170 gsm paper
170 g/m²
45 lb bond · 115 lb text · 63 lb cover
What 170 gsm is for
Magazine covers and premium flyers. The point where paper begins to behave like card — it will stand up on its own edge if creased.
170 gsm in American basis weights
One metric weight becomes six different pound figures, because each American grade is weighed at a different sheet size. None of them is more correct than the others — but some are outside the range that grade is actually sold in, and those are marked.
| Grade | Basis size | 170 gsm is | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bond / Writing | 17 × 22 in | 45.2 lb — not made at this weight | Office copier paper, letterheads and business stationery. |
| Text / Book | 25 × 38 in | 114.9 lb | Book pages, brochures, magazine interiors and flyers. |
| Cover | 20 × 26 in | 62.9 lb | Business cards, book covers, postcards and folders. |
| Index | 25.5 × 30.5 in | 94.0 lb | Index cards, tabbed dividers and stiff record cards. |
| Tag | 24 × 36 in | 104.5 lb | Tags, tickets and hanging labels. |
| Bristol | 22.5 × 28.5 in | 77.5 lb | Drawing board, presentation card and heavy stock. |
Nearby weights
| gsm | lb bond | lb text | lb cover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 | 32 | 81 | 44 | Heavy letterhead and single-sheet flyers |
| 150 | 40 | 101 | 55 | Poster and flyer weight |
| 170 | 45 | 115 | 63 | Magazine covers and premium flyers |
| 200 | 53 | 135 | 74 | Light card for folders, presentation covers and the thinner end of postcards |
Frequently asked questions
What is 170 gsm in lb?
It depends which grade — that is the whole difficulty. 45 lb bond, 115 lb text, 63 lb cover. American basis weights are not comparable between grades, so a pound figure means nothing without the grade beside it.
How thick is 170 gsm paper?
Roughly 0.213 mm for an uncoated sheet — about 0.212 mm — though thickness depends on how the paper was made as much as on its weight. A bulky uncoated stock and a compressed glossy one at the same gsm can differ by half again.
What is 170 gsm paper used for?
Magazine covers and premium flyers. The point where paper begins to behave like card — it will stand up on its own edge if creased.
All paper weights, and why lb figures disagree · Paper sizes