Best Paper Towels: Bounty Select-A-Size vs Viva Signature Cloth

Introduction

Most supermarkets dedicate at least half an aisle to paper towels, and the choice can feel genuinely overwhelming. Full-sheet or select-a-size, double or triple ply, name brand or store brand, and a huge spread in price per roll. To cut through the confusion, we lined up 10 different paper towels covering popular name brands, budget-friendly options, eco-friendly picks, and private label versions.

The price range alone was striking: rolls cost anywhere from about $5 down to $1.19, which worked out to roughly $0.07 per sheet at the high end versus $0.01 per sheet at the low end. That is a real difference, and it shaped how we judged every roll in the lineup.

What the Testing Showed

We put each towel through a broad set of practical tests. We measured strength, evaluated absorption, wiped different surfaces including wood, stainless steel, granite, and glass, dried freshly washed dishes including delicate glassware, and used the towels in daily life for more than a week. Testers also unrolled every roll and counted sheets, which ranged from 75 to 180 per roll and directly informed the cost-per-sheet picture.

Thickness varied too. The thinnest sheets measured around 0.3 millimeters, while the thickest came in around 0.5 millimeters. That difference mattered in practice: thinner sheets picked up about a quarter cup of water or less, while thicker sheets absorbed a third cup or more. One towel was the outright absorption champ, soaking up more than half a cup of water in just seconds.

The wipe tests also exposed a hidden cost of cheap towels. When cleaning up a soy sauce spill, a less absorbent sheet left hands messy and required tearing off extra sheets, quickly erasing any apparent savings. Just as important, testers found that packaging terms like “double” or “triple” did not actually signal extra value or cost savings.

The Select-A-Size Advantage

One feature stood out above everything else: select-a-size sheets. Being able to tear off half a sheet means you use less paper for small jobs, and you can always grab the other half for the rest of the mess. Across the lineup, this was the design detail that consistently translated into real value.

Co-Winner: Bounty Select-A-Size Paper Towels

Bounty Select-A-Size paper towels earned a share of the top spot at about $3 per roll for 135 sheets. Like the other winner, they carry the select-a-size feature, and they delivered on both of the qualities that matter most: they were strong and they were thirsty. Whether wiping down counters, drying dishes, or tackling a spill, they held up without needing extra sheets.

Co-Winner: Viva Signature Cloth Towels

The Viva Signature Cloth Towels matched the Bounty in the results at about $4.15 per roll for 141 sheets. They also feature select-a-size perforations, and their cloth-like texture felt noticeably thicker and sturdier in hand. In use, there was towel to spare: absorbent enough for big spills and gentle enough that they earned their “cloth” name.

Overall Buying Advice

If you find yourself in the paper towel aisle unsure what to grab, these two are the ones to look for. Both were strong, both were highly absorbent, and both let you tear off exactly the amount you need. The Bounty runs about $3 per roll, while the Viva sits at about $4.15, so the choice mostly comes down to whether you prefer a slightly plusher, cloth-like feel or a somewhat lower price.

Conclusion

After testing 10 rolls across strength, absorption, surface wiping, dish drying, and everyday use, the winners were clear. Bounty Select-A-Size and Viva Signature Cloth Towels both combine strength, high absorbency, and the half-sheet select-a-size feature that genuinely reduces waste. Ignore the “double” and “triple” marketing terms, skip the thin budget rolls that force you to use more sheets, and either of these two will serve you well.