Wholesale Guides
Wholesale Rolling Papers: OCB, RAW, Rizla and Zig-Zag Compared
Oct
Rolling papers take very little shelf space and sell at a healthy margin, which is why almost every tobacconist, convenience store and petrol station stocks them. The difficulty is choosing a range. Each major brand has a dozen variants, and customers are loyal to a brand, a thickness and a size. This guide compares the main brands a retailer is likely to stock and explains how to build a range that sells without filling a stockroom.
What separates one paper from another
- Thickness. Thicker papers are easier to roll and burn more slowly; thinner papers burn faster and affect taste less. Most brands sell regular, thin and ultra-thin versions.
- Material. Wood pulp, hemp, rice and flax. Hemp and rice papers are popular with customers who want a more natural product.
- Bleached or unbleached. White papers are bleached; brown papers such as RAW are unbleached.
- Size. Single wide (standard), 1¼, 1½ and king size slim. Size preference is strong and varies by country.
- Format. Booklets, rolls and pre-rolled cones.
The main brands compared
| Brand | Known for | Lines in our range |
|---|---|---|
| OCB | Thin French papers; wide range including organic hemp and slim king size | Organic Hemp, Ultimate thin, Slim King Size |
| RAW | Unbleached papers and a large cone range; strong with younger customers | Classic King Size, Black organic hemp, pre-rolled cones |
| Rizla | Long-established brand with colour-coded thicknesses, widely recognised in the UK | Blue, Green, Red, Silver |
| Zig-Zag | Classic brand, especially the orange 1¼ booklet | Original Orange 1¼, White, Hemp |
| Gizeh | German brand with magnetic-closure booklets | Gizeh papers |
| Elements | Ultra-thin rice papers | Elements papers |
| Juicy Jay’s | Flavoured papers | Juicy Jay’s papers |
| Bambu | Traditional brand with a loyal following | Bambu papers |
Within Rizla, Silver is the ultra-thin option and Blue is a thin paper; ask for the product details of each colour when you order, as customers ask for them by colour rather than description.
Building a range that sells
A small shop does not need every brand. A range built on what local customers already ask for turns over faster than a wide display. A sensible starting point:
- The regional best-seller in regular thickness and standard size (in the UK, usually Rizla).
- A thin and an ultra-thin option from the same brand.
- One king size slim line, such as OCB Slim or RAW Classic King Size.
- One unbleached or hemp paper.
- Pre-rolled cones if you have younger customers.
Add brands once you see what customers ask for that you do not have. Papers are light and have no best-before date, so stock does not spoil, but slow lines still tie up display space and cash.
Buying wholesale
Papers are sold to retailers in display boxes of booklets, typically 25, 50 or 100 booklets per box depending on the brand and size, with boxes packed into outer cartons. Compare prices per booklet, not per box, because box counts vary.
Counterfeit papers are a real problem with the best-known brands, especially RAW. Fakes can use inferior paper and glue. Warning signs are prices well below the market, poor printing, and suppliers who cannot say where the stock came from. Our guide on finding reliable wholesale suppliers covers the checks before a first order.
Retailers who sell papers usually also sell lighters and filter tips, and shisha customers overlap with the same shops. The shisha tobacco guide covers that category.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between OCB and RAW papers?
OCB is known for thin papers across a wide range, including an organic hemp line. RAW is known for unbleached brown papers and pre-rolled cones. Both sell king size and standard sizes.
What does 1¼ mean on rolling papers?
It is a size, a paper about a quarter wider than a single wide paper. Zig-Zag’s orange 1¼ booklet is the best-known example.
Do rolling papers expire?
They do not carry a best-before date, but keep them dry. Damp papers can crinkle and the gum strip can stop sticking.
Request trade pricing
Browse the wholesale rolling papers range, including OCB Organic Hemp, RAW Classic King Size and Rizla Silver, then send us the lines and box quantities you need.