When you buy copy paper in bulk, prices and quantities are quoted in units much bigger than a ream. It helps to understand how those units relate to each other and to weight, so that your enquiry is accurate and your quotations are easy to compare.
From sheet to container
- Ream: 500 sheets, wrapped in moisture-resistant paper.
- Carton (box): normally five reams, or 2,500 sheets, for A4. Confirm the count for other sizes.
- Pallet: cartons stacked and wrapped on a pallet for forklift handling. How many cartons a pallet holds depends on the paper size, the weight and the stacking height.
- Container: pallets or loose cartons loaded into a 20 ft or 40 ft shipping container. Paper is dense, so weight limits as well as space affect how many cartons fit.
How much does A4 paper weigh?
An A4 sheet has an area of about 0.0624 square metres, so its weight follows directly from the GSM. These figures are for the paper only, before packaging:
| GSM | One sheet | One ream (500 sheets) | One carton (5 reams) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 4.4 g | 2.2 kg | 10.9 kg |
| 75 | 4.7 g | 2.3 kg | 11.7 kg |
| 80 | 5.0 g | 2.5 kg | 12.5 kg |
A3 sheets have twice the area, so an A3 ream weighs about twice as much as an A4 ream of the same GSM. See our A3 paper size guide for handling tips.
Working out how much you need
Start with the number of sheets you use, then divide by 2,500 to get cartons of A4. For example, a business that prints 100,000 A4 sheets a month needs 40 cartons a month. Add a buffer for busy periods, and base the figure on real printer usage rather than a guess. For a larger, regular supply, agree a delivery schedule so that you are not storing several months of paper at once.
What to include in a bulk enquiry
- Paper size and GSM, for example A4 80 GSM
- Quantity in cartons, pallets or containers
- Destination country and port, and whether you need delivery to your warehouse
- Preferred trade terms: EXW (you collect at the seller’s premises), FOB (the seller loads the goods onto the vessel at the origin port) or CIF (the seller also pays freight and insurance to the destination port)
- Packing needs, such as pallet wrapping, carton labelling or your own branding
- Delivery date, payment terms, and whether you would like samples first
Receiving and storing a bulk delivery
- Inspect cartons and pallet wrap for damage and moisture before you sign for the delivery.
- Keep paper in its wrapping until use, stored flat and off the floor, away from damp walls and direct sunlight.
- Rotate stock so the oldest cartons are used first.
- Let paper acclimatise to the room before printing if it has travelled through very different temperatures.
Next step
Choosing the right partner matters as much as choosing the right quantity, so read how to choose a reliable bulk paper supplier. When you are ready, browse the full range or send us your size, GSM, quantity and destination and we will reply with a quotation.