Paper Weight for Printing: GSM vs LB (and What to Use)

When you print templates at home on printer paper or copy paper, weight affects everything: ink bleed, show-through, and how durable the sheet feels in a binder. Most printer paper and copy paper fall in the 20–24 lb (75–90 gsm) range.

GSM vs LB: what’s the difference?

• GSM = grams per square meter (common internationally)
• LB = pounds (common in the US, but varies by paper type)

Because “lb” depends on the paper category, GSM is often the clearer spec when comparing papers.

Practical paper weight ranges

What to choose for ruled and graph templates

• For classroom notes (college/wide ruled), 80–90 gsm is usually enough.
• For graph paper used with pens and highlighters, 90–120 gsm feels better.

Try templates like:

• College ruled template
• Graph paper 1/4 inch

Tip: printer settings matter too

If you switch from 80 gsm to 120 gsm, adjust your printer “paper type” setting (plain vs heavy). That helps ink dry correctly and reduces smearing.