The weight of paper is an important characteristic for many reasons. The basis weight of a paper is the designated weight (measured in pounds) of 500 sheets of paper (one ream) in that paper's basic sheet size. Note: basic sheet size is not uniform between all types of paper. Generally, very heavy or very light paper costs more per pound. Balancing the tradeoffs between different weights and grades of paper may take time and thought, but it can ultimately pay off in lowered costs.

Caliper refers to the thickness of a sheet of paper, expressed in thousandths of an inch (commonly referred to as points or mils). Generally, the relation between caliper and basis weight is this: the greater the caliper (i.e., the thicker the paper), the greater the weight.

Although different types of paper have different basic sizes; they can be compared by examining the equivalent weight, which is the weight of a given size of paper expressed in terms of some other size. Please contact your Royal sales representative to help you determine the best paper for your order.

Click here for a caliper chart for papers of common grades and basis weights

Paper Storage - Temperature and Humidity

Paper distortion can prove to be disastrous to a customer and can cause a number of problems, such as misfeeds through a printer, curling, or inaccurate form size. Relative humidity should be considered as the most likely cause of paper distortion. Paper fibers will absorb or discharge water vapor until they reach equilibrium with the surrounding air. Ideal temperatures of converting and storage areas should be maintained at a temperature range of 65 to 75 degrees F, with a relative humidity of 35 to 50 percent. Outside these parameters, problems with sheet curl and distortion are more likely to occur.

Royal Business Forms & Printing implements a climate control program in our paper storage facilities, consisting of temperature control systems and humidifiers. We take these additional quality control steps to ensure that you receive a quality product.

Additionally, our bindery and shipping areas consider the 'grain' of the paper when boxing, use appropriate packing materials, wrap shipments in plastic, and implement other measures to help prevent paper from distorting when in transit.