Getting the perfect custom packaging for your products is an easy but technical thing to do. There are many factors that you need to consider and control if you want the best packaging in your respective industry. Among these things, material is a crucial element. Any mistakes in material selection can greatly impact the quality and looks of your material boxes and also effect the customer’s shopping experience.
Now that you know about the importance of materials in packaging, let us briefly mention what is GSM in packaging. Simply put, GSM, or grams per square meter, is the measure of how heavy the paperboard is. By selecting the right GSM for packaging boxes, your package will not only look good but also be durable and sturdy enough to protect what’s inside. This guide is all about selecting the best GSM for packaging boxes, and it will cover the following points:
We have already defined GSM for paperboard. Now let us explain what it means in detail. It is the standard measurement unit that is used to determine the weight and thickness of paper, cardboard, and other packaging materials. GSM in paper-based packaging solutions is a very important factor and must never be ignored while selecting your packaging boxes.
Now let us explain in detail: what is GSM in paper? It indicates how much a square meter of material weighs. For example, a paper with a GSM of 80 means that one square meter of the paper weighs 80 grams. If the paper is cut into small sections, it still carries the same weight because it is uniformly distributed among the entire length of the paper. It is important to mention here that lightweight packaging solutions have a GSM of 40 to 80 grams, while heavier Custom Packaging Boxes made from corrugated cardboard or rigid stock typically have a GSM of more than 200.
Choosing the best GSM for packaging is very important. If the paper thickness for packaging box is not right, the box can tear during shipping, or it can even damage the product inside. Paperboard with a GSM range of 350-500 grams can effectively resist bending, tearing, and crushing compared to lighter paper. However, this is not as simple as it seems; the GSM of paperboard must be as per the nature of the product. There is no point in packing a lightweight item in a heavy-duty box, as it can lead to higher costs of purchasing and shipping. This is why it is very important to understand the meaning of GSM in paper.
The GSM of paperboard also plays a vital role in printing and branding. Heavier GSM offers a more premium feel with a better printing surface, making it ideal for Rigid Boxes and packaging luxury items. Such materials can also absorb ink and coatings better than lightweight materials, resulting in sharp images, rich colors, and smooth finishes.
If you sell luxury items such as watches and perfumes, we suggest you pick a paperboard with a GSM of above 800 grams, as it will give a premium feel. If you are selling everyday retail items that don’t need much protection, lightweight papers can do the trick as well.
Another factor that must be mentioned in this part of our packaging paper GSM guide is that by using the minimum required GSM, brands can reduce materials usage and also effectively reduce the shipping costs. Such custom boxes are more eco-friendly than the ones unnecessarily made from thicker and heavier materials.
The packaging material selection must be done after a critical analysis of various factors. This is important because each box serves a unique purpose. For example, if you sell items only at retail stores, you don’t need a thick board unless your product is heavy. For e-commerce brands, using durable paperboard for Shipping Boxes is a must. Let us now explore how to choose GSM for boxes that will give them the required level of durability and an optimum surface for printing.
The first step in selecting the right GSM in paper thickness is evaluating the product you are packaging. If your product is heavy, fragile, breakable, or weighs too much, then you need thicker and stronger packaging, which is provided by a GSM of 250 or higher. This will ensure that your packaging stays intact during display and shipping. For lightweight items, the GSM for product packaging can be a bit lower.
One more thing to consider here is the intended use of the boxes. Retail Boxes can work very well with a lower paperboard GSM. For example, Soap Boxes require a paper GSM of 250 to 400 grams. For Candle Boxes, the GSM varies based on the type of product you are packing in it but usually varies between 300 and 1200 grams. The higher end limit is for packing candles in rigid boxes. Rigid box GSM is on the higher end along with the shipping cartons and varies between 1000 and 1800 grams.
The right paper GSM ensures that the box will look colorful, fancy, and eye-catching. Materials with a higher GSM are great for printing because they have enough depth to let the colors penetrate. They can also handle special finishes like foil stamping, embossing, and debossing. This doesn’t mean that the materials with a lower GSM ratio aren’t suitable for such luxury touches. They are good enough too, but thicker ones give better results. Brands that want to add a premium and luxury feel to their packaging boxes can go with boards in the 300 to 500 GSM range.
