You’re standing in the aisle at BJ's Wholesale Club, staring at a massive stack of berkley and jensen paper towels. On one side, you’ve got the name-brand giant, Bounty, looking all "quicker-picker-upper" and expensive. On the other, there’s the store brand, priced like a bargain but looking suspiciously like it might handle a spill about as well as a lace doily.
It’s a classic dilemma. Honestly, we’ve all been there. You want to save the five or ten bucks, but nobody wants a paper towel that disintegrates the second it touches a drop of spilled milk.
So, what’s the real deal with these things? Are they just cheap fillers, or are they a legitimate secret weapon for your kitchen? Let’s get into the weeds of it.
The "Ultra" vs. "Everyday" Confusion
Most people don’t realize there isn't just one type of Berkley Jensen towel. If you grab the wrong one, you’re gonna have a bad time.
Basically, you’ve got the "Ultra" line and the "Everyday" (or sometimes just "Strong & Absorbent") line. The "Everyday" version is sort of the "C-student" of paper towels. It’s fine for drying your hands or wiping a crumb off the counter, but it’s thin. People on Reddit have literally described it as "disappointing" and "rough."
The "Ultra Choose-A-Size" is where the magic happens.
These are the ones that actually try to go toe-to-toe with Bounty. They’re 2-ply, and the sheet count is usually around 140 to 160 per roll depending on the specific pack configuration BJ's is running that month. They use a quilted texture that’s meant to trap liquid rather than just spreading it around like a squeegee.
How Berkley and Jensen Paper Towels Actually Stack Up
Let's talk performance. If you’re cleaning up a puddle of grape juice, you need two things: absorbency and wet strength.
In my experience—and based on testing data from 2025 and 2026—the berkley and jensen paper towels (the Ultra ones) perform surprisingly well. They don't quite have that "cloth-like" feel of a Viva towel, but they don't shred when you’re scrubbing dried honey off a granite countertop either.
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The Comparison Nobody Talks About
We always compare store brands to Bounty, but the real rival is Kirkland Signature from Costco.
- Kirkland: Often feels a bit stiffer. It’s incredibly strong, but it can feel almost like cardstock when it’s dry.
- Berkley Jensen Ultra: Kinda hits a middle ground. It’s softer than Kirkland but feels a bit more "substantial" than the cheap stuff you’d find at a dollar store.
One thing that drives people nuts? The perforations.
There is nothing worse than trying to tear off a "half sheet" and ending up with a jagged, useless triangle of paper. While Bounty basically has the Olympic gold medal in perforations, Berkley Jensen is... okay. It’s a solid B+. You might get a wonky tear once every ten sheets, but for the price difference, most people just shrug it off.
Who is actually making these?
BJ's, like most warehouse clubs, doesn't own a paper mill. They outsource. While the exact manufacturer for berkley and jensen paper towels can change based on supply chain contracts, they are typically produced by major private-label paper giants.
Think companies like Georgia-Pacific or Clearwater Paper.
These are the same facilities that might be making the "premium" store brands for other retailers. The secret is that the "recipe" (the pulp mix and the embossing pattern) is specific to BJ's. So, while it might come from a "big name" factory, it’s not just a rebranded version of a national brand. It’s its own beast.
The Math: Is it Actually a Deal?
Price is why you’re even looking at these, right?
Currently, a 12-pack of the Ultra rolls at BJ's sits around the $19.99 mark. If you catch a "Clipless Coupon" or a seasonal sale, you can see that drop by a few bucks.
Compare that to a similar pack of Bounty, which can easily creep up toward $30 or $40 depending on where you shop. You’re essentially paying about half the price per square foot. Even if you have to use two Berkley Jensen sheets for every one Bounty sheet (which you usually don't), you’re still breaking even or coming out ahead.
But honestly? For 90% of household tasks, one sheet is plenty.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that "store brand" equals "recycled and weak."
That's not always the case here. These towels use virgin wood pulp, which is why they have that white, bright look and better absorbency than the brown, recycled stuff you see in office building bathrooms.
Another thing? People think "Choose-A-Size" is just a gimmick to make you use more paper. It’s actually the opposite. If you only need to wipe up a small splash of water, using a full-sized sheet is just throwing money in the trash. The BJ's version has decent "select-a-size" scaling, allowing you to tear off those narrow 5-inch strips.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
If you're ready to make the switch or just want to test the waters, here is how to do it without wasting money.
- Check the label closely: Avoid anything that doesn't say "Ultra." The "Everyday" or "Strong" versions are significantly thinner and will likely frustrate you if you're used to premium brands.
- Look for the "Big Roll" math: Check the "Total Square Feet" on the bottom of the package. Manufacturers love to play games with "Roll" vs. "Double Roll" vs. "Mega Roll." The square footage never lies.
- Use the BJ's App: They almost always have a digital coupon for Berkley Jensen paper products. It’s usually an easy $2 off, which brings your per-roll cost down significantly.
- Test the "Wet Strength": When you get them home, soak one and try to pull it apart. If it resists a decent amount of tension, you’ve got a good batch. If it melts like cotton candy, take advantage of that BJ's return policy.
At the end of the day, berkley and jensen paper towels are a workhorse. They aren't luxury items, and they won't win any beauty contests, but they'll clean up your kid's spilled juice without making a bigger mess. For most of us, that’s more than enough.