Paper Napkin Sizes Explained: A Complete Guide for Restaurants

Napkin size drives both guest experience and cost. This guide explains the standard sizes, what each is for, and the ply/fold/GSM factors that affect how a napkin performs on your table.

Standard napkin sizes

Type	Typical size	Used for
Dinner	16×16 to 20×20 in	Table service, main courses
Cocktail / beverage	12×12 in	Drinks, bars, appetisers
Guest towel	12×12 to 16×16 in (often airlaid)	Washrooms, hospitality
Dispenser (C/Z/V-fold)	Folded for dispensers	Back-of-house, washrooms
Lunch / luncheon	13×13 to 17×17 in	Lighter meals, cafés

Ply, GSM and fold

Ply — 1-ply airlaid or 2–3 ply tissue; more ply = more body and absorbency.
GSM — airlaid 60–68 gsm reads premium; tissue 14–18 gsm per ply.
Fold — 1/4, 1/6, 1/8 for table; pocket for cutlery; C/Z/V-fold for dispensers.

How to choose by venue

Fine dining — 19×17 in airlaid dinner, pocket fold.
Casual restaurant — 16×16 in 2-ply tissue dinner + 12×12 in beverage.
Bar / café — 12×12 in cocktail and beverage napkins.
Hotel — dinner for banquet, guest towel for washroom.

FAQ

What size is a standard dinner napkin?

Roughly 16×16 to 20×20 in (about 40–50 cm). Airlaid dinner napkins are often 19×17 in.

Does bigger mean better?

Not always — bigger costs more per piece. Match size to the course and venue; upsell presentation with material (airlaid) rather than size.

Pair this with our restaurant napkin supplier page, or wholesale paper napkins.

Paper Napkin Sizes Explained: A Complete Guide for Restaurants

Standard napkin sizes

Ply, GSM and fold

How to choose by venue

FAQ

Talk to our sales team about your napkin order

Related pages

Restaurant Napkin Supplier

Wholesale Paper Napkins

Dinner Napkins

Buyer's Toolkit

Compare napkin specifications