Easiest and the most accurate method to measure Grammage (GSM) of Paper/ Cardboard/Corrugated Sheets & Laminates

What is Grammage (GSM) of Paper?

Grammage (GSM) refers to the weight of paper per square meter. It is an essential measure for determining the thickness, density, and quality of paper. A higher GSM typically means a thicker, more durable paper.

How to Calculate GSM of Paper?

To calculate the GSM (Grams per Square Meter) of paper, you can use the following formula:

GSM = (Weight of Paper in Grams / Area of Paper in Square Meters)

For example, if a sheet of paper weighs 5 grams and has an area of 0.01 square meters, the GSM would be:

GSM = (Weight of Paper in Grams / Area of Paper in Square Meters) × 100.

How to Measure GSM of Paper?

To measure the GSM of paper, follow these steps:

1. Cut a Sample: Cut a small, exact 100 cm² (10 cm x 10 cm) square from the paper.
2. Weigh the Sample: Use a precise scale to weigh the sample in grams.
   Calculate GSM: Multiply the weight in grams by 100 to get the GSM.
3. For example, if the weight of the 100 cm² sample is 3 grams:

GSM=3×100=300 GSM

If you are struggling to find the easiest and the most accurate If you are struggling to find the easiest and the most accurate method of checking the grammage of paper corrugated boxes lemonades or Cardboard sheets then this article is for you.

The simplest method of measuring laminates grammage is by cutting a sample which is 1 meter by 1 meter and measuring it on a weighing scale,  well that may not be possible practically since you don't get a 1 meter by 1 meter sample and also it becomes very tedious and difficult to cut a 1 meter by 1 meter sample, so the best method would be to cut a small sample which could be maybe 100th of per square meter and then measure it on a weighing scale and multiply it with 100. Simple isn’t it.

Now how to cut the sample accurately which is exactly 1/100th of a square meter?

Here is the solution for it:

• Get a square template which is 10 cm x 10 cm and cut the sample.
• Weigh it on a weighting scale and multiply the reading with 100
• If the error is coming, then buy a GSM round cutter and get 100% accurate results.
• Make sure you have the high-performance rubber mats to support the cutting, else the cutting blades would break.

The method is well explained by Vishal Malhotra, Quality Coach at PRESTO in the first episode of the series Quality Control by PRESTO.