The 4 Best Paper Towels of 2026, Tested & Reviewed

If you asked me for my top ten kitchen essentials, a good roll of paper towels would rank high on the list. Not what you expected, right? But hear me out: Paper towels have seemingly infinite uses, including cleaning windows, wiping countertops, and even patting a steak dry before it hits a raging hot stainless steel skillet. And while I’m all for cutting back on disposable products, there are some messes that I only want to clean with single-use sheets. 

Deciding which paper towels is where things get hairy. Paper towel companies are guilty of some of the most confusing marketing ever, offering rolls in double, triple, and even “giant” sizes (terms that have different meanings from brand to brand). Plus, it’s no secret that not all paper towels are created equal; some are thick and plush, while others are thin and, well, papery. So, in an effort to find the very best paper towels, I wiped counters, dried wine glasses, and even calculated the surface density of each sheet. I gained plenty of insight into what makes a paper towel both tough and absorbent.

The Winners, at a Glance

With super thick sheets and a heavily textured surface, Brawny paper towels excelled at both wiping up spills and scrubbing stuck-on messes. They were also by far the most absorbent of all the paper towels I tried. I loved that you can tear each sheet in half horizontally, which is convenient for small tasks and helps reduce waste. 

These paper towels absorbed about as much liquid as the Kirkland Signature ones. They have a slightly scrubbier texture that makes them great for cleaning sticky surfaces and dried-on gunk. Plus, these also come at a great price!

Bounty paper towels came in a close second. Like the Brawny paper towels, these also have a deeply embossed surface that’s helpful for scrubbing. They weren’t quite as absorbent as the Brawny ones, but they were just as durable.

At just $1.99 per roll at the time of writing, these paper towels give the most bang for your buck. They’re thick, decently absorbent, and super sturdy. With a slightly smoother surface, they’re not as good at scrubbing as my other favorites, but I appreciated the softer feel when drying my hands. 

The Tests

• Tear Test: I placed each roll of paper towels on the OXO Good Grips Steady Paper Towel Holder (our favorite paper towel holder), then tore off five sheets. I noted if each tear was clean or if the paper towel ripped unevenly. I also tested how easy it was to tear two sheets at a time and half-sheets, when applicable. 
• Absorbency Test: I placed one sheet from each roll in a large tub containing one cup of water. Once the towel was fully saturated, I removed it and allowed excess water to drip off before weighing the water left inside the tub. I then calculated how much water each paper towel absorbed. 
• Surface Cleaning Test: I used each paper towel to clean a teaspoon-sized dollop of ketchup off my countertop and my stovetop (not the burners). To help get a sense of each paper towel’s durability, I sprinkled each ketchup blob with a quarter-teaspoon of kosher salt for added grit. When the mess was wiped away, I used Mrs. Meyers Multi-Surface cleaning spray to clean any excess stickiness. 
• Stuck-On Mess Test: With my oven preheated to 400°F, I added smears of ketchup to the surface of the warm stovetop (again, not the burners). I waited 15 minutes for each smear to dry out, then scrubbed the stain away with each paper towel and a spritz of Mrs. Meyers cleaning spray. 
• Glass Drying Test: I used paper towels from each roll to dry a single wine glass, noting how quickly the towel saturated and if it left behind any dusty residue. 
• Real World Tests (Winners Only): I used a roll of each of my favorite paper towels for two days, further examining their wiping, scrubbing, and absorbing capabilities. I also noted if I needed more or fewer sheets per use than expected. I weighed each roll before and after I used it, then calculated how many ounces of paper towels I had used over the course of the two days. 

What I Learned

Paper Towel Sizing Is Really Confusing

Part of what makes choosing the best paper towels so challenging is understanding what you’re actually getting for your money. What’s the difference between a single, double, triple, and a “giant” roll? One thing is for sure: There isn’t a consistent answer from brand to brand. Bounty’s family-sized roll contains 107 “quick-size” sheets, whereas a triple roll from Brawny boasts 114 half-sized sheets, which can be torn in half horizontally to create quarter sheets. In fact, many brands market their sheets as being customizable—you’ll see them referred to as “tear-a-square,” “select a sheet,” or “choose-a-size”—this simply means that you can opt to choose a narrower half-sheet or a larger whole sheet (which is actually just two half-sheets that haven’t been torn apart). At this point, your mind is likely spinning with the complexities of paper towel math–mine is too.

To keep things simple, I focused my testing on the smallest sheets each roll had to offer (except in the case of the Brawny and Sparkle rolls, for which I used half-sheets rather than the small, square-shaped quarter-sheets). Since these narrow sheets of paper towel were all roughly the same size, about 11 by six inches, this felt like the fairest way to test them head-to-head. I will note that the Kirkland Signature Paper Towels were slightly larger at 11 by seven inches. 

