How to Choose the Right Paper Towels for Your Workplace
paper towels for your workplace
A practical guide to finding the best paper towel option for your team, your budget and your sustainability goals.
Why paper towels matter
Paper towels might seem like a small purchasing decision, but the wrong towel can create surprisingly large problems: jammed dispensers, wasted sheets, constant refilling and people taking handfuls because one towel is not doing the job.
The practical goal is simple: choose a towel that fits, dispenses properly, dries hands effectively and makes sense for the amount your workplace uses.
Quick answer
If you already have a dispenser, start there. Measure the internal width and depth, then measure a towel that fits it. Matching the folded dimensions is more reliable than relying on names such as slimfold or midfold alone.
“Start with the dispenser. Everything else — size, absorbency and cost — falls into place once you know what fits and what your team actually needs.”
Key things to consider
Use this checklist to compare commercial paper towels for your New Zealand workplace.
What to measure / check
Will it fit your dispenser?
Is the folded towel too deep?
Look beyond the upfront carton price.
Check fold type and dispenser dimensions.
Start with the dispenser, not the carton
Paper hand towels are not one universal size. Different dispensers are designed around different folds and folded dimensions, so a towel that looks almost right may still jam or dispense badly.
If a towel already fits your dispenser, measure it. If you do not have one, measure the inside of the dispenser — particularly the width and depth — and compare those measurements with the folded dimensions of the towel you are considering.
Does the cheapest carton actually cost less?
Not necessarily. Two cartons can contain the same number of sheets while the actual towel size is very different. If people routinely take two or three smaller towels, the cheaper carton may disappear faster.
Where Insinc can help
Here are some useful places to go next.
Recycled content matters — but so does using less. A towel that dispenses one sheet at a time and does the job properly can reduce unnecessary waste. The practical choice is the one that performs well in your actual workplace.
FAQs
How do I know which towel fits my dispenser?
Measure the dispenser's internal width and depth, then compare them with the folded dimensions of a towel that already fits. Match the fold type as well as the size.
What is the most cost-effective option?
Compare cost per hand dry, not carton price alone. Sheet dimensions, absorbency and how many towels people take can all change the actual cost.
Are recycled paper towels a good option?
They can be. Look for a recycled towel that fits your dispenser and performs well so staff do not need to use extra sheets.
Do I need to replace my dispenser?
Not necessarily. If it is in good condition, first identify a compatible towel by measuring its interior and checking the dispensing mechanism.
Final thoughts from Alex & Alex
Choosing paper towels does not need to be complicated. Start with what fits your dispenser, then choose the option that balances performance, cost and sustainability for your workplace.
— Alex & AlexRelated articles
Posted: Thursday 24 September 2026
