◆ Before printing
Thesis paper: weight and type, how to choose
Choosing thesis paper: weight (gsm), white vs ivory, opacity for double-sided printing, and the right paper by binding type. Tips from a Rome print shop.
GUUG · July 2026
◆ In short
For most theses our 80 gsm paper is all you need: we use it on about 9 theses out of 10. It is high quality — opaque even double-sided, with a nice hand — not the flimsy copier sheet that shows through. For the official hardcover copy you can go up to 100 gsm. White for image-heavy theses, ivory for text-based and humanities ones.
Why thesis paper matters more than you think
Your thesis is the one document from your degree that stays physical and that people actually hold: the advisor flipping through it, the committee assessing it, you keeping it on a shelf for years. Paper is the first thing you perceive by touch, before reading a single line. Paper that is too light makes the thesis feel like a photocopy; the right paper gives it the book-like substance people expect. You don't need to overdo it: a few deliberate choices about weight, colour and opacity are enough.
Paper weight: 80, 100 or 120 gsm?
80 gsm
Our standard choice · ~90% of thesesThis is the paper we print most theses on. Our 80 gsm is high quality — opaque, with a nice hand, not the flimsy copier sheet that lets the back show through. For about 90% of theses it is the right choice, even double-sided. You only go heavier for an even more book-like feel on the official copy.
100 gsm
Official and archive copyPremium paper: excellent opacity even double-sided, solid feel, professional result. The ideal weight for the official hardcover copy — the one for the committee and the personal copy that stays on your shelf for years.
120 gsm and above
Image-heavy thesesVery substantial paper, high opacity and better photographic rendering: suited to architecture, design, art or photography theses with many full-page images. Watch the bulk: on long theses it adds thickness and weight and can complicate binding.
White or ivory: how to choose
White paper
- ✓Sharp text/background contrast, maximum legibility
- ✓Faithful reproduction of colour photos, charts and tables
- ✓Neutral choice accepted by every university
- –More "technical", less warm look
- –On very long theses can feel less restful to read
Best for
Scientific, economics and engineering theses, anything with colour images, charts and tables.
Ivory (cream) paper
- ✓Warm, elegant, classic book-like tone
- ✓Easier on the eyes over long stretches of text
- ✓A favourite for humanities theses
- –Slightly shifts image colours towards warm tones
- –Not always available in every weight
Best for
Humanities, law and mostly text-based theses; the hardcover "keepsake" copy.
Double-sided printing: the opacity question
Almost all theses today are printed double-sided to reduce thickness, weight and cost. The risk, with cheap paper, is show-through: if the sheet is light and not very opaque, the back text is visible and the result looks sloppy. Our 80 gsm paper is chosen precisely for this — opaque enough to handle double-sided well, even on very dense pages. If you want the very best result on the official copy, 100 gsm pushes opacity even higher.
Which paper for which binding
It makes no sense to use the same paper for every copy. A typical graduation set has several copies with different uses: for working copies in soft (thermal) binding, our 80 gsm is perfect; for the official copy in hardcover — the one you keep — you can go up to 100 gsm, white or ivory. If you are torn between soft and hardcover binding, our staff can help you decide based on number of copies and budget.
Paper mistakes to avoid
⚠︎ Printing on any cheap copier paper
Not all «80 gsm» papers are equal: cheap copier stock shows through and looks grey. It is worth printing on a good uncoated paper — our 80 gsm is made for theses, opaque and with a proper hand, and for the hardcover official copy you can go up to 100 gsm.
⚠︎ Ivory paper with lots of colour photos
Ivory adds warmth to text but mutes and shifts image colours. If your thesis is image-heavy (architecture, design, medicine), white paper renders them far more faithfully.
⚠︎ Going too heavy on a long thesis
A 300-page thesis on 120 gsm becomes a thick, heavy volume that is awkward to handle and harder to bind well. Keep heavier weights for shorter, image-rich theses.
⚠︎ Mixing different papers between chapters
Printing some parts on one paper and others on another creates a visibly uneven result when you flip through. Use the same paper for the whole body of the text.
Frequently asked questions
- What paper weight should I use for a thesis?
- For most theses our 80 gsm paper is the right choice: we use it on about 90% of theses. It is high quality — opaque, substantial, holds up double-sided — not flimsy copier paper. For the official hardcover copy you can go up to 100 gsm.
- Is white or ivory paper better for a thesis?
- White gives maximum contrast and legibility and is perfect if your thesis has photos, charts or tables in colour. Ivory has a warm, elegant tone that is easier on the eyes over long text, popular for humanities theses. Both are accepted by universities: it is mainly an aesthetic choice.
- Which paper should I use for double-sided printing?
- For double-sided printing you need paper opaque enough that the back does not show through: our 80 gsm is chosen precisely for this and handles double-sided well, even on dense pages. For the official copy, 100 gsm raises opacity even further.
- Is glossy paper suitable for a thesis?
- No — body text is always printed on matt (uncoated) paper: glossy reflects light and tires the eyes. It only makes sense for occasional full-page photo inserts, not for text pages.
- How much does a printed thesis weigh?
- It depends on weight and page count. As a guide, a 200-page double-sided thesis on 80 gsm weighs 450-550 g on its own; in a hardcover it reaches 800 g to 1 kg. If you carry several hardcover copies, factor that in.
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