How heavy is a business card?

Anagoge

Senior Member
I need to know the average weight of a single 85x54mm business card. Yes, I know that it differs based on what stock is used, but I'm wondering if anyone happens to have a fairly accurate answer for me to work with. It's very important that the accuracy is within single figures. Thanks if you can help.
 
simple maths can give you the answer (allow a tolerance though for fluctuations in paper density over area etc)
working with 400gsm (400g per square metre) and 85x55mm business cards

weight of 1m^2 of business card = 400g
area of business card (85x55) in mm^2 (^2=squared) = 4675mm^2
1m^2 = 1000000mm^2

Formula 1 = 1m^2/area of business card = 1000000/4675 = 213.903..... (=number of business cards per square metre - no cut outs)
Formala 2 = weight of 1m^2 card/answer from forumla 1 = 400/213.903.... (= weight of 1 card)
weight of 1 card at 400gsm with size of 85x55mm = 1.87g

Just replace relevant colours for different sizes and paper weight
 
Levi said:
simple maths can give you the answer (allow a tolerance though for fluctuations in paper density over area etc)
working with 400gsm (400g per square metre) and 85x55mm business cards

weight of 1m^2 of business card = 400g
area of business card (85x55) in mm^2 (^2=squared) = 4675mm^2
1m^2 = 1000000mm^2

Formula 1 = 1m^2/area of business card = 1000000/4675 = 213.903..... (=number of business cards per square metre - no cut outs)
Formala 2 = weight of 1m^2 card/answer from forumla 1 = 400/213.903.... (= weight of 1 card)
weight of 1 card at 400gsm with size of 85x55mm = 1.87g

Just replace relevant colours for different sizes and paper weight

the simplest of maths :clap:
 
it is, it's areas and division, stuff I was taught in primary school!
 
Levi said:
it is, it's areas and division, stuff I was taught in primary school!

I know, I followed it, just with the values in and the explanation, it looks very simple.
 
Nice maffs but...


You considered the weight of the ink, foil blocks, what about dies?

oooh someone give Carol Vorderpiece a ring!
 
Levi said:
(allow a tolerance though for fluctuations in paper density over area etc)
:)

In my opinion ink etc shouldn't make it too much different, does an A4 page increase in weight by a huge amount when its been printed on? There would probably be more weight issue due to the natural fluctuation in paper density than what's added to it.

I would guess that Anagoge would have made the weight around 2g (approx. 10% increase) to allow for the tolerances and as such I would expect that this would cover the weight of an individual card plus any processes applied to it.
 
Levi, you're right about rounding it up. As long as it's not something like 5g, that is completely fine.

You'll find out why I needed this information soon. ;)
 
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Levi's guru.
 
do you want me to go and weigh one on our super sensitive scales?

It'll have matt lamination on it though?
 
doesn't bother me, go for it, see how far out I was, not much I would imagine.
 
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