Raw papers have become the go-to choice for smokers who care about quality and taste. Whether you’re setting up your rolling tray for the first time or you’ve been rolling for years, picking the right paper makes a real difference.
At Cannabox, we’ve seen firsthand how the right papers can transform your smoking experience. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to find your perfect match.
What Makes Raw Papers Different
Raw papers come in three main categories, and understanding each one helps you pick the right fit for your rolling tray. Raw Classic papers at 17 GSM make them the reliable daily driver that balances ease of rolling with a clean, steady burn. These papers use 100% organic hemp with unbleached fibers and natural gum Arabic adhesive derived from acacia trees, which burns slower than sugar-based alternatives. According to Forbes in April 2025, Raw holds the number one position in total dollar sales across the U.S. rolling papers and accessories category, a testament to how well these papers perform in real-world use. The watermark pattern Raw uses-created by pressing paper between rollers-gives the papers their distinctive texture and contributes to even burn rates that prevent runs. For beginners or anyone wanting a forgiving paper that won’t tear easily, Raw Classic King Size at 110×53 mm with 32 leaves per booklet offers the right combination of size and forgiveness. The paper tastes neutral, letting your material shine rather than adding flavor, which matters if you want to experience the actual taste of what you’re smoking.
Ultra-Thin for the Experienced
Raw Black papers represent the premium ultra-thin option at 13 GSM, designed specifically for smokers who’ve mastered their technique and want minimal paper presence. These papers appear deeper brown and require a delicate touch during rolling since thinner papers tear around 2.3 pounds of pressure compared to thicker options that tolerate 4.1 pounds. Raw Black papers burn time 12-14 minutes king size, though thick papers burn 30-50% faster than ultra-thin options. Storage becomes critical with ultra-thin papers; keep them at 45-55% humidity and 65-75°F away from direct light to preserve gum integrity. The trade-off is clear: Raw Black demands better rolling skills but rewards you with an exceptionally clean smoking experience if you can handle the delicate material.
Organic and Natural Options
Raw’s Organic Hemp papers, produced in Benimarfull, Spain using certified organic hemp milled from Southern France mills, deliver the full natural approach to rolling. These papers use the same water-based gum and unbleached fibers as the Classic line but emphasize the organic certification throughout the supply chain. At roughly 16-18 GSM, they sit between Classic and Black in terms of thickness, offering a middle ground for users who seek both ease of rolling and environmental responsibility. The absence of chemical whiteners or artificial additives means you get a paper that’s genuinely free from unnecessary processing, which many smokers notice immediately in terms of taste and burn quality.
Now that you understand the core Raw paper types, the next step involves matching these options to your specific rolling style and preferences.
Finding Your Raw Paper Match
Thickness matters more than most smokers realize, and it directly shapes your entire rolling experience. Raw Classic at 17 GSM sits in the sweet spot for most users-thick enough to forgive rolling mistakes but thin enough to burn steadily for 8-10 minutes on a king size without rushing. Raw Black at 13 GSM demands better technique since ultra-thin papers tear around 2.3 pounds of pressure, but they reward skilled rollers with 12-14 minutes of burn time and virtually no paper taste. If you’re still developing your rolling skills, jumping straight to Raw Black will frustrate you; start with Classic instead and move to Black only after you’ve rolled consistently for a few months. Raw Organic Hemp papers at 16-18 GSM occupy the practical middle ground-they’re forgiving enough for beginners yet offer the environmental benefits and natural materials that matter to conscious smokers. Papers lose their quality fast without proper storage conditions; maintain temperatures between 65-75°F with relative humidity between 45-55% for optimal material stability. Keep your Raw papers away from direct light, and they’ll maintain their handling characteristics for years.
Size Determines Ease and Efficiency
Raw offers six standard sizes, and picking the wrong one creates unnecessary friction in your rolling routine. King Size at 110×53 mm works best for most people because the extra width makes rolling genuinely easier-you have more paper to grip and adjust, reducing tension and mistakes. King Size Wide at 110×60 mm adds even more surface area, making it the obvious choice if you have larger hands or roll for groups regularly. For solo sessions, King Size Slim at 110×44 mm provides efficiency without wasting material; you get a satisfying roll that finishes in a reasonable timeframe. Single Wide and 1 ¼ sizes serve niche purposes; Single Wide at 70×37 mm feels cramped for most modern rolling styles, while 1 ¼ at 76×44 mm works only if you’re rolling very tight, thin joints.
Try King Size or King Size Wide first. Once you understand your actual rolling preferences over several weeks, you can experiment with other sizes. Each Raw booklet contains 32 leaves, so a King Size booklet costs roughly $0.08 per sheet compared to $0.02 per sheet for wood pulp papers, but the superior burn quality and taste neutrality justify the price difference for serious smokers.
Real Budget Math for Regular Users
If you roll twice weekly, Raw Classic costs approximately $4-5 monthly versus $1-2 for generic wood pulp papers. Over a year, that’s roughly $36-60 extra for Raw, which sounds significant until you factor in what you’re actually gaining: consistent burn rates that prevent wasting material through runs, neutral taste that lets your herbs shine, and papers that don’t leave chemical aftertaste. The real waste happens when you use cheap papers and have to re-roll or abandon sessions because the paper tears, burns unevenly, or tastes off. Raw Organic Hemp papers cost slightly more than Classic but less than specialty options, making them the intelligent choice if environmental responsibility influences your decisions without breaking your budget. If cost is genuinely tight, buy Raw Classic King Size in bulk when possible; larger quantities reduce per-sheet cost and ensure you always have quality papers available instead of settling for whatever’s cheap at the moment.
