Rolling Papers and Tips, Size and Material Guide

Size and Width: What Actually Changes

The two dimensions that shape your roll are length and width. King size slim papers (around 109mm long, 44mm wide) are the go-to for most people: long enough for a generous roll, narrow enough to stay tidy. King size wide papers give you more tobacco or herb across the width, which suits a looser, more relaxed pack. Smaller formats like 1¼ and single wide are better for a quick, compact roll when you don't want something too long. Getting the size right before you buy saves you adapting your roll to the paper rather than the other way around.

Hemp, Rice or Cellulose: How Material Affects the Smoke

Paper material changes how your roll burns and what you taste. Hemp papers burn slowly and evenly, with a mild earthy quality that doesn't compete much with what's inside. OCB's hemp range is a solid example of this. Rice papers are thinner and burn even slower, with very little flavour of their own, though they can be trickier to roll if your fingers aren't dry. Cellulose papers are transparent and practically tasteless, which is why some rollers prefer them for a cleaner experience. Wood pulp papers are the most forgiving to handle and tend to stay lit well, making them a practical choice if you're still finding your technique.

Tips and Filters: Which Type Suits You

A tip or filter does two things: it keeps loose material out of your mouth and holds the shape of the roll at the mouth end. Card tips, perforated or plain, are the most common and easiest to roll in. Cellulose filters, including slim ones around 7mm, sit inside the paper rather than folding in, giving a firmer draw with some filtration. Wooden tips sit at the end of the roll and don't compress, so they keep the opening consistent throughout the sesh. The right tip depends on how you roll and how firm you like your draw: there's no single correct answer, just personal preference.

Cones vs Flat Papers: When Each Makes Sense

Pre-rolled cones skip the rolling step entirely. You fill them from the open end, pack the material down, and twist the tip closed. They're a good shout if rolling isn't your strong suit, or if you want consistency from one roll to the next without thinking about it. Flat papers give you full control over how tight or loose the roll is, how much you pack in, and which tip you pair it with. If you enjoy the ritual and want to tailor each roll to the moment, flat papers are the better fit. Both formats come in king size, so size preference doesn't force the decision either way.

Frequently asked questions

Do flavoured papers affect the taste much, or is it subtle?

It depends on the paper and how much you pack in. Flavoured papers generally add a noticeable note at the start of a roll, fading as you get further through it. If you want a clean, unaltered taste throughout, an unflavoured hemp or rice paper is a better fit. Flavoured options tend to suit lighter packs where the flavour can come through more clearly.

What's the difference between gummed and ungummed papers?

Gummed papers have a thin strip of adhesive along one edge: you lick it to seal the roll, the same way you would an envelope. Ungummed papers rely entirely on how you tuck and roll, so they take a bit more practice to keep closed. Most beginners find gummed papers easier to start with, while ungummed suits rollers who prefer full control over the finish.

Can I use any tip with any paper, or do sizes need to match?

Card tips fold to whatever width you roll them to, so they work with most paper sizes without much thought. Cellulose filters are sized by diameter and length. A slim 7mm filter, for example, sits comfortably inside a king size slim paper but may feel loose in a wider format. Wooden tips have a fixed opening, so they're best matched to the paper width they're designed for.