Paper Stocks & Weights (lbs vs gsm)

Published: January 8, 2025

Categories: Coloring

Understanding paper weight can be confusing! For example, you can have 3 sheets of paper–one light weight, one medium weight, and one thick, and they can all be 80lbs. How can that be? They’re so obviously different in thickness and weight! (And how does GSM fit in?)

Watch Steve and me break down this paper weight puzzle. We will explain how paper weight is measured. You will see why different types of paper can weigh the same in pounds but have different GSM.

Chapter Markers

00:00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
00:02:38 – What Are the Main Paper Stocks?
00:06:04 – How is Paper LBS Measured?
00:09:13 – How is GSM Measured?
00:11:34 – Watercolor Paper Weights
00:13:38 – Printing on Watercolor Paper
00:14:59 – Paper We Use in Our Print Shop
00:18:58 – Final Thoughts & Recommendations

Paper Weight Cheat Sheet

To help you better understand and recall paper stock and weight information, we have created a cheat sheet for you to download. You can become a free member to download a high quality pdf version. Or you can right-click on the image below to save it.

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Paper Reference Guide

The following is a more comprehensive web version of the PDF cheat sheet. NOTE how the Parent Sheets vary in size based on the Paper Stock.

Paper Stock

TEXT or BOND

TEXT (or BOND) paper is lightweight and versatile, perfect for stationery and book pages. Its finish varies, making it suitable for printing projects. Amazon coloring books are often printed on a text stock, making them less than ideal for adult coloring.

INDEX

INDEX is a type of paper that is thicker and more rigid than standard text paper. It is typically used for index cards, dividers, and other applications where durability is important. Index can be an inexpensive alternative to cover cardstock for adult coloring.

BRISTOL

BRISTOL is the lightest form of “cardstock”. It’s typically used as a drawing paper that comes in smooth and vellum (textured) surfaces. Our favorite paper for colored pencils is Vellum Bristol. The texture of this paper works well with dry media.

COVER

COVER is a thicker and stronger type of paper. It is often used for business cards, brochures, and book covers. It often comes coated or uncoated. We like a very smooth cover stock for alcohol markers. An uncoated stock can work well for mixed-media coloring.

WATERCOLOR

WATERCOLOR paper is typically made with cotton fibers or wood pulp (Cellulose). It is made using either a coldpress (textured) or hotpress (smooth) process. It also uses “sizing” which is a substance that reduces how much water the paper absorbs. Cotton watercolor paper is preferred for making art; however, for printing coloring pages, we prefer cellulose.

Paper Weight

Paper is weighed in LBS (pounds) & GSM (Grams per Square Meter). The weight is measured using 500 sheets cut to various sizes.

500 “Parent Sheet” sizes = LBS
500 Sheets Cut to One Square Meter = GSM

Paper Weight: Lbs vs GSM

Paper weight can be tricky. LBS is a traditional measurement in the U.S. It calculates how much a ream (500 sheets) of a basic size sheet weighs. This system suits domestic printing needs but as you’ve seen can be inconsistent across different paper sizes.

GSM provides a more global standard. It measures the paper’s weight based on a square meter sample, offering a consistent metric. This is why we recommend basically ignoring LBS and just using GSM.

However, comparing lbs to gsm helps bridge U.S. and international practices. Knowing both systems widens your choices in selecting paper.

Selecting the Right Paper for Your Coloring Project

We often say that it’s important to pair the right coloring media with the right paper. In fact, it can be the difference between coloring joy or frustration.

It’s for this reason that we offer several types of paper in our print shop. Here’s what we offer and why.