GSM of Normal A4 Paper: Essential Facts

GSM of Normal A4 Paper: Essential Facts

When you’re choosing the right paper for printing, photocopying, or crafting, then you need to give a lot more thought to its technical aspects than you might, otherwise. Everyday use doesn’t require you to think of weight, thickness, or anything else, but the more you demand of the paper, the more you should know what to demand. One critical aspect of it is its Grams per Square Meter (or GSM). Whether you’re printing important documents for work, school assignments, or creating flyers, the GSM of the paper can influence its durability, texture, and overall appearance.

Choosing paper with the right GSM, especially with A4 paper, is important for a lot of applications. As such, here, we’re going to look into what GSM means, why it’s important, and how you can select the right GSM paper for your needs.

What Is GSM in Paper?

GSM, or Grams per Square Meter, is a measurement of the thickness or density of any sheet of paper. It’s the unit based on the weight of the paper in grams if you weighed a single square-meter sheet of paper. As such, the higher the GSM, the heavier and denser the paper. GSM is used as a standard unit all across the paper industry, including in different countries, and is used for all kidneys of paper, including printing paper, cardstock, and specialty papers like those used for business cards.

To understand GSM more clearly, let’s break it down: A paper that has a GSM of 80 means that one square meter of that paper weighs 80 grams. A higher GSM, say 120 or 160, would indicate a thicker and heavier paper. Conversely, a lower GSM, like 60 or 70, would signify a lighter, thinner paper. While the weight of the paper is directly related to its GSM, it also gives you an idea about the paper’s durability, opacity, and suitability for specific tasks.

Here, we’re going to look closer at GSM’s relevance to A4 paper in particular, because A4 is the type most commonly used for office work and everyday printing. Most A4 papers have a GSM of 70-120, but the different weights within that range have their own uses and advantages, which we will explore further later.

Importance of GSM for A4 Paper

Knowing the GSM of your A4 paper is important. For one, it determines the quality, feel, and performance of the paper when printing or writing. As such, a better understanding of GSM can help you select the type of A4 paper that best fits your purpose, whether it’s regular printing, formal documentation, making marketing materials, or otherwise.

Durability and Strength

A higher GSM usually means that the paper is stronger and less prone to tearing. If you’re handling important documents that need to be preserved for a long time, opting for higher GSM paper will provide added durability. For instance, certificates or archival documents often use paper with a higher GSM to ensure they last longer without wearing out.

Opacity

This is another factor influenced by GSM. Paper with a lower GSM is not only lighter and thinner, but it is also typically more transparent. As such, lower GSM paper might not be as well suited to tasks like printing double-sided documents, because you’re more likely ot see the contents of one side through the other, which can make it tough to read. Higher GSM paper is thicker and more opaque, which can make it more useful for certain applications.

Professionalism

Although it’s not a major factor for all, there is a feeling of professionalism in using a paper that feels more robust and reliable As such, for documents where a sense of professionalism is important, like resumes, cover letters, and proposals, it can make a difference.

Handling

Paper with a lower GSM is typically lighter and easier to handle, especially when dealing with large volumes, such as in bulk printing. It is also cheaper, making it ideal for daily office use where cost-effectiveness is a priority. On the other hand, high-GSM paper is more substantial, often resulting in a better tactile experience, though it can be more expensive.

As you can see, GSM has a real impact on the function and form of the A4 paper that you choose. Be sure to keep it in mind and choose the right options for your applications.

Choosing the Right GSM for Your Needs

We’ve highlighted a few of the factors that make GSM important, but how do you choose the right one to meet your needs? Here, we’re going to look at a range of A4 options with different GSMs.

70-80 GSM: The type most commonly used for everyday use, like for printing, copying, and faxing in offices. 80 GSM is, specifically, the most common type used in homes and workplaces. Affordability is the biggest advantage of this paper, and it’s easier to store and transport, working well with most printers due to being relatively thin. However, it’s not as well suited for high-opacity tasks, like double-sided printing.

90-100 GSM: A slightly heavier option than most office paper, it’s often used to give documents like brochures and reports a more professional look and feel. With slightly more opacity and a bulkier feel, it’s still very suitable for bulk printing. The slight thickness of it also makes less likely to crumple up and jam printers.

120-150 GSM: If you’re creating marketing materials like flyers or posters, you’ll want to opt for paper in the 120-150 GSM range. This weight of paper is thick enough to provide a quality feel, making it more durable and less likely to wrinkle or tear. It is also well-suited for presentations where you want to make a lasting impression. Despite being thicker, paper in this range can usually still go through standard printers, although it may need manual feed settings.

160 GSM and Above: Papers of this level are usually considered cardstock or heavy paper, and are not used for standard printing, but work very well for items like greeting cards or covers for reports and booklets. Aside from a more premium and luxurious feeling, this is the paper most suited for materials that need to be more resilient but may require a specialized printer to work with.

Your choice of GSM should depend largely on the tasks it’s being used for, the kind of impression you want to make, as well as what kind of environments and use the paper is supposed to see.

GSM Impacts on Printing Quality

Aside from the general use of the paper, GSM also plays a major role in the quality of printing on a given piece of paper. As such, if you give printed presentations, reports, brochures, or any other printed materials where appearance is important, consider how your GSM influences the paper’s interaction with printers, ink, and toners.

• Ink Absorption: Heavier papers absorb ink better than lighter ones. With the lightest GSM papers, ink can bleed through, making images blurrier, especially on double-sided paper. With thicker paper with higher GSMs, the ink stays more cleanly on the surface.
• Color Vibrancy: If you’re printing in color, higher GSM paper tends to produce more vibrant, sharp images. Because heavier paper can hold more ink without saturation issues, colors tend to look more defined and richer. Lower GSM paper may cause colors to look washed out or dull because it cannot handle the ink as well.
• Printing Equipment Compatability: Most home and office printers work with a range of GSMs, but the highest levels of GSMs, such as 160 and over, can require specialized printers, as they’re typically too thick to pass through regular printers. This can lead to routine jams. As such, if you’re using thicker papers, you should ensure that your printer is compatible with them.
• Texture and Finish: Aside from the weight, GSM also affects the texture. Printed materials can have a more textured or glossy finish in higher GSM papers, which can give them a more professional and high-quality impression, which can make them useful for branding purposes.
• Paper Curl and Jamming: Paper curl and jamming can occur with low GSM paper during high-speed printing or under high heat, which is typical in laser printers. Heavier GSM paper tends to hold its shape better during the printing process, reducing the risk of curling or jamming.

The GSM of your paper has a significant and multifaceted effect on how well your paper works for printed materials. Heavier isn’t always better, of course, you have to consider the application first and foremost.

The Right GSM Makes A Big Difference

The GSM of A4 paper is more than just a number, it can have a significant impact on the durability, printing quality, and even the professionalism of the documents you’re using it for. With the above information, you should have a better idea of what GSM means, how it impacts the performance of your paper, and which choices might be best suited to your needs.

Selecting the right GSM means thinking about the look, feel, and durability of the paper materials that you want to present Whether it’s the standard 80 GSM for regular office use, or a heavier 120 GSM for professional brochures, selecting the correct paper weight can make a significant difference in the final product’s quality and longevity.

Still Have Questions on GSM?

Do you still have questions and need some additional help? Make sure to contact us on our site at PaperPapers.com. We do have a variety of ways to talk to you either over the phone, instant chat on our site, or even email!

We also invite you to check out our Paper Thinner to Thicker page on our site. From there you can sort and filter with different settings or choose the GSM that will work best with your project.