By the team at The Greaseproof Paper ·
Basis weight is the number most buyers skip, and it is the one that decides how a wrap feels in the hand. Here is how to read it and how to choose between light, standard and heavy greaseproof.
Basis weight is the weight of a ream of paper at a standard sheet size, written in pounds. For greaseproof, the practical range is about 25 lb at the light end to about 45 lb at the heavy end.
A higher number means more fiber in every square inch. The sheet is thicker, stiffer and a little more opaque, and a case of it is noticeably heavier to carry. Thickness is measured separately, but for greaseproof the two track closely, so weight is a fair shorthand for thickness.
It does not tell you about grease hold-out on its own. A dense 30 lb sheet can outperform a loose 40 lb one; weight sets the feel and the pulp sets the barrier. Our custom printed greaseproof sheets are quoted by weight and size together.
We group greaseproof into three bands. The numbers overlap at the edges, so treat them as a guide rather than a wall.
| Band | Typical weight | Feel in the hand | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | 25 to 30 lb | Soft, drapes, slightly see-through | Single wraps, sandwich sheets, cone liners |
| Standard | 30 to 38 lb | Crisp fold, holds a crease | Burger wraps, basket liners, deli sheets |
| Heavy | 38 to 45 lb | Stiff, board-like, opaque | Tray liners, air fryer liners, loaf liners |
Standard is the usual pick. If you are not sure, start there and move one band in either direction after a sample. If a buyer cannot decide, we quote 35 lb and suggest a lighter sample alongside it.
A light sheet folds like tissue. It wraps tight around a burger and the ends tuck under without springing back, which is why fast counters like it.
A standard sheet holds a crease. Fold it once and it stays folded, so a half-wrapped sub keeps its shape on the tray. Most of the sheets in our product photos are this weight, which is why they sit in a neat stack and fold without springing.
A heavy sheet resists folding. It will crack along a sharp crease if you force it, so it suits flat uses where it lies in a basket or lines a pan.
Grain direction matters too. Every sheet folds more easily along the grain than across it, so tell us which way your staff fold and we cut the sheet to suit.
A little, but not in proportion. Doubling the weight does not double the hold-out time, because grease crosses a greaseproof sheet by finding gaps between fibers, not by soaking through bulk.
Where heavy paper helps is with sharp food. Fried chicken bones, hard taco shells and crusty bread poke through a 25 lb sheet and open a path for oil. A 40 lb sheet shrugs them off.
Heavy paper also stays dry-looking longer. The extra opacity hides the first faint grease marks that show on a light sheet within minutes.
Where the pulp is the same, a heavier sheet buys you time rather than a different result. Expect a few extra minutes before marks show, not an extra hour.
For a burger, chicken sandwich or breakfast wrap, 30 to 35 lb is the sweet spot. It folds, it hides grease for the length of a lunch service and it does not bulk up a delivery bag.
Go lighter, 25 to 28 lb, for a sandwich that is wrapped and eaten within minutes, or for a second inner sheet inside a box. Food trucks tend to go a step lighter than a sit-down counter, because the wrap is eaten within minutes and a slimmer case takes less shelf.
Go heavier, 35 to 38 lb, for a double burger with sauce or for anything that travels 20 minutes in a bag. Our burger wrap paper in four sizes is usually run in this band.
Liners do a different job. They sit flat, catch drips and get picked up with the basket, so they need stiffness more than fold.
A basket liner at 35 to 40 lb lies flat without curling at the corners. Lighter stock lifts at the edge and sticks to the fries.
Loaf liners are a special case. They are heavy, 40 lb and up, but they are pleated rather than folded, so the stiffness holds the pleat open while batter goes in.
Tray and pan liners go heavier again, 40 to 45 lb, because a sheet lining a hot sheet pan carries weight and heat at once. Greaseproof basket liners and tray liners are both quoted in these weights.
Light greaseproof is slightly translucent, so a step-and-repeat logo shows faintly through from the back. On white stock this reads as a soft echo; on kraft it mostly disappears.
Standard and heavy sheets are opaque enough that the print sits on one face only. If you want a bold two-color design, 35 lb and up gives you a cleaner white behind it.
Ink coverage changes with weight too. A light sheet drinks in a solid fill and can look blotchy; a heavy sheet holds the ink nearer the surface and the fill reads even.
