*Calculations include cover weight and the specified shipping margin for packaging materials.
How to Use the Book Weight Calculator
Whether you are an independent author preparing for a book launch or a publisher calculating shipping logistics, knowing the exact weight of your book is crucial. Our Book Weight Calculator uses industry-standard paper densities and dimensional math to give you a highly accurate estimate of your finished product's weight.
The Physics of Book Weight
Calculating weight manually involves several variables. Here is how the logic works:
Page Area: We calculate the area of a single page (Width × Height) and convert it to square meters.
Sheet Count: Since one sheet of paper has two pages (front and back), we divide the total page count by two.
GSM (Grams per Square Meter): This is the density of the paper. A standard novel usually uses 80 GSM, while art books might use 120 GSM or higher.
Cover Weight: Hardcovers typically add significantly more weight (around 150g-250g) due to the greyboard used, while paperbacks use a 240-300 GSM cardstock.
Example Calculation
If you have a 300-page trade paperback (6″ x 9″) printed on 80 GSM paper:
Convert dimensions to meters: 6″ (0.1524m) x 9″ (0.2286m) = 0.0348 sq m per page.
Calculate sheet weight: 150 sheets x 0.0348 sq m x 80 GSM = 417.6 grams.
Add the cover weight (approx. 40g for paperback).
Total Weight: ~457.6 grams (roughly 1 pound).
Why Accuracy Matters for Authors
Shipping costs are often tiered. A book that weighs 1.01 lbs can cost significantly more to ship than a book that weighs 0.99 lbs. By adjusting your paper choice (GSM) or book dimensions slightly during the design phase, you can potentially save thousands in distribution costs.
function calculateBookWeight() {
var pages = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pageCount').value);
var gsm = parseFloat(document.getElementById('paperGsm').value);
var widthIn = parseFloat(document.getElementById('bookWidth').value);
var heightIn = parseFloat(document.getElementById('bookHeight').value);
var cover = document.getElementById('coverType').value;
var marginPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('margin').value);
if (isNaN(pages) || isNaN(widthIn) || isNaN(heightIn)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers for pages, width, and height.");
return;
}
// Convert inches to meters
var widthM = widthIn * 0.0254;
var heightM = heightIn * 0.0254;
var areaSqM = widthM * heightM;
// Number of sheets (2 pages per sheet)
var sheets = pages / 2;
// Weight of interior pages in grams
var interiorWeight = sheets * areaSqM * gsm;
// Estimate cover weight
var coverWeight = 0;
var coverArea = areaSqM * 2.1; // Front + Back + Spine approximation
if (cover === 'soft') {
// Standard paperback cover is around 250-300 gsm
coverWeight = coverArea * 250;
} else {
// Hardcover uses greyboard + wrap
// Fixed estimate for casebound is usually between 150g and 300g depending on size
coverWeight = (coverArea * 150) + 150; // Base board weight + paper
}
var totalGrams = interiorWeight + coverWeight;
// Add shipping margin (packaging)
var multiplier = 1 + (marginPercent / 100);
var finalGrams = totalGrams * multiplier;
// Conversions
var finalKg = finalGrams / 1000;
var finalOz = finalGrams * 0.035274;
var finalLbs = finalGrams * 0.00220462;
// Display
document.getElementById('weightGrams').innerHTML = finalGrams.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('weightKg').innerHTML = finalKg.toFixed(3);
document.getElementById('weightOz').innerHTML = finalOz.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('weightLbs').innerHTML = finalLbs.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultArea').style.display = 'block';
}