Das Filter Blog
How to Roll Without Rolling Papers: What Works and What to Skip
Quick answer: If you're out of rolling papers, use something made to be smoked: a pre-rolled cone, a hemp or tobacco blunt wrap, or a palm or banana leaf cone. A clean, fully dried corn husk works in a pinch. Skip printer and notebook paper, receipts, newspaper, magazine pages and foil; they're thick, coated or inked, and not made to be burned and inhaled.
Rolling paper alternatives that work
| Alternative | What it is | How it smokes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-rolled cone | Paper already shaped and tipped | Same as a joint | Still paper, but no rolling. See pre-rolled cones. |
| Hemp wrap | A flat sheet of pressed hemp | Slower and thicker than paper | Roll it like a blunt. Tobacco-free. |
| Tobacco blunt wrap or cigarillo | Tobacco leaf or sheet | Slow, heavy, adds nicotine | See types of blunt wraps. |
| Palm leaf roll | Dried leaf, usually pre-rolled with a wood or corn tip | Slow | Fill and pack, no rolling. |
| Banana leaf cone | Dried banana leaf shaped into a cone | Slow, wants an even pack | See how to pack a banana leaf cone. |
| Corn husk | The dried inner leaf of an ear of corn | Hot and quick to go out | A pinch option, not an everyday one. |
Pre-rolled cones
The easiest swap. Fill, pack lightly and twist the end. If you were short on papers and on tips, cones solve both because most come with a paper tip built in. Our guide to banana leaf vs paper cones covers the leaf version.
Blunt wraps
Hemp wraps and tobacco wraps both roll like a blunt: soften the wrap a little, fill it, tuck and roll, then seal with a little moisture. Step-by-step instructions are in how to roll a blunt. Tobacco wraps contain nicotine; hemp wraps don't.
Palm and banana leaf
These come pre-rolled, so there's no rolling at all. Leaf is thicker than paper and usually burns slower, but it needs a fuller, more even pack than a paper cone. Store them sealed so they don't dry out and crack.
Corn husk
Corn husk has long been used to roll tobacco, and it works for flower too. It's the best option you can make at home, but it's not great.
- Use a fully dried inner husk, from the layers closest to the cob. Green husk won't burn. Plain dried husks for tamales work if they're clean and unflavored.
- Cut a rectangle about the size of a rolling paper and trim off the thick ridge at the base.
- Soften it slightly with a damp fingertip so it bends without cracking.
- Fill it with ground flower, roll it as tight as it will go, and tie or twist the ends.
- Expect it to burn hot and to need relighting. See how to light a joint.
What not to use
| Don't use | Why |
|---|---|
| Printer or notebook paper | Thick, burns hot and harsh, and is usually bleached and treated with fillers and coatings |
| Receipts | Most are thermal paper coated with chemicals such as BPA or BPS |
| Newspaper, magazines, book or Bible pages | Ink, and glossy pages have a coating |
| Paper towels, tissues, napkins | Burn too fast and often contain dyes or lotions |
| Tea bags | Some are heat-sealed with plastic; the paper isn't made to burn |
| Foil or gum wrappers | Foil doesn't burn and some wrappers have a wax or plastic layer |
Rolling papers are made thin so the paper adds as little as possible to the smoke. Thick or treated paper burns hotter and adds more of its own. What rolling papers are made of goes into the details.
Out of filter tips too?
You don't need a tip to roll. You can fold one from a strip of thin, plain, unprinted card, or go without; see how to roll a joint without a filter. Don't fold a tip from anything printed or glossy for the same reasons as above.
No papers and no wrap? Skip the roll
A pipe, bong or dry herb vaporizer needs no papers. In a pinch, people carve a one-time pipe from an apple. It works, though it's not rolling.
Once you're restocked, the full how to roll a joint guide walks through papers, tips and rolling from start to finish. If you like the leaf option, our Nanner Barrels are pre-rolled banana leaf cones.
Frequently asked questions
What can I use instead of rolling papers?
The safest swaps are things made to be smoked: a pre-rolled cone, a hemp or tobacco blunt wrap, or a palm or banana leaf cone. A clean, dried corn husk works in a pinch.
Can you roll a joint with printer paper?
It's not a good idea. Printer and notebook paper is thick, burns hot and harsh, and is usually bleached and treated with fillers and coatings that aren't meant to be smoked.
Can you use a receipt or a page from a book?
Skip receipts. Most are thermal paper coated with chemicals such as BPA or BPS. Printed pages, newspaper and magazines carry ink, and glossy pages are coated.
How do you roll a joint with a corn husk?
Use a fully dried, clean inner husk. Cut a rectangle, soften it slightly with a damp fingertip, roll it around the flower and tie or twist the ends. Expect it to burn hot and need relighting.
Can you smoke weed without papers at all?
Yes. A pipe, bong or dry herb vaporizer needs no papers. In a pinch, people make a one-time pipe from an apple, but that's not rolling.
Products are for adults 21+.
