Bulk Napkins: Cocktail, Lunch, Dinner & Dispenser Guide

Buying napkins in bulk comes down to four choices: size (cocktail, lunch, dinner or dispenser), ply (1 ply, 2 ply or quilted), fold and colour. Packery sells every napkin by the carton, from cartons of 1000 dinner napkins to cartons of 6000 dispenser napkins, and each product page shows the carton price and the price per napkin.

Key takeaways

• Cocktail napkins are 230x230mm, lunch napkins are 300x300mm and dinner napkins are 400x400mm.
• Dispenser napkins come in 200x165mm and 240x225mm sizes, in cartons of 6000 and 5000.
• Per-napkin prices in the range run from $0.008 each for 1ply dispenser napkins to $0.09 each for black quilted dinner napkins.
• White, kraft, black, red and recycled brown options are available, and custom printing with your logo is available on selected products.
• There is no minimum order.

What types of napkins can I buy in bulk?

There are four napkin types in the napkin range: cocktail, lunch, dinner and dispenser. They differ mainly in size and carton quantity, so the right one depends on what you serve and how customers pick napkins up.

• Cocktail napkins (230x230mm) sit under drinks and go out with canapés, cakes and small bites. They come in cartons of 2000.
• Lunch napkins (300x300mm) suit café meals, burgers and sandwiches. They come in cartons of 2000 or 3000.
• Dinner napkins (400x400mm) are the largest size, for plated meals and table settings. They come in cartons of 1000.
• Dispenser napkins (200x165mm or 240x225mm) are made to load into counter or table dispensers. They come in cartons of 5000 or 6000.

Should I buy 1 ply, 2 ply or quilted napkins?

Choose by how the napkin will be used and seen: 1 ply for high-volume grab-and-go, 2 ply for everyday table service, quilted for a more finished look on the table. Price per napkin moves with ply as well as size.

At lunch size, the Napkins – White 1ply Lunch Qtr Fold (Carton of 3000) is $23.88 per carton, or $0.008 each. The 2 ply version is $45.84 per carton for 2000, or $0.02 each. The Napkins – White Quilted Lunch GT Fold (Carton of 2000) is $51.68 per carton, or $0.03 each. Quilted napkins have an embossed, textured surface that looks more considered on a café table or a catering platter.

At cocktail size the gap is smaller: the Napkins – White 2 Ply Cocktail Qtr Fold (Carton of 2000) is $21.98 per carton ($0.01 each), and the quilted cocktail napkin (see the product page for the current price).

What do the folds mean: Qtr, GT, 1/8 GT and 1/6?

The fold is how the napkin is packed and presented, and it is listed in every product name. Qtr Fold appears on cocktail and lunch napkins, GT Fold on lunch and dinner napkins, 1/8 GT Fold on the white, red and black quilted dinner napkins, and 1/6 Fold and Single Serve on dispenser napkins.

Qtr Fold napkins stack neatly beside a register or on a drinks tray. GT and 1/8 GT Fold dinner napkins suit table settings and cutlery rolls. Dispenser napkins need to match the dispenser you use, so check the size before ordering: 200x165mm for the Single Serve and 240x225mm for the 1/6 Fold.

Bulk napkin prices compared

Every price below is per carton and comes from the product pages.

All of these napkins are made from paper.

Which colour napkin suits my venue?

White is the default for most venues and is available in every type. Kraft suits cafés with a natural, brown-paper look, and the recycled dinner napkin comes in brown. Black and red are for venues where the napkin is part of the table styling.

Black comes in cocktail and dinner sizes, and red comes in dinner size only. Coloured napkins cost more per napkin than white at the same size, so many venues use white or kraft for takeaway and keep colour for dine-in tables. For a side-by-side look at the two most common colours, see kraft vs white napkins for cafés. If you want your logo on the napkin, every napkin in this guide is listed as available for custom printing.

Which one should I buy?

Start with the napkin your busiest service uses, then add a second type if you need one.

• Takeaway shops and food trucks: Napkins – White 1ply Dispenser 1/6 Fold (Carton of 5000) at $0.006 each for a counter dispenser, or the Napkins – White 2ply Dispenser Single Serve (Carton of 6000) at $0.006 each if you want a 2ply dispenser napkin.
• Cafés: the white 1ply lunch napkin for takeaway bags, plus the Kraft Napkins – Quilted Lunch GT Fold (Carton of 2000) at $0.03 each for dine-in tables.
• Bars and cocktail events: the white 2 ply cocktail napkin at $0.01 each for volume, or the Napkins – Black 2ply Cocktail Qtr Fold (Carton of 2000) at $0.02 each where black suits the bar.
• Restaurants and caterers: the Napkins – White 2 ply Quilted Dinner 1/8 GT Fold (Carton of 1000) at $31.50 per carton ($0.03 each) for plated meals and cutlery rolls, or the red or black quilted dinner napkins for styled tables.

For a broader look at paper napkin options, read our paper napkins guide.

How does ordering napkins in bulk work?

Napkins are sold by the carton, and there is no minimum order. Delivery is a flat fee set by your postcode, and free once an order passes a set amount; checkout shows the exact cost, and today's rates are on the shipping page. Delivery takes 3–5 business days to capital cities and 4–6 business days regional. All orders are prepaid online. Damaged or faulty items are replaced or refunded free; unopened stock cartons can be returned within 7 days of delivery (10% restocking fee, return delivery at your cost). If you already know the cartons you need, use quick order to add them in one go.

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No minimum order · free delivery over $750 (metro) / $1000 (regional) · damaged items replaced free · Delivery details