The short answer
What you need to know
Choose napkins around how you serve customers: table setting, counter dispenser or takeaway pack. Confirm finished size, fold, napkins per pack and packs per carton, then estimate orders from actual covers and recorded use.
Before you buy
- Table and dispenser napkins need separate specifications.
- Count finished napkins rather than paper layers.
- Use your service pattern to estimate stock.
Choose for the service style
A sit-down dining room, takeaway counter and coffee station may need different napkin formats. List how each is presented and handled before requesting a quote. For dispensers, include the dispenser model and required fold; for table settings, measure the napkin you intend to fold or place with cutlery.
Keep presentation requirements explicit. If colour, embossing or print matters, include a sample or photograph. Do not let an urgent reorder introduce an unapproved change just because the carton count is similar.
Read size and packing consistently
Ask whether dimensions are folded or unfolded. Compare like with like, then confirm the number of finished napkins per pack and packs per carton. Ply is a separate field. A carton description without these details is difficult to compare fairly.
Trial the napkin in the way your staff will use it. Check whether it fits the dispenser, wraps the required cutlery or sits neatly in the takeaway pack. A small practical trial is more useful than choosing by the product photo alone.
Estimate the quantity from service records
Use actual napkin issues over a normal week when possible. If you need an initial planning estimate, multiply expected covers by your planned allocation, then add separately measured takeaway demand. Review the assumption after the first order.
For illustration, 150 covers a day at two napkins each over seven days gives 2,100 napkins. Add any takeaway use and a buffer based on delivery lead time, then subtract usable stock. These assumptions are a worked example, not a recommended allocation for every restaurant.
Keep the repeat order specific
Write the approved format onto your stock sheet. Before a busy weekend or event, confirm delivery timing and available quantity rather than assuming your usual order can be increased at short notice.
- Service area and presentation style
- Folded and unfolded dimensions
- Ply and finished napkin count
- Packs per carton
- Dispenser model, if used
- Event date and receiving window
A few more answers
Common buying questions
How many napkins should I order per guest?
Use your own service allocation and observed use. Takeaway, counter service and seated dining can consume different quantities.
Can table napkins go in a dispenser?
Only when the fold and dimensions match that dispenser. Confirm the intended refill format before buying.
Put the guide to work
Find the right supply for your site.
Sources & product references
Original purchasing guidance with the references below. Calculations are illustrative; confirm the exact specification and current quotation before ordering.
- Browse paper napkins
Product reference for this original purchasing guide. Packing, pricing and availability are confirmed at quotation.
Published by Pak Multilinks Hygiene, Shop No LG-9, Rehman Tower Main Market Gulberg II, Lahore. For a correction or a product-specific question, contact our team.