Guides
How to store paper rolls
Paper holds moisture from the air. Store reels dry, wrapped and off the floor, and let them settle in the room before you use them.
01 / Why
Why storage changes the paper
Paper is made of wood fibre, and fibre takes in water from damp air and gives water back to dry air. The moisture content of the sheet follows the room.
A sheet gaining moisture swells. A sheet losing moisture shrinks. Uneven change across a reel or a stack shows up as curl, wrinkles and poor feeding on a machine.
02 / The numbers
The conditions paper is tested at
| ISO 187 test atmosphere | 23 °C and 50% relative humidity |
|---|---|
| Storage target from one paper maker | 22 °C and 50% relative humidity |
| Risk zone named by the same maker | Humidity 15 points above or below the target: curl, wrinkling, misregistration |
03 / Moisture content
What moisture content means
Moisture content is the share of a sheet's weight made up of water. Paper settles at a moisture content matched to the air around the sheet.
Labs test paper only after the sheet settles in the standard atmosphere, so two labs measure the same paper the same way. Your store room sets the moisture content of your stock in the same way.
04 / The routine
How to store paper rolls and sheets
Keep the wrap on.
Store reels and cartons in the wrap they arrive in, until the day you use them.
Lift stock off the floor.
Stand reels and cartons on pallets, racks or shelves. Keep them off concrete floors and away from concrete walls.
Keep stock dry.
Store away from wash areas, open doors and roof leaks. Keep water off the paper and the packaging.
Let paper settle before use.
Move reels into the work room a day ahead with the wrap on, so the paper reaches room temperature before you open the wrap.
Use the oldest stock first.
Date each delivery on arrival and pull the oldest reel first.
05 / Reels
Storing reels
Our bulk reels run long: butter paper reels from 500 to 2,000 m, OGR from 1,000 to 3,000 m, and MG and MF from 1,500 to 4,000 m. A long reel sits in store for weeks, so the conditions matter more.
Store reels on pallets or racks, never on the floor, and keep the reel wrap closed between uses.
06 / Sheets
Storing sheets and cartons
Butter paper sheets ship from 10,000 per size and GSM. Store the cartons flat on a pallet and keep each carton closed until you need the sheets.
Once a carton is open, keep the remaining sheets covered, so the top sheets match the rest of the stack.
07 / Damp months
Storing paper through damp months
Damp air raises the moisture content of stock left open. Keep wraps closed, keep doors shut, and order closer to use in the damp months, so less stock sits in store.
If a reel arrives damp, report the reel to us on delivery before you use the reel.
Questions
Before you specify
What humidity is best for storing paper?
Paper is tested at 50% relative humidity and 23 °C under ISO 187. Store close to this and keep the wrap on.
Why does stored paper curl?
The sheet took in or gave off moisture unevenly. Keep stock wrapped, off the floor and in a steady room.
How long should paper settle before use?
Bring the wrapped paper into the work room ahead of use, so the paper reaches room temperature before you open the wrap.