Commercial paper towels may look alike on the shelf, but they don’t all perform the same once you start using them. Some are designed for premium office environments where presentation and absorbency matter most, while others focus on keeping costs low for high-traffic restrooms and busy facilities. Instead of comparing confusing marketing terms, this comparison focuses on what actually matters for businesses, offices, and facilities buying in bulk—price, sheet count, format, absorbency, and overall value.
Bulk Savings: Karat Multifold
- Unbeatable economy costing just $0.90 per 100 sheets.
- Highest sheet volume in the matchup with 4,008 total sheets per case.
- Drawback: Basic 1-ply texture that lacks a premium luxury feel.
Premium Choice: Kimberly-Clark Kleenex
- Patented absorbency pockets designed to trap moisture significantly better than standard 1-ply paper.
- Massive sheet coverage measuring a generous 9.4″ X 12.4″ inches.
- Drawback: Stays positioned as the premium choice at 4x the cost of Karat ($3.60 per 100 sheets).
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Kimberly-Clark Professional Kleenex Scottfold | Karat Multifold | Pacific Blue Basic by Georgia-Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $86.35 | $35.99 | $42.00 |
| Price per 100 Sheets | $3.60 | $0.90 | $1.05 |
| Ply | 1-Ply | 1-Ply | 1-Ply |
| Total Sheets | 2,400 (20 packs × 120) | 4,008 (12 packs × 334) | 4,000 (16 packs × 250) |
| Format | Multifold | Multifold | Multifold |
| Sheet Size | 9.4 × 12.4 inches | Standard multifold | 9.4 × 9.2 inches |
| Best For | Premium offices, high-end facilities | Budget-conscious high-traffic restrooms | Reliable office and commercial restrooms |
| Overall Value | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
Note: All three products are 1-ply multifold towels designed for commercial dispensers. Karat and Pacific Blue offer nearly identical sheet counts, making their price-per-sheet comparison particularly telling.
Winner by Category
| If You Want… | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Best Overall Value | 🏆 Karat |
| Best Premium Quality | 🏆 Kimberly-Clark |
| Best Reliability | 🏆 Pacific Blue |
| Lowest Upfront Price | 🏆 Karat |
| Best for High-Traffic Restrooms | 🏆 Karat |
| Best for Executive Offices | 🏆 Kimberly-Clark |
Karat Multifold: Best Overall Value
Product Link – The product we compared
Karat delivers the strongest balance between price and performance in this comparison. At just $0.90 per 100 sheets, it is significantly cheaper than both competitors—about 14% less than Pacific Blue and nearly 75% less than Kimberly-Clark. Each case includes 4,008 sheets across 12 packs of 334 towels each, giving you the highest total sheet count of the three.
Despite the low price, Karat towels are described as absorbent and sturdy. They’re made from recycled fibers, making them a more sustainable choice for environmentally conscious facilities. For high-traffic restrooms, breakrooms, or any setting where paper towels are used frequently, the cost savings add up quickly.
The main trade-off is that these are basic 1-ply towels. They won’t feel as premium as Kimberly-Clark’s offering, and they’re not designed for heavy-duty cleaning. But for hand drying and routine restroom use—which is what most commercial settings need—they get the job done without breaking the budget.
Pros
- Best price per sheet by a wide margin
- Highest total sheet count (4,008)
- Made from recycled fibers
- Absorbent and sturdy for daily use
- Excellent for high-traffic facilities
Cons
- Basic 1-ply construction
- Less premium feel than Kimberly-Clark
- Not designed for heavy-duty cleaning
Why Karat Wins for High-Traffic Facilities
- ✓ Dramatically cuts overhead expenses, saving you nearly 75% compared to Kimberly-Clark’s per-sheet pricing.
- ✓ Manufactured with recycled fibers, providing an excellent sustainable profile for green initiatives.
- ✓ Sturdy structural integrity that withstands everyday commercial hand drying without shredding.
Pacific Blue Basic by Georgia-Pacific: Best Reliable Choice
Product Link – The product we compared
Pacific Blue sits in the middle of this comparison—priced higher than Karat but still significantly less than Kimberly-Clark, with 4,000 sheets per case. At $1.05 per 100 sheets, it costs about 17% more than Karat, which works out to roughly $6 more per case for nearly the exact same number of towels.
It’s a well-known brand in the commercial paper industry, backed by Georgia-Pacific’s reputation for quality and consistency. Users consistently praise Pacific Blue towels for being highly absorbent and strong. They’re designed specifically for office restrooms, with a multifold format that dispenses one at a time and keeps facilities looking tidy. The towels are recyclable, and the packaging is optimized to reduce waste—Georgia-Pacific has reduced outbound packaging weight by 41% on average since 2015.
