---
title: "Paper weight | Printing glossary | IN TEMPO"
description: "The weight of a paper per square metre, given in gsm (g/m²). It measures weight, not thickness: two papers of the same gsm can differ a good deal in caliper."
url: "https://www.intempo.fr/en/glossaire/grammage/"
lang: "en"
---

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# Paper weight

Also called gsm, grammage, g/m²

The weight of a paper per square metre, given in gsm (g/m²). It measures weight, not thickness: two papers of the same gsm can differ a good deal in caliper.

![Diagram: two papers of the same gsm, very different in thickness; high-bulk paper, thick for its weight; bible paper, very thin, generally between 30 and 50 gsm.](https://www.intempo.fr/diagrammes/en/paper-weight-gsm.png)

Paper weight measures weight, not thickness: high-bulk paper and bible paper. Diagram: IN TEMPO, licence [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en). [Reuse this diagram](https://www.intempo.fr/en/reutiliser-nos-schemas/)

## In practice

For text pages, look at opacity as well: a light sheet lets the reverse show through, worst behind a solid or a picture. For a cover, stiffness is what matters, and that depends on the fibre as much as on the figure. Ask for the paper’s name on the quote, not only its weight: “90 gsm” on its own describes no particular sheet.

## Related terms

- [Coated paper](https://www.intempo.fr/en/glossaire/papier-couche/)
- [High-bulk paper](https://www.intempo.fr/en/glossaire/papier-bouffant/)
- [Bible paper](https://www.intempo.fr/en/glossaire/papier-bible/)

## Further reading

[Choosing the paper for your book: high-bulk, offset or coated?](https://www.intempo.fr/en/blog/comment-choisir-le-papier-pour-son-livre/)

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