The Best Toilet Paper, According to Our Testing
We tested 30 types of TP — and were surprised by the results.
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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!) by stocking up on cheap rolls that end up feeling rough or by splurging on pricey TP that just doesn't hold up. On top of that, you want to choose toilet paper that dissolves easily so it doesn’t clog your pipes and cause a septic disaster. From the plushest toilet papers to quick-dissolving rolls to more sustainable picks, there are toilet papers that offer something for everyone.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we've tested more than 30 different types of toilet paper in recent years for softness, absorbency, strength, how well it dissolves and more. Plus, we visually assess the toilet paper and evaluate how easy it is to tear a sheet from the roll. We combined our testing with insight from our consumer testers who tried the toilet papers out for themselves and provided us with additional ratings and real-user feedback to determine which TPs are the best for your tush.
Pros
- Aced absorbency tests
- High scores for softness
- Dissolves quickly
Cons
- Not as strong as other brands when wet
BJ’s toilet paper is one of the best values on the market, and it stood out across the board in our Textiles Lab tests. In fact, it earned the Good Housekeeping Seal for its performance. The toilet paper aced our absorbency tests, receiving a perfect score and soaking up more water than most other toilet papers we evaluated. Despite being thick, the two-ply toilet paper dissolved within seconds in our tests, meaning it's a safe option for your septic system.
Plus, both our consumer testers and our softness-testing machine gave BJ's toilet paper high scores for being soft, and when we inspected the rolls, they were free of defects like pills and ply separation. The downside is that this TP wasn't as strong as some other brands when wet, but that's to be expected of bath tissue that dissolves quickly.
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| Ply | Two-ply |
| Sheets per roll | 224 sheets |
| Roll count | 32 rolls |
Pros
- Top marks for softness
- Dissolves quickly
- High ranking for thickness
Cons
- Weaker when wet
Don't let the low price (just $10!) fool you: This Walmart brand toilet paper gives you good bang for your buck. The TP was a runner-up in our extensive Lab tests, earning high rankings for thickness and perfect scores for dissolving quickly. When we evaluated softness in a blind touch test, this toilet paper outperformed other more expensive rolls, and our consumer testers also gave it top marks for softness during use.
The toilet paper proved strong in our dry strength and perforation strength tests (how easy it is to tear the perforated portion of the toilet paper), but it was a bit weaker when wet. If you ever find the toilet paper to be out of stock online for shipping, you may still be able to buy it ahead of time online and then pick it up from your local store. In some locations, you can even opt for delivery from the store.
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| Ply | Two-ply |
| Sheets per roll | 380 sheets |
| Roll count | 12 rolls |
Pros
- Top ratings for softness by testers and lab equipment
- Thick and plush feel
- High strength scores
Cons
- Doesn't dissolve easily
A lot of toilet paper brands claim to be super plush, but nothing we've tested or tried comes close to the softness of Charmin. Both our consumer testers and specialized lab equipment designed to measure softness ranked it the softest in a blind comparison test. The two-ply construction was also strong overall and stood out in particular for having the highest strength when wet, so you don't have to worry about it crumbling while in use. And the new unique design has a scalloped edge for a "smooth tear" that our testers said actually works, resulting in perfectly torn pieces.
Unfortunately, its high strength means it didn't break down easily with water in our evaluations, so you may want to look elsewhere if you have a septic system or particularly old plumbing. But we still think it's a great pick if you don't have plumbing issues at home. Plus, when you buy this one in bulk packs, the price per sheet is similar to more affordable brands.
| Ply | Two-ply |
| Sheets per roll | 288 sheets |
| Roll count | 18 rolls |
Pros
- More than double the sheets per roll than others
- Brand's toilet paper excelled in dissolvability tests
- Online reviewers said the pack is "long-lasting"
Cons
- May not fit on certain toilet paper holders
- Thinner sheets
With more than double the sheets per roll than other toilet papers we've tested, this TP from Scott is ideal for someone looking to shop in bulk. There are 36 rolls in each pack with 1,100 sheets per roll for a whopping 39,600 sheets of toilet paper in each pack. Online reviewers described this pack of toilet paper as "long-lasting," with some sharing that it lasts their families months at a time. The toilet paper is on the thinner side, and some online reviewers said you have to use more sheets to get the job done because it's thin, but it is still two-ply for some added durability.