Textured stock is the exception. A textured greaseproof sheet is usually run at standard weight, and its mottled surface softens fine lines, so keep type large.
Most weight mistakes show within a week of the first delivery. Watch for these.
None of these mean the paper is faulty. They mean the weight and the job do not match, and a 5 lb step usually fixes it.
If you have never bought by weight before, this order of questions gets you to the right band without guessing.
If you line an air fryer basket, start heavy. The tray and air fryer liners are cut from 40 to 45 lb stock for exactly that reason.
Give us the weight band if you know it, or just describe the job and let us suggest one. Add the sheet size, the number of ink colors and your quantity. If two weights are in the running, say so. We would rather quote both than have you guess.
We reply with a written quote within one business day, then a free proof. Production is 4 to 6 business days after approval, with free tracked delivery in the US.
Minimum is 1,000 sheets, and you can split a run between two weights if you want to compare them on the line. Start on the written quote form.
Custom Printed Greaseproof SheetsFrom $0.30 a sheet10 × 10.75 in · 12 × 12 in · 12 × 16 inLogo wraps for hot foodSee this paper
Burger Wrap PaperFrom $0.30 a sheet10 × 10 in · 12 × 12 in · 14 × 14 inBurgers, chicken sandwiches, wrapsSee this paper
Greaseproof Basket LinersFrom $0.30 a sheet10 × 10.75 in · 12 × 12 in · 12 × 16 inFry baskets, trays and platesSee this paper
Tray and Air Fryer LinersFrom $0.30 a liner6.5 × 6.5 in · 8 × 8 in · 9 × 13 inSheet pans, hotel pans and air fryersSee this paperWhat buyers ask before a first order. Type a word to filter the cards, or open one to read the full answer.
About the difference between a sheet of copier paper and a slightly heavier letterhead.
About the difference between a sheet of copier paper and a slightly heavier letterhead. The 35 lb sheet holds a crease more firmly and feels less floppy when you lift a wrapped burger.
For a plain single eaten at the counter, no. For a loaded burger that sits in a bag, yes; grease will show on the outside before it reaches the customer.
For a plain single eaten at the counter, no. For a loaded burger that sits in a bag, yes; grease will show on the outside before it reaches the customer. Use 30 to 35 lb.
Yes. The artwork, plates and Pantone matches carry across, so a 30 lb wrap and a 40 lb liner can share one logo.
Yes. The artwork, plates and Pantone matches carry across, so a 30 lb wrap and a 40 lb liner can share one logo. Each weight is a separate line on the quote.
Heavy greaseproof, 40 lb and up, is stiff and breaks along a sharp crease, especially across the grain.
Heavy greaseproof, 40 lb and up, is stiff and breaks along a sharp crease, especially across the grain. Liners are meant to lie flat; if you need to fold, drop to standard weight.
The heavier the better, because opacity rises with weight. A 38 to 40 lb white sheet hides the first marks for much longer than a 28 lb one, even though the barrier itself is similar.
No. Heat tolerance comes from the pulp and any coating, not from thickness.
No. Heat tolerance comes from the pulp and any coating, not from thickness. A 25 lb and a 45 lb oven-safe greaseproof both handle the same typical 400°F.
About 35 lb. It still folds around a sandwich and still lies flat in a basket.
About 35 lb. It still folds around a sandwich and still lies flat in a basket. It is a compromise, so if one job matters more, lean toward that one.
Kraft is usually offered slightly lighter for the same feel, because the unbleached fiber is stiffer.
Kraft is usually offered slightly lighter for the same feel, because the unbleached fiber is stiffer. If you move from white to kraft, you can often drop 2 to 3 lb and notice no change.
Weigh a stack of 100 sheets of known size on a kitchen scale and send us that number with the dimensions.
Weigh a stack of 100 sheets of known size on a kitchen scale and send us that number with the dimensions. We convert it to basis weight and match or adjust from there.
Up to about 40 lb, yes. Above that the stack is stiff enough to jam a slot dispenser, so heavy liners are better packed flat in a case and lifted out by hand.
No match. Ask us on WhatsApp or call (503) 461-4788.
Send the paper, a size and a quantity, plus a logo if you have one. We reply in writing within one business day with a price and a free design proof. Prefer to talk? Call (503) 461-4788 or message us on WhatsApp.