Most independent tests still put Brawny and Bounty at the top for pure absorbency, with Brawny often edging out Bounty by a small margin in how much liquid a single sheet can hold. However, actual “best” depends on whether you care more about absorbency per sheet, cost per spill, or eco‑impact.

Quick Scoop

  • Most absorbent overall (per sheet):
    • Brawny “Pick‑A‑Size” is frequently ranked #1 in lab-style tests, retaining slightly more liquid per sheet than Bounty in direct weight measurements.
  • Very close runner‑up:
    • Bounty “Select‑A‑Size” typically ties or finishes just behind Brawny in volume absorbency tests and needs about the same number of sheets to soak up a fixed amount of water.
  • Also highly absorbent:
    • Viva often matches Brawny and Bounty in volume tests (same number of sheets to pick up a spill), but can be a bit less strong and soft, depending on the test.
  • Best value per ounce absorbed:
    • Some budget brands like Walmart’s Great Value can be cheaper when you calculate cost per ounce of liquid absorbed, even if each individual sheet is less absorbent.

Top brands side‑by‑side

[5] [5] [5] [5] [5] [5] [5] [5] [5] [5] [5] [5]
Brand Absorbency per sheet Sheets to soak common spill Notes
Brawny Pick‑A‑Size Very high; retained about 0.7 oz in one well‑known test, slightly more than Bounty.Needed about 2.5 sheets to absorb 2 oz of water in testing.Excellent mix of strength, absorbency, and price; often rated top overall.
Bounty Select‑A‑Size Very high; around 0.6 oz retained in the same tests, just a bit below Brawny.Also around 2.5 sheets for 2 oz; essentially tied in volume absorbency.Widely available; marketed as “the quicker picker upper” and usually performs as such.
Viva High; roughly equal to Bounty in volume tests with 0.6 oz retained.About 2.5 sheets for 2 oz, matching Brawny and Bounty in that specific test.Cloth‑like texture; great for scrubbing but not always as tough as Brawny/Bounty.
Great Value (Walmart) Moderate; less absorbent per sheet than the top national brands.Needs more sheets for the same spill compared with Brawny or Bounty.Despite lower absorbency per sheet, cheapest cost per ounce of liquid absorbed in one large test.

Why there’s no single “winner”

Different tests focus on different things:

  • Absorbency per sheet vs. absorbency per dollar
    • Brawny slightly beats Bounty in absorbency per sheet and comes in at a lower cost per square foot in at least one major comparison, which is why it’s often called the best “overall.”
* Value brands like Great Value lose on per‑sheet absorbency but win when you measure total liquid absorbed per dollar spent.
  • Real‑world feel and strength
    • Users and reviewers also weigh softness, tear resistance, and how well a towel holds together when scrubbed, where Brawny and Bounty again stay near the top, with Viva praised for its cloth‑like feel.

How to choose for your home

  1. If you want the most absorbent sheet: Go with Brawny ; in controlled tests it holds a bit more liquid than Bounty at a slightly lower price.
  1. If you want near‑top performance and easy availability: Bounty is extremely close to Brawny and widely stocked.
  1. If you want a cloth‑like wipe for scrubbing: Try Viva , which matches the top brands for volume absorbency in some tests.
  1. If budget rules: A store brand like Great Value can be the most economical when you look at cost per ounce of liquid absorbed, even though you will use more sheets.

Bottom line: For the question “which paper towel brand is the most absorbent,” lab tests point to Brawny as a tiny step ahead of Bounty and Viva, but all three sit in the top tier, and your best pick depends on whether you care more about absorbency, price, or feel.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.