Definition · 3 min read
What is paper weight (gsm), and which matters for art prints?
The gsm number on art paper — what it means, what to look for, and what each weight is appropriate for.
Paper weight is measured in grams per square meter (gsm) and indicates the paper's thickness and rigidity. Fine art prints typically use 200-310 gsm. Above 310 gsm reads as cardstock; below 200 gsm feels like office paper. The right weight for an unframed print is 270-310 gsm; for matted-and-framed work, 240-270 gsm is sufficient.
gsm is the most commonly misread spec on a print product page. Buyers see a number and have nothing to anchor it against. This is the anchor.
A short scale
- 80-100 gsm: office paper. Never appropriate for art print.
- 150-200 gsm: poster weight. Acceptable for short-lifespan work only.
- 200-240 gsm: light fine-art. Reasonable for small prints, matted.
- 240-270 gsm: standard fine-art. Default for most museum-grade output.
- 270-310 gsm: heavy fine-art. Right for unframed display, larger sizes, archival work.
- 310+ gsm: cardstock. Reads more like a card than a print.
aworldofart standards
Matte fine art: 285 gsm. Semi-gloss museum: 270 gsm. Cotton rag (numbered edition): 310 gsm. All three sit at the upper end of fine-art weight, which is what large-format and archival work requires.