The biggest drawback is the price per sheet compared to Karat. For many facilities, paying the extra $6 per case is hard to justify when Karat delivers similar functionality at a lower cost.
Pros
- Trusted Georgia-Pacific brand
- Highly absorbent and strong
- Designed for office restrooms
- Recyclable materials
- Reduced packaging waste
Cons
- Higher cost per sheet than Karat
- Premium price without premium features
- Slightly fewer sheets than Karat for more money
The Reliability Profile of Pacific Blue
- ✓ Backed by the trusted Georgia-Pacific brand reputation for quality and structural consistency.
- ✓ Highly absorbent and strong properties customized explicitly for standard office restrooms.
- ✓ Eco-responsible focus with 41% reduced packaging weight since 2015 to minimize commercial waste.
Kimberly-Clark Professional Kleenex Scottfold: Best Premium Quality
Product Link – The product we compared
Kimberly-Clark is the premium option in this comparison—and the price reflects it. At $3.60 per 100 sheets, it costs four times as much as Karat and nearly three and a half times as much as Pacific Blue. Each case includes 2,400 sheets across 20 packs of 120 towels each, the lowest total sheet count of the three.
So what do you get for the premium price? Kimberly-Clark’s Scottfold towels feature patented absorbency pockets, designed to trap moisture more effectively than standard 1-ply towels. The sheet size is also larger at 9.4 × 12.4 inches, providing more coverage per towel. These are the towels you’d expect to find in executive offices, high-end corporate facilities, or settings where presentation and user experience matter.
The towels are made from recycled materials with high absorbency, and the Kleenex brand carries instant recognition and trust. For facilities that want to make a good impression, these towels deliver.
The downside is the cost. At 4x the price of Karat, it’s a hard sell for everyday high-traffic use. Unless your facility prioritizes premium feel and brand perception over cost efficiency, the value proposition doesn’t add up for general restroom use.
Pros
- Premium Kleenex brand recognition
- Patented absorbency pockets
- Larger sheet size (9.4 × 12.4 inches)
- Made from recycled materials
- Excellent for executive and premium settings
Cons
- Highest price per sheet by far
- Lowest total sheet count (2,400)
- Difficult to justify for high-traffic use
Executive Takeaways: When to Deploy Kleenex Scottfold
- ✓ Best reserved for executive suites and high-end corporate facilities where guest impression is a key priority.
- ✓ Delivers instant Kleenex brand recognition, subliminally signaling quality to clients and visitors.
- ✓ Offers an elevated user experience due to the larger sheet canvas requiring fewer towels per dry.
Bottom Line
All three paper towels serve different types of facilities rather than competing for exactly the same buyer.
Choose Karat if cost efficiency is your highest priority. For high-traffic restrooms, breakrooms, and any setting where paper towels are used frequently, the dramatic savings add up quickly. At $0.90 per 100 sheets, it’s the clear value leader.
Choose Pacific Blue if you want a reliable, trusted brand at a reasonable price. Georgia-Pacific’s reputation for quality and consistency makes this a safe choice for office settings, though you’ll pay slightly more than Karat for similar performance.
Choose Kimberly-Clark if premium quality and user experience matter most. The patented absorbency pockets and larger sheet size make these ideal for executive offices and high-end facilities—but only if your budget can absorb the significant cost premium.
Instead of comparing brand names or marketing claims, pay closer attention to cost per 100 sheets and total sheet count. Those details provide a much better picture of how a paper towel is likely to perform in your facility—and what it will actually cost you over time.
FAQs
Q1: Is Kimberly-Clark worth the extra cost over Karat and Pacific Blue?
Kimberly-Clark costs $3.60 per 100 sheets, making it 4x more expensive than Karat ($0.90) and roughly 3.5x the price of Pacific Blue ($1.05). The cost premium is justified only if your facility prioritizes large 9.4 × 12.4 inch sheets, premium Kleenex branding, and patented absorbency pockets for high-end corporate settings.
Q2:
Yes, all three options are standard multifold formats designed to drop cleanly into universal commercial paper towel dispensers.
Q3:
Karat costs about 14% less than Pacific Blue per sheet, which works out to saving roughly $6 per case for nearly the exact same number of towels—a metric that scales significantly in high-traffic facilities.
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Prices and availability are subject to change. This comparison is based on publicly available information at the time of writing and is intended for informational purposes only.
