Napkin Materials
What Is an Airlaid Napkin? A Plain-English Guide
An airlaid napkin is a disposable napkin made from airlaid nonwoven — a soft, dense sheet produced by blowing wood-pulp fibres onto a moving belt and bonding them without weaving or traditional paper-making. The result feels like cloth in the hand: it drapes, folds and reads as premium, yet it is thrown away after use.
What "airlaid" actually means
Unlike tissue paper (made by draining pulp on a wire mesh) or spunlace (bonded with water jets), airlaid uses air to lay the fibres. This gives a higher basis weight and a more textile-like structure. Most airlaid dinner napkins are 60–68 gsm — roughly double a standard 2-ply tissue napkin.
Airlaid vs regular paper napkins
| Property | Airlaid | Standard tissue |
|---|---|---|
| Handfeel | Cloth-like, soft | Papery, lighter |
| Typical GSM | 60–68 gsm | 33–40 gsm |
| Best for | Fine dining, banquets, weddings | High-turnover casual service |
When should you choose airlaid?
- Fine dining and banquets where table presentation matters.
- Weddings and events that want an upscale look without laundry.
- Branded service — airlaid prints beautifully and holds a crease for pocket folds.
See our Airlaid Napkins category or the Airlaid Linen-Feel Dinner Napkin guide for sizes, GSM and custom-print options. For a side-by-side, read our Airlaid vs Regular comparison.
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