The Best Toilet Paper of 2024 (2024)

Written by Kevin Oliver and Ceara Perez-Murphy

Updated May 2, 2024

Toilet paper may not be the most exciting purchase, but the frustration of buying a low-quality roll is something we all want to avoid. Thankfully, our guide is here to help you skip the potentially uncomfortable trial-and-error process and ensure you get the best toilet paper roll possible. We've got you covered.

After days of research and weeks of practical testing, the best toilet paper you can buy is Charmin Ultra Soft (available at Amazon) because of its unmatched comfort and impressive durability. For soft, durable toilet paper at a great price, check out Charmin Essentials Soft (available at Amazon). However, there are many other excellent toilet paper options in our guide.

Best Traditional Toilet Paper

Charmin Ultra Soft

Although we're fans of all three types of Charmin toilet paper we tested, Charmin Ultra Soft is the best toilet paper money can buy. Charmin's double-ply roll combines solid durability with unparalleled comfort. Although the Ultra Strong roll from Charmin is heavy-duty, extended use made it clear that the supreme comfort of the Ultra Soft is more critical.

In our objective testing process, Charmin Ultra Soft wasn't perfectly durable, but it was pretty close—and thankfully, it didn't tear during use. It took just under a minute to dissolve in water, which means it will fall apart in the toilet (key for avoiding potential septic issues), but not while you're doing your thing.

Sheer comfort and excellent durability combined make Charmin Ultra Soft the best toilet paper to use every day.

Pros

Unparalleled comfort
Doesn't tear while in use
Dissolved in water, but not too quickly

Cons

Not perfectly durable

Buy now at Amazon

$11.99 from Walmart

Best Value Toilet Paper

Charmin Essentials Soft

Charmin Essentials Soft is up there with our top pick when it comes to comfort, but for a genuinely excellent value. The surprisingly comfortable and long-lasting product certainly doesn’t cut corners just because it’s cheaper. In terms of texture, Charmin Essentials is closest to Charmin Ultra Strong, but it's not nearly as durable. During testing, Charmin Essentials wore out slightly more than Charmin Ultra Strong. Nonetheless, Charmin Essentials is a surprising favorite. While the roll isn’t the most comfortable or durable of the lot, it's a reliable balance that works.

The only issue we had with Charmin Essentials is that a single square took nearly two minutes to dissolve in water, which means you could end up with plumbing issues if flushes aren’t properly spaced. Charmin Essentials is our best value pick because of its affordability, comfort, and sturdiness.

Pros

Surprisingly comfortable
Offers better durability for its price point

Cons

Took a long time to dissolve in water

Buy now at Amazon

$40.81 from Walmart

Best Bamboo Toilet Paper

PlantPaper

PlantPaper creates eco-friendly bamboo toilet paper that’s tough enough for your boyfriend’s morning routine but won't do a number on your septic system. Bamboo toilet paper breaks down faster and requires less water than traditional bathroom tissue, so it’s a great option for people who worry about their septic systems daily.

We love that PlantPaper comes in environmentally friendly packaging and takes 30% less water than traditional toilet paper. Speaking of less water, PlantPaper took just 22 seconds to break down during testing and showed no pilling or tearing during the pan test. While PlantPaper may come at a slightly higher price than other toilet paper rolls we tested, it’s a worthwhile investment for those who prioritize toxin-free products. PlantPaper is the best bamboo toilet option if you're looking for highly durable and comfortable eco-friendly toilet paper.

Pros

Eco-friendly
See Also
The best toilet papers The Best Toilet Paper Toilet Paper Showdown 2024: Which Brand Is Best?We Tested to Find the Best Toilet Paper — And the Results Might Surprise You
3-ply
No additives

Cons

Pricer than others

Buy now at PlantPaper

Other Toilet Paper We Tested

Reel Bamboo

Boasting 300 triple-ply sheets per roll, Reel delivers septic-safe bamboo toilet paper (and even paper towels) straight to your home. While rolls come individually wrapped, the amount of packaging they use is still far less than other brands, and it’s recyclable.

What we liked most about Reel, besides their transparency, is that the textured 4-inch by 4-inch tissue squares are soft enough to be comfortable on sensitive areas but remain tough sufficiently so that you don’t end up wiping with your hand. Reel neither tore nor pilled during testing and took only 18 seconds to dissolve.

As silly as it might sound, we also liked Reel's look over other bamboo toilet paper options because it looks like “normal” toilet paper whereas other undyed options have dull brown tones that look like they belong in a camp house bathroom. The individually wrapped rolls are wrapped in chic, recycled packaging that doesn’t look bad in a toilet paper holder. If you're working towards a more sustainable household but still value your aesthetics, Reel is a great option for bamboo toilet paper.

Pros

Comfortable
Good for septic systems
100% recyclable packaging

Cons

Pricier than others

Buy now at Reel

Cottonelle Ultra CleanCare

This single-ply roll of toilet paper is our second favorite of all the products we tested. From a texture standpoint, the roll is extremely comfortable to use. It's also surprisingly thick and sturdy, considering it’s a single-ply paper. When we ran a square of it against coarse surfaces, it tore apart more significantly than our top pick. Still, you can't go wrong with the Cottonelle Ultra CleanCare, which was close to winning the best overall spot.

Pros

Feels soft against the skin
Surprisingly thick for a single-ply

Cons

Tore significantly against a rough surface

Buy now at Amazon

$14.98 from Home Depot

$18.54 from Walmart

Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strong

This product was another favorite, thanks to its comfortable texture and strength. This paper was as reliable as our top picks and almost as comfortable during regular daily use. When we rubbed a square of it against some coarse surfaces, it left a fraction of piling, but not much. Ultimately, this toilet paper was both strong and soft, but it wasn’t quite as comfortable to use repeatedly as the Charmin Ultra Soft.

