Paper weight calculator with postage band
Enter the size, paper weight and number of sheets and choose an envelope. The calculator shows the total weight, estimates the thickness and names the matching Deutsche Post letter type. An A4 sheet at 80 g/m² weighs 4.99 g.
Contents of this page
How the calculator works
- Sheet weight
- Area in m² × grammage. A4 is 0.06237 m², so 4.99 g at 80 g/m².
- Envelope weight
- Estimated from the envelope’s area and a typical envelope paper (75 to 120 g/m²). If you know what your envelopes weigh, enter the value.
- Thickness
- Estimated from the number of sheets, the folds and a typical thickness of about 0.1 mm at 80 g/m². The real thickness depends on the paper’s bulk.
- Letter type
- Checked against the 2026 Deutsche Post limits for length, width, thickness and weight.
The results are good guide values. When every gram counts, only a letter scale will do, because envelopes, papers and adhesives vary from one maker to the next.
Quick reference: sheets per letter type
| Paper | Standardbrief (up to 20 g) | Kompaktbrief (up to 50 g) |
|---|---|---|
| A4 80 g/m² in DL | 2 sheets safe, 3 at the limit | up to about 8 sheets |
| A4 100 g/m² in DL | 2 sheets | up to about 7 sheets |
| A4 80 g/m² in C6 | 2 sheets safe, 3 at the limit | up to about 9 sheets, watch the thickness |
| A5 80 g/m² in C6 | up to 6 sheets | up to about 17 sheets, watch the thickness |
With many folded sheets, thickness often becomes the problem before weight does: a Kompaktbrief may be no more than 10 mm thick, a Standardbrief 5 mm. For comparison, a Royal Mail Letter may weigh up to 100 g but only be 5 mm thick. With 80 g/m² A4 folded into a DL envelope, the thickness limit comes first, at around 15 sheets.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sheet of A4 weigh?
4.99 g at 80 g/m², 6.24 g at 100 g/m², 7.48 g at 120 g/m².
How much does a DL envelope weigh?
About 4 to 6 g depending on the paper, towards the upper end with a window and a security tint.
How many sheets can a German standard letter hold?
Weight counts, not the number of sheets. With 80 g/m² paper and a DL envelope, two sheets stay safely under 20 g.