PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1929982
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1929982
Disposable hand towels are single-use, absorbent paper or fabric towels designed for hand drying, surface wiping, and other hygiene-related purposes. They provide convenience, promote cleanliness, and can be an eco-friendly option when made from recyclable or biodegradable materials.
The primary types of disposable hand towels include paper towels and plant fiber towels. Paper towels are disposable sheets made from paper, commonly used for drying hands, cleaning, and wiping surfaces. They come in various folding styles, such as c-fold, interfold, v-fold, and pop-up. These towels are distributed through multiple channels, including online stores, supermarkets or hypermarkets, specialty stores, and other distribution channels, and they serve both household and commercial applications.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
Tariffs are influencing the disposable hand towels market by increasing costs of imported pulp, recycled paper, plant fibers, and automated paper converting machinery. Manufacturers in North America and Europe are most affected due to dependence on imported raw materials, while Asia-Pacific faces cost pressure on export-oriented towel production. These tariffs are raising production costs and impacting pricing for bulk buyers. At the same time, they are encouraging domestic pulp sourcing, regional recycling initiatives, and investment in localized paper towel manufacturing facilities.
The disposable hand towels market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides disposable hand towels market statistics, including disposable hand towels industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a disposable hand towels market share, detailed disposable hand towels market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the disposable hand towels industry. This disposable hand towels market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The disposable hand towels market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $6.4 billion in 2025 to $6.93 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising hygiene awareness in public and commercial spaces, expansion of hospitality and healthcare facilities, increased use of paper-based disposables, growth of institutional cleaning services, availability of low-cost paper towel manufacturing.
The disposable hand towels market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $9.51 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for sustainable hygiene products, rising regulations on single-use plastics, expansion of commercial restroom infrastructure, growing preference for eco-certified paper products, innovation in plant fiber towel materials. Major trends in the forecast period include growing demand for recycled and biodegradable towels, expansion of touchless and hygienic towel solutions, rising adoption of high-absorbency materials, increased focus on cost-efficient bulk packaging, enhanced product differentiation through folding styles.
The increasing focus on hand hygiene is expected to drive the growth of the disposable hand towels market. Hand hygiene, the practice of cleaning hands to remove dirt, bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms, has gained prominence due to health education initiatives, global awareness campaigns, and recognition of its critical role in infection prevention. Disposable hand towels support hand hygiene by providing a single-use, hygienic drying option that reduces cross-contamination compared to shared cloth towels. For example, in September 2024, The Leapfrog Group, a US-based non-profit organization, reported a 78% increase in hospitals holding leadership directly accountable for hand hygiene through performance evaluations or compensation changes, highlighting the growing priority of hygiene and patient safety.
Key players in the disposable hand towels market are emphasizing innovation to enhance cleaning efficiency. In March 2023, Procter & Gamble, a US-based consumer goods company, launched Bounty Quicker Picker Upper household paper towels. These towels feature a superior structure that prevents collapse when wet, flexible strength for diverse cleaning tasks, and optimized fluid distribution to improve absorption, enabling consumers to tackle tough messes using fewer sheets.
In November 2024, Sofidel S.p.A., an Italy-based tissue and paper products manufacturer, acquired the tissue division of Clearwater Paper Corporation for $1.06 billion. This acquisition expanded Sofidel's production capacity and geographic footprint in North America, strengthening its position as a leading tissue paper producer and enabling it to serve a broader customer base. Clearwater Paper Corporation, based in the US, specializes in high-quality tissue paper production across multiple channels, with its facilities now integrated into Sofidel's North American operations.
Major companies operating in the disposable hand towels market are The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G), Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Georgia-Pacific LLC, Essity AB, Oji Holdings Corporation, CMPC Tissue S.A. , Cascades Tissue Group Inc. , Hengan International Group Company Limited, Metsa Group, Sofidel Group, Industrie Cartarie Tronchetti S.p.A., Nice-Pak Products Inc., Duni Group AB, Kruger Products L.P., Seventh Generation Inc., Industrie Celtex S.p.A., Renova, Behrens Group , Newland Bamboo Co Ltd., Zooby Promotional Products
North America was the largest region in the disposable hand towels market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the substantial growth region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the disposable hand towels market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the disposable hand towels market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The disposable hand towels market consists of sales of products including roll towels, industrial towels, antibacterial towels, biodegradable towels, and compostable towels. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Disposable Hand Towels Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses disposable hand towels market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for disposable hand towels ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The disposable hand towels market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
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