Half-Sheets and Quarter-Sheets Help Cut Back on Waste

The winning rolls had half-sheets that were so thick and absorbent that I rarely found myself reaching for more than one sheet; those rolls lasted me a lot longer. The Brawny paper towels can even be torn in half horizontally, making for small, square-shaped, quarter sheets. Since tearing a small square is less convenient than simply tearing off an entire half sheet, I didn’t use many quarter-sheets, but I did find them useful for small tasks like wiping the counter (so long as it wasn’t very dirty). I also appreciated how the smaller squares helped cut down on waste. The Sparkle sheets also had this feature, but since they weren’t nearly as thick and absorbent as the Brawny towels, a quarter-sheet never felt like quite enough. 

Thicker Paper Towels Were Generally More Absorbent

One of the questions I set out to answer when writing this review was whether thicker paper towels were more absorbent than thinner ones.  I got to work measuring the thickness of each paper towel with a set of digital calipers, but quickly realized that this was no simple task–it was nearly impossible to measure the true thickness of the towels without compressing them. While I wasn’t totally confident in my measurements, I did find that paper towels over half a millimeter thick were among the most absorbent. In search of a more reliable metric, I also calculated the surface density of each paper towel, which is measured in grams per square inch. This required dividing the surface area of each sheet by its weight. I found that paper towels with a higher surface density were also generally more absorbent, but again, it wasn’t a perfect rule. Texture and sheet size also appeared to be factors; Kirkland Signature paper towels were the fourth most absorbent sheets I tested, but were also, by far, the largest (i.e., there was more surface area to absorb messes).

Texture Adds Scrubbing Power

Paper towels with heavily textured surfaces were much better at cleaning up stuck-on messes. The Brawny, Bounty, and Viva Multi-Surface paper towels all have embossed patterns that made quick work of scrubbing away dried ketchup smears. While the Viva Signature paper towels were soft, strong, and absorbent, they were also the smoothest of the bunch. Their lack of texture made it difficult to gain traction while cleaning tough, sticky messes, with the towels sliding over the mess rather than scouring it. That said, durability is also important when it comes to scrubbing. The textured surfaces of the Scott and Sparkle brand towels were much less useful since the towels were thinner and tended to saturate quickly. 

Softer, More Absorbent Paper Towels Clean Without Smearing

The winning paper towels all had soft, plush textures that helped them absorb liquid quickly. These paper towels were not only useful for cleaning spills and wiping up counters, but they were also great for drying hands and polishing glassware. Thinner paper towels with a slick or papery finish actually made messes worse by spreading them around. During my surface cleaning test, the Seventh Generation and Amazon Basics towels smeared ketchup all over my counter, requiring multiple passes (and more than one towel) to clean it completely. 

More Sheets Per Roll Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Fewer Trips to the Store

Big rolls made up of thick, absorbent sheets last longer–which means fewer trips to the store. The Kirkland Signature paper towels are the best example of this, with 160 sheets per roll. The sheets are also the largest ones I’ve tried. And while the roll is a bit bulky, it lasts longer than other brands. However, sheet count isn’t the only factor in how long a roll will last. Amazon Basics and Seventh Generation both offer rolls with around 150 sheets, but because the sheets aren’t very absorbent, you need to use more of them, even for small tasks like drying a wine glass. 

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Roll of Paper Towels

The best paper towels are soft, thick, and absorbent, with an embossed texture on the surface for added scrubbing power. They should sop up messes and not just smear them around. I preferred rolls with smaller or customizable sheets that let you tear off only what you need, which helps reduce waste. Bonus points for double or triple-sized rolls that need replacing less often. 

My Favorite Paper Towels

What I liked: These thick paper towels feature an embossed hexagonal design on their surface that made them excellent for scrubbing dried-on ketchup off my stovetop. They were also the most absorbent paper towels I tried, with half-sheets that held over 30 grams of water. The paper towels were so thick and durable that I found myself using fewer sheets at a time—one half-sheet was enough for nearly all light cleaning tasks. I also appreciated the option to tear small, square-shaped quarter sheets. These were useful for wiping up minor messes or for using as a small paper napkin. 

What I didn’t like: Out of all my winners, these paper towels are the most expensive (at over $3 per roll). 

Key Specs

• Sheets per roll: 114
• Sheet thickness: 0.9 millimeters
• Price per roll (at time of writing): $3.14
• Weight per roll: 11.1 ounces
• Customizable sheet size: Half and quarter sheets

What I liked: These were all-around great paper towels. They’re decently thick, absorbent, and come at a great price (under $2.50 per roll at the time of writing this article). While these didn’t soak up quite as much water as the Viva Signature paper towels, the embossed Diamond pattern on the surface made them much more useful for scrubbing—just one sheet effortlessly lifted stuck-on ketchup from my stovetop. 

What I didn’t like: These paper towels weren’t quite as plush and absorbent as my other winners. I also found them a bit scratchy when drying my hands. 