Storage Protects Your Investment
Papers lose their quality fast without proper storage conditions. Keep Raw papers in their original packaging or an airtight container away from direct light, and they’ll last for years without degradation. Exposure to heat, light, or dry air causes the gum to crack and the fibers to become brittle, turning premium papers into frustrating material that tears during rolling. Most smokers don’t realize that improper storage wastes more money than buying cheap papers in the first place-a booklet stored incorrectly becomes unusable within weeks, while properly stored papers remain perfect for years. Check your storage setup before you stock up on bulk orders; the investment in a quality airtight container pays for itself through preserved paper quality.
Now that you understand thickness, size, and budget considerations, the next step involves mastering the techniques that transform Raw papers into smooth, even-burning rolls.
Tips for Using Raw Papers Effectively
Store Raw Papers in the Right Environment
Raw papers begin degrading the moment they leave the factory unless you control their environment. Keep your Raw papers in their original packaging or inside a dedicated airtight container, positioned away from direct sunlight and heat sources. The ideal temperature range sits between 65-75°F with relative humidity between 58-62%, which means a cool, dark cabinet or drawer works far better than a bathroom shelf or kitchen counter.
Papers stored at humidity below 50% become brittle and tear during rolling, while storage above 70% causes the gum line to weaken and the fibers to swell. Most smokers fail here by leaving booklets open or storing them loosely in drawers; you’ll notice the difference within two weeks when the gum cracks and the paper becomes impossible to work with. A single quality airtight container costs less than five booklets of Raw papers, yet it preserves your entire supply for years.
If you buy in bulk to save money per sheet, proper storage becomes non-negotiable since a ruined booklet eliminates any savings you gained from the bulk discount.
Perfect Your Rolling Technique
Rolling technique directly determines whether Raw papers perform as intended, and the most common mistake involves over-wetting the gum line. Apply moisture only to the gum strip itself, not the entire paper, and use just enough saliva or a damp fingertip to activate the adhesive without soaking the fibers. Raw papers tear around 2.3 pounds of pressure when ultra-thin, so handle them with genuine care rather than aggressive tension.
Start with King Size papers at 110×53 mm since the extra width gives you more margin for error compared to smaller formats. Place your ground cannabis in the center of the tray, avoiding clumps near the filter tip since uneven density creates one side that burns faster than the other. Roll with consistent, gentle pressure using a back-and-forth motion rather than aggressive tucking, which stresses the delicate fibers.
After rolling, tap the open end lightly on a hard surface to settle the material, then seal the gum line with steady, even pressure from one end to the other. Test your draw before lighting by inhaling gently; if resistance feels too high, your roll is too tight and needs to be loosened slightly. Raw papers with their natural gum Arabic adhesive require less moisture than sugar-gum alternatives, so adjust your technique accordingly or you’ll end up with wet, difficult-to-seal papers. The two-finger draw test catches problems before you light up, saving you from wasting a poorly constructed roll.
Choose the Right Filter Tips
Filter tips control airflow, prevent debris, and improve comfort in ways that transform your entire experience. Paper tips cost virtually nothing and work fine, but glass tips last indefinitely and cool each draw better than paper alternatives. Match your tip width to your paper size; king-size papers work best with 7-8 mm diameter tips, while narrower papers need 6-7 mm tips.
Create tips approximately 20-25 mm tall and 45-60 mm long, then fold them accordion-style to create an inner spacer that maintains airflow without collapsing. The accordion fold creates a springy structure that keeps the tip open even under pressure, unlike single-fold tips that compress and restrict draw. Position your tip at the mouth-end with the gum line facing up, ensuring it’s centered and won’t shift during rolling.
A properly sized tip prevents ballooning at the mouth-end and stops harsh material from reaching your lips, while an undersized or oversized tip creates airflow problems that make even premium Raw papers perform poorly. Glass tips require minimal maintenance beyond a quick rinse between sessions, and they’re worth the small investment since one glass tip outlasts hundreds of paper alternatives.
Final Thoughts
Raw papers earn their position as the top choice in rolling papers through consistent results that matter in actual use. Whether you select Classic for daily reliability, Black for minimal paper presence, or Organic Hemp for environmental responsibility, you invest in papers that outperform cheaper alternatives. The difference appears immediately in burn rate, taste neutrality, and how the paper responds during rolling on your rolling tray.
Your choice between Raw paper types depends on honest assessment of your current skills and what matters most to you. Beginners benefit from Classic King Size papers that forgive rolling mistakes while teaching proper technique, while experienced rollers who’ve mastered their craft gain real advantages from Black papers, where ultra-thin construction rewards precision with exceptional burn quality. If sustainability influences your purchasing decisions, Organic Hemp papers deliver genuine environmental benefits without sacrificing performance.
The investment in quality papers pays dividends through reduced waste and better smoking experiences. Cheap papers tear, burn unevenly, and leave chemical aftertaste that no amount of technique can fix-Raw papers eliminate these frustrations entirely. Start with Raw Classic if you’re uncertain, then expand your collection based on what your actual rolling experience teaches you, and explore Cannabox’s full selection of rolling accessories that pair perfectly with your favorite Raw papers.
