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When it comes to buying toilet paper, the last thing you want to do is throw money down the toilet (literally!) because you stocked up on cheap toilet paper that ended up being disgusting, or splurged on expensive toilet paper that did not bring any benefit. stand up at all.
Most importantly, you should choose toilet paper that dissolves easily in the toilet to avoid clogging the pipes and causing a septic tank disaster. From the most luxurious toilet paper to instant rolls and more eco-friendly options, there’s a toilet paper for everyone, and with so much to choose from, we’re putting it to the test to find out which ones are worth it.
In recent years, .css-1lx1lhv{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#125C68;text-underline-offset:0.25 rem; color:#125C68;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s fade in and out;transition:all 0.3s fade in and out;word-break:break-word;font-weight:bold;}.css- 1lx1lhv: hover {color:#595959 ;text-decoration-color:#595959;} The Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textile Laboratory tested more than 30 different types of toilet paper for properties such as softness, absorbency, solubility, dry and wet strength. We also measure thickness, visually inspect it for defects such as pilling and layer separation, and evaluate how easily the paper comes off the roll. To find the best toilet paper, we combine official testing data with the opinions of consumer testers who try the toilet paper themselves and provide us with additional ratings and reviews from real users.
After our picks, read on to learn more about how we test toilet paper and a helpful buying guide, but first, here’s the best toilet paper to buy for your bathroom. Want to use less toilet paper? Check out our list of the most thoroughly tested bidets.
BJ’s toilet paper is one of the best on the market and excels in all of our lab tests. In fact, he won a medal for good housekeeping. This toilet paper performed well in our absorbency tests, scoring top marks and absorbing more water than most other toilet papers we reviewed. Despite its thickness, two-ply toilet paper dissolved in seconds in our tests, meaning it’s a safer option for your septic system. Additionally, both our consumer and softness testers gave BJ toilet paper high marks for softness, and when we tested the rolls, they showed no defects such as pilling or layer separation.
The downside is that this TP is not as durable as other brands when wet, but the shower cloth dissolves quickly, which is to be expected. Even though BJ’s is a club brand, you can still purchase toilet paper with a one-day online guest pass.
Don’t let the low price fool you: this Walmart brand toilet paper is a great value. TP came in second in our extensive textile lab testing, receiving a high score for thickness and a perfect score for fast dissolution. This toilet paper performed better than other, more expensive rolls when we rated softness in our blind-touch tests, with our consumer testers giving it top marks for softness during use.
The toilet paper was strong in our tests of dry strength and perforation strength (how easily the perforated part of the toilet paper tears), but it was a little weaker when wet. If you find that toilet paper is out of stock online and can’t be delivered, you can still buy it online in advance and pick it up at your local store. In some places, you can even choose to have your order shipped from the store.
Many toilet paper brands claim to be very soft, but no toilet paper we’ve tested or tried comes close to Charmin’s softness. Both our consumer testers and lab equipment designed to measure softness rated it as the softest in blind tests. The two-layer design is overall durable and offers maximum durability, especially when wet, so you won’t have to worry about it breaking during use.
Unfortunately, in our estimation, its high strength means it is not easily destroyed by water, so if you have a septic system or particularly old pipes, you may want to look elsewhere. But if your home doesn’t have any plumbing issues, we still think it’s a good option. Additionally, when you buy this product in bulk, the price per sheet is similar to more affordable brands.
Scott’s TP Toilet Paper contains twice as many sheets per roll as other toilet paper we tested, making it ideal for those who want to buy in bulk. Each pack contains 36 rolls, each roll contains 1,100 sheets of toilet paper, and each pack contains up to 39,600 sheets of toilet paper. Online reviewers describe the toilet paper packaging as “long-lasting,” with some saying it could last families for months. Toilet paper is thinner, but still double-ply for durability.
Unlike most other toilet paper, this toilet paper has a smaller core, which means this brand can hold more sheets per roll, but this may make it difficult to fit through your current toilet paper holder. While we haven’t tested this particular toilet paper, we’ve reviewed other Scott toilet papers and they get high marks for fast dissolution, making TP ideal for sensitive septic tanks or homes prone to plumbing issues.
Nobody wants toilet paper to crumble during use, so if you’re looking for strong, long-lasting toilet paper, Cottonelle came out on top when we combined wet and dry strength ratings. It also scored top marks in our visual analysis, showing no signs of pilling (i.e. no debris!) and layer separation, two common TP problems.
It has a dual-ply design with a pleated texture for easy cleanup and is one of the most absorbent toilet papers we’ve tested. While it’s not super soft, it’s still quite soft and, although it dissolves slowly, it’s still faster than the softest options we’ve reviewed.
While most toilet paper only has two layers (some only one), this TP actually has three layers, making it very thick and absorbent. When we blind tested the toilet paper, our testers and lab equipment gave it top marks for softness, as well as high marks for overall softness during use.
It was also one of the strongest toilet papers when wet in our tests, but it didn’t unsurprisingly break down in our solubility ratings, so avoid this toilet paper if you’re concerned about clogged ducts. We also tested Extra Soft Strong 2-ply toilet paper, which was still thick, but not as soft, durable or absorbent, and still didn’t dissolve easily.
When it comes to toilet paper, recycled rolls are the most eco-friendly option because they not only redirect waste, but also avoid using new pulp to make toilet paper. This pick from Seventh Generation was one of the best among the most eco-friendly brands we tested. The two-ply sheets are quite soft and absorbent, and dissolved in seconds in our tests, so they won’t cause any damage to your septic system.
