Bounty Select-A-Size Paper Towels, 12 Rolls

Among the strongest, most absorbent paper towels tested, at a higher price per sheet.

The short version

Buy it if
  • Busy kitchens with frequent spills and greasy messes
  • People who want one sheet to do the job instead of three
  • Anyone who uses paper towels for scrubbing as well as wiping
Skip it if
  • Cost per sheet matters more than strength
  • You mostly dust or wipe dry surfaces, where a softer towel works better
  • You have a Costco membership and Kirkland towels are good enough

What owners like

  • Very strong when wet and stands up to scrubbing
  • Absorbs spills quickly, often in one pass
  • Soft enough to use as a napkin or for polishing glass
  • Tears off evenly

Common complaints

  • Costs more than most competitors
  • Brawny holds slightly more water by weight in one test

Based on Testing by America's Test Kitchen, Reviewed and Your Best Digs, plus a distributor spec listing.

Research scores

Does the job 9.0 three independent test sites ranked it at or near the top for strength and absorbency
Build quality 8.5 very strong when wet and stands up to scrubbing
Ease of use 8.0 half size sheets tear off cleanly and bigger rolls mean fewer changes
Value 6.0 most expensive per square foot in one test, and Brawny matched it for less

Scored from the maker's specs and what owners report. Drew's own notes and photos will refine these.

Ownership

Times bought3
Price range$$$

Drew's hands-on notes for this product are on the way. Long-term updates will be added to this timeline.

What it does

Two-ply white paper towels with half size perforations, sold as 12 larger rolls that Bounty counts as 18 regular rolls; roll naming varies by pack.

  • Half size perforations so you can tear off a small sheet or a full one
  • Thick two-ply sheets with a raised pattern that helps with scrubbing
  • Tears cleanly and evenly from the roll, per America's Test Kitchen and Reviewed
  • Larger rolls mean fewer roll changes than a standard roll

Buy it if you want the strongest, most absorbent everyday paper towel and are happy to pay for it. Three independent test sites ranked it at or near the top, but Your Best Digs found it the most expensive per square foot, and Brawny Pick-A-Size matched it on absorbency for less.

How it compares

Brawny Pick-A-SizeYour Best Digs' top pick, nearly as strong and slightly more absorbent by weight for less money$$
Kirkland Signature Premium Paper TowelsBest value pick at both Reviewed and America's Test Kitchen, with large sheets, if you shop at Costco$
Viva Signature ClothSofter, cloth-like sheets for dusting and wiping; America's Test Kitchen's co-winner$$
Bounty EssentialsCheaper Bounty line that America's Test Kitchen still recommended$$

Specs

Ply
2-ply
Sheet size
5.9 x 11 in (half size Select-A-Size sheets)
Sheets per roll
83 listed for item 74795; counts vary by pack
Rolls
12 rolls, sold as equal to 18 regular rolls
Wet strength
Held 19.9 oz when wet (Your Best Digs test)

Questions

Is Bounty really better than other paper towels?

In tests, yes for strength. Your Best Digs measured it holding nearly 20 oz when wet, the strongest in its test, and Reviewed and America's Test Kitchen both ranked it first or tied for first.

What does Select-A-Size mean?

The sheets have extra perforations so you can tear off a half size piece for small spills.

What is a Single Plus roll?

A larger roll that Bounty counts as one and a half regular rolls, so 12 Single Plus rolls equal 18 regular rolls.

Is Bounty or Brawny more absorbent?

They tied on volume in Your Best Digs' test, needing about 2.5 sheets to soak up 2 oz of water. Brawny held slightly more by weight, while Bounty was stronger.

Sources

Researched 2026-10-01. We bought this product; our page is built from the maker's details and what owners report across reviews and forums. We never copy Amazon customer reviews.

8.1Bounty Select-A-Size Paper Towels, 12 Rolls Check price