The conditions in which a box is placed must be considered before deciding the right thickness of the packaging material. If the product needs to travel far, the box must be thick. If you are selling things like frozen food items or ice cream, you need the boxes to be strong, durable, and able to withstand the freezing temperature. This is why ice Cream Boxes are usually made from corrugated cardboard with higher GSM. On the other hand, if the box will sit on a retail shelf, a lower GSM will do the trick. For such items, you don’t need to invest heavily in Custom Product Boxes.
In an attempt to go luxury, we don’t want you to end up with costly boxes. Boxes that are heavier are costly compared to the ones that are lightweight. They also increase the shipping cost from your warehouse to the retail store or from your business premises to the customers’ home. Hence, it is a wise choice to pick a GSM that’s strong enough to protect your product without increasing the cost too much.
The world of packaging is a highly versatile one. There are hundreds of types of boxes alone in the realm of paper-based packaging. If you are new in this world, selecting a suitable GSM for custom boxes can get a bit technical. But don’t worry, our paperboard weight guide will explain everything.
Here is a well-detailed GSM chart for packaging with packaging types, different paper weights, and GSM range. This will help you select the right material with the perfect GSM for your custom packaging boxes.
| Packaging Type | Common Material | Typical GSM Range |
| Carton Boxes (Folding Cartons) | Duplex Board / SBS / Kraft Paper / Cardboard | 200 – 400 GSM |
| Corrugated Boxes (Outer Boxes) | Corrugated Cardboard | 400 – 1200 GSM |
| Paper Bags (Retail/Grocery) | Kraft Paper | 80 – 200 GSM |
| Flexible Packaging (Pouches, Sachets) | BOPP / PET / Foil Laminates | 50 – 150 GSM |
| Labels and Tags | Art Paper / Coated Paper / Kraft | 70 – 180 GSM |
| Luxury Packaging (Rigid Boxes) | Greyboard with wrapped paper | 1000 – 1800 GSM (core) |
| Tissue & Wrapping Paper | Tissue Paper / MG Kraft | 20 – 60 GSM |
| Envelopes | Bond Paper / Kraft Paper | 70 – 120 GSM |
As is evident in the above paper thickness GSM chart, the GSM of a paper varies as per the packaging type.
The aim of this blog was to define GSM paper dynamics, educate you on its importance in the packaging industry, guide you on selecting the right paper weight GSM as per your product, and give an idea about different GSMs used for numerous packaging types. We hope that everything is clear in your mind and you will be able to select the right GSM paper weight for your products. If there are some confusions, our team of packaging experts is here to help round the clock. Not only do we offer free design assistance, but we also provide free shipping across the US, no matter how heavy your boxes are. Contact us via the online chat or ring us at the provided number, and we will take care of everything about your brand’s packaging.
GSM stands for grams per square meter and tells about the weight and thickness of a specific material. A higher GSM means a thicker, more durable, and more expensive box. It is very important in packaging because the structural integrity of the box depends on it. If a low-GSM paper is used for a heavier product, the box can break.
Yes. Heavier printer papers are more expensive because they use more material. As a result, they offer more durability, support colors, and finishing better than a lightweight material.
The thickness of the printing paper usually ranges between 0.05 mm and 0.1 mm thick, depending on its GSM. A paper with a GSM of 80 grams is about 0.1 mm thick.
GSM measures the weight of the paper, while the thickness shows the physical height of the paper. GSM is usually measured in grams, while the thickness is calculated in millimeters.
Retail packaging usually uses a paper GSM of 250 to 400 GSM. However, please note that these boxes cannot be used for delivery purposes unless you pack them in shipping boxes.
Cosmetic packaging is best made from cardboard with a GSM of 350 to 400 grams. However, many brands use rigid boxes for premium products that have a GSM above 1000.
No. There are no predefined industry standards, but most brands follow the norms set by their specific industry.
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