A linen PAR level is the number of complete sets of an item required to support normal hotel operations. It helps housekeeping and procurement calculate how much linen should be available across rooms, laundry, storage and replacement stock.
What one PAR means
One PAR generally represents one complete set required for the relevant rooms or positions. If a hotel requires one bath towel per guest position, one PAR is the quantity needed to supply those positions once.
Why hotels carry more than one PAR
Linen is continuously moving through the operating cycle. Some is in guest rooms, some is being washed, some is clean and stored, and some may be damaged, stained or awaiting replacement. A property therefore needs enough stock to prevent room turnaround from depending on the immediate return of laundry.
A simple planning model
If a 50-room hotel requires two bath towels per occupied room, one full bath-towel PAR is 100 towels. At three PAR, the planning quantity is 300 towels before additional opening, contingency or replacement stock is considered.
PAR is not the same for every property
The right PAR level depends on occupancy, laundry turnaround time, on-site versus outsourced laundry, delivery frequency, room category, spa operations, seasonality and the reliability of replacement supply.
Plan by item, not only by room
Bath towels, hand towels, face cloths, bath mats, sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases, gowns and pool or spa textiles can require different operating quantities. A blanket PAR number for the entire linen programme can hide important shortages.
Build replacement planning into the calculation
Hotels should separate operational PAR from replacement reserve. Damaged, stained or retired items should not silently reduce the working PAR level. Procurement should have an agreed replenishment trigger.
Use product specifications with PAR calculations
A PAR calculation is only useful if every unit refers to the same approved specification. Record size, fibre, GSM or thread count where relevant, colour and branding alongside the quantity.
For towels, see the Hotel Towel GSM Guide. For the wider programme, visit Hospitality Linen Supplier South Africa.