| PRINTING TIPS | Jaina Offset Team
How to Choose the Right Paper Weight (GSM) for Your Print Job
The paper weight you choose can make or break your print project. From glossy art paper for magazines to sturdy board for business cards, understanding GSM (grams per square metre) is essential to achieving the right look, feel, and durability.
What Does GSM Mean?
GSM stands for grams per square metre — a measure of paper density. Simply put, it tells you how heavy a single sheet of paper is per square metre. A standard A4 sheet of office paper is typically 80 GSM, while a business card might be 300+ GSM.
The higher the GSM, the thicker and heavier the paper. But here's what many people don't realize: heavier is not always better. A 300 GSM paper is perfect for a visiting card, but you'd never want it for a book's inner pages — it would make the book too thick and too heavy to handle comfortably.
Common GSM Ranges and Their Uses
| GSM Range | Typical Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 60–75 | Newsprint, inner pages of mass market books | Maplitho, newsprint |
| 80–100 | Office paper, flyers, inner pages of brochures | Bond paper, copier paper |
| 100–130 | Brochure inner pages, leaflets, posters | Art paper, coated stock |
| 130–170 | Brochure covers, magazine covers, mid-weight catalogues | Art card |
| 200–300 | Book covers, visiting cards, rigid folders | Art card, SBS board |
| 300+ | Premium business cards, luxury packaging | Thick board |
GSM Recommendations by Print Product
- Books: Inner pages 60–90 GSM (smooth reading/writing experience), cover 200–250 GSM (durability)
- Magazines: Inner pages 80–130 GSM, cover 200–250 GSM (glossy or matte)
- Brochures: Inner pages 100–130 GSM, cover 250–300 GSM
- Calendars: Art card 100–220 GSM (depending on sturdiness desired)
- Notepads: Inner pages 70–80 GSM, cover 300 GSM (rigid card)
- Visiting Cards: 300–350 GSM (business cards must feel premium)
Offset Printing and GSM – What Our Presses Can Handle
At Jaina Offset Printers, our state-of-the-art Heidelberg and Komori presses can handle a wide range of paper weights — from as light as 60 GSM newsprint all the way up to 350 GSM board stock. This flexibility allows us to produce everything from mass-market books to premium business cards and luxury packaging in a single facility.
Our presses are calibrated to handle different paper densities without compromising on colour consistency or image sharpness.
A Note on Coated vs Uncoated Paper
Two main paper finishes matter when it comes to GSM:
Coated paper (art paper): Has a glossy or matte surface coating that delivers sharp, vibrant colours. Perfect for magazines, brochures, and premium marketing materials. The coating adds a layer of protection and makes colours pop.
Uncoated paper (maplitho, bond): No coating — the raw paper surface. Better for reading and writing (business letters, books, notepads). The texture is warmer and more natural. Colours print less vivid but the paper feels premium.
Your choice between coated and uncoated should depend entirely on the end use of your print product.