Paper Terms

Text Paper
A paper of fine quality manufactured in white and colors and made in a variety of finishes such as, vellum, smooth, felt, laid and embossed. Text paper is simply the paper that is traditionally used between the covers of a book or pamphlet. Standard text weights are 60, 70, 80, and 100 lb.Cover Paper - A paper that is more durable and thicker than text paper manufactured in white and colors along with a variety of finishes such as, vellum, smooth, felt, laid and embossed. Cover paper is used for business cards, brochures and as covers for catalogs and pamphlets. Standard cover weights are 65, 80, 100 lb and above.

Writing or Bond Paper
A paper of fine quality manufactured in white and colors and made in a variety of finishes such as, vellum, smooth, felt, laid and embossed. Writing paper is used primarily for company stationery and correspondence. Standard writing weights are 20, 24, and 28 lb.

Basis Weight
All text, cover and writing paper is divided into basis weights. Basically the heavier the basis weight per type of paper the thicker and heavier the paper. It must be noted that each type of paper (text, cover, writing) must be looked at individually in terms of basis weight. For example, 100 lb text is not as thick or heavy as 100 lb cover, but 100 lb text is thicker and heavier than 60 lb text. For basis weight comparisons text should always be compared with text, cover with cover and writing with writing.

Equivalent Weights in Paper
Use the table below to compare one type of paper to another for basis weight. Find the weight under the heading and the approximate equivalent basis weights for the other types of paper will be on the right or left.

Example: A 28 lb writing or bond is equivalent to a 70 lb text and a 39 lb. cover.

Example: A 80 lb text is equivalent to a 32 lb writing and a 45 lb cover.

Example: A 65 lb cover is equivalent to a 120 lb text or a 46 lb writing.