Custom Butcher Paper

Custom butcher paper is an uncoated, breathable food-grade kraft paper built to wrap raw meat at the counter and to hold moisture around brisket and ribs during a long smoke. Unlike a coated wrap, it has no wax or plastic film, so it lets steam and smoke pass through instead of trapping them – the exact behavior pitmasters want when they reach for the "Texas crutch." Whether you run a meat case, a butcher shop, or a BBQ joint, we print your logo on rolls and pre-cut sheets with food-safe inks. See how it stacks up against our wax paper if you need a moisture barrier instead.

What butcher paper is and why it breathes

Butcher paper is a heavyweight, uncoated kraft sheet made for the meat trade. The thing that defines it is what it does not have: no wax, no poly coating, no laminate. That open, breathable fiber structure is why it behaves so differently from a barrier wrap. When you wrap a brisket in it partway through a cook, the paper holds in enough moisture to power through the "stall" while still letting steam and smoke escape – so the bark firms up instead of turning to mush. Coated papers do the opposite; they seal moisture in and soften the crust. That single trait is the reason butcher paper became the pitmaster's go-to.

Material and specs

Our butcher paper is food-grade virgin kraft, uncoated on both sides, in a weight range that typically runs from roughly 40 lb to 60 lb basis (a sturdy, tear-resistant sheet you can pull taut around a large cut without it splitting). It is offered in the two colorways buyers ask for: natural/white kraft for everyday counter wrap, and the pink/peach tone commonly called "peach paper," which is the same breathable uncoated stock in a warmer color that many BBQ cooks and delis prefer. All of it is unwaxed by design – if you need a grease or moisture barrier for wet or oily foods, that is a job for wax paper or a lined sheet, not this.

Food-contact safety you can stand behind

Every sheet is manufactured to be FDA-compliant for direct food contact, so it is safe against raw cuts, ground meat, poultry, and smoked barbecue alike. When we print your branding, we use food-safe, low-migration inks and keep coverage to the areas that make sense for a food wrap, so your logo never compromises the contact surface. That matters for meat counters and farmers-market vendors who need paper that passes a health inspection as easily as it wraps a ribeye.

Printing and branding your roll

A blank white roll is a missed branding opportunity. We print your shop name, logo, or a repeating pattern down the length of a roll or across a pre-cut sheet using full CMYK or exact Pantone (PMS) matching for your brand colors. Keep it to a clean single-color counter wrap to control cost, or go full-color for a market stall or a BBQ restaurant's signature look. There are no die, plate, or setup fees, and every order includes free design help and a digital proof so you sign off on exactly how the print lands before we run it.

Standard butcher paper sizes

Typical basis weight is 40-60 lb (~65-100 gsm) uncoated virgin kraft. Rolls wind on 3 in cores; wall and counter dispensers with serrated cutters are available for high-volume use.

Who uses it

Butcher paper is a working material for people who handle meat all day. Retail meat counters and butcher shops use it to wrap cuts to order and to underlay the case. BBQ restaurants and competition pitmasters rely on it for the crutch wrap and for serving barbecue straight on a lined tray. Farmers-market and specialty meat vendors like that a branded roll doubles as signage. It also crosses over into general kitchen and craft use, but its home is the meat side of the business. Restaurants that also need rigid packaging often pair it with our food and beverage boxes for takeout and catering.

How it differs from wax and deli paper

Buyers mix these up, so here is the short version. Butcher paper is uncoated and breathes – it is the smoking and meat-wrap paper. Wax paper is coated to be a moisture and grease barrier, which is great for wet or oily foods but wrong for a brisket because it steams the bark. Deli paper is a lighter-weight sheet built for sandwiches, wraps, and basket liners rather than heavy raw cuts. Pick butcher paper when breathability and toughness matter; pick the others when you specifically want a barrier or a thinner liner.

Minimums, turnaround, and pricing

We keep custom printing accessible for independent shops: the minimum order is just 100 units, there are no die or setup charges, and typical turnaround is 8–10 business days after proof approval, with free shipping across the US. Pricing scales with width, quantity, and the number of print colors, so a single-color counter roll is economical while a full-color market roll costs a little more. Made in the USA. Request a quote with your preferred width, color, and format and we will spec it for you.

Frequently asked questions

Is butcher paper safe for wrapping brisket during a smoke?

Yes. Uncoated butcher paper is the standard choice for the "Texas crutch." It holds moisture around the meat to push through the stall while staying breathable, so smoke and steam escape and the bark firms up instead of turning soggy. It is FDA-compliant for direct food contact at smoker temperatures.

What is the difference between butcher paper and wax paper?

Butcher paper is uncoated and breathable, so it lets moisture and smoke pass through – ideal for meat wrapping and BBQ. Wax paper is coated to act as a moisture and grease barrier, which traps steam and would soften a smoked crust. For a barrier wrap, see our wax paper instead.

What is "peach paper" and how is it different?

Peach paper is butcher paper in a pink/peach color. It is the same uncoated, food-grade, breathable stock as natural or white butcher paper, just in a warmer tone that many competition pitmasters and delis prefer. It performs identically for wrapping and smoking.

Can you print my logo with food-safe ink?

Yes. We print rolls and sheets with food-safe, low-migration inks in full CMYK or exact Pantone colors. You can run a single-color counter wrap to keep costs down or go full-color, and there are no plate or setup fees. You approve a digital proof before we print.

What roll widths and formats do you offer?

We stock continuous rolls in 18, 24, 30, and 36 inch widths, plus pre-cut sheets in custom sizes and counter dispensers with a cutting edge. Choose rolls for meat cases and smokers, and sheets for portioning stations and market tables.

What is the minimum order and turnaround?

The minimum is 100 units with no die or setup fees. Typical turnaround is 8 to 10 business days after you approve the proof, and US shipping is free. Pricing depends on width, quantity, and the number of print colors.