When shopping for a new notebook, it is easy to get distracted by a high page count. A notebook with 300 pages feels like a bargain compared to one with 100 pages.
However, page count is often a trap. If the paper inside is too thin, your favourite pens will bleed through the sheets, effectively cutting your usable page count in half.
Spoiler alert: GSM can matter WAY more than the number of pages.
Here is your quick guide to understanding paper weight, why it matters, and how to choose between 80 GSM and 120+ GSM for your daily writing routine.
What is GSM?
GSM stands for Grams per Square Metre.
It is the universal metric used across the stationery industry to measure the weight, density, and thickness of paper.
To determine a paper's GSM, manufacturers weigh a single sheet of that paper cut to exactly one square metre.
- Low GSM means the paper is thin, light, and flexible (like newspaper).
- High GSM means the paper is thick, heavy, and sturdy (like a postcard).
In a notebook, a higher GSM generally translates to better durability, a more luxurious tactile feel, and, most importantly, superior resistance to ink bleed-through.
The Quick Breakdown: 80 GSM vs. 120+ GSM
If you are looking for a fast answer to guide your next purchase, here is how the two most common notebook paper weights stack up side-by-side:
| Feature | 80 GSM Paper | 120+ GSM Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Lightweight and flexible | Thick, crisp, and premium |
| Best For | Pencils, ballpoints, quick sketching | Fountain pens, markers, watercolours |
| Ghosting Risk | High (shadows visible on reverse) | Extremely low to none |
| Bleed-Through | High with wet inks or markers | None (ink stays on one side) |
| Notebook Size | Slim, lightweight, high page count | Thicker, heavier, fewer total pages |
TL;DR: Basically, the higher the number, the thicker the paper, therefore the better the quality.
- 80 GSM: Thin, lightweight, best for quick pencil sketches or ballpoint pens.
- 120+ GSM: Thick, sturdy, best for fountain pens, markers, and heavy ink.
Why 80 GSM is Built for Light Sketching and Pencils
Paper rated at 80gsm is the standard weight for everyday office copy paper and entry-level school notebooks. Because the paper fibres are less dense, 80gsm sheets are highly flexible and lightweight. This allows manufacturers to pack hundreds of pages into a single notebook without making it too heavy to carry in a backpack.
The Benefits of 80gsm Paper:
- Portability: You get a high page count in a slim, lightweight profile.
- Affordability: It is highly cost-effective for daily brainstorming, rough drafts, and rapid note-taking.
- Pencil Performance: The texture of standard 80 GSM paper provides excellent feedback for graphite pencils and coloured pencils.
The Drawbacks of 80gsm Paper:
If you try to use heavy ink on 80gsm paper, you will encounter two frustrating issues: ghosting (where you can clearly see the shadow of your writing on the back of the page) and bleed-through (where the ink physically soaks through the fibres and ruins the next sheet).
Why 120+gsm is Required for Heavy Ink and Fountain Pens
When you move up to 120gsm and above, you enter the world of premium stationery. This paper is dense, heavy, and built to handle wet media. Just FYI, our greetings cards all have either 120gsm or 160gsm paper inserts, so rest easy in the knowledge that it's only the finest quality papers in our cards. Our hardback diaries and notebooks are also made with 120gsm papers.
The Benefits of 120+gsm Paper:
- Zero Bleed-Through: The dense fibre structure prevents ink from soaking through to the other side.
- No Ghosting: You can confidently write on both sides of every single page, maximizing the true usable space of your notebook.
- No Feathering: High-quality 120+ GSM paper keeps your ink lines sharp and crisp, rather than letting the ink spread sideways into the paper fibres.
The Drawbacks of 120+gsm Paper:
Because the paper is so thick, notebooks with 120+GSM paper are noticeably heavier and thicker. To keep notebooks portable, manufacturers usually limit them to around 100 to 160 pages.
Why You Should Ignore Page Count When Buying
When you are ready to invest in a new notebook, reframe how you calculate value. A notebook with 240 pages of 80gsm paper might seem like a great deal, but if you can only write on one side of each page due to ink ghosting, you only have 120 usable pages.
By contrast, a 120-page notebook made of 120gsm paper allows you to use every single side of every page cleanly.
Fewer high-quality, ultra-thick pages will always provide a better writing experience than hundreds of flimsy, semi-transparent pages. Match your notebook's GSM to your favourite writing tools, and you will never have to worry about ruining a page again.
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