Tips on Buying A4 paper

A4 paper is one of the most popular and commonly used stationery items; which also make it one of the items in the office that need to be bought regularly. This kind of paper, which is also usually a general purpose paper for the office, is used for invoices, letters, and reports, and for producing general print outs. A4 indicates the size of the paper: 8.3 inches by 11.7 inches. Take note that this is different from the size described as “letter size” which is 8.5 x 11 inches.  

One of the first things to consider when buying this kind of paper, or any other kind of paper for that matter, is if it the paper will work well with the kind of printer that you have. For the best printing results, the paper you are using should be compatible with the printer that you are using. This means that if you are using an inkjet printer, you should consider using an inkjet printer paper. If you have a laser printer, go for laser printer paper and if you are using a color photocopier, you should consider using photocopier paper. There is also the multifunction printer paper which is your best and less expensive option if you are using different kinds of printers and machines.  

Another important consideration when choosing and buying A4 paper – or any size or kind of paper for that matter – is the thickness of the paper. The thickness of paper is measured by gsm or grams per square metre. The five most common paper thickness or paper weights are 160 gsm, 120 gsm, 100 gsm, 90 gsm, and 80 gsm. The common printer has a thickness of about 80 to 120 gsm. Some paper thickness or paper weights are more suited for certain results. 90 gsm paper, for example, is the recommended weight for colour printing. Most prefer 100 gsm, at the very least, for official correspondences and executive letters. For prestigious mailings, most offices use slightly thicker paper which is usually at 120 gsm.  For arts and crafts and other special projects, 160 gsm paper – which is significantly thicker than the common printer paper – is used. Paper that’s thicker than 160 gsm is usually used for filing. The usual white paper that’s used for standard printing at the office and for every day use has a paper weight of 80 gsm. You shouldn’t have any problem looking for paper in a wide range of thickness or weight because most office supply vendors sell paper from 80 to 260 gsm. A rule of thumb when choosing the right paper thickness is to always go for the paper weight or thickness that can give you the results that you have in mind.

Of course, price is a consideration when buying paper or any other office item. You don’t have to buy the most expensive paper or the most popular brand. What you need is to find a reliable office supply super store so you can have more options. Super stores are the bigger office supply vendors that have bigger inventories and more items to offer than the typical office supply store. This is the kind of store that can give more choices in paper brands and prices.

If one of your main concerns is supporting office supplies that are eco-friendly, don’t hesitate to ask the sales staff for eco friendly or recycled A4 paper. This kind of paper usually has packaging that indicates the recycled content. Some brands have labels that say “up to 50% recycled,” others have “over 50% recycled” and “100% recycled”. These are labels that indicate the paper’s percentage of recycled content. There are also brands that have a label on the packaging that says “Enviro benefit.” This label tells you that this particular paper has environmental accreditation.