The main types of rolling papers are wood pulp, hemp, rice, flax and clear cellulose, plus specialty options such as wired, flavored and blunt wraps, and they differ mostly in thickness, burn speed, taste and how easy they are to roll. Thin hemp or rice papers suit most people. Wood pulp is the easiest for beginners, clear cellulose is the hardest, and flavored papers trade a clean taste for novelty.
This page began as our review of Randy’s Wired Rolling Papers, a paper with a thin wire running its length. The wire idea is still around, so it gets its own section below, but the page now covers every common paper type so you can pick the right one. For technique, see our step-by-step guide on how to roll a joint.
Rolling Paper Types at a Glance
| Type | Thickness and feel | Burn | Ease of rolling | Taste |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood pulp | Thicker, opaque, grippy | Faster; more likely to stay lit | Easiest | Noticeable paper taste |
| Hemp | Thin to medium, textured | Even and moderate | Easy | Mild, slightly earthy |
| Rice | Ultra-thin, smooth, translucent | Slow; can go out | Harder; slippery and static-prone | Very neutral |
| Flax | Thin, smooth | Slow and even | Moderate | Neutral |
| Clear cellulose | Transparent, glossy, stiff | Very slow; needs relighting | Hardest; gum needs moisture | Neutral |
| Flavored | Usually wood pulp or hemp base | Similar to base paper | Varies | Sweet or fruity; masks flower |
| Wired | Any base with a steel wire | Similar to base paper | Easier to keep straight | Same as base |
Wood Pulp Papers
These are the classic white or off-white papers sold in most stores, made from tree pulp. They are thicker and slightly rough, which helps the paper grip as you roll, so they forgive shaky fingers. The trade-off is taste and burn: more paper means more paper smoke, and thicker papers burn hotter and faster. Whiter papers have usually been bleached or whitened with mineral additives. Many smokers now prefer unbleached versions.
Hemp Papers
Hemp papers are made from hemp fiber, often blended with other plant fibers. They hit a middle ground: thinner than wood pulp, easy to handle, slow and even burning, with little added flavor. That balance makes them the default choice for many regular rollers. Read more about hemp as a paper material in our guide to hemp cones and our page on uses of hemp.
Rice Papers
Rice papers are very thin and nearly see-through, so you taste the flower more than the paper and they burn slowly. They are slippery, and they pick up static and humidity, which makes them tricky for beginners. In dry rooms they can feel flyaway; in humid rooms they can go limp.
Flax Papers
Flax, the plant linen comes from, makes thin, strong paper with a slow, even burn. It is less common than hemp or rice but sits between them in feel. Some brands blend flax with hemp.
Clear Cellulose Papers
Clear papers look like plastic but are made from plant cellulose. They burn very slowly with little ash and almost no taste, and they show off what is inside. They are the hardest to roll: stiff, slippery and quick to unravel. The gum often needs more moisture than usual, and they tend to go out between draws.
Flavored Papers
Flavored papers add sweeteners and flavorings to a wood pulp or hemp base, in flavors from fruit to chocolate. They cover the taste of the flower, which defeats the point for anyone who cares about strain flavor. Ingredients are often not fully listed, and heating sweeteners and flavorings is not the same as eating them. If you use them, choose brands that list ingredients.
Wired Papers
Wired papers have a thin stainless steel wire running from end to end. In our original review of Randy’s Wired papers, we found the wire helped in two ways:
- Rolling support. The wire acts as a spine, so a joint without a filter stays straight instead of floppy.
- A built-in roach holder. As the joint burns down, the wire is left sticking out of the shrinking end. Bend it and hold the joint by the wire, so you do not burn your fingers or drop the roach.
The wire does not burn, but it does get hot near the cherry, so hold it at the cool end. Randy’s sold them in 1¼ and king sizes. A crutch (filter tip) or a roach clip does the same job if you would rather not have metal in your joint. See our guide on what to do with a roach.
Blunt Wraps and Hemp Wraps
Traditional blunts use tobacco leaf wraps, which add nicotine and tobacco smoke. Hemp wraps imitate the feel without tobacco. These are thicker than papers and roll larger joints; they are a separate category from rolling papers.
Sizes and Gum
Common sizes run from single wide through 1¼ and 1½ to king size, and many come in narrower “slim” versions. Smaller papers are easier to roll; bigger ones hold more for sharing. Most gum strips use acacia (gum arabic) or a similar natural gum, activated by a light lick. Our rolling guide covers which size to start with.
How to Choose
- Beginner: thin wood pulp or hemp in 1¼ size.
- Want the cleanest taste: rice, flax or thin unbleached hemp.
- Want a slow burn to share: hemp or rice in king size slim.
- Hate rolling: pre-rolled cones, or buy pre-rolls from licensed stores in our Washington and Oregon directories.
Rolling Papers FAQ
What are the healthiest rolling papers?
No smoked paper is healthy. Thinner, unbleached papers without flavorings mean less paper smoke, but smoking any plant material irritates the lungs.
Are hemp or rice papers better?
Hemp papers are easier to roll and burn evenly. Rice papers are thinner and taste cleaner but are harder to handle.
Are clear rolling papers plastic?
No. They are made from plant cellulose, though they look and feel like plastic and burn very slowly.
Is it safe to smoke wired rolling papers?
The stainless steel wire does not burn. It gets hot near the lit end, so hold it at the cool end and keep it away from your lips.
Why do my joints keep going out?
Thin rice and clear papers burn slowly and go out more. Damp flower, packing too tight and uneven rolling also cause it.
For adults 21+ in legal states. General information, not medical advice.
