Paper Weight Chart

Key Takeaway

Paper weight tells you how sturdy a packaging board is. It is measured in GSM (grams per square meter), caliper points (1 pt equals 0.0254 mm of thickness), or US basis-weight pounds. In custom packaging, folding cartons and mailers typically use 250-300 GSM stock (about 10-12 pt), premium retail boxes run 350-450 GSM (14-18 pt), and rigid gift boxes are built on 600-1800 GSM chipboard. A quick rule: divide GSM by 25 to estimate points. Teal Packaging, a US custom box and paperboard printer, prints on all of these stocks from a 50-unit minimum order (100 or more for specialty rigid), with volume pricing from $0.44 per unit. Every project includes free dieline design, free US shipping, and FSC paper options. Standard production runs from about 7 business days after proof approval, with complex or high-volume jobs taking longer, plus 2 to 5 days for delivery.

Questions or ready for a quote? Contact Teal Packaging at info@tealpackaging.com or (224) 546-8325.

Convert between GSM, points, and pounds for all packaging materials.

Quick Answers: Top Paperboard Conversions

Points (pt)	GSM	Lbs (per ream)	Thickness (mm)
12 pt	300 gsm	80 lb	~0.30 mm
14 pt	350 gsm	90 lb	~0.36 mm
16 pt	400 gsm	100 lb	~0.41 mm
18 pt	450 gsm	110 lb	~0.46 mm
20 pt	500 gsm	--	~0.51 mm
24 pt	600 gsm	150 lb	~0.61 mm

Values are for typical SBS paperboard; thickness uses the standard caliper conversion of 1 pt = 0.0254 mm. See the full conversion FAQ below

Understanding paper weight is essential for choosing the right packaging material. This chart covers the most common weights used in custom packaging, from lightweight tissue wraps to heavy-duty corrugated board.

Paper Weight Converter

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GSM

Points (pt)

Lbs (per ream)

Thickness (mm)

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Cardboard (SBS / C1S / C2S)

Solid Bleached Sulfate board. Smooth, white surface ideal for retail packaging and cosmetic boxes.

Points (pt)	GSM	Lbs (per ream)	Common Use
10 pt	250 gsm	65 lb	Folding cartons, lightweight boxes
12 pt	300 gsm	80 lb	Standard packaging, product boxes
14 pt	350 gsm	90 lb	Premium retail boxes, cosmetics
16 pt	400 gsm	100 lb	Sturdy product packaging
18 pt	450 gsm	110 lb	Heavy-duty retail, electronics
24 pt	600 gsm	150 lb	Rigid setup boxes, luxury packaging

Kraft Board

Natural brown paperboard. Eco-friendly, strong, and perfect for sustainable packaging.

Points (pt)	GSM	Lbs	Common Use
18 pt	300 gsm	80 lb	Light kraft boxes, sleeves
24 pt	400 gsm	100 lb	Standard kraft packaging
30 pt	500 gsm	130 lb	Sturdy kraft mailers
36 pt	600 gsm	150 lb	Heavy kraft boxes

Corrugated Board

Fluted cardboard for shipping and protective packaging. Measured by flute type, not points.

Flute	Thickness	Flutes/ft	Common Use
E-Flute	1.5mm (1/16")	90	Retail boxes, pizza boxes, displays
B-Flute	3.0mm (1/8")	47	Die-cut boxes, inner packaging
C-Flute	4.0mm (5/32")	39	Shipping boxes (most common)
A-Flute	5.0mm (3/16")	33	Heavy-duty shipping, fragile items
BC-Flute	6.5mm (1/4")	--	Double-wall, heavy products

Rigid Board (Chipboard)

Thick, non-folding board for luxury packaging, phone boxes, and premium gift sets.

Thickness	GSM	Common Use
1.0mm	600 gsm	Light rigid boxes, jewelry
1.5mm	900 gsm	Standard rigid boxes, cosmetics
2.0mm	1200 gsm	Premium gift boxes, electronics
2.5mm	1500 gsm	Heavy luxury packaging
3.0mm	1800 gsm	Large rigid boxes, display cases

Tissue Paper

Lightweight wrapping paper for product protection and presentation. Used for gift wrapping, shoe stuffing, and delicate item protection.

