The best toilet papers

Best overall: Charmin Ultra Strong Toilet Paper

Pros: Soft, strong when wet and dry, rips cleanly from the roll, woven like a washcloth, Roto-Rooter-approved

Cons: Slow to dissolve

You might recognize Charmin Ultra Strong Toilet Paper from the series of commercials featuring bears with comfortable butts. As the name suggests, Ultra Strong is positioned as Charmin's strongest two-ply toilet paper. Charmin advertises it as having washcloth-like cleaning abilities with four times the strength of "the leading bargain brand" when wet.

This is one of the best toilet papers to use when your digestive system is having an off day and trips to the bathroom are frequent. And if you're concerned about hardy toilet paper wreaking havoc on your plumbing, you'll take comfort in knowing that Ultra Strong is Roto-Rooter-approved as septic- and clog-safe.

Though it's strong whether wet or dry—and neatly rips from the roll—the downside is that it takes a while to dissolve. That said, it might not be the best toilet paper for super-finicky plumbing. 

Best budget: Scott 1,000 Sheets Per Roll Toilet Paper

Pros: Affordable, eco-friendly, dissolves easily, has minimal lint, and is one of the best toilet papers when it comes to quantity and price

Cons: Somewhat abrasive

Despite Scott's 1,000 Sheets Per Roll Toilet Paper's one-ply stature and quick-to-dissolve design, it stays strong and leaves behind little lint. It's what we use in our house, and Scott is a great, sustainable option that's certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, too. Scott 1,000 dissolves quickly and easily while maintaining strength while wet. It's also recommended for people with RVs and sensitive septic tanks who aren't looking for luxury—it breaks down quickly but is still rough on the skin.

Best sustainable: Cloud Paper Bamboo Toilet Paper

Pros: Absorbent, free of scents, chlorine, BPA, and dyes, one of the best toilet papers when it comes to strength

Cons: Not widely available in stores; not as soft as other options

In our testing of the best sustainable bathroom tissue, Cloud Paper Bamboo Toilet Paper was among the most absorbent options. Plus, it rarely ripped when we tore off a sheet, making it one of the strongest toilet papers. However, it only had average softness compared to the other sustainable solutions.

According to the company, Cloud Paper is free of BPA, dyes, scents, and chlorine. The Natural Resources Defense Council gives Cloud Paper a B+ for sustainability. 

Cloud offers a subscription service that delivers 24 rolls to your door every two, three, or four months. The toilet paper comes in plastic-free packaging made of recycled paper products.

Best for sensitive skin: Cottonelle Ultra Comfort Care Toilet Paper

Pros: Soft, made with plant-based fibers, hypoallergenic, paraben-free, made without harsh chemicals and dyes, sustainably sourced, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, three times thicker and two times more absorbent than the average brand, biodegradable, clog-free, septic- and sewer-safe

Cons: None 

Cottonelle Ultra Comfort Care Toilet Paper has a cushion-like, rippled texture, which is supposed to clean better while remaining comfortable, strong, and soft. It's ideal for sensitive skin because it's hypoallergenic, paraben-free, and made without harsh chemicals and dyes.

Cottonelle's toilet paper is also sustainably sourced and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. And, because this two-ply tissue is three times thicker and two times more absorbent per sheet than the average brand, you'll appreciate its ultra-plush feel.

Cottonelle is also biodegradable, clog-free, and septic- and sewer-safe, so even though it's a thicker toilet paper, it's just as safe to use as it is soft.

Best subscription: Reel Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper

Pros: Tree-free, zero plastic packaging (including tape), no inks or dyes, fragrance- and chlorine-free, BPA-free, biodegradable, good quality weight and thickness, one of the best toilet papers due to its impressive sheet count per roll

Cons: None

Sure, subscription services are typical for makeup, coffee, and even razors, but toilet paper? That's a new one. The Reel Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper makes sustainably sourced, tree-free toilet paper that will be regularly shipped to you, so you never run out.

This three-ply toilet paper is sustainably sourced and made without chlorine, fragrance, inks, or dyes. Zero plastic goes into the manufacturing process, and the 100% bamboo rolls are wrapped in recycled paper. 

You can subscribe and have Reel delivered to you every month, every two months, or every three months, depending on how stocked you want your bathroom cabinet to be. If you want to reduce waste wherever you can, these rolls are a wonderful option.

