The basis weight of butcher paper is 40 # and the basis weight of freezer paper will vary. In general terms, basis weight is the weight of one ream of paper (500 sheets) when cut to an industry standard for that grade of paper. As such, the higher the basis weight, the heavier the paper. Basis weight may differ from the actual weight of the product being sold, so basis weight is often denoted with a "#" sign, rather than the traditional "lb." designation.