Unlike most other toilet papers, this one features a small core, which means the brand can fit more sheets per roll, but this may make it more difficult to slide over your current toilet paper holder. Although we haven't tested this particular toilet paper, we have evaluated others from Scott, and they received high scores for dissolving quickly, making the TP ideal for sensitive septic tanks or homes prone to plumbing woes.
| Ply | Two-ply |
| Sheets per roll | 1,100 sheets |
| Roll count | 36 rolls |
Pros
- No pilling or layer separation
- High absorbency scores
- Rippled texture to help clean
Cons
- Slower to dissolve
No one wants toilet paper that crumbles during use, so if you're looking for strong toilet paper that holds up, Cottonelle proved to be the best when we combined the wet and dry strength scores. It also had a perfect score in our visual analysis with no signs of pilling (so it doesn't leave pesky pieces behind!), and the layers didn’t separate or peel, which are two common TP issues.
It has two-ply construction with a rippled texture to help clean, and it was one of the most absorbent toilet papers in our test. The TP wasn't the softest in our tests but has a cushiony feel, and though it was slow to dissolve, it was still quicker than the plushest options we evaluated.
| Ply | Two-ply |
| Sheets per roll | 296 sheets |
| Roll count | 24 rolls |
Pros
- Strong when wet
- High scores for absorbency
- Super thick and soft
Cons
- Doesn't break down easily
While most toilet paper is only two-ply (and some just one), this TP actually has three layers, which makes it super thick and absorbent. When we put the toilet paper through a blind test, our testers and lab equipment gave it some of the highest scores for softness, and it received high ratings for overall softness during use.
One of the strongest toilet papers when wet in our tests, the thicker TP didn’t break down in our dissolvability evaluations — unsurprising given its strength. We'd avoid this one if you’re worried about clogs in your plumbing system. We also tested the brand’s two-ply Ultra Soft & Strong Toilet Paper, which was still thick but just not quite as soft, strong or absorbent and it still didn’t dissolve easily.
| Ply | Three-ply |
| Sheets per roll | 255 sheets |
| Roll count | 32 rolls |
Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Bath Tissue
Pros
- Dissolved quickly in our tests
- Fairly soft and absorbent
- Made of recycled pulp
Cons
- Not as strong as other options
When it comes to toilet paper, recycled rolls are the most sustainable option because they're both diverting waste and skipping the use of new pulp to create bath tissue. This pick from Seventh Generation was one of the top performers among the more sustainable brands we tested. The two-ply sheets were fairly soft and absorbent, and they dissolved within seconds in our test, so they shouldn't wreak havoc in your septic system.
This toilet paper wasn't as thick or quite as strong as other TPs we tested, but it still outperformed a few of the "ultra soft" branded toilet papers in our blind softness test. It is one of the more expensive brands we evaluated when you calculate the cost per sheet, but we appreciate its lower environmental impact.
| Ply | Two-ply |
| Sheets per roll | 240 sheets |
| Roll count | 12 rolls |
Pros
- Subscription service available
- Softer than some other sustainable TPs we've tried
- Fun packaging
Cons
- Thinner than other options
Another option for sustainable toilet paper is made from bamboo, which touts itself as “tree free.” The bamboo toilet paper from Who Gives A Crap is three-ply instead of the usual two, and we were impressed by how soft it feels compared to other sustainable TPs we've tried. When we tested dissolvability in our Lab, it dissolved more easily than many other toilet papers we've evaluated, so it shouldn't lead to clogging issues, though it was thinner than other options.
The brand skips plastic packaging and instead wraps each roll individually in eye-catching recycled tissue paper and ships it right to your door in a cardboard box. And to ensure you never run out of rolls, there's a subscription service available for a discount. If you're skeptical of trying toilet paper made with bamboo, know that the brand does offer 30-day returns and a money-back guarantee — no questions asked.
| Ply | Three-ply |
| Sheets per roll | 370 sheets |
| Roll count | 24 rolls |
How we test toilet paper
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we test all kinds of bathroom necessities including menstrual products, wet wipes and toilet paper. Over the years, we've evaluated more than 30 different types of toilet paper from both popular name brands and value brands to determine which rolls are worth it. When we test toilet paper, here's what we look for:
✔️ Absorbency: We individually immerse five sheets of each type of toilet paper in water to measure the amount of fluid each sheet is capable of absorbing.