Best 3-ply: Quilted Northern Ultra Plush Toilet Paper

Pros: Incredibly soft and absorbent, thick, Sustainable Forestry Initiative-certified, sewer- and septic-safe

Cons: Produces lint; not the best for weak plumbing

Quilted Northern Ultra Plush Toilet Paper lives up to its name, as its three-layered paper makes it more absorbent and softer than one- and two-layered sheets. 

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative-certified toilet paper remains strong, though it doesn't dissolve easily. But, despite the thick texture, it's sewer- and septic-safe.

Quilted Northern guarantees that their rolls will fit your holder. If the rolls don't fit, the company will send you a free extender.

What to look for in toilet paper

We examined hundreds of expert and buyer reviews and ratings of many toilet paper brands and styles. The ones we chose to include in our guide have the ability to clean you down there, are septic- and sewer-system-safe, and have discernible softness. Here are some other factors to consider when shopping for toilet paper:

Price

There is no standardization of toilet paper square or roll sizes, so words like "mega roll" or "double roll" don't mean much. If you want to compare prices, look at the cost per square foot and the number of "plys," or layers of thickness. This toilet paper value calculator is a great trick to bookmark if doing math in the toilet paper aisle isn't your strong suit.

When looking at costs, keep in mind that you will use fewer sheets of three-ply than one-ply because of the superior cleaning and absorbing abilities.

Ply

Toilet papers typically range from 1 to 3 ply, referring to the number of layers in each sheet of toilet paper, with 1 ply being the thinnest and 3 ply being the thickest. Some folks prefer our best budget option, 1-ply Scott, over our plush 3-ply pick from Quilted Northern since thicker toilet paper options sometimes create lint that people do not like.

When it comes down to deciding which is right for you, it is all based on personal preference and how you want your toilet paper to feel. A rule to follow is that a higher ply typically equals more comfort, whereas a thinner ply sacrifices comfort but is cheaper.

Septic safety

You'll want to buy toilet paper that says "septic-safe" on the packaging. This notifies you that the toilet paper will cause less damage to your septic system. Septic-safe toilet paper breaks down quickly and into smaller pieces compared to non-septic-safe options.

Product details

As we were doing our research, we found that there were a lot of buyer complaints about the rolls they ordered not being the same size as what they were used to. For this reason, when buying online, pay special attention to the sizes of the sheets, how many sheets are on a roll, and how many rolls you are getting.

If you do find toilet paper you like on Amazon, we recommend trying the "Subscribe & Save" service. This allows you to save up to 15% off the regular price. Plus, you don't have to remember to reorder toilet paper. It automatically comes to your home at regular intervals, much like our Reel pick.

Toilet paper FAQs

Is toilet paper bad for the environment?

Jennifer Skene, natural climate solutions policy manager for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), said that while some toilet papers are better than others, they all have an impact on the environment. 

The NRDC publishes an annual "Issue with Tissue" scorecard (pdf) that gives popular paper products a sustainability grade based on how the materials are sourced, the bleaching process, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, and other factors.

Skene said one of the major problems is that manufacturers rely on virgin forests for toilet paper production. Oftentimes, harvesting the forests infringes on indigenous rights and properties. And even bamboo is sometimes harvested unsustainably.

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Which toilet paper is better for the environment?

In addition to checking the NRDC scorecard, Skene recommends looking for toilet paper certified by the FSC and made from post-consumer recycled material.

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How can you reduce your toilet paper use?

Although there are plenty of eco-friendly toilet paper brands, for the sake of forests and our environment, the less toilet paper we use, the better. Skene said that bidets are indisputably better for the environment than toilet paper alone.

Skene added that it takes more water to make toilet paper than you would use to clean yourself with a bidet. That doesn't even factor in the added waste of toilet paper and the effects of deforestation.

I have used bidets in my home and on the road for almost a decade and strongly recommend them. You'll still want to use some toilet paper to dry and spot-check, but having a bidet has drastically reduced my family's toilet paper use. 

If you are looking for a travel bidet, check out our Brondell GoSpa Travel Bidet review. And, if you are looking for an at-home option, check out our guide to the best bidets.

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What toilet paper do plumbers recommend? 

Plumbers recommend 1-ply toilet paper since it is thin and dissolves easily. While it might not be the most comfortable, it will protect your plumbing.

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How long is a toilet paper roll?

Typically, a roll of toilet paper contains 200 sheets or about 900 inches of product.