A restaurant runs on paper more than most operators realize. Guest checks at the table, thermal rolls at the register, order tickets in the kitchen, butcher paper on the prep line, and a stack of to-go supplies by the pass. Run out of any one of them mid-shift and service slows down. This checklist covers what each category does, the specs that actually matter when ordering, and how to buy it without overpaying.
Everything below is stocked in PaperRolls-N-More's Restaurant Supplies category, alongside POS paper rolls and kitchen printer stock. We've supplied food service operations since 1989, with bulk and wholesale pricing and free shipping on qualifying orders over $50.
Key Takeaways
- Restaurants need five paper categories: POS receipt rolls, kitchen order tickets, guest checks, food-contact wrapping paper, and disposable to-go goods.
- Guest checks come in 1-part, 2-part, and 3-part formats. The part count determines whether servers, the kitchen, and delivery drivers each get a copy.
- Butcher paper is specified by basis weight (30 lb or 40 lb) and width (15" to 36"). FDA and USDA approval matters for direct food contact.
- Thermal paper must match your printer's width, roll diameter, and core size. All three have to line up.
- PaperRolls-N-More supplies consumables, not printer hardware, and has stocked food service operations since 1989.
What Paper Supplies Does Every Restaurant Need?
Restaurant paper divides cleanly along the pass. Front of house handles the guest transaction; back of house handles food and tickets. Most stockouts happen because one side gets ordered on a schedule and the other gets ordered when someone notices the shelf is empty.
Front of House
Back of House
- Bond and 2-ply kitchen printer paper for order tickets that hold up near heat, grease, and steam
- Butcher paper for meat wrapping, BBQ prep, and table coverings
- Thermal labels for inventory tagging and food safety dating
- Disposable to-go supplies for takeout packing and delivery
Guest Checks: Choosing Between 1-Part, 2-Part, and 3-Part
The part count is the decision. It determines how many copies exist and who ends up holding them.
1-part checks suit counter-service and small dining rooms where the server keeps no duplicate. The GC3616 top-receipt check runs 3.5" x 6.75" on a green background with 16 lines and a perforated "Thank You" stub, in books of 100. The GC3632 bottom-receipt version puts the tear-off at the base instead of the top.
2-part checks give the server a copy and the guest a copy. Carbonless versions are the norm now. The GC7000 at 3.4" x 6.75" with 17 lines is a common pick in 50-check books. The GC4900 runs larger at 4.2" x 8.25" for restaurants with longer menus, and loose GC4797 packs ship 2,000 at a time for high-volume rooms. Interleaved carbon GC6000 books remain available if that's what your staff is used to.
3-part checks exist for delivery and account billing, where a third copy has to travel with the order or stay on file. The GC4997L ships 2,000 loose checks in white/canary/pink layer sets, and the GC11A delivery form book is built for takeout and driver handoffs. For house accounts, GC12A account statement books cover the billing side.
Server order pads are a separate item worth stocking alongside checks. Table diagram pads at 4" x 6" print a seating grid with line space per seat, which cuts down on "who ordered the salmon" at the pass. A seating-chart order pad does the same in a 5,000-check run. Plain 3" x 5" scratch pads on 16 lb stock cover everything else.
Butcher Paper: Widths, Weights, and Food-Safe Specs
Butcher paper gets ordered by three attributes: color, basis weight, and width.
- White butcher paper at 40 lb basis weight, unwaxed, FDA and USDA approved, in 700' rolls. The bleached surface reads clean at a service counter and helps items retain moisture.
- Natural kraft paper in 40 lb at 900 feet and 30 lb at 1,200 feet. The brown finish is the BBQ and deli standard and costs less per foot.
White butcher paper runs in 15 inch, 18 inch, 24 inch, 30 inch, and 36 inch widths, all made in America. Match width to your longest common wrap rather than your average one, since trimming down from a wider roll wastes less than piecing two narrow sheets together. For direct food contact, confirm the FDA and USDA approval on the specific SKU. Unwaxed matters too, because wax coatings are not smoker-safe.
Table-Service Supplies That Shape the Last Five Minutes
Guests remember the close of the meal. Three inexpensive items carry most of that impression.
The Choice check presenter folder is padded black leatherette at 5.5" x 10", with separate card and receipt pockets and a gold "Thank You" imprint. The pockets are the functional part. They keep the card from sliding out on the walk back to the terminal.
A black and gold tip tray in gloss-finish plastic at 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" does the same job for cash and card gratuities and wipes clean between tables.
Napkin bands at 4.25" x 1.5" self-adhere around a rolled napkin and utensil set, which is how most rooms prep silverware ahead of service. They come in white, black, and gold shimmer, plus seasonal runs for Christmas, fall, and Halloween, and can be custom printed with your logo. Order quantities scale from 1,000 to 40,000. Silverware bags cover the same job for takeout: white kraft at 2 3/4" x 10" in cases of 2,000, or glassine at 5 1/2" x 7 3/4" in cases of 1,000. All of it is built to FDA food handling standards.
