Honeycomb paper wrap is paper that opens into a cushion of small six-sided cells when you pull it, which is why people call it paper bubble wrap. To use it, stretch the paper until the cells open, wrap it round the item at least twice and press the end down: the cells of one layer catch in the layer below, so most wraps hold with little or no tape.
This guide covers the wrapping steps, which of our two widths to choose, how to work out how much paper an item uses and how far a 250m roll goes, and where honeycomb packing paper is the wrong choice.
In This Guide
- Quick picks for packing with honeycomb paper
- What is honeycomb paper wrap?
- How do you use honeycomb paper wrap, step by step?
- Which width do you need, 395mm or 500mm?
- How much honeycomb paper does one item need?
- How far does a 250m roll go?
- When is honeycomb paper the wrong choice?
- What else do you need with honeycomb paper?
- How do you buy honeycomb paper, and what does it cost?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick picks for packing with honeycomb paper
Honeycomb paper for the wrap, kraft paper for the inner layer and gaps, paper tape for the box.
Best for wrapping bottles, glass, cosmetics and gifts
Honeycomb Paper Rolls (80gsm)
80gsm paper that stretches into a honeycomb cushion as you wrap.
- 395mm or 500mm wide
- 250m on every roll
- Sold as a single roll
From £28.00 ex VAT (£33.60 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView product
Best for an inner layer and filling gaps
Kraft Paper Rolls
Brown kraft paper for wrapping surfaces that scratch and for packing out the box.
- Standard roll 500mm x 200m, 90gsm
- Centre-feed boxed rolls in 70gsm
- Each sold as a single roll
From £25.00 ex VAT (£30.00 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView product
Best for sealing the box
Kraft Paper Tape
Brown paper packing tape for closing the carton once the item is wrapped.
- 48mm x 50m hotmelt or 75mm x 50m
- Packs of 6 rolls
- Kraft paper backing
From £14.00 ex VAT (£16.80 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView productWhat is honeycomb paper wrap?
Honeycomb paper wrap is a roll of paper cut with rows of short slits, so that pulling it lengthways opens the slits into a pattern of raised cells. The cells give the item a springy layer to sit in. On the roll it lies flat, and the cushioning only appears when you stretch it.
Paper bubble wrap, honeycomb packing paper, honeycomb wrapping paper and honeycomb paper packaging are all names for the same thing. Our honeycomb paper rolls are 80gsm paper on 250m rolls, 395mm (about 15.5") or 500mm (about 19.7") wide, from £28.00 ex VAT (£33.60 inc VAT) a roll.
It is made of paper, which is why many shops pick it over plastic bubble wrap. For the choice between the two, see our honeycomb paper vs bubble wrap comparison.
How do you use honeycomb paper wrap, step by step?
You use honeycomb paper by pulling it tight so the cells open, rolling the item up in it and pressing the loose end into the layer underneath. The usual mistake is wrapping it slack. Paper that has not been stretched stays flat and protects no better than plain paper.
- Hold the roll back. The paper only opens when it is pulled against something. Slide the roll onto a bar fixed across the bench, or sit it in a box so it cannot spin freely. We do not sell a honeycomb paper dispenser, and you do not need one.
- Add an inner layer if the surface scratches. Opened cells have paper edges. Wrap polished metal, gloss finishes and foil-printed cartons in kraft paper or tissue paper first. We do not stock tissue paper, and kraft paper does the same job.
- Pull until every cell is open. Lay the item on the end of the paper and pull the roll away until the pattern has opened across the full width.
- Wrap at least twice round, keeping the tension on. On the second turn the cells of the new layer drop into the cells below and grip. Give heavy or very fragile items a third turn.
- Tear or cut, then press the end down. It should stay put. If it lifts, use a short strip of kraft paper tape.
- Close the ends. Leave paper overhanging at the top and bottom of the item and fold or twist it over.
- Box it so it cannot move. Put the wrapped item in a rigid box and pack any gap with scrunched kraft paper. Shake the closed box. If you feel movement, add more.
Do not flatten it. Squashing the wrap into a box that is too small crushes the cells. Go up a box size instead.
For breakables, the box and the space around the item matter as much as the wrap. See our guide to packing ceramics and glassware for posting.
Which width do you need, 395mm or 500mm?
