What is the most common paper GSM used for paperback books?

75–80 GSM uncoated bond paper is the standard for most commercial paperback fiction and non-fiction. It provides good opacity (low show-through), comfortable readability, and a familiar, lightweight feel.

What GSM should I use for a thesis?

70–80 GSM is standard for thesis interior pages. If your thesis contains full-colour figures, charts, or photographs, some students opt for 90–100 GSM to improve colour reproduction and page feel, particularly for the pages with key visuals.

Does higher GSM paper always mean better quality?

Not necessarily. Higher GSM means heavier and usually thicker, but 'better' depends on the application. A 60 GSM Bible paper is a premium specialty product despite its light weight. For general book printing, 75–80 GSM is a quality standard, not a compromise.

What is the difference between coated and uncoated paper at the same GSM?

Coated paper has a surface treatment (clay or mineral coating) that creates a smoother finish. At the same GSM, coated paper produces sharper, more vibrant colour prints but is slightly more expensive. Uncoated paper has a more textured, natural feel and is generally more comfortable for extended reading.

Can I mix paper weights — heavier for the cover section pages and lighter for the rest?

Yes. Many books use 100–130 GSM art paper for a photo insert section and standard 80 GSM for the rest of the text. This requires the printer to bind different paper stocks together — mention this when ordering and confirm it is supported.

How do I know which GSM Printster uses by default?

Printster shows available paper weight options in the order configurator. The default and available GSM choices are listed clearly at checkout so you can compare costs and select the weight that fits your document type and budget.

Best Paper GSM for Books

For printing a book's interior pages, 70–80 GSM is the standard weight — comparable to most commercial paperbacks and thick enough to prevent heavy show-through. If your book contains many full-colour images or photographs, step up to 100–130 GSM art paper. The cover should be 250–350 GSM regardless of what the interior uses.

GSM — grams per square metre — is the standard measure of paper weight used by printers worldwide, and choosing the right GSM affects how your book looks, feels, and reads. Too light and pages feel flimsy, show ink from the reverse side, and make a thin book feel cheap. Too heavy and a moderately sized book becomes unnecessarily bulky and expensive. For books, GSM choices split naturally between interior pages and the cover. These serve completely different functions — interior pages need comfortable readability and good ink absorption; the cover needs to be stiff enough to protect the block and present well on a shelf. Understanding the options at each weight helps you make a decision that matches both your content type and your budget. This guide covers the most common GSM choices for book printing, what each weight is best suited for, and how to decide for your specific project.

Paper GSM: What the Numbers Mean

GSM measures the weight of a one-square-metre sheet of paper. The higher the number, the heavier and typically thicker the paper:

60–70 GSM — lightweight; used in mass-market novels, newspapers, and Bible paper. Shows more ink through to the reverse side (ghosting/show-through) but keeps page count and book weight low.
75–80 GSM — standard for most commercial books and office printing. Good balance of thickness, opacity, and cost.
90–100 GSM — noticeably thicker; suitable for textbooks, coffee-table books with spot colour, and any book where durability and feel matter.
100–130 GSM art paper — coated (glossy or matte); used for books with full-colour photographs and graphics where colour vibrancy and sharpness are priorities.
250–350 GSM — typical for book covers, brochures, and card stock.

Best GSM for Novel and Text-Heavy Books

For a book that is primarily body text — a novel, academic monograph, or business book — 75–80 GSM uncoated is the right choice. It is thick enough to prevent significant show-through even with dense paragraphs, feels substantial without being heavy, and is how most commercial trade paperbacks are produced. If your book runs to 400 or more pages, 70 GSM is worth considering to keep the finished volume a manageable thickness.

Best GSM for Books with Colour Images

If your book includes full-colour photography, illustrations, or diagrams where colour accuracy matters — cookbooks, art books, travel guides, children's picture books — use 100–130 GSM coated art paper. The coating fills the micro-pores in the paper surface, giving sharper image edges and more vibrant colour reproduction. Matte-coated art paper (often called matte art) is comfortable to read under direct light; glossy art paper gives the richest colour saturation but can produce glare in some lighting.

Note that coated paper increases book weight and cost per page. A 200-page photobook on 130 GSM coated stock will be noticeably heavier than the same book on 80 GSM.

Cover GSM: Always Go Heavier

Regardless of your interior choice, the cover should be 250–300 GSM for a standard paperback, or 300–350 GSM for a cover that needs extra rigidity. Thicker cover stock holds the book's shape, resists curling at the corners, and conveys quality when picked up. A laminate (matte or gloss) adds further protection and is recommended for any cover that will be handled frequently.

For hardcover books, the cover is a rigid board case — GSM does not apply in the same way because the board is much heavier than any paper.

GSM and Pricing

Heavier paper costs more per page, both in material and in the extra ink needed for coated stocks. For a budget-conscious book run, 75–80 GSM interior is the sweet spot. If you are producing a coffee-table book or portfolio where production quality is the point, the premium for 130 GSM art paper is worth paying.

Use Printster's online price calculator to compare the cost of different paper weights for your exact page count — the difference for your specific project may be smaller or larger than you expect.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the most common paper GSM used for paperback books?: 75–80 GSM uncoated bond paper is the standard for most commercial paperback fiction and non-fiction. It provides good opacity (low show-through), comfortable readability, and a familiar, lightweight feel.
What GSM should I use for a thesis?: 70–80 GSM is standard for thesis interior pages. If your thesis contains full-colour figures, charts, or photographs, some students opt for 90–100 GSM to improve colour reproduction and page feel, particularly for the pages with key visuals.
Does higher GSM paper always mean better quality?: Not necessarily. Higher GSM means heavier and usually thicker, but 'better' depends on the application. A 60 GSM Bible paper is a premium specialty product despite its light weight. For general book printing, 75–80 GSM is a quality standard, not a compromise.
What is the difference between coated and uncoated paper at the same GSM?: Coated paper has a surface treatment (clay or mineral coating) that creates a smoother finish. At the same GSM, coated paper produces sharper, more vibrant colour prints but is slightly more expensive. Uncoated paper has a more textured, natural feel and is generally more comfortable for extended reading.
Can I mix paper weights — heavier for the cover section pages and lighter for the rest?: Yes. Many books use 100–130 GSM art paper for a photo insert section and standard 80 GSM for the rest of the text. This requires the printer to bind different paper stocks together — mention this when ordering and confirm it is supported.
How do I know which GSM Printster uses by default?: Printster shows available paper weight options in the order configurator. The default and available GSM choices are listed clearly at checkout so you can compare costs and select the weight that fits your document type and budget.