Kids' Menus: Bulk Restaurant Crayons
Crayons are a small line item with an outsized effect on table turnover and family repeat visits. The variables are color count and packaging.
Wrapped 2-packs, 3-packs, and 4-packs come pre-bagged for handing out with a kids' menu, in case quantities of 500, 720, 1,000, and 1,600. Loose bulk in 4-color and 6-color assortments ships 3,000 at a time for operations that refill their own caddies. A 60mm short crayon and a honeycomb-shaped variant are both available. Honeycomb resists rolling off the table, which is the entire reason it exists.
All of it is non-toxic, latex-free, and conforms to ASTM D4236. Worth confirming that certification if your operation serves schools, daycare, or hospital settings.
Disposable To-Go Supplies for Takeout and Delivery
Takeout volume changed what a restaurant stocks. The three groups that matter:
- Wrapped cutlery in polypropylene, white or black, medium or heavy weight, in cases of 250 to 1,000. Forks, knives, teaspoons, soup spoons, and sporks sell individually. Cutlery kits bundle utensils with a napkin and salt and pepper packets, which cuts assembly labor per order.
- Foam containers in hinged-lid clamshells and compartment boxes, sized 6" x 6", 8.5" x 8", 9" x 9", and 9.5" x 9.25", in 1-compartment and 3-compartment configurations, plus hot dog trays. Cases run 125 to 500.
- Bags in reinforced-gusset paper at 10" x 4.5" x 13" and 12" x 6.5" x 17", plus plastic thank-you bags at 11" x 22", in cases of 50 to 250.
Match container size to your three highest-volume takeout items rather than stocking one universal size. Oversized containers let food shift in transit and cost more per order.
How Do You Match Thermal Paper to Your POS Printer?
Three specs have to align before an order ships: paper width, roll diameter, and core size. A mismatch on any one of them jams the feed. Rolls that are too wide bind against the housing and tear. Rolls with an oversized core spin loose and feed crooked.
- Find the printer model number on the unit or in its manual.
- Match that model against published width and diameter charts.
- Verify core size. This is the one most people skip.
If you're on Clover hardware, our Clover printer paper guide walks through the exact sizes by model. The same three-step process applies to any brand. Operators running multiple terminals across locations should confirm specs per model before bulk purchasing, since two terminals in the same room are not always the same model.
Why Buy Restaurant Supplies in Bulk?
Two reasons: unit cost and stockout risk. Business accounts unlock tiered case pricing, so per-unit cost drops as volume climbs, and net terms ease the cash flow pressure that usually argues against buying deep.
The stockout side is the bigger number. Running out of receipt paper during a dinner rush doesn't cost the price of a case. It costs the tickets you can't close. A dedicated account representative can track your usage pattern and schedule shipments ahead of the shortage, which takes the reorder decision off a manager's plate entirely.
The categories most worth buying deep, because they move fastest and store well:
- Thermal and bond rolls for POS terminals
- Guest check pads in your standard part count
- Butcher paper in your two most-used widths
- Wrapped cutlery and to-go containers
- Napkin bands and crayons, which have no shelf-life constraint
Free shipping applies on qualifying orders over $50, and a nationwide warehouse network keeps transit times short on high-volume orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 2-part and 3-part guest checks?
A 2-part check produces two copies: one for the server, one for the guest. A 3-part check adds a third, which is what delivery orders and house accounts need so a copy can travel with the order and a copy stays on file. Both are available carbonless.
What width butcher paper do most restaurants use?
18" and 24" cover most wrapping and prep work. Operations using butcher paper as table covering typically go to 30" or 36". Widths run from 15" to 36".
Is butcher paper safe for direct food contact?
Yes, when it's FDA and USDA approved and unwaxed. Both apply to the white 40 lb and natural kraft stock in our butcher paper category. Avoid waxed paper for smoking or high-heat applications.
Do you sell receipt printers?
No. PaperRolls-N-More supplies consumables such as paper rolls, ribbons, labels, and restaurant paper goods, for POS systems and printers you already own.
What thermal paper size does my POS printer use?
Check the printer's model number, then match it to published width, roll diameter, and core size specs. 2 1/4", 3 1/8", and 44mm are the most common widths in food service. Our Clover printer guide covers that hardware model by model.
Are your bulk crayons certified safe for children?
Yes. They're non-toxic, latex-free, and conform to ASTM D4236.
What is the minimum order for bulk pricing?
Tiered case pricing applies at the business account level rather than a fixed minimum. Free shipping applies on qualifying orders over $50. An account representative can price a specific mix.
How fast do restaurant supply orders ship?
A nationwide warehouse network positions inventory close to most customers, so restock orders typically arrive quickly. Contact an account representative for transit estimates to your location.