What does gsm mean?
In short
GSM stands for grams per square metre: the weight of a one-metre-square sheet of paper or card. The higher the number, the heavier and usually thicker the sheet.
GSM, short for grams per square metre and sometimes written g/m², is the standard measure of paper weight in the UK. It tells you how much a sheet one metre square would weigh, whatever size the finished item is. Everyday office copier paper is commonly 80gsm.
The weights we print on
| Weight | Paper | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| 120gsm | Uncoated | Letterheads and compliment slips |
| 135gsm | Gloss | Leaflets, folded leaflets and posters |
| 170gsm | Gloss | Leaflets, folded leaflets and posters |
| 170gsm | Silk | Leaflets, stapled booklets and posters (our standard poster paper) |
| 250gsm | Silk or gloss | Posters |
| 300 to 450gsm | Silk or gloss | Business cards (400gsm silk is our standard card) |
Posters also come on 120 to 275gsm papers (silk, gloss, satin, recycled, uncoated, photo and backlit film), outdoor papers up to 500gsm PVC canvas, and business cards on a range of speciality cards.
Weight is not the same as thickness
GSM measures weight, not thickness, so two papers of the same weight can feel a little different in the hand depending on their finish. As a rule, though, a higher number feels stiffer. Our business cards, 400gsm as standard, are card; our 120gsm to 170gsm stocks are papers that fold and handle easily.
GSM and VAT
Weight can matter for VAT. Under HMRC Notice 701/10, a leaflet is zero-rated only when it is printed on limp paper rather than stiff card, along with other conditions. Our 135gsm and 170gsm leaflet papers are paper weights. Our VAT on printing page explains the rules, and the paper weight guide compares each weight in more detail.
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