Brotherhood Paper — Paper Selection Guide
What is GSM in Paper? The Complete Guide to Paper Weight
Everything you need to know about paper GSM — what it means, how it affects printing, a full GSM reference chart from 45gsm to 400gsm, and a practical guide to choosing the right weight for every job.
Table of Contents
What Does GSM Mean in Paper?
GSM stands for Grams per Square Metre. It is the internationally standardised unit of measurement for paper weight — used by every paper mill, printer and distributor in the world, including Egypt. When you see a paper described as "80gsm" or "130gsm", the number tells you how much one square metre of that paper weighs in grams.
GSM = Weight (grams) ÷ Area (square metres)
Take a sheet of paper that is exactly 1 metre × 1 metre. Weigh it on a precision scale. The weight in grams is the GSM. A sheet weighing 80 grams = 80gsm paper. A sheet weighing 300 grams = 300gsm paper. The higher the number, the heavier and thicker the sheet.
GSM is also called grammage in technical paper specifications. In some markets — particularly the United States — paper weight is expressed in pounds (lb) rather than gsm, but gsm is the standard used throughout Egypt, the Middle East, and Europe.
How is Paper GSM Measured?
Paper mills measure GSM using a precision analytical balance and a paper sample cutter. The process follows ISO 536 — the international standard for paper grammage determination. Here is how it works:
- A sample of paper is cut to a precise area — typically 100cm² (0.01m²) using a calibrated cutter
- The sample is conditioned at 23°C and 50% relative humidity for at least 4 hours to stabilise moisture content
- The conditioned sample is weighed on a precision balance accurate to 0.001g
- The weight is mathematically converted to the equivalent weight of a 1m² sheet
- Multiple samples are taken across the paper web and averaged to account for natural variation
For a paper buyer in Egypt, you do not need to measure GSM yourself — every ream and every carton is labelled with the GSM by the manufacturer. What matters is understanding what the number tells you about how the paper will perform.
Why GSM Matters for Printing
GSM is the single most important specification when selecting paper for any print application. It directly controls six critical factors:
Higher GSM = more opacity = less show-through on double-sided printing. At 60gsm, text on the reverse side is often visible. At 90gsm+, double-sided printing is clean and professional.
Higher GSM paper feels more substantial and authoritative. A 350gsm business card feels premium. A 60gsm flyer feels cheap. GSM communicates quality before the reader processes a single word.
Too light and sheets jam or tear. Too heavy and the press cannot handle them. Most office printers handle 60–90gsm. Sheet-fed offset presses run 60–350gsm. Always check your equipment's maximum gsm specification.
Higher GSM papers generally carry more ink without bleed-through. This is critical for solid colour blocks, heavy coverage designs and double-sided printing with ink-heavy artwork.
Every gsm counts when mailing thousands of pieces. A direct mail campaign on 90gsm vs 80gsm paper can increase postage costs by 10–12% across a large run. Budget accordingly.
Papers above 170gsm crack when folded without scoring. Any cover stock above 150gsm used in a folded brochure must be scored first. This is a critical production consideration missed by many buyers.
Full GSM Reference Chart — 45gsm to 400gsm
The table below covers the complete range of paper weights you will encounter in commercial printing in Egypt — from the lightest newsprint grades to the heaviest board stocks.
