GSM stands for grams per square metre. It’s the standard unit for measuring paper weight — not thickness exactly, but the density of the paper.
A higher GSM means more material per square metre, which results in a heavier, more substantial sheet. For art prints, it matters more than most people realise.
A print on 170gsm paper feels different from one on 300gsm. Not just in the hand, but in how it hangs, how it holds colour, and how it ages. Lighter papers are more prone to warping, especially in rooms with fluctuating humidity. They also tend to feel less considered — the kind of paper that makes a print feel like a poster.
Most quality art prints sit between 200gsm and 350gsm. Below that, the paper starts to feel thin. Above that, you’re moving into card territory, which works for some formats but not all.
The finish matters alongside the weight. A 250gsm matte paper gives a completely different result from a 250gsm satin or gloss. Matte absorbs light and gives a softer, more painterly feel. Satin and gloss reflect it, which makes colours appear more vivid but can create glare depending on where the print is hung.
There’s no single right answer. But knowing what the paper weighs, and what finish it has, tells you a lot about what you’re actually buying — before it even arrives.
— Studio Ninette, designed in Belgium.