How to use the chart
When selecting a paper stock keep in mind the equivalents to each paper choice available. This will be able to tell you how thick the paper will be and assist you in making the right selection.
Note that Bond, Text, and Cover are usually in LB. If for example, the paper stock is a 14 pt. cover, then it used points (pt) and not pounds (lbs).
For example, let’s say that the short-run brochures offer:
• 100 lb. Gloss Book
• 100 lb. Matte Book
• 80 lb. Gloss Cover
• 80 lb. Matte Cover
• 80 lb. 100% Recycled Uncoated Text
• 80 lb. 100% Recycled Uncoated Cover
The 100 lb. book stock can equate to 54 lb cover, while the 80 lb. cover can equate to 146 lb. book. This means that the 80 lb. cover can be about 45% thicker than the 100 lb. book. The recycled 80 lb text (aka book) can be equivalent to roughly a 44 lb. cover. So the two recycled stocks, while the same weight, can be different thicknesses.
As a reference point our standard business cards are 16 pt. cover making them roughly equivalent to a 135 lb. cover; we use the point column in this case instead of the cover column. A 135 lb. cover can be about 45% thicker than the thickest cover available for brochures; so regardless of it actually being a card stock the 80 lb. selection can still suitable for brochure printing and can apply a thicker, more durable application.
PAPER WEIGHTS
• Bond Paper
A light-weight stock, also known as Ledger or Writing.
It is commonly as 24 LB or 28 LB Bond Weight.
• Text Paper
Also known as Offset, Text Paper is thicker than Ledger Paper, but not as thick as a Cover Paper. Stationery usually has a 70 LB or 80 LB Text Weight.
Cover Paper
A Card Stock or Pasteboard paper.
Known commonly to be used for business cards and greeting cards, but can also be applied to brochures and flyers. It is commonly used as 80 LB Cover Weight, although some brands of paper offer cover weight paper that is 100 LB or heavier.
Resource courtesy of Micro Format, Inc
The values in the table shown below are intended to serve as a guide only.
Similar weight papers may vary between different manufacturers*.