GSM, pounds and what paper weight actually tells you
Paper is sold by weight in two incompatible systems and neither of them directly tells you how thick a sheet is. Understanding roughly what the numbers mean removes most of the guesswork when buying without handling the stock.
GSM is comparable, pounds are not
Grams per square metre measures the same thing for every paper type, so a 250gsm card is heavier than a 160gsm one regardless of what either is for. American pound weights are measured against different base sheet sizes per category, which is why a 65lb cover and a 65lb text feel nothing alike.
Weight is not thickness
A textured or bulky sheet can be thicker than a heavier smooth one. If thickness is what matters – for a card that must stand up, or a page that must not show through – caliper is the number to ask for.
Useful landmarks
Around 80 to 120gsm is everyday paper. 160 to 200gsm is a substantial sheet that still folds. Above about 250gsm you are into card that wants scoring before it folds cleanly. Those three bands cover most decisions.
What we have on the shelf for this
Everything below is in the Cardstock and Specialty Paper section at Study Goods right now, listed newest price first. Stock moves, so the page is the authority.
- MyArtscape Graphite Transfer Paper – A4 Black 20 Sheets — $18.99
- 500 Sheets Vintage DIY Scrapbook Paper Junk Journal Supplies, Stylish Style — $15.99
- Boho Scrapbook Paper 24 Sheets, 12 In Textured Paper (Soft Color Tone) — $13.99
- 160 Sheets Vintage Scrapbook Paper Pack, Lightweight Decorative Paper Unique Designs — $12.99
- LewuwoPoing 15Pcs Handmade Scrapbook Art Paper Craft Textured Paper Colorful A5 sheet Mesh S — $12.99
- Textured Scrapbook Paper & Mesh Fabric Set, 112 Sheets, 7 Colors — $12.99
What it costs
Across cardstock and specialty paper at Study Goods prices currently run from $12.99 to $18.99. In cardstock and specialty paper that spread is mostly build quality and pack size rather than brand name: the cheapest option on this shelf is a reasonable place to start, and the dearest earns the difference in daily use rather than on the specification sheet.
Questions we get at the counter
How much is shipping?
US orders of $30 and over ship free. Below that a flat $4.75 applies. We ship to United States addresses only.
What weight is the cardstock?
Where the manufacturer gives a GSM or pound figure, it is on the product page. Where it is not stated we do not guess; call and we will measure a sheet.
Related parts of the shop
If this was not quite what you were looking for, the neighbouring sections are Felt and Fabric, Kraft and Packing Paper, Markers and Tape, Origami Paper. They are all listed on the shop page.
Buying from Study Goods
United States orders of $30 and over ship free, and a flat $4.75 applies below that. Everything is packed at 50 W 8th St in New York and we ship within the United States only. Study Goods takes returns for 30 days from delivery on unused items in their original packaging, and the full terms are on the Study Goods return policy page. If a specification you need is missing from a product page, call +1 212-674-4400 during opening hours — Mon-Sun: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM — and we will check the item physically rather than guess.
Side by side
The table below pulls the published figures off the 6 cardstock and specialty paper listings above so they can be compared without opening six tabs. A dash means the manufacturer of that cardstock and specialty paper did not state the figure, not that the item lacks it, because Study Goods does not fill those gaps with estimates. Where a number matters to your decision and the table shows a dash, call +1 212-674-4400 and we will measure the item at the 50 W 8th St counter in about a minute.
| Item | Price | Quantity | Size | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyArtscape Graphite Transfer Paper – A4 Black 20 Sheets | $18.99 | 20 sheets | – | – |
| 500 Sheets Vintage DIY Scrapbook Paper Junk Journal Suppli | $15.99 | 500 sheets | – | – |
| Boho Scrapbook Paper 24 Sheets, 12 In Textured Paper (Soft | $13.99 | 24 sheets | 12 in | – |
| 160 Sheets Vintage Scrapbook Paper Pack, Lightweight Decor | $12.99 | 160 sheets | – | – |
| LewuwoPoing 15Pcs Handmade Scrapbook Art Paper Craft Textu | $12.99 | 15 pcs | – | – |
| Textured Scrapbook Paper & Mesh Fabric Set, 112 Sheets, 7 | $12.99 | 112 sheets | – | – |
How the rest of the shop is laid out
Study Goods keeps a deliberately narrow craft and specialty paper range, split into the sections below. The counts and price bands are read from the live studygoods.shop catalogue at the moment this page was built, so they show the actual shape of the the West Village shelf rather than a marketing summary of it. If a section looks small, that is because Study Goods would rather stock a few things we can answer questions about than list everything a distributor offers.
| Section | Items | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Cardstock and Specialty Paper | 10 | $6.01 – $18.99 |
| Felt and Fabric | 4 | $9.99 – $26.99 |
| Kraft and Packing Paper | 3 | $1.54 – $39.99 |
| Markers and Tape | 5 | $6.99 – $12.99 |
| Origami Paper | 2 | $6.99 – $12.99 |
Reading a product page here
Every listing on studygoods.shop is written from the manufacturer specification, and where the manufacturer is silent Study Goods leaves the field out rather than fill the gap, which is why some craft and specialty paper pages are shorter than others. The details block on each page carries the figures that were actually published — pack quantity, size, material and compatibility — and the paragraph underneath says which part of the the West Village shelf the item belongs to. Anything not covered there is a question for +1 212-674-4400, and Study Goods would rather answer it before an order than process a return afterwards. Stock counts come from the same records the counter uses, so an item showing as available is an item on the shelf at 50 W 8th St.