GSM	Lbs	Common Use
17 gsm	10 lb	Standard tissue wrap, gift packaging
22 gsm	13 lb	Premium tissue, colored tissue paper
30 gsm	18 lb	Heavy tissue, product wrapping
40 gsm	24 lb	Thick tissue, protective wrapping

Greaseproof / Wax Paper

Moisture and grease resistant paper for food packaging. Essential for bakeries, delis, and food service businesses.

GSM	Lbs	Common Use
30 gsm	18 lb	Light greaseproof, sandwich wrap
40 gsm	24 lb	Standard wax paper, deli sheets
50 gsm	30 lb	Heavy greaseproof, bakery liners
60 gsm	36 lb	Premium food wrap, butcher paper
80 gsm	48 lb	Heavy butcher paper, meat wrapping

Label / Sticker Paper

Self-adhesive paper for product labels, stickers, and decals. Available in matte, gloss, and clear finishes.

GSM	Type	Common Use
60 gsm	Thin label	Address labels, price stickers
80 gsm	Standard label	Product labels, bottle labels
100 gsm	Premium label	Wine labels, luxury product labels
120 gsm	Heavy label	Waterproof labels, outdoor stickers
150 gsm	Vinyl sticker	Die-cut stickers, bumper stickers

Wrapping Paper

Decorative paper for gift wrapping and retail packaging. Custom printed with your brand for a premium unboxing experience.

GSM	Lbs	Common Use
50 gsm	30 lb	Standard gift wrap
60 gsm	36 lb	Premium gift wrap, retail tissue
80 gsm	48 lb	Heavy wrapping paper, kraft wrap
100 gsm	60 lb	Luxury wrapping, coated paper

Quick Conversion Formula

GSM to Points: Divide GSM by 25 (approximate). Example: 300 GSM ÷ 25 = 12 pt

GSM to Lbs: Multiply GSM by 0.2656 (for 25x38" basis). Example: 300 GSM × 0.2656 = ~80 lb

Points to mm: Multiply points by 0.0254. Example: 14 pt × 0.0254 = 0.356 mm

Not Sure Which Weight You Need?

Our packaging specialists can recommend the right material weight for your product. Free consultation, no obligation.

Heavier boards suit premium builds like luxury skincare packaging and rigid boxes, while lighter kraft and corrugated weights work for mailer boxes and corrugated shipping boxes.

Get Quote → Call (224) 546-8325

Paper Weight Conversion FAQ

What is 18 pt in gsm?

For standard SBS/C1S paperboard, 18 pt is about 450 gsm (roughly 110 lb cover). Points (pt) measure caliper, or thickness, while gsm measures weight, so the exact figure varies a little by board bulk. See the chart above for your stock.

What is 16 pt in gsm?

16 pt is about 400 gsm, or roughly 100 lb, for typical paperboard.

What is 14 pt in gsm?

14 pt is about 350 gsm, or roughly 90 lb.

What is 24 pt in gsm?

24 pt is about 600 gsm, or roughly 150 lb.

What is 12 pt in gsm?

12 pt is about 300 gsm, or roughly 80 lb.

How do I convert gsm to mm?

gsm measures weight and mm measures thickness, so there is no single universal ratio; it depends on the board's bulk. Because caliper points are a thickness unit, you can convert through points: 1 pt equals 0.0254 mm. For example, 24 pt board (about 600 gsm) is roughly 0.61 mm.

What is 600 gsm in mm?

For standard paperboard, 600 gsm is about 24 pt of caliper, which is roughly 0.61 mm thick. Exact thickness depends on the board's bulk.

What is 500 gsm in mm?

500 gsm paperboard is roughly 20 pt, or about 0.51 mm thick, depending on the stock's bulk.

What is 350 gsm in lbs?

350 gsm is about 90 lb cover, or roughly 14 pt, for standard paperboard.

What is 250 gsm in lbs?

250 gsm is about 65 lb, or roughly 10 pt.

Need these specs on a real box? Teal prints custom packaging from a 50-unit minimum with free dieline design and free US shipping. Get a quote or order a sample kit to check the board in hand.