{"id":4115,"date":"2014-05-03T08:26:38","date_gmt":"2014-05-03T08:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/?p=546"},"modified":"2025-07-30T18:44:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T18:44:22","slug":"what-is-the-standard-weight-of-office-copy-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insights.printivity.com\/what-is-the-standard-weight-of-office-copy-paper","title":{"rendered":"How Much Does a Sheet of Paper Weigh?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When people talk about \u201coffice copy paper\u201d, they\u2019re referring to the types of paper that most people use in printers and photocopiers at home\/work. This is also the kind of paper that people usually buy at their local office supply stores (ex. Staples, Office Depot, Wal-Mart, etc).  But not all paper is equal, and one of the biggest differences comes down to its weight. So, how much does a piece of paper weigh?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The standard office copy paper weight is most commonly called \u201c20 lb. bond\u201d. Standard office copy paper weighs approximately 10.0 lbs per 1000 sheets. Office copy paper is the cheapest blank white paper you can buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another name for this same copy paper weight<\/a> is: \u201c50 lb. uncoated text\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes, \u201c20 lb. bond\u201d and \u201c50 lb. uncoated text\u201d are basically the same kinds of paper. There is no difference between the two names for the paper. <\/strong>Weird, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically you see the different names depending on where you\u2019re buying the paper from. But they\u2019re both \u201coffice copy paper\u201d; similar in color, thickness, and weight. It\u2019s simply two different ways of manufacturing and naming the same paper. That\u2019s why, when someone asks, \u201chow much does a sheet of paper weigh?\u201d, the answer will depend on the name that is used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason why they have different \u201cpoundage\u201d is because of the concept of basis weight<\/a>. Even though the paper is the same, they\u2019re measured in two different sized stacks: bond is measured with 17\u201d x 22\u201d sheets weighing 20 lbs., and text is measured with 25\u201d x 38\u201d sheets weighing 50 lbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Get<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you go to your local office supply store, their standard office copy paper will be named \u201c20 lb. bond\u201d.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you order printing or order paper from a larger paper distributor (places buying\/selling large volumes of paper), you will see office copy paper called both: \u201c20 lb. bond\u201d and \u201c50 lb. uncoated text\u201d. But how much does a sheet of paper weigh at Printivity?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Printivity, our \u201coffice copy paper\u201d of choice is: 50 lb. uncoated text, and it also weighs approximately 10.0 lbs per 1000 sheets. 50 lb. uncoated too thin for you? We have thicker options!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What other kinds of office copy paper weights are there?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Customers who want other varieties of office copy paper can go for thicker types of office copy paper. This results in a more substantial feel, and more opaque (images on a thin sheet like \u201c20 lb. bond\u201d can be seen through the back):<\/p>\n\n\n\n