该方法描述了测量纸张、纸板和组合纸板的单张厚度和单张厚度变化的程序。术语组合板包括瓦楞纸板和实心纤维板。选择横穿腹板（垂直于机器方向）的样品/试样可用于确定横穿机器的卡钳轮廓。由于本试验方法中使用的压力相对较高，为50 kPa（7.3 psi），因此可能不适合测量组织或其他软材料或低密度材料，因为结构可能在规定的50 kPa压力下倒塌（厚度减小）。应使用TAPPI T 580毛巾、纸巾、餐巾和面部产品的厚度（卡尺）来测量这些产品。它使用2千帕的较低压力和10平方厘米的较大活动面。另一种测量纸张厚度的方法是TAPPI T 500书籍体积和纸张膨胀数，它描述了在250 kPa（35 psi）的压力下测量一堆书籍纸张总厚度的程序。 ASTM D 645-96中描述了一种基本相同的方法。TAPPI T 551纸和纸板厚度（软压板法）描述了一种使用软橡胶压板测量纸和纸板产品有效厚度的方法。这种方法产生的值总是小于TAPPI T 411。

This method describes the procedure for measuring single-sheet thickness and variations in single sheet thickness of paper, paperboard, and combined board. The term combined board encompasses both corrugated and solid fiberboard.Selection of samples/specimens cut across the web (perpendicular to the machine direction) may be used to determine the cross machine caliper profile.Because of the relatively high pressure 50 kPa (7.3 psi) used in this test method, it may not be suitable for measurement of tissue or other soft or low density materials, because the structure may collapse (decrease in thickness) at the prescribed pressure of 50 kPa. TAPPI T 580 Thickness (caliper) of towel, tissue, napkin and facial products should be used to measure these products. It uses a lower pressure of 2 kPa and a larger movable face with an area of 10 cm2.Another method for measuring the thickness of paper is TAPPI T 500 Book Bulk and Bulking Number of Paper, which describes a procedure for measuring the overall thickness of a stack of book paper under pressure of 250 kPa (35 psi).An essentially identical method is described in ASTM D 645-96.TAPPI T 551 Thickness of Paper and Paperboard (Soft Platen Method) describes a method for measuring the effective thickness of paper and board products utilizing soft rubber platens. This method always yields smaller values than TAPPI T 411.