determine basis weight of some common papers are
listed below:

Sheet size (inches ) Paper type Sheet size (millimeters)

Bond, ledger, and writing 17 × 22 432 × 559

Uncoated book and text 25 × 38 635 × 965

Coated book 25 × 38 635 × 965

Cover 20 × 26 508 × 660

Bristol 22 1 ⁄ 2 × 28 1 ⁄ 2 572 × 724

Kraft, tag, and newsprint 24 × 36 610 × 914

Because of the size variations, paper grades that share the same basis weight may not
look and feel as though they share the same basis weight. For instance, when comparing
a sheet of 65# text and 65# cover stock, the cover stock will look and feel much heavier.

The following list of equivalents should help to define the basis weight differences between
various grades.

Paper grade Equivalent to

16# bond 40# text

20# bond 50# text

24# bond 60# text

28# bond 70# text

90# text 50# cover

100# text 55# cover

110# text 60# cover

120# text 65# cover