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 and folded leaflets |
| 170gsm | Gloss | Leaflets and folded leaflets |
| 170gsm | Silk | Leaflets, stapled booklets and posters |
| 400gsm | Silk | Business 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 400gsm business cards 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.