What is the best paper for printing?

Paper Quality 101

What is GSM?  

Printer paper GSM stands for ‘grams per square metre’.  

It’s a commonly-used measure of how heavy paper is, and a good indicator for the strength and feel of the paper.  

GSM can also tell you how suitable your paper is for different purposes, such as folding (for cards). 

Thickness, by contrast, is measured in millimetres, and depends on what fibres or pulp are used to make the paper. This means that two sheets with the same GSM might have different thickness, depending on their composition.  

Here are the weights of some common types of paper to help give you an idea: 

•  18-50 GSM – Tissue paper 
•  35-60 GSM - Newspaper 
•  70-100 GSM – Standard office paper 
•  100-170 GSM – High-quality documents and flyers 
•  200+ GSM – Cardstock, posters and brochures. 

Types of paper for printing 

Here is a list of some of the standard types of paper that can be loaded into the average home printer: 
•  Plain paper: Ideal for everyday printing of text-heavy documents. It usually has a matte finish to reduce glare and help with reading. 

•  Photo paper: This can come with either a glossy or matte finish, and is specially adapted for printing clear, vibrant photography. 

•  Cardstock: Thicker and sturdier, cardstock is ideal for greetings cards, business cards, posters and invitations. 

•  Recycled paper: The eco-friendly choice for environmentally conscious consumers.  

•  Inkjet paper: This paper has a specially designed coating that helps absorb liquid ink without spreading – making it perfect for inkjet printers.  

•  Laser paper: Designed specifically for laser printers, laser paper has extra heat resistance to help it withstand high temperatures and help the toner adhere to its surface.  

The good news is that whichever type of paper you choose, Brother printers and inks are optimised to deliver consistent quality.  

So whatever you load into the tray, you can count on clear, accurate results – provided you follow our expert tips.

Why does paper quality matter? 

Whether you’re printing for work, homework, or a crafting project, it’s always good to get clear, accurate results out of your printer.  

But choose the wrong quality of paper for your needs (or your printer settings) and your printer’s output could be messier than expected. 

If your paper is too light: 

With thinner or low GSM paper, ink from inkjet printers will absorb quickly, which can lead to smudging and bleeding. If you’re printing images or block colours, there’s also a risk that the paper will curl or wrinkle due to too much ink.  

In laser printers, low GSM paper will heat up faster, which helps the toner to stick to the paper – but can also cause curling and paper jams.  

Double-sided printing is also not recommended with low GSM paper, as the ink can seep through to the other side of the page, making the content difficult to read. 

If your paper is too heavy: 

If your paper’s GSM is too high for your printer, this can cause problems too.  

Paper jams are more likely, and if you have an inkjet printer, you may risk smudging your printouts due to the increased drying time required.  

For laser printers, some will struggle to get toner to adhere onto thicker paper, due to the higher heat level required.   

Finding the right balance:

Choose the right quality of paper for your printer and needs, and you can avoid most of the common pitfalls above. Ink will absorb more evenly, and toner will adhere to the paper better, which means sharp images, vibrant colours, and misprint-free text.  

Good quality paper can even reduce the wear and tear on your printer, as there’ll be fewer paper jams to cause damage.