The European measurement of describing paper weight measures a single paper with a two dimensional height and width of one square meter. This measurement is noted as g/m2 (gm/m², gsm, g/m²). The measurement may be measuring a hypothetical square meter, but is a good "apples to apples" reference because it compares the weights of different size papers.

The US method of paper weight may be more familiar to people, but it has its drawbacks when comparing weights of different size paper. The US method of measurement gives the weight of the paper as if weighing 500 sheets (or a ream). Differences in the dimensions of paper are not taken into account. Therefore, the US weight of a letter size paper that is thick and dense may be the same as a poster size paper that is light and tissue thin because 500 sheets of each weight the same. It's the "which weights more, a ton of lead or a ton of feathers" quandary.

Neenah Paper provides some very specific information in the five charts below on how their wood pulp paper products can be compared within the different commercial printing paper types. These can be used as very rough guides when evaluating the grammage of decorative paper.

For those of you looking for additional paper weight conversions more related to wood pulp-based commercial printing paper, the charts below may be of help although not specifically related to the handmade and decorative paper we offer. (chart courtesy of Iconix Digital Arts)