Choose 395mm for bottles, jars and cosmetics, and 500mm for gifts, homeware and wider items. Both are the same 80gsm paper on a 250m roll, so choose by how the sheet compares with the height of what you wrap. The paper should overhang the item at both ends so you can fold it over.
| Roll | Suits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 395mm x 250m (about 15.5" wide) | Bottles, jars, candles, cosmetics and other small items | A narrower sheet is easier to wrap neatly round a small item, with less spare paper to fold in at the ends |
| 500mm x 250m (about 19.7" wide) | Gifts, homeware, wider or taller items | More paper on each turn, so one pass covers a bigger item |
If you sell a mix, a sheet that is too wide can be folded in at the ends. A sheet that is too narrow has to be wound along the item in a spiral, which uses more length. If you sell mostly small products with the odd large one, take 395mm, and for mixed giftware take 500mm.
Best for paper-wrapped orders
Honeycomb Paper Rolls (80gsm)
The same 80gsm honeycomb paper in two widths, each on a 250m roll.
- 395mm x 250m for bottles, jars and cosmetics
- 500mm x 250m for gifts and homeware
- Price per roll falls as you order more
From £28.00 ex VAT (£33.60 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView productFor what goes round each product type, see our guides to cosmetic and skincare packaging and candle and wax melt packaging.
How much honeycomb paper does one item need?
One item needs a length of paper equal to twice the distance round it, or three times for a third turn. We do not quote a number of items per roll, because that depends on what you pack. This method gives you your own figure.
- Measure the girth. Run a tape measure round the widest part of the item, in the direction you will wrap it. For a round item you can also multiply the diameter by 3.14.
- Allow two full wraps. Multiply the girth by 2. Multiply by 3 for heavy or very fragile items.
- Divide the roll by that length. A roll is 250m, which is 250,000mm. Divide 250,000 by your length in mm.
Worked example, for illustration only. A jar 80mm across has a girth of 80 x 3.14 = 251mm. Two wraps: 251 x 2 = 502mm, call it 0.5m. 250m divided by 0.5m = 500 lengths from one roll. Your own item will give a different number.
Treat the result as an estimate. The paper lengthens as it stretches, so a piece that measures 0.5m once opened took less than 0.5m off the roll, and the sum errs on the cautious side. Against that, items taller than the sheet need a spiral wrap, and some paper goes on overhang and the odd bad tear.
A trial is the most reliable check. Mark the edge of the paper where it leaves the roll, wrap ten of your usual items the way you would for a real order, then measure from your mark to the new end of the roll. Divide by ten and you have your real usage per item.
How far does a 250m roll go?
A 250m roll gives you 250 divided by the length you use per item, in metres. The table is that division for four lengths. It is arithmetic, not a test result, and it assumes no waste.
| Paper used per item | Sum | Lengths from a 250m roll |
|---|---|---|
| 0.25m (250mm) | 250 / 0.25 | 1,000 |
| 0.5m (500mm) | 250 / 0.5 | 500 |
| 0.75m (750mm) | 250 / 0.75 | 333 |
| 1m (1,000mm) | 250 / 1 | 250 |
The same sum gives you a paper cost per parcel. On a roll priced at £28.00 ex VAT, a 0.5m length is £28.00 divided by 500, which is 5.6p ex VAT. A 1m length is 11.2p ex VAT. Run it with your own length and the price tier you buy at, and add the kraft paper and box to see the full cost of packing one order.
If most of your paper goes into gaps instead of round the product, use a tighter box or a cheaper filler. Our void fill comparison sets out the options.
When is honeycomb paper the wrong choice?
Honeycomb paper is the wrong choice when the item must stay dry, when its surface marks easily and you cannot add an inner layer, or when the parcel has no rigid box. It is a cushioning wrap for use inside a carton.
- Anything that must stay dry. Paper soaks up water. Bag liquids first, and use bubble wrap or a polythene bag where damp is a risk.
- Bare polished or printed surfaces. The cell edges can rub in transit. Add the kraft paper inner layer or choose a smooth wrap.
- Parcels sent in a mailing bag. The wrap softens knocks but does not stop crushing. Breakables still need a box.
- Heavy items with sharp corners. Weight on a corner flattens the cells there. Pad the corners with folded cardboard and use a double wall box.
- Filling big voids. It works, but it is a costly way to take up space. Scrunched kraft paper fills a gap for less.
