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expired Posted by WolfTheCat • Feb 21, 2024
expired Posted by WolfTheCat • Feb 21, 2024

Various Retailers / Brands: Paper Towel Per-Sq-Ft Cost Analysis

(Pricing/Availability May Vary By Location)

from $0.016/sq-ft

Sam's Club
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Note: Paper Towel prices fluctuate due to supply and demand, so current breakdown is accurate as of 3/11/2024. While most items listed may or may not be on sale/discounted, we are promoting these offers on the Frontpage due to strong feedback from and excellent contributions made by the community, who view this as way to save money over time on a more consistent basis between stronger sales.

Various Retailers have Select Paper Towel Rolls starting at $0.016 per Square Foot. Pricing many be subject to change as determined by the manufacturer and/or retailer.

Thanks to WolfTheCat and all other community members involved in contributing to and evaluating this list.
  • Note: A higher or lower cost-per-square-foot may not be indicative of quality. Pricing and availability may vary in-store vs. online (where applicable) and/or by region.
Per Square Foot Paper Towel Price Comparison:No Longer Available:
  • Costco: Bounty Advanced Paper Towels $0.045/sq-ft (656sq-ft)
    • Select free store pick up where stock permits otherwise shipping is free on orders $75+

Editor's Notes

Written by megakimcheelove | Staff
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.
  • Don't have a Sam's Club Membership? Join today: Club Membership $50/yr. or Plus Membership $110/yr.
  • If you don't have a Costco Warehouse Membership, you can sign-up here
  • Don't have Amazon Prime? Students can get a free 6-Month Amazon Prime trial with free 2-day shipping, unlimited video streaming & more.
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Original Post

Written by WolfTheCat
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Note: Paper Towel prices fluctuate due to supply and demand, so current breakdown is accurate as of 3/11/2024. While most items listed may or may not be on sale/discounted, we are promoting these offers on the Frontpage due to strong feedback from and excellent contributions made by the community, who view this as way to save money over time on a more consistent basis between stronger sales.

Various Retailers have Select Paper Towel Rolls starting at $0.016 per Square Foot. Pricing many be subject to change as determined by the manufacturer and/or retailer.

Thanks to WolfTheCat and all other community members involved in contributing to and evaluating this list.
  • Note: A higher or lower cost-per-square-foot may not be indicative of quality. Pricing and availability may vary in-store vs. online (where applicable) and/or by region.
Per Square Foot Paper Towel Price Comparison:No Longer Available:
  • Costco: Bounty Advanced Paper Towels $0.045/sq-ft (656sq-ft)
    • Select free store pick up where stock permits otherwise shipping is free on orders $75+

Editor's Notes

Written by megakimcheelove | Staff
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.
  • Don't have a Sam's Club Membership? Join today: Club Membership $50/yr. or Plus Membership $110/yr.
  • If you don't have a Costco Warehouse Membership, you can sign-up here
  • Don't have Amazon Prime? Students can get a free 6-Month Amazon Prime trial with free 2-day shipping, unlimited video streaming & more.
  • If you're not a student, there's also a free 1-Month Amazon Prime trial available.

Original Post

Written by WolfTheCat

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Top Comments

istayballin
147 Posts
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TofuVic is that you?
vec
31118 Posts
3595 Reputation
Nice job on this research Thanks for sharing!

SeriousSardine1397
164 Posts
50 Reputation
I always prefer individually wrapped paper towels. Space is limited in closets and when it's individually wrapped, they could be stored very efficiently. Also Sams club runs special buys on members mark where they drop the price a couple of dollars. So if you can stock up enough, you'll save more.

78 Comments

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Feb 21, 2024
206 Posts
Joined May 2011
Feb 21, 2024
smartadze
Feb 21, 2024
206 Posts
I hate Select-a-Size :-(
Pro
Feb 21, 2024
3,891 Posts
Joined Jun 2016
Feb 21, 2024
Logan_71
Pro
Feb 21, 2024
3,891 Posts
Just checked my Brawny 6-pk triple roll order from AMZ out of curiosity.

453.7sq ft for $16.57 after S&S discount = 0.036 per sq ft.

Not terrible, but not great. With that said, there are some paper towels that I won't buy (Sparkle, some house brands) because they are crap quality - I don't see many of those here.

I do buy Member's Mark on occasion, and may have to pick those up again, as they show to be cheaper, at least at the time of OP's comparison.
Pro
Feb 21, 2024
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Joined Jun 2016
Feb 21, 2024
Logan_71
Pro
Feb 21, 2024
3,891 Posts
Quote from ekguru :
Thought the same but don't think so...Tofuvic won't create a post...he's omnipresent and doesn't need to create a post
Same. I was thinking he may be the poster even before I clicked on this thread Wink
Feb 21, 2024
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Joined Oct 2011
Feb 21, 2024
ThatCoolDude
Feb 21, 2024
380 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank ThatCoolDude

Quote from jdpunt :
I'd love to know to. I am not happy w/ Member's Mark which was my last choice and I'm literally on my last roll. If Pom is considered better I'll go that route.
It has been quite some time since I last purchased these but when I did they sucked. They were thin, rough and not absorbent. The best bang for your buck is the members mark premium towels, I know you said you didn't like them but for the price it's probably the best you'll get.
1
Feb 21, 2024
44 Posts
Joined Aug 2018
Feb 21, 2024
Sarakaflokas
Feb 21, 2024
44 Posts
Quote from Pnoy :
Is quality good compared to members mark brand? I have not tried POM brand.
I haven't tried the paper towels, but the MM toilet paper is far better than POM. I was also fixated on $/SF, but it doesn't account for thickness, and not all 2-ply are made equal
Original Poster
Pro
Feb 21, 2024
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Feb 21, 2024
WolfTheCat
Feb 21, 2024
Original Poster
Pro
2,275 Posts
Quote from Sarakaflokas :
I haven't tried the paper towels, but the MM toilet paper is far better than POM. I was also fixated on $/SF, but it doesn't account for thickness, and not all 2-ply are made equal
My view on that is nuanced.

