Stock designations in printing can be very confusing. For instance, a printer may use 60# offset stock for letterhead, giving the customer the impression that a competitor’s 24# stock is inferior. In fact, 24# bond, and 60# offset weights are approximately the same, only the offset stocks are finished for offset printing, while bond stocks are more often used for spot color stationery printing.

The table below might help you sort out how one type of paper measure compares to others. we hope this will take some of the mystery out of a complicated process.

Weight and thickness equivalents for paper stocks

Bond Lbs	Offset Lbs	Cover Lbs	Tag Lbs	Index Lbs	Points	Inch Thickness
16	40	22	37	33	3.2	.0032
18	45	24	41	37	3.6	.0036
20	50	28	46	42	3.8	.0038
24	60	33	56	50	4.8	.0048
28	70	39	64	58	5.8	.0058
29	73	40	62	60	6	.0060
31	81	45	73	66	6.1	.0061
35	90	48	80	74	6.2	.0062
36	90	50	82	75	6.8	.0068
39	100	54	90	81	7.2	.0072
40	100	56	93	83	7.3	.0073
43	110	60	100	90	7.4	.0074
44	110	61	102	92	7.6	.0076
47	120	65	108	97	8	.0078
53	135	74	122	110	9	.0085
54	137	75	125	113	9	.009
58	146	80	134	120	9.5	.0092
65	165	90	150	135	10	.0095
67	170	93	156	140	10.5	.010
72	183	100	166	150	11	.011
76	192	105	175	158	13	.013
82	208	114	189	170	14	.014
87	220	120	200	180	15	.015
105	267	146	244	220	18	.0175