Serviettes for Cafes and Takeaways: 1-Ply 30cm or 2-Ply 40cm?
Serviettes look like a small item, but a busy cafe or takeaway gets through thousands. Choosing the right one saves you re-ordering and keeps customers happy. We stock two white paper serviettes, and they are made for different jobs. This guide compares them so you can pick the right case.
1-ply 30 x 30 cm quarter fold: counters, bags and everyday use
The 1-ply 30 x 30 cm premium serviette is plain white paper, 30 cm square when opened out and quarter folded to 15 x 15 cm. That folded size stacks neatly by the till, sits in a table caddy and slips easily into a takeaway bag. One layer of paper keeps it light for quick wipes during a coffee, a sandwich or a meal on the go. It comes in a case of 5000, so a busy site does not have to order often.
Good for: cafes, sandwich bars, fish and chip shops, takeaways, school canteens, staff dining and community events.
2-ply 40 x 40 cm 1/8 fold: table service and events
The 2-ply 40 x 40 cm serviette is larger and has two layers of paper, so it feels thicker and softer than a 1-ply napkin. It is folded into eighths, which gives a slim 20 x 10 cm rectangle that lies beside the cutlery, on a side plate or in a cutlery pocket without refolding. When opened, the full 40 cm square covers a lap properly during a sit-down meal. It comes in a case of 2000.
Good for: restaurant table service, hotels, weddings, banquets and catering events.
Side by side
- Size opened out: 30 x 30 cm (1-ply) against 40 x 40 cm (2-ply).
- Folded size: 15 x 15 cm quarter fold against 20 x 10 cm 1/8 fold.
- Paper: 1-ply against 2-ply, which is thicker and softer.
- Case: 5000 against 2000.
- Colour: plain white on both.
Which one should you buy?
If customers pick up a napkin at the counter or you put one in every takeaway bag, the 1-ply 30 cm serviette is the practical choice: the case is large and the folded size fits anywhere. If you lay tables before service or cater for events, the 2-ply 40 cm serviette gives a more finished look. Many sit-in cafes keep both: the 2-ply for tables and the 1-ply at the counter and for takeaway orders.
What goes with them
Serviettes usually go out with cutlery and sauces. See our serviettes and hand towels, birchwood and reusable cutlery and sauce pots. For food eaten from the hand, a birchwood chip fork saves messy fingers, and our cafe and deli packaging guide covers the rest of a cold food order. For washrooms, the green C-fold hand towels are made for C-fold dispensers.
Ordering and delivery
There is no minimum order. Prices are shown excluding VAT under each product. Free UK next-day delivery: orders placed by 4pm Monday to Friday leave the same day with Evri, fully tracked, next-day where Evri offers it to your address, otherwise standard, usually 2 to 5 days. See delivery information.
Frequently asked questions
What does quarter fold mean?
The 30 x 30 cm serviette is folded in half and in half again, giving a 15 x 15 cm square.
What does 1/8 fold mean?
The 40 x 40 cm serviette is folded three times, into eighths, to make a slim 20 x 10 cm rectangle that is ready to lay beside cutlery.
Are the serviettes plain?
Yes. Both are plain white paper.
How many serviettes are in a case?
5000 in a case of the 1-ply 30 cm serviettes and 2000 in a case of the 2-ply 40 cm serviettes.
Is there a minimum order?
No. Check the pack options shown on each product page.