Puffs vs. Kleenex: Which Facial Tissue Is Softer and Stronger?
Puffs is the stronger tissue for colds; Kleenex Ultra Soft is the thicker 3-ply feel. Here is how to choose, with lotion tips and price per tissue.
Puffs and Kleenex are the two facial tissue brands most US homes keep on the nightstand, and during cold and flu season the difference between them starts to matter. Both make soft, strong tissues. The real choice comes down to how many layers you like, whether you want lotion, and how much you want to spend per box.
Here's how the two brands compare, and which tissue to pick for colds, allergies and everyday use.
Puffs vs. Kleenex at a glance
| Puffs | Kleenex | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Procter & Gamble | Kimberly-Clark |
| Softest non-lotion line | Puffs Ultra Soft (2-ply) | Kleenex Ultra Soft (3-ply) |
| Lotion line | Puffs Plus Lotion (2-ply) | Kleenex Soothing Lotion (3-ply) |
| Known for | Strength when wet | Thick, cushiony feel |
| Best for | Colds, frequent nose-blowing, reuse | Gentle wiping, makeup, light use |
Which is softer, Puffs or Kleenex?
It's closer than most people think. In a three-week hands-on test by Reviewed, testers found Kleenex Ultra Soft felt slightly softer, but Puffs Ultra Soft held up better after repeated use and was named the best overall tissue. The two finished almost tied in the final scores.
An earlier Consumer Reports lab test pointed the same way. When it measured strength and softness across 18 tissues, Puffs Ultra Soft & Strong came out as the strongest tissue tested while still rating high for softness.
So if softness is the only thing you care about, a 3-ply Kleenex may feel a little plusher. If you blow your nose a lot, a tissue that doesn't fall apart is usually the softer experience overall.
2-ply vs. 3-ply tissues: does it matter?
Ply is simply the number of paper layers in each tissue. More layers make a thicker sheet, but they don't guarantee a better one. Reviewed found that extra plies didn't automatically win: 2-ply Puffs Ultra Soft held up better than 3-ply Kleenex Ultra Soft with repeated use.
- 2-ply tissues, like Puffs Ultra Soft, are lighter and pull easily from the box, with plenty of strength for colds.
- 3-ply tissues, like Kleenex Ultra Soft, feel thicker in the hand and are a good fit if you like a cushioned wipe.
For a deeper look at how ply works across paper products, see our guide to 1-ply vs 2-ply vs 3-ply.
Lotion tissues for colds and allergies
Lotion tissues add a light coating that reduces rubbing on a sore nose. Both brands offer one: Puffs Plus Lotion and Kleenex Soothing Lotion. They're a smart pick when your nose gets red and raw after a few days of a cold or allergy season.
The trade-off is absorbency. In Reviewed's water test, lotion-infused tissues soaked up liquid less well, because the lotion tends to repel moisture. Many homes keep both: a lotion box by the bed for sick days and a non-lotion box for everyday use. Our guide to lotion vs non-lotion tissues covers this in more detail.
Which one should you buy?
- Choose Puffs Ultra Soft if you want a strong, soft everyday tissue that holds up through a cold.
- Choose Puffs Plus Lotion if your nose is already sore from frequent wiping.
- Choose Kleenex Ultra Soft if you prefer the thicker feel of a 3-ply sheet.
- Buy by the case in cold and flu season so every room, car and office desk has a box.
How to compare tissue value
Box sizes vary a lot. A cube box usually holds fewer tissues than a flat family-size box, so compare the price per tissue instead of the price per box.
| Pack on TissuPaper | Price | Total tissues | Price per 100 tissues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puffs Ultra Soft, 8 Family Size Boxes | $19.50 | 992 | about $1.97 |
| Puffs Plus Lotion, 8 Mega Cube Boxes | $22.00 | 576 | about $3.82 |
Prices as of November 5, 2026. Family-size flat boxes are usually the lower-cost way to buy, while cube boxes fit nightstands, bathrooms and cars.
Tips for cold and flu season
- Put a box in every room. People reach for a tissue instead of a sleeve when one is within arm's length.
- Throw tissues away after one use and wash your hands, as the CDC recommends for covering coughs and sneezes.
- Keep a cube box in the car and a flat box on your work desk.
- Don't flush facial tissue. It's made to stay strong when wet and doesn't break down like toilet paper.
Frequently asked questions
Are Puffs or Kleenex better for a cold?
Puffs Ultra Soft held up better to repeated nose-blowing in Reviewed's tests, which makes it a strong pick for colds. If your nose is sore, a lotion tissue like Puffs Plus Lotion is gentler.
Is Kleenex 3-ply?
Kleenex Ultra Soft and Kleenex Soothing Lotion are 3-ply. Puffs Ultra Soft and Puffs Plus Lotion are 2-ply.
Are lotion tissues bad for your face?
No. Lotion tissues are made for use on the face and nose. They just absorb liquid a little less well than non-lotion tissues.
Can you flush tissues?
No. Facial tissues are designed to stay strong when wet, so they can clog pipes and septic systems. Put them in the trash.
Ready to stock up for the season? Shop all facial tissue or the full Puffs collection, with free standard delivery in 3 to 5 days and free 30-day returns.
Sources
- Reviewed: The best facial tissues
- Consumer Reports tissue tests (via Fox Business)
- Kleenex Soothing Lotion 3-ply listing (Office Depot)
- CDC: Coughing and sneezing
Written by the TissuPaper team. We stock and ship these products from Plano, Texas, and we update our guides when brands change their products or packs.
Written by the TissuPaper team. We stock and ship these products from Plano, Texas, and we update our guides when brands change their rolls or packs.