✔️ Strength: There are many different ways to evaluate toilet paper strength including wet and dry tests. We use our Mullen Burst Tester to measure the force needed to burst through a stack of five sheets of toilet paper.
We then layer together five sheets of toilet paper and place them in our Instron machine, which pulls the toilet paper apart to measure its tensile strength. The Instron machine is also used to evaluate perforation strength (shown here), or how easy it is to tear the perforated portion of the toilet paper. For wet strength, we use our Instron machine and a Finch Cup to wet the toilet paper while it's pulled apart.
✔️ Softness: To scientifically measure softness, we outsourced testing to North Carolina State University. They used their EmTec Tissue Softness Analyzer to evaluate and rate samples of toilet paper for "hand feel" (HF).
Along with mechanical softness testing, we conduct blind comparison tests of the different types of toilet paper, inviting GH staff to feel each unmarked toilet paper and provide a softness rating.
✔️ Dissolvability: To determine whether or not the toilet paper will dissolve once you flush, we evaluated dissolvability. To test, we dropped a sheet of each toilet paper into a set amount of water spinning at a set speed. The amount of time it took for each one to dissolve was recorded. The less time the toilet paper took to dissolve, the less likely it is to clog your pipes and lead to septic issues.
✔️ Thickness: We stacked 10 sheets of toilet paper on top of each other and then used a caliper to measure the thickness.
✔️ Visual quality analysis: We visually examined sheets of each type of toilet paper, noting any defects like ply separation or pilling on the surface.
✔️ Consumer testing: To better understand how the toilet paper truly performs, we placed samples in restroom stalls at GH and asked users to rate each sample for softness during use. We also shared TP with consumer testers who were able to try it out in their own homes and share their thoughts.
What to look for when shopping for toilet paper
✔️ Ply: The number of plies in toilet paper is the number of layers per sheet. Two-ply toilet paper (i.e. two layers) is the most common, but you’ll also find one-ply, which dissolves faster, and three-ply, which tends to feel thicker and more luxurious.
✔️ Price: You don’t have to spend a fortune to get high-quality toilet paper. In fact, some of our top performers were some of the cheapest per sheet! Keep in mind that it pays off to buy in bulk. The more sheets per roll and the more rolls per package, the less you’ll end up spending overall.
✔️ Septic safe: If you're wondering what's the best toilet paper to use in a septic system, consider this: Even though some ultra-plush toilet papers were labeled as “septic safe,” some of the TP never dissolved in our tests after spinning at a high speed for over five minutes. If you’re worried about clogging, it’s best to avoid super thick options.
✔️ Sustainability: Recycled paper is the most sustainable option for toilet paper, but you can also opt for bamboo rolls. These types of toilet paper didn’t perform as well as most premium brands in our evaluations for properties like softness, durability and absorbency, but they tend to dissolve easily and are better for the environment overall than standard toilet paper.
✔️ Brand: When it comes to toilet paper, there’s no need to shy away from private label or store brands. In fact, some of them outperformed the popular name brands in our tests.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
This article was written by GH Institute Textiles Lab executive director Lexie Sachs, who holds a B.S. in fiber science from Cornell University and has more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry, including merchandising and product development for home products. Sachs joined Good Housekeeping in 2013 and has tested all kinds of paper products, including toilet paper. For this article, Sachs conducted extensive evaluations of more than 20 different types of toilet paper from popular name and generic brands.
Amanda Constantine most recently updated this article. She is a home and apparel reviews analyst who joined Good Housekeeping Institute in 2022. She worked with Lexie Sachs to review former testing data, researched popular toilet paper brands and also conducted toilet paper testing on newer brands in the Lab before updating picks for the best toilet papers.
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
Amanda (she/her) researches and reports on products in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, ranging from clothing and accessories to home furnishings. She holds undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development and advertising and marketing communications, as well as a master of science degree in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Amanda was a lecturer for the fashion and retail studies program at Ohio State, where she taught fashion and textiles courses.
