MSI, Feet, and Sheets

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Cheat Sheet for Calculating MSI, plus Roll, Caliper and GSM Conversion

While other industries standardize measurements to pounds, square feet and other single measurements, the printing industry can’t seem to agree on one system. Between MSI, lineal feet, pounds of material, square inches, sheet units, M weight, and price-per-hundred weight (CWT), the numbers can be confusing. To help simplify your projects, here are a few handy formulas, calculators, and conversions that you can bookmark.

Get the printable Cheat Sheet here.

WHAT IS MSI?

MSI = 1,000 square inches
For roll material customers, MSI is a familiar measurement. For sheet material customers, you may not encounter it as often. Either way, it’s a good idea to learn how to use MSI. Knowing how to convert MSI can help you pinpoint the exact amount of material running through a press, as well as determine how much you will spend on material if quoted an MSI price. You can also break down the cost of master rolls into smaller rolls.

CALCULATE MSI OF SHEET MATERIAL

Formula: width of sheet in inches x length of the sheet in inches / 1000 = MSI
Example: 12 in x 18 in / 1000 = .216 MSI


QUICK REFERENCE:
12 in x 18 in sheet: .216 MSI
13 in x 19 in sheet: .247 MSI
12 in x 5000 ft roll: 720 MSI
MMSI = 1,000,000 square inches
MSF = 1,000 square feet

CALCULATE MSI OF ROLL MATERIAL

Formula: width of roll in inches x 12 x length of material in feet / 1000 = MSI
Example: 12 in x 12 x 5000 ft / 1000 = 720 MSI

CALCULATE LENGTH OF MATERIAL WITH KNOWN MSI

Formula: MSI x 1000 / (width of the material in inches x 12) = length of material in feet
Example: You receive an invoice that says 1440 MSI. You know the material is 13″ wide, but you need to determine the length.
1440 x 1000 / (13 x 12) = 9,230.77 ft

CALCULATE WIDTH OF MATERIAL WITH KNOWN MSI

Formula: MSI x 1000 / (length of material in feet x 12) = width of material in inches
Example: You receive an invoice that says 720 MSI. You know you received 5,000 feet of material, but you need to determine the width.
720 x 1000 / (5000 x 12) = 12 in

PRICE PER SHEET

Formula: Price per MSI x MSI = Price per sheet

PRICE PER MSI

Formula: Price per sheet / MSI = Price per MSI

CONVERT PRICE PER MSI TO PRICE PER LINEAR FOOT

Price Per MSI x ((Web Width x 12)/1000) = Price Per Linear Foot

MICRONS TO MILS

MILS TO MICRONS

CALIPER AND GSM CONVERSIONS*

Bond LedgerOffset TextCoverTagIndexPointsCaliper (inches)MillimetersMetric (grams/sq meter)
16402237333.20.00320.08160.2 gsm
18452441373.60.00360.09267.72 gsm
20502846423.80.00380.09775.2 gsm
24603356504.80.00480.1290.3 gsm
28703964585.80.00580.147105.35 gsm
297340626060.0060.152109.11 gsm
31814573666.10.00610.155116.63 gsm
327467120 gsm
35904880746.20.00620.157131.68 gsm
36905082756.80.00680.173135.45 gsm
391005490817.20.00720.183146.73 gsm
401005693837.30.00730.185150.5 gsm
4311060100907.40.00740.188161.78 gsm
4411061102927.60.00760.193165.55 gsm
47120651089780.00780.198176.83 gsm
531357412211090.00850.216199.41 gsm
541377512511390.0090.229203.17 gsm
58146801341209.50.00920.234218.22 gsm
6516590150135100.00950.241244.56 gsm
671709315614010.50.010.25252.08 gsm
72183100166150110.0110.289270.9 gsm
76192105175158130.0130.33285.95 gsm
82208114189170140.0140.356308.52 gsm
87220120200180150.0150.38312 gsm
105267146244220180.01750.445385.06 gsm

*Source: Micro Format, Inc

Get the printable Cheat Sheet here.

ADDITIONAL CALCULATORS

CALCULATE LENGTH OF ROLLView easy-to-use calculator**
CALCULATE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF ROLLView easy-to-use calculator**
CALCULATE THICKNESS OF ROLLView easy-to-use calculator**
**Source: Roseller Y. Sunga at handymath.com

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