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While paper towels might look the same on the shelf, there are actually different types — including virgin pulp, recycled, certified and chlorine-free options. Compare some of the leading brands to find the best fit for your cleaning needs.
Name | Avg. price (USD) | Number of rolls | Sheets per roll | Ply | Purchase |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bounty Select-A-Size![]() | $9.98 | 6 | 101 | 2 | Buy now |
Brawny Pick-A-Size![]() | $10.48 | 8 | 103 | 2 | Buy now |
Viva Signature Cloth![]() | $10.99 | 8 | 91 | 1 | Buy now |
Scott Professional Multi-Purpose Shop Towels![]() | $9.98 | 6 | 55 | 1 | Buy now |
Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Paper Towels![]() | $12.49 | 8 | 156 | 2 | Buy now |
Pure Eko Reusable Washable Organic Unpaper towels![]() | $16.95 | 1 | 1 | Buy now |
Most paper towels are made from pulp, which is made by separating the fibers in timber, waste paper or fiber crops. Several environmentally-friendly options are available, including recycled, bleach-free and certified.
Common types of paper towels include:
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) are international organizations that endorse sustainable forest management. If you want to use more environmentally-friendly paper towels, choose an FSC- or PEFC-certified product by looking for the FSC tree tick logo or the PEFC-certified logo.
![]() | FSC mix | The timber used in the product is either recycled, made from FSC-certified forests or from controlled sources and is not harvested illegally or in violation of traditional and civil rights. |
![]() | FSC recycled | The entire product is made with recycled or reclaimed material. |
![]() | FSC 100% | All of the timber used to make the product comes from FSC-certified forests. |
![]() | PEFC certified | At least 70% of the timber used in the product is from PEFC-certified forests and controlled sources. |
![]() | PEFC recycled | At least 70% of timber used in the product is recycled PEFC-certified material and timber from controlled sources. |
Paper towels differ in price, type and absorbing power. The right choice for you depends on your needs and lifestyle.
Key features to consider:
Additional factors:
There’s no denying paper towels are convenient to use. But like single-use plastics, they’re harmful to the environment and produce a lot of waste. A more environmentally friendly alternative to single-use paper towels is reusable paper towels or dishcloths. In the long run, reusing your cloth towels rather than constantly purchasing paper towels could be more cost effective.
As long as you clean and disinfect reusable dishcloths properly, they’re hygienic enough for most daily cleaning. However, you shouldn’t use them for cleaning up bacteria-filled messes.
Paper towels are a convenient product to have on hand, whether you use them for everything or in conjunction with cloth dishrags. Shop the picks on this list to keep your kitchen stocked.
To choose our list of the best paper towels, we compared the price, size, absorbency and environmental-friendliness of leading brands.
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