You are right, not all 2-ply are equal. It may be true that Bounty can absorb 3-4x as much as Walgreens, enabling you to use 3-4x less if you ration correctly. I won't dispute that.

However, in my family, that doesn't matter.
My wife and kids will just grab the same number of sheets, Bounty or Walgreens - doesn't matter.

If it's Bounty, it'll do the job the first time and they'll waste money with unused potential absorbency.

If it's Walgreens, maybe it won't do the job the first time (or maybe it will). If they need more, they grab more. They use the absorbency they have more efficiently.
1
Feb 21, 2024
870 Posts
Joined Jan 2007
Feb 21, 2024
rishid
Feb 21, 2024
870 Posts
Quote from kmcherry :
FWIW, BJs currently has a $2 coupon off their Berkeley & Jensen paper towels. That makes Ultra select-a-size 757 sqft for 17.99 (.02376), Ultra full size 748 ft2 for 17.99 (.02405), and regular select-a-sze 784.8 ft2 for 13.99 (0.01783). We frequently use the Ultra but have not tried the regular.
Which BJs location do you see has the regular for $13.99 after coupon? $15.99 here for the few I checked in MA

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Feb 22, 2024
2,272 Posts
Joined Dec 2006
Feb 22, 2024
NotBuscemi
Feb 22, 2024
2,272 Posts
I don't even shop around anymore for paper towels. I just buy Bounty at Costco when it's on sale, which it frequently is. Right now it's $5.50 off bringing it to $18.99

Still not the cheapest "per square foot" but it absorbs the best. So I use less of it than any other brand.
Last edited by NotBuscemi March 8, 2024 at 12:05 PM.
Feb 22, 2024
4,373 Posts
Joined Aug 2006
Feb 22, 2024
runner0382
Feb 22, 2024
4,373 Posts
Albertson's and their other-branded markets carry Value Corner Paper Towels for $0.0188-0.0226 per sq foot. I buy them once a year on $5 Friday when it is 2 for $5 bringing it down to 0.0094 which bests any pricing here.

Smart & Final comes in at 0.0272/sq ft.
Feb 22, 2024
504 Posts
Joined Jan 2022
Feb 22, 2024
NeatMorning7086
Feb 22, 2024
504 Posts
This is the kind of SD content we need, not more staff deals. Thanks, OP!
1
Original Poster
Pro
Feb 22, 2024
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Feb 22, 2024
WolfTheCat
Feb 22, 2024
Original Poster
Pro
2,275 Posts
Quote from istayballin :
TofuVic is that you?
No, but I am the real slim shady. And I'm hungry like the Wolf.

Seriously, she's hungry. I need to fill her kibble bowl.
2
Feb 22, 2024
289 Posts
Joined May 2010
Feb 22, 2024
Jason1x3
Feb 22, 2024
289 Posts
Where's the TP comparison thread?
Feb 22, 2024
3,806 Posts
Joined Aug 2005
Feb 22, 2024
labboypro
Feb 22, 2024
3,806 Posts
Quote from Sarakaflokas :
I was also fixated on $/SF, but it doesn't account for thickness, and not all 2-ply are made equal
These kinds of comparos feel a little like ranking automobiles by dollars per pound. And I can imagine the marketing team at Kimberly Clark giggles when they circumvent the entire premise by moving the perforation line 1" in either direction.
Feb 22, 2024
60 Posts
Joined Nov 2010
Feb 22, 2024
nuggetshow
Feb 22, 2024
60 Posts
Price per sq ft means zero on paper towels. You should care about cost per use. Best towel needs 1 sq ft worst needs 4. Hence worst performing towel needs 4x the surface area to dry, clean etc. similar concept to food yield. Food isn't cost per pound it's cost per serving (yield). Toilet paper same concept cost per occasion not per sheet. Cost per pound, sq ft is a fools game if your looking for best yield or cost per use or application is so many products. Who has the best deal per sq ft on cars, lowest price per pound on a new dishwasher. Have fun

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Feb 22, 2024
57 Posts
Joined Jul 2015
Feb 22, 2024
JRCSLICK
Feb 22, 2024
57 Posts
Years ago had a dog that peed & crapped all over the hardwood floors...daily. Big boy, 90 pounder, so this wasn't a small amount of either.

Used POM due to lower price (after all, why spend $$ on paper towels to pick up turds?)...BUT, it took a ton of rolls to get it all up. Felt like I was using at least 2x the amount, minimally, compared to bigger (albeit more expensive) name brand paper towels. In other words, it didn't give me the sense that I was truly saving any $ by going cheaper for this particular purpose.

Dog was eventually re-homed elsewhere, and long story short...we use regular Sam's Members Mark paper towels now and have for a while. Definitely not the best (if you're used to the more expensive name brand), but for the occasional wipe-up of a spilled drink or water on the counters -- "normal clean up" -- they're suitable for sure.

I guess it all depends on what job you need bulk paper towels for haha.
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