Paper material guide
Newsprint paper
Newsprint Paper: read the 40 to 48.8 gsm examples and handling notes. Folding, cutting and glue tips. Find craft uses, sheet sizes and weight equivalents.
40–48.8 gsmFolds: Large foldsBest for: Large hats and practice
Newsprint is uncoated paper made for high-volume newspaper printing. Mills use recycled fibres, mechanical wood pulp or a mixture, depending on the product.
- Typical weight
- 40–48.8 gsm
- US lb · calculated at the named basis
- 24.6–30 lb tag equivalent (24 × 36 in, 500 sheets)
Weights to look for
NorNews standard grades include 40, 42, 45 and 48.8 gsm. Art-pad newsprint may be a different grade and weight.
Folding, creasing, cutting and gluing
- Fold
- Works for broad practice folds and large hats. A small heavily layered model can tear at its corners.
- Crease
- Press the crease gently; repeated fold reversals wear the sheet. Printed newspaper can transfer ink to fingers.
- Cut
- Easy to cut in a few layers for trial patterns. Keep fine bridges wide enough to survive unfolding.
- Glue
- Use glue stick for practice collage and small amounts of paste for broad joins. Wet glue can wrinkle a light sheet.
What to make
Make the newspaper hat with a large rectangle, or test a cut-paper pattern before using coloured paper.
Common sheet and pack sizes
Art newsprint is sold in pads, including 18 × 24 inches. Commercial newspaper stock arrives in rolls and is cut to the publisher’s format. Measure an open newspaper rather than assuming one universal size.