Pros

Very comfortable
Held up well in stress tests

Cons

Some piling against coarse surfaces

Buy now at Amazon

$11.76 from Walmart

Charmin Ultra Strong

Charmin’s alternate flagship product to our top pick, Ultra Soft, is exactly what it sounds like—ultra strong. This paper is the sturdiest of any product we tested. It's also pretty comfortable, though not as comfortable as the Ultra Soft. When rubbed against coarse surfaces, the Ultra Strong left virtually no residue, further backing its Ultra Strong label. All in all, this is a great product that prioritizes durability and strength over softness. If a sturdy paper is more important to you than one that's soft and pillowy, this is the product you’ll want to use.

Pros

Very sturdy
Left no residue behind

Cons

Not as soft as some others

Buy now at Amazon

$13.00 from Walmart

Pros

Luxuriously comfortable

Cons

Didn't hold up well against coarse surfaces
Took a long time to dissolve in water

Buy now at Amazon

$5.98 from Walmart

Cottonelle Ultra ComfortCare

This two-ply toilet paper promises to fully remove residue with its rippled texture, but unfortunately, we didn’t find that to be the case. In our everyday testing, this Cottonelle roll was soft and nice to use, but in our objective testing, this paper tore slightly and left some residue. However, Cottonelle is friendly on septic systems and made of responsibly forested fibers.

Pros

Velvety texture

Cons

Tore slightly
Left some residue

Buy now at Amazon

$37.68 from Walmart

Angel Soft Toilet Paper

Although it’s double-ply, we found the Angel Soft to be somewhat thin, making it less durable than the competition. In our subjective testing, we also found Angel Soft to be less comfortable after lengthy usage than some of our top brands. It didn't hold up for long when wet, either, dissolving in just over 30 seconds. Still, it didn’t stack up to the competition, but it’s not a bad toilet paper roll. You could do worse.

Pros

Breaks apart easily in water

Cons

Thin for a double-ply
Not that comfortable

Buy now at Amazon

$11.24 from Walmart

Up & Up Soft & Strong

Target’s Up & Up Soft & Strong toilet paper was the weakest of all the store brands we compared. It tore slightly on the coarse surfaces but still got the job done. The roll was fairly comfortable in our personal testing but not as durable as we'd like. If you’re a Target loyalist looking to save a few bucks, the Up & Up brand is worth trying. If not, this store brand isn’t worth going out of your way for.

Pros

Passable if looking to save a few bucks

Cons

Only modestly comfortable
Broke apart on coarse surfaces

Buy now at Target

How We Tested Toilet Paper

Testing had several components. First, we tested toilet paper the old-fashioned way: by using it regularly over multiple weeks. This kind of subjective testing allowed us to develop a less clinical opinion about the durability and comfort of each roll. We wanted to be sure that any toilet paper we recommended would be reliable and comfortable over time.

We also ran the rolls through several objective tests to score them for strength and durability.

To accomplish this, we rubbed one square of each roll against coarse surfaces, including a cast iron skillet and rough outdoor carpet. We took note of any piling, residue, or tears caused by an average amount of pressure against the coarse surfaces.

Finally, we placed a square of each roll in a water container and swirled the paper until it dissolved to determine how long each brand would hold up when wet. However, we also paid attention to any toilet paper that took too long to dissolve, as those rolls are more likely to lead to plumbing issues.

Many homeowners will tell you that having the most effective septic system will save you a lot of time and money in the long run since septic system repairs and replacements can cost thousands of dollars.

How Long Is a Toilet Paper Roll?

One of the most common sizes for a sheet of toilet paper is 4.5 x 4.5 inches. However, the size is shrinking, and you can now frequently find sheets up to a half-inch shorter.

On average, a one-ply roll of toilet paper provides 1,000 sheets per roll. For two-ply, you can expect roughly 500 sheets per roll.

However, the reduction in toilet paper sheet size from 4.5 x 4.5 to 4 x 4 allows companies to quietly raise the cost per unit of toilet paper, which has increased by 2%.

Ultimately, the environment and consumers themselves may benefit most from this as the narrower rolls are proving more effective for saving money and trees.

How Long Does Toilet Paper Last?

A single roll of toilet paper can last up to five days in an average-sized household. Most consumers use 8.6 sheets per use, which adds up to 57 sheets per day and 20,805 sheets per year. Each person in your home will use an average of 42 two-ply rolls per year or 21 rolls of one-ply.

Charmin developed “the Forever Roll,” a gigantic roll of toilet paper the company claims can last up to two or three months. The Forever Roll is likely designed for people who rent and live in tight spaces, as it is advertised as a “space saver” and is sold in two sizes: the 12-inch multi-user roll and the 8.7-inch single-user roll.

Despite being touted by Charmin as a “space saver,” we found that the Forever Roll and its accompanying kit make an apartment bathroom feel crowded. We recommend simply buying in bulk for a traditional household.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

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Meet the testers

Kevin Oliver

Contributor

@kevintheoliver

Kevin Oliver is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.

See all of Kevin Oliver's reviews

Ceara Perez-Murphy

Staff Writer

Ceara Perez-Murphy is a staff writer at Reviewed. In her free time she likes trying out new recipes in the kitchen, exploring new restaurants and spending time outdoors with her dogs.

See all of Ceara Perez-Murphy's reviews

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