Jul 2026 Rankings
Best Paper Towels
We tested 8 products for harmful chemicals, real-world performance, and ease of use. Our top pick: Caboo Tree Free Bamboo & Sugarcane Paper Towels.
By Renée Torres, R3 Research Lead·Updated Jul 2026
8 products · 7 brands40+ hrs researchNo brand pays us
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All Paper Towels Rankings
8 of 8 products
$34.99
$34.99
$29.99
$36.99
$59.99
| Product | PFAS Status | Ply Count | Sheets Per Roll | Score | Price | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock safety data | 8.0 | $34.99 | ||||
| Unlock safety data | 7.1 | $34.99 | ||||
| Unlock safety data | 7.1 | $29.99 | ||||
| Unlock safety data | 5.7 | $36.99 | ||||
| Unlock safety data | 4.4 | $59.99 |
Not all 8 paper towels cleared our safety screen.
See which ones we flagged, which failed, and which ranked #1.
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Compare Paper Towels head-to-head
Renée's Take · Jul 2026
How I Tested 8 Paper Towels
I tested 8 paper towels from 7 brands across 7 safety checks, including PFAS Status and Bleaching Method. Every product was scored the same way: material safety first, then real-world performance and ease of use.
What I found: The top picks pass third-party safety verification and hold up in everyday use. The paper towels I left off had unverified material claims, missing certifications, or hidden tradeoffs that matter day to day.
Here's what came out on top:
- 1.Caboo Tree Free Bamboo & Sugarcane Paper Towels · Caboo · 8.0/10 · $35
- 2.Grove Co. Bamboo Paper Towels · Grove Collaborative · 7.1/10 · $35
- 3.Betterway Bamboo Natural Brown Paper Towels · Betterway · 7.1/10 · $30
What Matters Most?
The criteria R3 evaluates for every paper towels
Safety
PFAS Status, Bleaching Method, Formaldehyde-Free
Efficacy
Ply Count
Usability
Sheets Per Roll
Common Questions
Real questions families ask about paper towels — answered with the data behind every score.
Caboo Tree Free Bamboo & Sugarcane Paper Towels is our top pick right now. It scored highest across the 8 we reviewed on what matters most to families: how safe it is, how well it actually works, and how easy it is to use day-to-day.
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