The Best Papers for Joints: Test & Comparison

We don't just give you our opinions; we put every type of paper through tough tests in the real world. When you roll and smoke, our evaluation process looks at five important things that really matter:

Quality of the burn (30% of the score): Does it burn evenly without canoeing? Is the burn speed too fast, too slow, or just right?

Flavor Impact (25% of score): Can you taste the paper? Does it change the taste of your cannabis?

Rolling Ease (20% of the score): How easy is it for beginners to use? Does it rip easily when you roll it?

Quality of Construction (15% of score): Is the thickness even, does the gum stick properly, and are there no defects in the manufacturing?

Value for Money (10% of the score): Price per paper compared to performance?

We test each paper with the same mid-shelf cannabis, which is ground to the same consistency and rolled by both experienced and new users. We keep track of how long the burn lasts, note any problems with the burning, and rate the whole smoking experience from light-up to roach.

Notes on Performance:

• Burn rate: 3 to 4 minutes for a regular joint
• Problems with canoeing are very rare
• Not much of a paper taste
• The ash is a little more visible than the rice papers

Best Hemp Options: Raw Classic, Elements, and Smoking Brown

Price Range: €0.80-2.50 per pack

2. Rice Papers: The Best Choice for Purists

Best for: people who have rolled before, keeping the flavor, and burning cleanly

Speed of burn: very slow

Taste Impact: Almost no taste

Rolling difficulty: moderate to hard.

Rice papers are the best way to smoke because they don't taste like paper at all. They burn very slowly and leave very little ash. But they're thin and fragile, which makes them hard for beginners.

Notes on Performance:

• Burn rate: 4 to 5 minutes for a normal joint
• Burns so clean that you can barely see the paper
• If your technique isn't good, it tears easily
• It can be hard to get the seal right

The best rice choices: RAW Black, Smoking Master, and Elements Rice

Price Range: €1.60-3.20 per pack

3. Wood Pulp Papers: The Best Value

Best For: People who want to save money, people who smoke occasionally, and people who want to learn how to roll

Burn Speed: Medium to fast

Taste: A little bit of paper flavor

Rolling difficulty: Very easy.

The best choice for beginners is wood pulp paper. They're thick, strong, and almost impossible to tear when you roll them. You might taste some paper, but they're great for practicing your technique without wasting expensive paper.

Notes on Performance:

• Burn rate: 2 to 3 minutes for a regular joint
• Very strong while rolling
• Paper taste that is noticeable but not bad
• Can burn in a way that isn't quite even

The best wood pulp options: Zig Zag Orange, Job 1.25, and Top

Price Range: €0.40-1.60 per pack

4. Clear/Cellulose Papers: The Best of the Best

Best For: Showing off, special occasions, and a one-of-a-kind experience

Burn Speed: Medium

Flavor Effect: No effect

Rolling difficulty: Hard.

Clear papers give you a completely different way to smoke. You can see the cannabis burning, and there is no paper taste. They are hard to work with and cost more, so they are better for special occasions than for everyday use.

Notes on Performance:

• Burn rate: 3 to 4 minutes for a regular joint
• No flavor interference at all
• It can be hard to see the edges while rolling
• Burns with an interesting visual effect

Best Clear Choices: RAW Rolling Papers Clear and Trip2 Clear

Price Range: €2.40-4.80 per pack

Notes on Performance:

• A standard joint burns in 2.5 to 3.5 minutes
• Strong artificial flavoring in the smoke can cover up the taste of bad cannabis
• Some burn unevenly because of chemicals that add flavor

Popular flavored options: Juicy Jay's, Smoking Deluxe, and Blazy Susan

Price Range: €1.20-3.20 per pack

The size of your paper affects how hard it is to roll, how long it burns, and how easy it is to share. This is how the three main sizes stack up:

Standard Size (1¼ inch)

• Best for: solo use, accurate dosing, and beginners
• Cannabis capacity: 0.3 to 0.7 grams
• Time to burn: 2 to 4 minutes
• Rolling ease: The easiest to seal and control

Long Papers (1.5 inches)

• Best for: Longer sessions with small groups
• Cannabis capacity: 0.5-1 gram
• Burn time: 3-5 minutes
• Rolling ease: Moderate - more paper to manage

King Size Papers (110mm)

• Best for: Groups, extended sessions, high tolerance users
• Cannabis capacity: 1-2+ grams
• Burn time: 5-8 minutes
• Rolling ease: Most challenging - requires good technique

Pro Tip: Start with standard size papers to master your technique, then move up to long papers and king size papers as your skills improve.

Understanding why certain papers perform better helps you make informed choices. Paper performance comes down to three key factors:

Material Composition: Hemp fibers burn slowly and evenly. Rice creates minimal ash. Wood pulp burns faster but provides durability.

Paper Thickness: Thicker papers are more forgiving but can affect taste. Ultra-thin papers burn cleaner but tear easily.

Processing Methods: According to research on combustion materials, unbleached papers produce fewer harmful compounds than heavily processed alternatives.

Gum Strip Quality: Natural gum arabic provides better adhesion than synthetic alternatives and doesn't affect taste.

We tested 15 popular paper options across all categories. Here are our top performers:

Winner: RAW Classic Hemp papers deliver the best balance of performance, ease of use, and value. They're nearly foolproof for beginners while still satisfying experienced users.

Runner-up: Elements Rice papers offer the cleanest burn and flavor preservation but require solid rolling skills.

We tested papers ranging from €0.40 to €4.80 per pack to determine if premium pricing delivers premium performance.

Budget Papers (€0.40-1.20):

• Perfectly adequate for casual use
• More likely to burn unevenly
• Can taste papery
• Great for learning without breaking the bank

Mid-Range Papers (€1.20-2.80):

• Significant improvement in burn quality
• Minimal flavor interference
• More consistent manufacturing
• Best value for regular users

Premium Papers (€2.80-4.80+):

• Marginal improvements over mid-range
• Specialty features (clear, unique materials)
• Often about the experience rather than performance
• Worth it for special occasions

Verdict: Mid-range papers offer the best performance-per-euro ratio. Premium papers are nice luxuries but not essential for great joints.

New Rollers: Start with Smoking Brown hemp papers. They're durable, forgiving, and reasonably priced. Master your technique before moving to thinner papers.

Flavor Enthusiasts: Rice papers (Elements or RAW Black) preserve cannabis flavor better than any other option.

Group Sessions: King size papers work best for sharing, but require more skill to roll properly.

Budget Users: Job 1.25 or Zig Zag papers deliver decent performance without breaking the bank.

Show-Offs: Clear papers or high-end rice papers make impressive conversation pieces.

The type of paper you choose can have an effect on your health and the environment. According to research on sustainable cannabis, making unbleached papers puts less pollution into the environment.

Best Choices for Your Health:

• Hemp papers that have not been bleached
• Rice papers that don't have chemicals
• Any paper that doesn't have chlorine bleach

Winners for the environment:

• Hemp papers (a resource that can be used again)
• Rice papers (a byproduct of farming)
• Options that aren't bleached (less processing)

Don't do this:

• Papers that have been bleached a lot
• Too much chemical processing on papers
• When possible, use plastic packaging that can't be recycled

Properly storing paper keeps it from getting wasted and keeps it rolling:

• Keep papers in their original packaging until you're ready to use them. This keeps them safe from moisture and damage.
• Keep it in a cool, dry place. Bathrooms and kitchens can make things too humid.
• Don't put it in the fridge; temperature changes cause condensation problems.
• Check the expiration date because old papers can lose their stickiness or break easily.
• Use clean, dry hands to handle. Oils and moisture can get on the papers and affect how well they work.