Manila Paper vs Kraft Paper – What’s the Difference?

When people talk about paper types, manila paper and kraft paper often get mixed up. Both are durable, relatively inexpensive and widely used across offices, schools and the packaging industry. However when you take a closer look at how they’re made, their strength, durability and where they’re used, the differences start to become pretty clear.

How They’re Made

Kraft paper comes from the kraft pulping process, which uses a chemical mix of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphide to break down wood chips. This removes most of the lignin, the substance that holds wood fibres together. The result is a strong paper with long, tough fibres, usually from softwoods like pine. It’s normally unbleached, giving it that dark brown colour, although bleached kraft is available for printing or when a white finish is needed.

Manila paper, on the other hand, has a different story. Originally, it was made from abacá fibres (also called manila hemp) which were incredibly strong. These days, it’s mostly made from semi-bleached wood pulp and a large amount of recycled paper. Because of this, manila has more visible fibres and the pulping process isn’t as refined as kraft. This keeps costs lower but also means the paper isn’t as strong.

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Colour and Texture

The natural colour of kraft paper is a coarse, deep brown. If bleached, it becomes white but bleaching reduces some of its strength. Unbleached kraft is the strongest option and the one used most in packaging and corrugated cardboard.

Manila paper usually shows up in its classic light yellow-brown, often called buff. It’s lighter in shade than kraft, and it’s typically smoother, which makes it better for printing and writing. Manila can be machine glazed (MG) to give it a slightly shinier surface, but it’s still classed as uncoated paper.

Strength and Durability

If strength is the measure, kraft paper wins hands down. Its long wood fibres and chemical pulping process make it highly tear-resistant and durable. It can handle heavy loads, which is why it’s the standard choice for industrial wrapping, paper sacks and as the outer layer of corrugated cardboard.

Manila paper is durable for everyday use but doesn’t compete with kraft on tensile strength. What it does offer though, is just enough toughness for office folders, envelopes and art projects. In fact, in certain grades, manila is said to be “just as strong as kraft but with better printing qualities.” That’s why you see it in stationery rather than heavy packaging.

Everyday Uses

Kraft paper is everywhere in packaging. You’ll find it in:

Paper bags (think supermarket brown bags)
Corrugated cardboard boxes
Heavy-duty wrapping paper for parcels
Protective layers in industrial packaging
Crafting projects where sturdiness is needed

Manila paper is a stationery classic. Its most common uses include:

Folders and envelopes (the manila folder is basically iconic)
Clothing pattern tracing in the fashion industry
Children’s art projects in schools
General office stationery

So while kraft keeps things safe in transit, manila keeps things organised in the filing cabinet.

Cost and Accessibility

Because of the kraft pulping process, kraft paper usually costs more than manila. It’s a refined, purpose-driven product made for strength. Manila paper, with its high recycled content and semi-bleached pulp, is much cheaper to manufacture and easier to buy in bulk.

If you need heavy-duty wrapping, kraft is the best option. If you need folders, envelopes, or cheap but decent-quality paper for printing or tracing, manila is the better choice.

Eco-Friendliness and Recycling

Both kraft and manila are considered eco-friendly paper types, though in slightly different ways.

Kraft paper is recyclable and biodegradable. Unbleached kraft, in particular, is highly sustainable since no extra bleaching chemicals are used.
Manila paper is eco-friendly because it already includes a high percentage of recycled fibres. It can also be recycled again after use, keeping it in circulation.

Both papers are better choices than fully coated or glossy paperboards when it comes to environmental impact.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	Kraft Paper	Manila Paper
Manufacture	Kraft pulping, virgin softwood fibres	Semi-bleached pulp, recycled fibres
Colour	Brown (unbleached), white (bleached)	Light buff, machine glazed
Strength	High tensile strength, tear-resistant	Durable but weaker than kraft
Cost	More expensive	Inexpensive
Common Uses	Packaging, cardboard, bags, wrapping	Envelopes, folders, stationery, tracing

Both papers are durable, versatile, and eco-friendly in their own ways. But if you’re looking at manila paper vs kraft paper, the choice comes down to what you need: strength and packaging (kraft) or affordable stationery and everyday office use (manila).

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