Key Specs

• Sheets per roll: 110
• Sheet thickness: 0.5 millimeters
• Price per roll (at time of writing): $2.49
• Weight per roll: 8.9 ounces
• Customizable sheet size: Choose-a-sheet 

What I liked: The Bounty paper towels are soft, thick, and super durable. They absorbed slightly less water than the Brawny sheets but were equally adept at scrubbing stuck-on messes thanks to their raised diamond pattern. The “quick-size” sheets tore easily from the roll, and I found that just one of them was enough for most cleaning, wiping, and drying tasks. 

What I didn’t like: Like Brawny, these paper towels are on the pricier side. 

Key Specs

• Sheets per roll: 107
• Sheet thickness: 0.8 millimeters
• Price per roll (at time of writing): $3.05
• Weight per roll: 9.6 ounces
• Customizable sheet size: Quick-size sheets

What I liked: If you hate going to the store, you will love these seriously big rolls—they have 160 sheets each and last significantly longer than other paper towels. The sheets are slightly larger than others I tested, but they’re thick, absorbent, and sturdy enough for scrubbing sticky countertops. While these paper towels aren’t as textured as the ones from Bounty or Brawny, I preferred the softer sheets for drying my hands and for polishing glassware; they left behind a beautiful shine. Plus, at just under two dollars per roll, these paper towels easily offer the best value for money. 

What I didn’t like: They aren’t quite as absorbent as the Bounty or Brawny paper towels, even though the sheets are larger. The rolls are also only available in a twelve-pack, which may present a storage challenge for those living in smaller spaces. 

Key Specs

• Sheets per roll: 160
• Sheet thickness: 0.5 millimeters
• Price per roll (at time of writing): $1.99
• Weight per roll: 12.3 ounces
• Customizable sheet size: Half sheets

The Competition

• Viva Signature Cloth Paper Towels: These paper towels were impressively absorbent, but their smooth texture made it difficult to get traction on sticky, dried-on messes; they slid over the dried ketchup smear rather than scrubbing it off. 
• Amazon Basics 2-Ply Flex-Sheets Paper Towels: With a thin, papery feel, these paper towels were among the least absorbent of any I tried. The sheets felt slick to the touch and smeared ketchup around rather than absorbing it. They were also super delicate—I could hardly tear a sheet from the roll without causing a major rip. 
• Scott Paper Towels, Choose-A-Sheet: While these paper towels were soft with a moderately textured surface, they weren’t all that absorbent, becoming quickly saturated when wiping up liquids and ketchup. 
• Betterway Bamboo Natural Brown Paper Towels: These were the only paper towels I tried that were made from bamboo, and while I wanted to love them, I found the sheets thin and not particularly absorbent. Plus, they cost well over three dollars per roll. The roll was also too small to fit on my paper towel holder. 
• Seventh Generation Paper Towels: Out of all the paper towels I tried, these were the least absorbent of the bunch—I needed two of these sheets to dry a single wine glass. While I appreciate they’re made from recycled paper, they just didn’t measure up to the competition as far as their cleaning capabilities, plus they were the most expensive ones I tried. 
• Sparkle Tear-A-Square Paper Towels: While these weren’t the worst paper towels I tried, they certainly weren’t the best. They were a bit thin and not hugely absorbent (I needed more than one sheet to wipe ketchup off my kitchen counter). Like the Brawny paper towels, these can be torn into square-shaped quarter sheets, but because they’re so thin and flimsy, the smaller sheets were not particularly useful. 

FAQs

Which brand makes the most absorbent paper towels?

Brawny paper towels were by far the most absorbent ones I tried; a single half-sheet soaked up more than 30 grams of water. The Viva Signature roll was the second most absorbent, but since its smooth texture was less useful for scrubbing, they didn’t make my winner’s list. 

What’s a good sustainable alternative to paper towels?

While single-use paper towels are useful for a multitude of household tasks, they’re definitely not the most environmentally friendly choice. Reusable paper towels, Swedish dishcloths, and good old-fashioned fabric dish towels are all excellent, more sustainable options for those looking to cut back on paper usage. 

Are paper towels compostable?

Yes, paper towels are generally compostable so long as they haven’t been used with harsh chemical cleaners. If you’re adding them to your backyard compost pile, you’ll also want to avoid paper towels that have come in contact with meat, dairy, or fat, which can attract rodents and other pests. 

Why We’re the Experts

• Zola Gregory is a writer, recipe developer, and product reviewer for Serious Eats and other food publications. 
• Zola has been cooking professionally since 2016 and is an avid user of paper towels both in and out of the kitchen. 
• For this review, she tested 10 popular rolls of paper towels, using sheets from each one to wipe countertops, dry wine glasses, and scrub stuck-on messes. She also tested sheets from each roll for absorbency. 
• She found some standout paper towels, but when it comes to the difference between a double and triple roll, she’s still a little fuzzy on the details.