The full comparison
| GSM | Material vs 80 GSM | Step up from previous | Single-person handling | Typical role in the range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | Baseline | — | Easiest | Lightest option; frequent handling, largest area per rupee |
| 100 | +25% | +25% | Easy | First step up from entry weight |
| 120 | +50% | +20% | Manageable | Mid-range balance point; the common default |
| 160 | +100% | +33% | Two-person at large sizes | First of the heavier options; the biggest jump in the range |
| 180 | +125% | +12.5% | Two-person at large sizes | Specification-driven refinement over 160 |
| 200 | +150% | +11% | Two-person | Heaviest standard option |
Which step is actually worth making
80 → 100 GSM
A modest 25% increase. Worth it if the lightest sheet has already proven too thin for your job; not worth it as a precaution.
100 → 120 GSM
A 20% increase that lands on the range's balance point. If you are undecided anywhere in the lighter half, this is where to start.
120 → 160 GSM
The largest step in the range at 33%, and the one that changes the character of the cover from mid-weight to heavy. This is the step to make when a cover has moved from temporary to seasonal.
160 → 180 GSM
A 12.5% refinement. Worth it when a written specification names 180 GSM or when 160 GSM has demonstrably fallen short in your conditions. Otherwise 160 GSM is usually better value.
180 → 200 GSM
An 11% increase to reach the heaviest standard option. If a job genuinely needs maximum material, specify 200 directly rather than stopping at 180.
What this table cannot tell you
Relative material content is arithmetic and is reliable. Relative strength is not — the tear and tensile difference between adjacent GSM options is a property of the specific product, confirmed directly against your two options rather than published as one multiplier for every batch. Any comparison chart that presents strength multipliers without naming a test method is presenting an estimate as a measurement.
A weight example across the range
| GSM | Approximate material weight |
|---|---|
| 80 | ≈ 4.3 kg |
| 100 | ≈ 5.4 kg |
| 120 | ≈ 6.5 kg |
| 160 | ≈ 8.6 kg |
| 180 | ≈ 9.7 kg |
| 200 | ≈ 10.8 kg |
These figures are arithmetic from the GSM definition, not measured finished weights — hems, reinforcement and eyelets add a little extra on top of them.
If you only remember one thing
Pick your GSM from how the cover will be used, then spend your remaining attention on getting the size right. An undersized 200 GSM cover will fail before a correctly sized 120 GSM one.
Written by the Double Kissan team at Ashoka Poly Laminators Pvt. Ltd., Bareilly. Last reviewed November 2026.