Running out of clean towels on a full night is one of the most common housekeeping problems in small hotels and motels. The fix is a written par level: the number of complete linen sets you keep for each bed and each bathroom.
What is a linen par level?
One par is one complete set of linen for a room. A property that keeps 3 par has three sets for every room: one set in the room, one in the laundry and one clean on the shelf. Many properties add extra stock for losses, stains and growth, especially when laundry is sent out and takes longer to come back.
Step 1: list beds and bathrooms
Count the beds by size (twin, full, queen, king) and the guest bathrooms. A 40-room motel with 30 queen rooms and 10 rooms with two full beds has 30 queen beds, 20 full beds and 40 bathrooms.
Step 2: decide what goes on each bed
A typical hotel bed uses one fitted sheet, one flat sheet and one pillow cover per pillow. A queen with two pillows needs 1 fitted, 1 flat and 2 pillow covers per set.
Step 3: decide what goes in each bathroom
A common set is two bath towels, two hand towels, two washcloths and one bath mat per bathroom, but adjust it to how many guests the room sleeps.
Step 4: multiply by your par
For the 40-room example at 3 par:
- Queen fitted sheets: 30 beds × 1 × 3 = 90 (7.5 dozen)
- Full fitted sheets: 20 beds × 1 × 3 = 60 (5 dozen)
- Pillow covers: (30 × 2 + 20 × 2) × 3 = 300 (25 dozen)
- Bath towels: 40 bathrooms × 2 × 3 = 240 (20 dozen)
- Bath mats: 40 × 1 × 3 = 120 (10 dozen)
Because hotel linen is sold by the dozen or by the case, round each figure up to the next full pack shown on the product page.
Step 5: plan replacements
Linen wears out with every wash. Check your stock each quarter, remove torn or stained pieces and reorder before you drop below par. Keeping the same sizes and brands makes restocking simpler.
Useful links
- Hotel sheet sizes and pocket depth guide
- Hotel towel sizes and pack quantities
- Hotel sheets and hotel towels
Get a quote
Send your room count, bed sizes and par level to info@hotelsheetsusa.com or call 1-205-523-8538, and Loomwell Hospitality will price the order for delivery in the 48 contiguous US states.