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GSM stands for grams per square metre — it’s the unit used to measure paper weight in printing. The higher the number, the heavier and thicker the paper. That’s the whole concept. What takes a little more familiarity is knowing which gsm is right for which print product, and why the difference between, say, 130gsm and 200gsm matters for a brochure but less so for an A4 flyer in a thick stack.
The Common GSM Range and Where Each Weight Lives
60gsm to 80gsm — standard office and copier paper. This is the paper in your printer tray. It’s fine for internal documents, draft copies, and anything that won’t be presented externally. At 80gsm, text from the reverse side can show through (called “bleed-through”), which is a minor drawback for double-sided printing but manageable for most office use.
90gsm to 115gsm — upgraded office and document paper. A noticeable step up from standard 80gsm. Less bleed-through, more body, slightly more premium feel. Used for letterheads, internal reports, and document printing where a step above basic matters but full art card would be over-engineered. Many commercial document print jobs use 100gsm as a practical default for body pages.
128gsm to 157gsm — standard art card for flyers and brochures. This is the most commonly ordered range for marketing collateral in Singapore. At 128gsm you have a solid flyer; at 150gsm to 157gsm you’re at the weight most businesses consider a quality promotional piece. Lamination becomes viable in this range — below 128gsm the substrate is generally too light to bond reliably with laminate film.
170gsm to 200gsm — heavier promotional print. Noticeably more rigid than standard flyer stock. Used for higher-end flyers, event handouts, folded brochures where the cover needs substance, and inserts that need to hold their shape when displayed. At 200gsm the piece has real weight in the hand — an immediately perceptible quality signal.
250gsm to 310gsm — standard business card and booklet cover range. Most name cards in Singapore are printed at 310gsm art card. Booklet covers typically use 250gsm to 300gsm to contrast with the lighter interior pages and provide structural rigidity. At this weight, the card stock has a definitive, solid feel that communicates quality before anyone reads a word.
350gsm to 400gsm — premium card stock. Used for ultra-premium name cards and cover boards where maximum thickness and rigidity are the goal. The difference between 310gsm and 350gsm is perceptible when held side by side; the difference between 350gsm and 400gsm is subtler but still meaningful for luxury applications.
Paper Type Matters As Much As Weight
GSM tells you how heavy the paper is, not what it’s made of. The two most common paper types in Singapore commercial printing are art card (coated, smooth, used for most marketing collateral) and woodfree (uncoated, slightly textured, used for documents, writing paper, and certain premium finishes). A 150gsm art card feels and behaves quite differently from a 150gsm woodfree sheet — both are the same weight but have a completely different surface and texture.
For most marketing and collateral printing, art card is the standard. For documents that need to be written on, filed, or have a more natural texture, woodfree is the right specification.
Quick Reference for Common Print Products
Flyers: 130gsm to 170gsm art card. Brochures (interior): 130gsm to 157gsm art card. Brochure and booklet covers: 250gsm to 300gsm. Name cards: 310gsm to 360gsm. Document body pages: 90gsm to 100gsm woodfree. Document covers: 200gsm to 250gsm art card. Posters: 150gsm to 200gsm art card. Pull-up banner graphic: specific to media type, not standard paper gsm.
If you’re unsure which weight is right for your job, visit ExpressPrint’s knowledge base for detailed product specifications, or reach out via WhatsApp with your requirements.
