The purchasing question
Corrugated board GSM describes the mass per square metre of the complete board. It is useful for mass and material-cost estimates, but does not by itself specify compression performance. Use the actual supplied board basis weight rather than simply adding liner and medium nominal GSM without accounting for corrugation.
Calculation method
Sheet area = length in metres × width in metres. Sheet kilograms = area × complete-board GSM ÷ 1,000. Multiply by sheet quantity for nominal order mass. Separately include pallets, wrapping and other tare when estimating shipment gross weight.
Worked example
A 1.2 m × 0.8 m sheet has 0.96 m² of area. At an illustrative 600 GSM, each sheet weighs 0.576 kg. Five thousand sheets represent 2,880 kg of board before transport tare. At €0.75/kg, the material equivalent is €0.45/m² and €0.432 per sheet.
Humidity, manufacturing tolerances and coatings can affect actual measured mass. For transport booking, reconcile estimates with supplier shipment data. Do not use this mass calculation to infer a box stacking rating or substitute for a specified board performance test.
Checks before using the result
- Confirm that GSM refers to the whole corrugated board.
- Use purchased sheet dimensions, including trim.
- Keep board mass separate from shipment tare.
Common questions
Can heavier corrugated board be assumed stronger?
Weight alone is insufficient. Board construction, materials, geometry and the required performance criteria need separate verification.