Paper for Laser Printers – Sizes, Quality, Brands, Thickness, and Grammage (Complete Technical Guide) – Bison Knowledgebase

Paper for Laser Printers – Sizes, Quality, Brands, Thickness, and Grammage (Complete Technical Guide)

📅 14 Jan 2026 📂 General 👁 15 views

Selecting the correct paper for laser printers is critical for print quality, hardware longevity, fuser safety, and operational reliability.
Unlike inkjet printers, laser printers use heat and pressure, making paper weight, coating, moisture level, and fiber quality extremely important.

This Knowledge Base article provides a professional, technical reference covering:

Paper sizes used in laser printers
Paper quality grades
Thickness & grammage (GSM)
Supported paper types
Common brands available in India
Best practices and troubleshooting

This guide is suitable for IT teams, AMC providers, offices, schools, print rooms, and procurement teams.

Technical Explanation: Why Paper Matters in Laser Printing

Laser printers work by:

Transferring toner powder onto paper
Passing paper through a high-temperature fuser (180–200°C)
Permanently bonding toner using heat and pressure

Incorrect paper can cause:

Paper jams
Toner smearing
Ghosting
Fuser damage
Curling or wrinkling
Fire risk (extreme cases)

Therefore, paper selection is a mechanical and thermal compatibility decision, not just a stationery choice.

Paper Sizes Supported by Laser Printers

Standard Office Paper Sizes

Size Name Dimensions (mm) Common Use
A4 210 × 297 Standard office printing
Letter 216 × 279 International documents
Legal 216 × 356 Legal & contracts
A3 297 × 420 Large diagrams (A3 printers)
Executive 184 × 267 Reports
B5 176 × 250 Booklets

Size Name	Dimensions (mm)	Common Use
A4	210 × 297	Standard office printing
Letter	216 × 279	International documents
Legal	216 × 356	Legal & contracts
A3	297 × 420	Large diagrams (A3 printers)
Executive	184 × 267	Reports
B5	176 × 250	Booklets

✔ Most HP, Canon, Brother laser printers support A4, Letter, Legal

Paper Grammage (GSM) & Thickness for Laser Printers

GSM (Grams per Square Meter) defines paper weight and stiffness.

GSM Range Paper Type Laser Printer Suitability
60–70 GSM Very thin ❌ Not recommended
75 GSM Economy office ⚠ Limited use
80 GSM Standard office ✅ Ideal
90 GSM Premium office ✅ Very good
100–120 GSM Letterhead ✅ Supported
130–160 GSM Card / cover ⚠ Manual feed only
170–200 GSM Thick card ❌ Not for most lasers

GSM Range	Paper Type	Laser Printer Suitability
60–70 GSM	Very thin	❌ Not recommended
75 GSM	Economy office	⚠ Limited use
80 GSM	Standard office	✅ Ideal
90 GSM	Premium office	✅ Very good
100–120 GSM	Letterhead	✅ Supported
130–160 GSM	Card / cover	⚠ Manual feed only
170–200 GSM	Thick card	❌ Not for most lasers

✔ 80–90 GSM is the safest and most widely supported range.

Paper Thickness (Microns)

Thickness (µm) Typical GSM Usage
90–95 µm 75 GSM Economy
100–105 µm 80 GSM Standard
110–115 µm 90 GSM Premium
120–130 µm 100 GSM Letterhead
140+ µm 120 GSM+ Manual feed only

Thickness (µm)	Typical GSM	Usage
90–95 µm	75 GSM	Economy
100–105 µm	80 GSM	Standard
110–115 µm	90 GSM	Premium
120–130 µm	100 GSM	Letterhead
140+ µm	120 GSM+	Manual feed only

Types of Paper for Laser Printers

1️⃣ Plain Paper (Uncoated)

Most common
Best toner adhesion
Lowest jam rate

✅ Recommended for daily printing

2️⃣ Bond / Premium Paper

Higher brightness
Better fiber quality
Less dust

✅ Ideal for official documents

3️⃣ Laser-Compatible Thick Paper

Reinforced fibers
Heat-resistant
Must be marked “Laser Compatible”

⚠ Use manual tray only

4️⃣ Recycled Paper

Eco-friendly
Higher dust content
May increase jams

⚠ Use only laser-rated recycled paper

5️⃣ Colored Paper

Used for notices
Must be laser safe

⚠ Avoid dark colors (heat absorption)

Paper Types NOT Recommended for Laser Printers

❌ Inkjet photo paper
❌ Thermal paper
❌ Glossy inkjet paper
❌ Carbon paper
❌ Laminated sheets
❌ Handmade or fibrous paper

These can melt, jam, or damage the fuser.

Common Laser Printer Paper Brands in India

Brand Popular GSM Notes
JK Paper 75 / 80 / 90 Widely used
TNPL 70 / 75 / 80 Govt & bulk use
BILT 75 / 80 Office standard
Paper One 80 / 90 Premium finish
HP Paper 80 / 90 Optimized for lasers
Xerox Paper 75 / 80 Reliable for high-speed printers

Brand	Popular GSM	Notes
JK Paper	75 / 80 / 90	Widely used
TNPL	70 / 75 / 80	Govt & bulk use
BILT	75 / 80	Office standard
Paper One	80 / 90	Premium finish
HP Paper	80 / 90	Optimized for lasers
Xerox Paper	75 / 80	Reliable for high-speed printers

Use Cases

Office daily printing (invoices, reports)
Legal & government documentation
School & exam printing
Letterhead & certificates
Bulk transactional printing
AMC-managed printer environments

Step-by-Step: Selecting Correct Paper for Laser Printers

Check printer specifications (max GSM)
Identify daily print type
Select 80 GSM laser-rated paper
Match paper size in tray & driver
Store paper in dry environment
Fan paper before loading

Common Issues & Fixes

Issue Cause Fix
Frequent paper jams Thick or damp paper Use 80 GSM
Toner smearing Coated paper Use uncoated
Curling output High moisture Store paper properly
Ghosting Low GSM Increase paper weight
Fuser marks Unsupported media Replace with laser-safe paper

Issue	Cause	Fix
Frequent paper jams	Thick or damp paper	Use 80 GSM
Toner smearing	Coated paper	Use uncoated
Curling output	High moisture	Store paper properly
Ghosting	Low GSM	Increase paper weight
Fuser marks	Unsupported media	Replace with laser-safe paper

Security Considerations

Sensitive prints can stick due to static
Use secure trays for confidential output
Avoid reused paper for legal documents
Destroy misprints properly
Do not leave paper exposed in public areas

Best Practices

Standardize one paper type per office
Avoid mixing GSM in same tray
Keep paper sealed until use
Use manual feed for thick media
Replace paper exposed to humidity
Follow printer-rated GSM limits

Conclusion

Paper selection plays a direct role in laser printer performance, reliability, and maintenance cost.
Using correct size, GSM, thickness, and laser-compatible paper prevents jams, protects the fuser, and ensures professional output quality.

For most environments, A4 – 80 GSM – uncoated laser paper remains the industry standard.

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