| GSM Range | Paper Category | Typical Uses | Feel | Available at Brotherhood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 – 55 gsm | Lightweight | Newsprint, NCR carbonless paper, bible paper, lightweight inserts | Very thin, transparent | NCR 50–55gsm ✓ |
| 56 – 65 gsm | Budget | High-volume internal printing, mass flyers, draft documents, internal forms | Thin, lightweight | Woodfree 56gsm ✓ · A4 60gsm ✓ |
| 70 – 80 gsm | Standard Office | Office printing, photocopying, laser printing, general documents, books | Standard, familiar | A4 70gsm ✓ · A4 80gsm ✓ · Woodfree 80gsm ✓ |
| 90 – 100 gsm | Quality Office | Presentation documents, letterheads, inkjet printing, good-quality booklets | Noticeably heavier than standard | Woodfree 90–100gsm ✓ |
| 105 – 135 gsm | Commercial Print | Brochure text pages, magazine inserts, flyers, leaflets, catalogue pages | Substantial, professional | Art paper 90–135gsm ✓ |
| 148 – 170 gsm | Light Cover | Brochure covers, report covers, folded cards, menu inserts | Stiff, premium feel | Art paper 150–170gsm ✓ |
| 200 – 250 gsm | Medium Cover | Book covers, folder covers, greeting cards, postcards, heavy brochure covers | Board-like, very stiff | Art paper 200–250gsm ✓ |
| 300 – 350 gsm | Heavy Card | Business cards, premium packaging inserts, thick invitations, luxury cards | Rigid, premium card | Art paper 300–350gsm ✓ |
| 350 – 400 gsm | Board | Luxury business cards, packaging, point-of-sale displays, rigid cards | Near-rigid board | Contact us for availability |
GSM Visual Scale
Use this visual reference to understand where common paper grades sit relative to each other:
Paper weight spectrum — thinner to thicker
GSM by Use Case — What to Use for Every Job
The fastest way to choose the right GSM is to match it to your specific application. Here are the most common print jobs in Egypt with the recommended GSM range for each.
Office & Everyday Printing
Daily office documents, photocopying, laser printing, internal reports, draft printing. The most common paper in Egypt. 80gsm is the universal standard for office printers and copiers.
View copy paper options →Books & Publications
Text pages for books, educational textbooks, manuals, workbooks and government publications. 80gsm woodfree uncoated is the standard for the Egyptian book printing market.
View woodfree paper →Brochures & Leaflets
Marketing brochures, product leaflets, catalogues and magazine inserts. Coated art paper at 115–135gsm delivers the colour saturation and surface quality required for commercial marketing materials.
View art paper →NCR & Multi-Copy Forms
Invoice books, receipt pads, delivery notes and any multi-copy form requiring carbonless transfer between sheets. NCR paper is specifically engineered for this purpose at 50–55gsm.
View NCR paper →Brochure Covers & Folders
The cover of a saddle-stitched brochure, presentation folders, menu covers and report covers. Must be scored before folding at this weight. Coated art paper at 170gsm is the Egyptian market standard for brochure covers.
View art paper →Business Cards
Standard business cards in Egypt are printed on 300–350gsm coated art paper. Below 300gsm, a business card feels thin and cheap. At 350gsm with a gloss or matt laminate, it communicates authority.
View art paper →Sticker & Label Printing
Self-adhesive labels, product stickers and printed decals. Brotherhood Paper's cast coated sticker paper is 160gsm total (80gsm face + 80gsm silicon liner) — suitable for UV, lamination and heat processing after printing.
View sticker paper →Wholesale & Bulk Printing
Large-volume commercial print runs, newspaper supplements, mass-distribution flyers and wholesale offset printing. Available in sheets and rolls from Brotherhood Paper at competitive per-tonne pricing.
View wholesale options →How to Choose the Right GSM — A Practical Framework
5 Questions to Find Your GSM
A document that will be read once and discarded can be 70–80gsm. A document that will be kept, filed or presented to clients should be 90gsm minimum. A piece that represents your brand to new customers needs 115gsm+ coated stock.
Double-sided printing requires a minimum of 80gsm to prevent show-through on uncoated paper. For image-heavy double-sided work on coated paper, use 115gsm minimum. Below 80gsm on double-sided jobs, text and images from the reverse will be visible and unprofessional.
Any paper above 150gsm must be scored before folding — otherwise the paper surface will crack along the fold. This is a production step that must be factored into your cost and schedule. Below 150gsm, standard folding is fine without scoring.
Check your equipment specifications. Most office laser printers and copiers handle 60–90gsm. Professional digital presses handle 60–350gsm. Sheet-fed offset presses typically run 60–400gsm. Never run paper outside your machine's specification — it risks jams, damage and poor output.
Paper cost increases roughly linearly with GSM. 80gsm = baseline cost. 100gsm ≈ +25%. 128gsm ≈ +60%. 200gsm ≈ +150%. For high-volume jobs, even a 10gsm reduction can generate significant savings without visible quality loss to the end recipient.
Common GSM Misconceptions — Corrected
✗ Wrong belief
"Higher GSM always means better quality."
