USPS (Postal Service)

[spideyfanman]

I had to mail documents to a college to verify my financial aid information. However, the weight limit is 13 ounces. I put maybe 15 or 20 sheets of paper at most inside a manila (yellow) envelope. I imagine that would be only 5 ounces at most right?

[D Bergy]

A single sheet of 20# copy paper weighs about 1/6th of an ounce.

A ream of 20# copy paper weighs 5 pounds.

You should be fine. Take it from the paper maker.

Dan

[kind2creatures]

Originally Posted by spideyfanman

I had to mail documents to a college to verify my financial aid information. However, the weight limit is 13 ounces. I put maybe 15 or 20 sheets of paper at most inside a manila (yellow) envelope. I imagine that would be only 5 ounces at most right?

I think the weight of the paper would vary according to grade/thickness/size, same thing for the manila envelope, depending on size and quality.

If it's already sent, and you just want peace of mind, I'd make up a similar envelope with contents and take it to a nearby post office and have them weigh it for you.

[spideyfanman]

Originally Posted by D Bergy

A single sheet of 20# copy paper weighs about 1/6th of an ounce.

A ream of 20# copy paper weighs 5 pounds.

You should be fine. Take it from the paper maker.

Dan

lol sorry if I'm asking stupid questions.... what do you mean 20# copy paper? and ream?

well if one sheet is 1/6th of an ounce, then 20 papers should be a little more than three ounces... and then the manilla envelope itself is like worth 4 or 5 sheets put together so maybe it comes out to 5 ounces max. Yeah I'm good. If worse comes to worse they will send me the letter back and I'll bring it to the post office.

[D Bergy]

Most copy paper is 20 pound. That is the basis weight of the paper. I will not go into the convoluted way this is calculated, but basically 4 reams of 20 pound copy paper weighs 20 pounds, hence the basis weight.

If you want to totally confuse yourself, see the link below.

http://www.paper-paper.com/weight.html

A ream is 500 sheets of copy paper, for all practical purposes.

Dan