Suppliers, dispensers and search results use the words blue roll and centrefeed almost interchangeably, which causes confusion when you are trying to buy the right product for a dispenser you already have. The distinction is simple once you see it.
Blue roll describes the paper
Blue roll is the product: blue-dyed, absorbent, multi-ply paper sold on a roll for wiping and cleaning. It can be wound in different ways and comes in different lengths and grades. Read our full guide to blue roll for uses and grades.
Centrefeed describes how it dispenses
A centrefeed roll has no cardboard core left in the middle; the paper is pulled from the centre of the roll through a cone or a dispenser nozzle, sheet by sheet. That keeps hands off the outside of the roll (more hygienic) and stops the whole roll unravelling on a wet bench. Most blue roll sold to UK businesses is centrefeed, which is why the terms blur together. You can also buy white roll as centrefeed.
Other formats you will see
- Standard or "edge-feed" rolls: dispense from the outside like domestic kitchen roll. Common for 40m and 50m rolls used without a dispenser.
- Mini centrefeed: smaller-diameter rolls for compact dispensers in washrooms and salons.
- Wiper rolls on a stand: very large industrial rolls (300m+) on a floor stand, used in manufacturing.
Matching the roll to your dispenser
Three things need to match: the maximum roll diameter the dispenser accepts (which limits length: a 150m roll is fatter than a 50m roll), the core removal (centrefeed dispensers need the core removed, which is designed to pull out), and the roll width (most UK blue roll is around 180–200mm wide). If you have a wall dispenser, check its label for the maximum length. If you are buying a dispenser, choose one that takes 150m rolls so you can move up in size later.
Which length should you buy?
Lower cost per metre and fewer changes argue for the longest roll your dispenser accepts. Betapro blue roll comes in 40m, 50m, 120m and 150m, six to a case. The 120m and 150m Premium rolls are the standard for garages, workshops and high-volume kitchens; the 40m and 50m Eco rolls suit cafés, takeaways and washrooms.
Centrefeed without a dispenser
You can use a centrefeed roll without a dispenser by pulling the core out and standing the roll on a bench, but it absorbs splashes and unravels. For a busy kitchen a wall-mounted dispenser pays for itself quickly in paper saved.
Buying in bulk
Betapro sells blue and white centrefeed-compatible rolls by the case with next-day UK delivery, and by the pallet with tiered pricing. See the blue roll range, the white roll range, or ask for a pallet quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is centrefeed always blue? No. Centrefeed is a format; it is sold in blue and white, and occasionally green or natural.
Will a 150m roll fit my dispenser? Only if the dispenser is rated for it. Most full-size centrefeed dispensers are; compact ones often stop at 50m or 120m.
Why do centrefeed rolls have a removable core? So the paper can feed from the middle through the dispenser nozzle, one sheet at a time, without touching the outside of the roll.