This toilet paper isn’t as thick or durable as other TPs we’ve tested, but it still beat some “super soft” toilet paper brands in our blind softness test. When you add up the cost of the sheet, this is one of the more expensive brands we looked at, but we appreciated its lower environmental impact.
Another eco-friendly toilet paper option is made from bamboo, which bills itself as “wood-free.” Who Gives A Crap Bamboo Toilet Paper has three layers instead of the usual two, and we were impressed with how soft it felt compared to other eco-friendly TPs we’ve tried. When we tested the toilet paper’s dissolution in the lab, it dissolved more easily than some other toilet papers we tested, so it didn’t cause any clogging problems.
The brand ditches plastic packaging and instead wraps each roll individually in attractive recycled tissue paper, then ships it straight to your door in a cardboard box. To ensure you never run out of rolls, we offer a subscription service. If you’re skeptical about bamboo toilet paper, note that the brand offers a 30-day return and money-back guarantee—no questions asked.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute’s textile lab, we test a variety of bathroom essentials, including menstrual products, wipes and toilet paper. Over the years, we’ve evaluated over 30 different types of toilet paper, including popular and inexpensive brands, to determine which rolls are worth buying. When we test toilet paper, we look for the following:
✔️Absorbency: We dipped five sheets of each type of toilet paper in water to measure how much liquid each paper could absorb.
✔️Strength: There are many different ways to evaluate the strength of toilet paper, including wet and dry tests. We use a Mullen tear tester to measure the force required to tear a stack of five sheets of toilet paper.
We then folded five sheets of toilet paper together and put them in an Instron machine, which tore the paper apart and measured its tensile strength. Instron machines are also used to evaluate perforation strength (shown here) or how easy it is to tear a perforated piece of toilet paper. To achieve wet strength, we use an Instron machine and a Finch cup to wet the toilet paper as it rips.
✔️ Softness: To scientifically measure softness, we outsource testing to NCSU. They used the EmTec Tissue Softness Analyzer to evaluate and score the hand factor of each tissue sample. We also conducted a blind test of different types of toilet paper, asking GH staff to touch each unbranded toilet paper and rate its softness.
✔️Solubility: To determine whether toilet paper will dissolve after flushing, we assessed solubility. To test, we placed each type of toilet paper in a specific amount of water, which was spun at a set speed. The time required for each dissolution was recorded. The less time it takes for toilet paper to dissolve, the less likely it is to clog pipes and cause septic tank problems.
✔️Thickness: Place 10 pieces of toilet paper together and then measure the thickness with a caliper.
✔️Visual Quality Analysis: We visually inspect every batch of toilet paper, noting any surface defects such as layer separation or pilling.
✔️CONSUMER TESTING: To better understand the true performance of toilet paper, we placed samples in GH restroom stalls and asked users to rate the softness of each sample during use. We also shared TP with consumer testers, who were able to try it out in their own homes and share their thoughts.
✔️Number of layers: The number of layers of toilet paper refers to the number of layers on the sheet. Double-ply (i.e. two-ply) toilet paper is the most common, but you can also find single-ply (which dissolves faster) and triple-ply (which feels thicker and more luxurious).
✔️ PRICE: To purchase quality toilet paper, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. In fact, some of our most effective products cost as little as per sheet! Remember, it pays to buy in bulk. The more sheets per roll and the more rolls per package, the less you’ll end up spending.
✔️ SEPTIC SAFE: If you’re wondering what the best toilet paper is to use in your septic system, consider this: While some ultra-luxe toilet papers are labeled “Septic Safe,” in our testing, some TP never dissolved when spinning on high speed. speed for more than five minutes. If you’re concerned about clogging, it’s best to avoid super thick products.
✔️ Eco-Friendly: Recycled paper is the most eco-friendly toilet paper option, but you can also choose bamboo rolls. These types of toilet paper aren’t as good as most premium brands in our evaluation of properties like softness, durability, and absorbency, but they tend to dissolve easily and are generally more environmentally friendly than standard toilet paper.
✔️ Brands. When it comes to toilet paper, there’s no need to shy away from private label or brand names. In fact, in our tests, some of these products performed better than popular, well-known brands.
This article was written by Lexi Sachs, Executive Director of the GH Institute’s Textile Lab, who holds a bachelor’s degree in fiber science from Cornell University and has more than 15 years of experience in the textile industry, including sales and development of home products. Lexi joined Good Housekeeping in 2013 and has tested various paper products, including toilet paper. In this article, Lexi provides an extensive review of over 20 different types of toilet paper, both popular and generic brands.
This article was recently updated by Amanda Constantine. She is a home and clothing review analyst who joined the Good Housekeeping Institute in 2022. She works with Lexie Sachs to analyze past test data, research popular toilet paper brands, and lab-test new brands of toilet paper before updating the list of top toilet paper options.
Lexi Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a leading product columnist in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home and apparel categories. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and received a degree in fiber technology from Cornell University. Lexi is an expert source for Good Housekeeping and other media outlets and regularly appears on national radio and television. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexi worked in sales and product development in the fashion and home industries.
Amanda (she/her) researches and reports on products ranging from clothing and accessories to household items in the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Merchandising, Product Development, Advertising and Marketing Communications and a Master of Science in Consumer Science from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Amanda was a faculty member in Ohio State University’s Fashion and Retail Studies program, teaching fashion and textiles courses.
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Post time: Jun-03-2024