- A few parcels a month. A 250m roll is a lot of paper to store. Kraft paper or bubble wrap you already own will do.
If two or more of these describe your orders, read the comparison with bubble wrap before you buy a roll, and browse the rest of our protective packaging for the alternatives.
What else do you need with honeycomb paper?
You need a rigid box, something to fill the gaps and tape to close the carton. The wrap rarely needs tape, but the box always does.
| Job | What to use | Sizes and price |
|---|---|---|
| Inner layer and gap filling | Kraft paper rolls | 500mm x 200m in 90gsm, or 70gsm centre-feed boxed rolls, 200mm x 250m and 375mm x 300m. From £25.00 ex VAT (£30.00 inc VAT) |
| Sealing the box | Kraft paper tape | 48mm x 50m hotmelt or 75mm x 50m, packs of 6. From £14.00 ex VAT (£16.80 inc VAT) |
| Outer box, taped base | Single wall boxes | 5 x 5 x 5" (127 x 127 x 127mm) to 24 x 18 x 18" (610 x 457 x 457mm), minimum 5 per size. From £0.35 ex VAT (£0.42 inc VAT) |
| Outer box, self-locking base | Crash lock boxes | CL-A (100 x 100 x 70mm) to CL-K (426 x 300 x 300mm), minimum 5 per size. From £0.59 ex VAT (£0.71 inc VAT) |
Size the box after you wrap, because two turns of opened honeycomb paper add to every side of the item. Measure a wrapped sample and pick the next internal size up. The 5 x 5 x 5" to 7 x 5 x 5" single wall boxes are the small sizes for candles, mugs and gifts. If you pack a lot of orders a day, a crash lock box saves taping the base, because the base locks as you open the box out.
Best for fast packing
Crash Lock Boxes
Cardboard boxes with a base that locks into place as you open them.
- CL-A (100 x 100 x 70mm) to CL-K (426 x 300 x 300mm)
- No tape needed on the base
- Sold per box, minimum 5 per size
From £0.59 ex VAT (£0.71 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView productHow do you buy honeycomb paper, and what does it cost?
You can buy a single 250m roll of honeycomb paper from £28.00 ex VAT (£33.60 inc VAT), and the price per roll falls as you order more. The tiers are on the product page.
- Start with one roll. Run the trial above on your real products before you buy a width in quantity.
- Work out rolls per month. Multiply your paper per item by your monthly orders and divide by 250m.
- Delivery. Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free on every order with no minimum. Orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday leave Manchester the same working day.
- Collection and local delivery. Click and collect in Manchester is free and usually ready within 2 hours. We also run same-day van delivery within 10 miles of Cheetham Hill.
- Regular orders. Open a trade account. Every order comes with a VAT invoice.
If you are not sure which width fits your range, call 0161 706 1246 or use the contact page. For the cartons, see all packing tapes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is paper bubble wrap the same as honeycomb paper?
Yes. Paper bubble wrap is a common name for honeycomb paper wrap, because the paper opens into a cushion of cells and is used where bubble wrap would be. Ours is 80gsm paper on 250m rolls, 395mm or 500mm wide.
Do you need tape with honeycomb paper wrap?
Honeycomb paper wrap needs little or no tape if you stretch it fully and wrap at least twice round. The opened cells of each layer grip the layer below. If the end lifts, one short strip of paper tape is enough.
How many items does a 250m roll of honeycomb paper wrap?
The number of items a 250m roll of honeycomb paper wraps depends on the item. Measure round the item, double it for two wraps and divide 250m by the result. As an example only, 0.5m per item gives 250 divided by 0.5, which is 500 lengths.
Should I choose 395mm or 500mm honeycomb paper?
Choose the 395mm honeycomb paper roll for bottles, jars and cosmetics, and the 500mm roll for gifts, homeware and wider items. Both are 80gsm paper and 250m long.
Do I need a dispenser for honeycomb paper?
You do not need a dispenser to use honeycomb paper, and we do not sell one. The paper has to be pulled against resistance to open, so put the roll on a bar across the bench or sit it in a box. Then pull the paper by hand as you wrap.
Can honeycomb paper scratch delicate items?
Honeycomb paper can rub on scratch-prone surfaces such as polished metal, gloss finishes and foil-printed cartons, because the opened cells have paper edges. Wrap those items in a layer of kraft paper or tissue paper first, then put the honeycomb paper over the top.
