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Buying Guide

Understanding Paper Weight and GSM for Custom Bags

April 20, 2016 · By Elkpromogift Team · 656 views

Why GSM Matters

GSM (grams per square meter) determines how thick and rigid your packaging feels. Choose too light and bags tear; too heavy and shipping costs balloon.

Common GSM Ranges

80-100 gsm

Light shopping bags, apparel carrier bags, gift tote bags. Best for retail, not for heavy products.

120-150 gsm

The sweet spot for most promotional paper bags. Enough stiffness for 2-5kg products, competitive shipping.

200-300 gsm

Rigid gift boxes, luxury packaging, and heavy-duty mailers. Needs more structure and often lamination.

Beyond GSM

GSM is only part of the story. Burst strength, tensile strength, and food-contact certification matter depending on use case. We always send physical samples before mass production.

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