basis weight
The actual weight of a ream of paper (normally 500
sheets, but at times 480 or 516), cut to its BASIC SIZE . The
standard, or basic, size ream varies with
different grades of paper. Some papers and boards
are produced to a specified caliper (thickness),
rather than to a specific weight; an example of
this is heavy cover paper. The United States
Government Printing Office uses a unit of 1,000
sheets, which is also used in the M.M. SYSTEM . In most
foreign countries, as well as in certain domestic
test procedures, the standard size is a square
meter, with the weight being expressed in grams
per square meter. The basis weight of board is
commonly expressed in pounds per 1,000 square
feet. Book paper basis weights are based on the 25
by 38 inch sheet size, while cover paper weights
are calculated on a size of 20 by 26 inches. (17 , 72 , 334 )
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