The weight of paper measures the mass of the paper. Weight is generally measured in grams per square meter (g/m2) or pounds per ream (lbs). These two measurements represent different ways to think about and measure the density of paper. Considerations when measuring the weight of papers are: Which unit of measurement is best for your organization? How can you easily track this information? Does your vendor document their products with this unit of measurement? Additionally, how will you store the information? Are there standard protocols in your industry you can use?
Why Is Weight Important When Selecting Paper?
If the type of paper you’re using is the wrong weight, the paper might not be able to hold up properly. The weight of the paper will also affect the cost per unit of finished product. If you’re using too heavy a paper, the cost will be higher due to the increased amount of raw material required. If you’re using too light a paper, it might not hold up to snuff, and it might also cost more per unit than necessary. The weight of the paper will also affect the amount of ink necessary. If you’re using too heavy a paper, you might require more ink to achieve the same coverage as with lighter papers; conversely, if you’re using too light a paper, you might require less ink. The weight of the paper will also affect the amount of toner or toner powder that’s necessary to achieve proper coverage. If you’re using too heavy a paper, you might need less toner than with lighter papers.
How to Measure the Weight of paper
If you have the paper in hand, you can use a digital scale. Place the paper in a stack and make sure the paper is pressed together so you’re measuring the true weight of the paper and not the air between the sheets. Otherwise, if you don’t have the paper in hand, you can use a formula to calculate the weight of a single sheet. To calculate the weight of a single sheet of paper, you’ll need to know the dimensions of the paper. These are the width and length of the paper. You’ll also need to know the basis weight of the paper. The basis weight is the weight of one ream of paper and is the industry standard for weight measurement.
How to Find Sheet Paper Weight
Find the dimensions of the paper you’re using. Find the basis weight of the paper you’re using. Use the formula below (Different units of measurement for weight include grams per square meter (g/m2), pounds per ream (lbs), and tons per 1000 square feet (T/1000 sq ft). Weight (lbs) = (Width in inches × Length in inches) × Basis weight in lbs / (12 × 36) Example: If you have 20” × 30” paper with a basis weight of 15 lbs, the formula would look like this: Weight (lbs) = (20 × 30) × 15 / (12 × 36) Weight (lbs) = 900 × 15 / (12 × 36) Weight (lbs) = 108 / 4 Weight (lbs) = 25 lbs
What is a ream of paper and how much does it weigh?
A ream of paper is a standard paper size. It is reams of paper that are often used to measure the basis weight of paper since one ream (500 sheets or 500 g/m2) is a standard amount of paper. A ream of 20” × 26” letter-size paper weighs about 25 lbs. A ream of 20” × 34” ledger-size paper weighs about 35 lbs. A ream of 23” × 35” tabloid-size paper weighs about 45 lbs. A ream of 24” × 38” tabloid-size paper weighs about 48 lbs. A ream of 32” × 44” ledger-size paper weighs about 80 lbs. A ream of 42” × 48” ledger-size paper weighs about 110 lbs.
Conclusion
The weight of paper measures the mass of the paper. Weight is generally measured in grams per square meter (g/m2) or pounds per ream (lbs). These two measurements represent different ways to think about and measure the density of paper. Considerations when measuring the weight of papers are: Which unit of measurement is best for your organization? How can you easily track this information? Does your vendor document their products with this unit of measurement? Additionally, how will you store the information? Are there standard protocols in your industry you can use? The weight of paper also affects other aspects of printing and finishing including ink consumption, toner usage, and strength of paper. When selecting paper for your project, it’s a good idea to find out the weight of the paper so you have a baseline for the amount of ink or toner required.