GSM measures weight, not quality. A 60gsm premium woodfree paper from a quality mill is far superior to a 90gsm low-grade paper from a budget supplier. Quality is determined by pulp grade, coating, and manufacturing standards — not GSM alone.
✗ Wrong belief
"80gsm is always thick enough for double-sided printing."
It depends on the paper type. 80gsm woodfree uncoated has good opacity. But 80gsm newsprint or lightweight bond can show through badly on double-sided jobs. Always check the opacity specification, not just the GSM.
✗ Wrong belief
"GSM and thickness are the same thing."
They are related but not identical. Paper density varies by type. 80gsm coated art paper is thinner than 80gsm uncoated woodfree paper because coated paper is denser. Use caliper (microns) to measure actual thickness when it matters for spine calculation or pocket sizing.
✗ Wrong belief
"You can fold any weight of paper without scoring."
Papers above 150gsm will crack on the fold without prior scoring. This is a physics fact, not a print shop preference. Any cover stock, thick card or heavyweight paper going into a folded format must be creased or scored before folding.
Paper GSM in Egypt — What is Available from Brotherhood Paper
Brotherhood Paper stocks paper across the full GSM range from El-Faggala, Cairo. The links below take you directly to each GSM category available on the site:
Not sure which GSM is right for your job? Contact our El-Faggala team — we advise on paper grade, GSM and format for any printing or packaging application.
Related Paper Selection Guides
GSM is one part of paper selection. These guides cover the other key decisions:
- Copy paper in Egypt — A4, A3 and A5 copy paper in 60, 70 and 80gsm
- A4 paper price Egypt — current pricing per ream and per box
- Paper wholesale Egypt — bulk supply, all grades, no minimum order
- Woodfree uncoated paper — 56–100gsm range for offset and digital printing
- Art paper (coated) — 90–350gsm gloss and matt coated stock
- Paper prices Egypt — live market pricing across all grades
Frequently Asked Questions — Paper GSM
What does GSM mean in paper?
GSM stands for Grams per Square Metre. It is the international standard unit for measuring paper weight. A piece of paper measuring exactly 1 metre × 1 metre that weighs 80 grams is called 80gsm paper. The higher the GSM, the heavier and typically thicker the paper.
What GSM is standard copy paper in Egypt?
The standard GSM for copy paper in Egypt is 80gsm. This is used in the vast majority of office printers, photocopiers and laser printers. Brotherhood Paper also supplies 70gsm and 60gsm copy paper for budget and high-volume applications.
What is the difference between 70gsm and 80gsm paper?
80gsm paper is heavier, thicker and more opaque than 70gsm. For everyday office printing, both grades work well. For double-sided printing or documents that need to feel more substantial, 80gsm is the better choice. 70gsm is ideal for very high-volume printing where reducing cost per page is the priority.
What GSM should I use for brochures?
For brochure text pages, use 115–135gsm coated art paper. For brochure covers, use 170–200gsm coated art paper. Covers must be scored before folding at weights above 150gsm to prevent cracking. This combination gives a professional finish that Egyptian commercial printing clients expect.
What GSM is used for business cards in Egypt?
Business cards in Egypt are typically printed on 300–350gsm coated art paper. Below 300gsm, a business card feels thin and unprofessional. At 350gsm with a gloss or matt laminate finish, it presents a premium, authoritative impression.
Is higher GSM always better?
No. Higher GSM is not always better — it depends entirely on the application. 60gsm is the correct choice for mass-distribution flyers where cost per piece matters. 80gsm is correct for office printing. Using 130gsm for internal office documents wastes money without adding value. Match the GSM to the job, not to a general preference for heavier paper.
What is the heaviest paper available in Egypt?
Brotherhood Paper stocks coated art paper up to 350gsm for business cards, luxury covers and premium packaging inserts. Heavier board grades above 350gsm are available on request — contact our El-Faggala team for availability.
Need Help Choosing the Right GSM?
Our El-Faggala team advises on paper grade, GSM and format for any print job — same business day response.
56gsm to 400gsm · Woodfree · Art Paper · NCR · Copy Paper · All Sizes
WhatsApp Our Team → View All Paper Products