Acid free tissue paper looks almost identical to the standard tissue you wrap a candle or a t-shirt in. Same softness, same crisp rustle. The difference is chemical, and it only shows up months or years later, when the item you wrapped either comes out of the box looking exactly as it went in, or comes out yellowed, brittle or stained.
If you sell, ship or store anything with long-term value (garments, prints, heirlooms, silverware, leather goods), this guide explains what acid-free actually means, when it is worth paying for, and when standard tissue paper does the job just fine.
What makes tissue paper acid-free?
Ordinary paper is made from wood pulp that contains lignin, a natural compound that breaks down over time and releases acids into the paper. Papermakers also traditionally used acidic sizing chemicals during production. The result is tissue that typically sits on the acidic side of the pH scale.
Acid-free tissue is produced differently. The pulp is processed to remove lignin, and the sheet is manufactured to a neutral pH of around 7. Some archival papers go a step further and are buffered with an alkaline reserve (usually calcium carbonate) to neutralise acids they encounter later. Specifications vary between manufacturers, so if you have a strict conservation requirement, check the datasheet or ask us before ordering.
The practical upshot: an acid-free sheet will not release acids into whatever it touches, which is the whole point.
What acid does to the things you wrap
Acid migration is slow but relentless. When acidic paper sits in direct contact with an item, acids transfer across at the contact points. Over months and years this causes:
- Yellowing and brown spots on fabrics, especially whites and creams. Bridal boutiques see this on gowns stored in ordinary boxes with ordinary tissue.
- Brittleness in paper items such as prints, photographs, documents and book pages, which weaken and crack along contact lines.
- Tarnish on silver and some other metals, accelerated by sulphur compounds present in many ordinary papers.
- Colour transfer and staining on leather and delicate finishes.
None of this matters for a scented candle that will be unwrapped in three days. All of it matters for a christening gown that will sit in a box for twenty years.
Who should be using acid-free tissue?
Clothing and bridal retailers
Anything a customer intends to keep, not just wear, deserves acid-free wrapping: wedding dresses, christening outfits, formal wear, knitwear in natural fibres. Wrapping a gown in acid-free tissue before boxing is standard practice in bridal, and it doubles as a premium unboxing touch in everyday fashion retail.
Antique dealers and collectors
Textiles, documents, books and ephemera are the most acid-sensitive items there are. If you deal in antiques, acid-free tissue between layers is cheap insurance. We cover the broader storage picture in our guide to storing antiques without damage.
Artists, framers and print sellers
Interleaving prints, drawings and photographs with acid-free tissue prevents sheets marking each other in storage and transit. It is also the right slip sheet to place over the face of a framed work before wrapping it in protective layers such as bubble wrap.
Jewellers and silverware sellers
Silver tarnishes faster in contact with ordinary paper. Acid-free tissue is the safer first layer around silver pieces before they go into pouches or boxes.
Acid-free vs standard tissue: which do you need?
An honest answer: most retail wrapping does not need acid-free. Here is the split we suggest to customers.
Choose acid-free tissue when the item will be stored for months or years, is made of natural fibres (silk, wool, cotton, linen), is paper-based (prints, photos, documents), is silver, or carries sentimental or resale value. Contact time is the enemy; long contact needs a neutral sheet.
Choose standard coloured tissue when the tissue is decorative and short-lived: gift wrapping, hamper fill, cushioning inside a paper carry bag, branded unboxing for products that will be used straight away. Our standard range comes in 20 colours at 17GSM and costs less per sheet, so there is no reason to pay archival prices for a wrap that lives for a weekend.
Plenty of businesses stock both: white acid-free for the keepsake items, colours for everyday presentation.
Sizes and GSM: what QIS stocks
GSM (grams per square metre) is the weight of the sheet. Higher GSM means a slightly stronger, more opaque sheet. Our acid-free tissue is 19GSM, a touch heavier than the 17GSM standard range, which helps when wrapping items with edges or hardware.
Both acid-free sizes come in bulk reams of 500 sheets:
- 500x750mm, the full retail size, right for garments, framed works and larger boxes. See the acid-free 500x750mm sheets.
- 400x660mm, a smaller sheet suited to jewellery, accessories, single garments folded small and interleaving. See the acid-free 400x660mm sheets.
As a rule of thumb, one ream of 500 sheets wraps roughly 250-500 typical retail items depending on how many sheets you use per wrap.
Compare the range
How to wrap with acid-free tissue
- Wrap so the tissue touches everything. The protection only works at points of contact, so line the box first, then wrap the item fully rather than laying a single sheet on top.
- Pad folds in garments. Crumple tissue into soft rolls and place them inside folds and sleeves. Sharp creases become permanent weak lines in old fabric; padded folds do not.
- Interleave flat items. One sheet between each print, photo or folded textile stops transfer between items.
- Do not seal in plastic for long-term storage. Fabric needs to breathe. Acid-free tissue inside a box beats a sealed plastic bag, which can trap moisture.
- Replace tissue every few years for genuinely long-term storage, especially with unbuffered paper, since the sheet slowly absorbs acids and pollutants from its surroundings.
For shipping, use acid-free tissue as the contact layer and put the structural protection (bubble wrap, boxes, void fill) outside it.
Buying acid-free tissue in bulk
Because our acid-free tissue comes in reams of 500, the per-sheet cost is already wholesale rather than craft-store pricing. Orders placed before 12pm on weekdays are dispatched the same day, and we deliver Australia-wide: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and regional areas. Larger volumes, mixed pallets or recurring supply can be priced through a bulk quote request, and our 5% price-beat guarantee applies if you find a better advertised price.
FAQ
Is acid-free tissue paper the same as archival tissue?
Mostly, yes. "Archival" usually means acid-free and lignin-free, sometimes with an alkaline buffer added. All archival tissue is acid-free, though specifications differ between brands, so check the details if you need a certified conservation standard.
What is the difference between buffered and unbuffered acid-free tissue?
Buffered tissue contains an alkaline reserve (typically calcium carbonate) that neutralises incoming acids over time. Unbuffered tissue is simply pH neutral. Conservators often prefer unbuffered paper for protein-based fibres such as silk and wool, and buffered for cotton, linen and paper items.
Can I use acid-free tissue for food?
Acid-free tissue is designed for textiles, paper and keepsakes, not food contact. For food presentation, use greaseproof or food-grade papers instead.
How long does acid-free tissue last in storage?
The paper itself stays neutral for years. For valuable items in long-term storage, conservators suggest refreshing tissue every two to five years, since any paper gradually picks up acids and pollutants from its environment.
Is white tissue paper always acid-free?
No. Colour tells you nothing about pH. Standard white tissue is made the same way as coloured tissue. If the product name does not say acid-free, assume it is not.
Does acid-free tissue cost much more?
It costs more per sheet than standard tissue, but bought in reams of 500 the difference per wrapped item is small, usually a few cents. Against the replacement cost of a stained gown or a foxed print, it is the cheapest protection you can buy.
Protecting something worth keeping?
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