GSM (grams per square metre) determines how thick and heavy a sheet of paper feels. The right GSM makes your resume feel professional, your letterhead feel authoritative, and your visiting card feel premium. This guide explains exactly which GSM to use for every common printing need — from everyday assignments to business cards.
The Basics
GSM stands for 'grams per square metre'. It measures how much one square metre of that paper weighs in grams. The higher the GSM, the heavier, thicker, and more premium the paper feels. Standard office paper is 75–80GSM. A business card is typically 300–350GSM. The difference is something you can feel immediately when you hold two sheets side by side.
Complete Reference
| GSM | Feel | Best Used For | Available at Virar Stationery |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 GSM | Very thin, almost translucent | Bulk xerox copies where cost matters most, reference material | Yes |
| 70 GSM | Standard thin | Regular xerox/photocopy, draft documents, internal office copies | Yes |
| 75 GSM | Slightly heavier than 70 | Most common office paper. Everyday assignments, letters, forms | Yes |
| 80 GSM | The standard | College assignments, office documents, most day-to-day printing | Yes (default) |
| 90 GSM | Noticeably heavier | Better quality assignments, seminar reports, official correspondence | Ask us |
| 100 GSM | Premium feel | Resumes, CVs, seminar covers, important proposals | Yes |
| 120 GSM | Distinctly thick | Senior interview resumes, official certificates, company proposals | Yes |
| 160 GSM | Card-like | Menu cards, invitation cards, folder inserts | Ask us |
| 200 GSM | Light card | Brochures, premium leaflets, thin greeting cards | Ask us |
| 250–300 GSM | Standard card | Visiting cards, business cards, postcards | Yes |
Choose by Use
Use 75–80GSM. This is the standard paper weight used across all colleges in India. Your professor expects it. Going heavier adds cost without benefit for routine assignments.
Use 80GSM for the body pages. For the cover page, consider 100–120GSM for a slightly more premium feel — though many students just use the standard 80GSM with a transparent spiral binding cover.
Use 100GSM for most campus placements. For senior roles and important final interviews, 120GSM creates a noticeably stronger first impression. Never print your resume on 75GSM — it communicates cheapness even before it's read.
Use 80GSM for standard office letterheads. For legal firms, medical letterheads, and premium corporate stationery, 90–100GSM is worth the small price difference.
Visiting cards are printed on 250–300GSM card stock. This is a completely different category from regular paper — it's thick, rigid card. The finish (matte or gloss lamination) is applied on top.
Use 120–160GSM. Certificates need to feel substantial — flimsy paper makes an achievement feel less significant. 120GSM with gloss lamination is the standard for institutional certificates.
Use 90–120GSM. Standard 80GSM paper is too thin for posters that will be pinned up and handled repeatedly. 100GSM holds up much better over time.
Engineering drawings are typically printed on 80GSM bond paper or tracing paper. The weight is less important than the surface quality — bond paper gives clean, sharp lines. Tracing paper is semi-transparent and required by some architecture departments.
Experience First
If you are unsure which GSM feels right for your use case, visit our shop and we'll show you physical samples side by side. The difference between 80GSM and 100GSM is immediately obvious when you hold both sheets together.
Fold a sheet of paper in half and run your thumb along the crease. Heavier paper (100GSM+) folds with a clean, crisp crease and springs back slightly. Lighter paper (70–75GSM) folds easily and stays flat. For resumes and proposals, you want paper that holds its shape.
Hold the paper up to a light source. 70GSM paper lets significant light through — you can often see print from the other side. 100GSM is much more opaque, preventing print show-through on double-sided documents.
Got Questions?
100GSM for most campus placements. 120GSM for important senior interviews. Never use 75GSM for a resume — it feels cheap and communicates the wrong impression.
75–80GSM is the standard for office printing in India. Most printers are calibrated for this weight.
Visiting cards are printed on 250–300GSM card stock — a completely different category from regular paper. The finish (matte or gloss lamination) is applied on top.
Not always. Heavy paper costs more and is unnecessary for routine internal documents or bulk xerox copies. Use heavier paper when the document's impression on the reader matters.
Engineering drawings are printed on 80GSM bond paper or tracing paper. The surface quality matters more than the weight for technical line drawings.
Yes. We stock several paper weights. WhatsApp or call us to confirm availability of a specific GSM before visiting for a specialist order.
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