Choose between 70gsm, 75gsm and 80gsm A4 copy paper by checking your printer’s supported media range and comparing the actual printed samples. Grammage measures mass per square metre; it doesn’t prove thickness, opacity or freedom from jams. A lighter grade can suit routine text when its feed performance and readability pass your test. A heavier grade can be a useful option for duplex documents, but 80gsm alone doesn’t guarantee better output. Keep sheet size, print settings and the test document constant. Purchase the grade that meets the job with acceptable feeding, reverse-side readability and delivered cost per usable sheet.
Office buyers often treat 80gsm as a universal quality label or assume that 70gsm is automatically unsuitable. Both shortcuts miss the machine and document requirements. A weight comparison should answer one question: which offered grade passes your actual print job?
Key takeaways
- Grammage is a mass specification, not a direct thickness measurement.
- Compare opacity and feeding separately from gsm.
- Duplex limits may differ from a printer’s general media limits.
- Lower paper mass doesn’t establish a lower delivered price.
What 70gsm, 75gsm and 80gsm mean
A 70gsm paper has a nominal mass of 70 grams per square metre; 75gsm and 80gsm use the same area basis. ISO 536:2019, published in 2019 and accessed in 2026, provides the test method for paper grammage.
Gsm makes different sheet formats comparable on an area basis. It doesn’t say how much one pack weighs until you also know its sheet size and count. Nor does it say whether the sheet has the caliper or bending stiffness required by a particular feeder.
When viewing A4 copy paper options, ask which values are confirmed and which require a supplier datasheet. A complete weight comparison starts with more than the largest number on the wrapper.
Compare A4 copy paper grades without assuming quality
A4 copy paper at different grammages should be compared against the same acceptance criteria. The table gives starting points for a sample trial, not guaranteed performance categories.
| Nominal grade | Useful candidate for | What to inspect first | What gsm cannot prove |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70gsm | Routine text with a compatible feeder | Reverse-side visibility and feeding | Adequate opacity or stiffness |
| 75gsm | A middle-weight office candidate | Duplex text and tray behaviour | Better output than every 70gsm sheet |
| 80gsm | Reports and frequent duplex trials | Print contrast, caliper and curl | Zero jams or archival permanence |
The practical choice is the lightest or lowest-cost candidate that meets your specified output and handling requirements. Retain 80gsm when a tested lighter grade fails the job, not simply because its label appears more substantial.
Check the machine before comparing the samples
The correct gsm range comes from the official manual for the printer, tray and operation you will use. A model’s multipurpose tray can have different limits from its drawer or automatic duplex path.
For a concrete example, Canon’s SS515 paper table, undated and accessed in 2026, lists plain paper from 60 to 90 g/m² for the stated paper sources and indicates two-sided support. This is a model-specific example, not a rule for every Canon or office printer.
Before asking for a paper change to solve jams, check tray loading, guides, media-type settings and the condition of the samples. A wrongly registered media type makes the trial less useful because the printer may apply unsuitable settings.
Run a fair three-grade sample comparison
A useful gsm trial holds everything except the paper constant. Test a representative office document containing ordinary text, a dark table header and the level of colour coverage you actually use.
- Identify the receiving equipment. Record model, tray and whether automatic duplex is required.
- Prepare three labelled samples. Keep each grade separate and follow the manufacturer’s storage and loading guidance.
- Use one document and print mode. Don’t compare a draft-mode sample with a high-quality-mode sample.
- Check both sides. Look for distracting show-through, fuzzy small text and unwanted colour or grey variation.
- Record handling events. Note jams, double feeds, curl and repeat prints rather than relying on the operator’s impression.
- Repeat a doubtful result. Check settings and handling before ruling out a grade.
- Approve a defined candidate. Save its sample label, settings and acceptance notes with the purchase brief.
The paper printing applications page can help frame the intended use when sending a sample request. Describe what the document must do, such as legible duplex invoices, rather than asking only for “best paper.”
Calculate the mass difference for your own order
Nominal sheet mass can be calculated from area and grammage. For A4, the area calculation is 0.210 x 0.297 = 0.06237 m². The following figures are our calculations, not measured product weights.
| Nominal grammage | Calculated A4 sheet mass | Calculated paper mass for 500 sheets |
|---|---|---|
| 70 g/m² | 4.3659 g | 2.18295 kg |
| 75 g/m² | 4.67775 g | 2.338875 kg |
| 80 g/m² | 4.9896 g | 2.4948 kg |
Use rounded figures for planning and actual measured packed weights for shipping. Wrappers, cartons and pallets aren’t included. A 70gsm pack can contain less paper mass while costing more delivered if commercial terms differ.
For quote comparison, divide the total delivered amount by the confirmed number of usable sheets. Include taxes or freight consistently. If a candidate produces unacceptable repeat prints, investigate that operational cost separately rather than assuming the invoice price tells the full story.
Frequently asked questions about copy paper gsm
Is 80gsm always better than 70gsm?
80gsm isn’t always the better choice for every print job. Paper construction and printer compatibility also matter. Compare the supplied samples against the same criteria for readability, feeding and cost. Retain the heavier grade when it gives a needed result that a lighter candidate doesn’t provide.
Can 70gsm paper be used for duplex printing?
70gsm can be considered for duplex printing when the device supports it and the sample passes your readability test. Don’t assume the paper is suitable from grammage alone. Dense print on the reverse side is a useful stress check for documents that will be read on both sides.
Will 75gsm paper reduce printer jams?
75gsm doesn’t provide a universal jam reduction guarantee. A jam can involve the paper, storage, loading, tray guides or machine condition. Record the operating conditions and inspect a controlled sample before attributing the problem to one nominal weight.
Does a heavier ream contain more sheets?
A heavier ream doesn’t necessarily contain more sheets. At the same A4 size and count, higher grammage increases the nominal paper mass. Different sheet counts and packaging can also change pack weight, so confirm both the printed count and the grade.
Which grade should an importer request first?
An importer should request candidates that match the destination equipment and intended document use. Include gsm options, size, sheet count and sample acceptance criteria. Don’t select one grade for every customer if their printers, duplex needs and budgets differ.
Next step: select a grade that passes the job
Compare 70gsm, 75gsm and 80gsm copy paper using the same printer and document. When you have a candidate, send its grade, expected quantity, destination and test requirements through the A4 paper enquiry page. A quote tied to an approved sample is easier to assess than an offer based only on the word “premium.”