How long should a roll of toilet paper last?

We never want to overstay our welcome. Luckily, when it comes to toilet paper, most people agree; the longer it lasts, the better. 

But how long does the average roll enjoy its time in the holder before it’s reduced to an empty cardboard tube? We’ve scoured our subscription system, customer feedback, and some facts and figures from the wider industry, to shed some light on the matter. 

What’s the normal rate to get through toilet paper, and how can you get the most out of every roll? Let’s find out.

Three reasons not to waste toilet paper

At the end of the day, toilet paper is a disposable product, probably one of the only disposable products that most people use every single day. 

But like all disposable products, it’s worth using mindfully. Because each roll of tissue has a hidden cost in the raw materials used to make it, the energy used to manufacture it, chemical additives, packaging, and final transport. 

At Naked Paper, we’re well aware of the impact of standard tissue products on the environment, and we do everything we can to bring it down; from renewable energy, to innovative raw materials, to water testing that makes sure our water can be returned to the river as clean as it was when we borrowed it. 

Environmental impact isn’t the only cost to be considered. With inflation and raw material hikes in recent years, the cost of producing tissue is going up, and so are the prices of many rolls. 

It doesn’t help that many of us – especially the younger members of the household – will often use more than needed. We probably all remember the multi-layered wrapped hand technique lots of children (and some adults!) employ. It leads to huge wodges of toilet paper going down the loo with every flush.

It’s a waste of money, and a problem for your pipes as well. At Naked Paper we test every batch of toilet paper we produce for wet strength and disintegration, to make sure it breaks down evenly. But even the most rapidly dissolvable toilet paper will struggle to make it down the drain in the form of a big lump. 

So unnecessarily wasting toilet paper is a bad idea, adding strain to:

🌍the planet

👛Your wallet

🔧your pipes

(and possibly your relationship with your downstairs neighbours.)

So... how long should a roll of toilet paper last?

If you’re curious about how your toilet paper use compares to the average person, here’s what we know.

In the UK, the average person gets through 127 rolls a year. That’s just over 10 rolls per month. It puts the UK at position three in the international “most rolls used per person” charts, behind Germany and the US. 

Unfortunately, this count of the average number of rolls doesn’t tell us how many sheets. This muddies the maths a bit, because there’s no standard amount of sheets on a roll of toilet paper. Some brands go as low as 150, and some speciality bumper rolls feature up to 1000. 

But the UK average is about 200 sheets per roll, so we can estimate that most people use 25,400 sheets per year, which is 69 sheets per day. 

Naked Paper rolls have more sheets than the average, and they’re soft and thick, with 320 bleach-free sheets per roll. Our subscribers tell us that 6 rolls per person per month does the job. That’s about 63 sheets a day.

So our rolls go further than most, and our sheets do as well. All while keeping the same prices as standard products, with less environmental impact. 

How to use less toilet paper without compromising things

So that’s how much toilet paper the average person will tend to use per month, and per day. But what if you want to overachieve, and use even less? Here’s some tips to make every sheet count. 

1. Fold, don’t scrunch.
When it comes to folding or scrunching toilet paper, there’s good arguments on both sides. But folders have the edge on efficiency. A folded sheet gives more coverage and less waste than a scrunched-up handful.

2. Count your sheets
A bit of mindfulness goes a long way in the world of single-use products. Counting off the sheets when you use the toilet might prove enlightening, and provides an opportunity to assess how many you actually need. 

3. Try the Japanese way
In lots of countries, people use water first, and toilet paper only to dry. Japan is a great example; toilets there are generally fitted with bidets, and while people will still use toilet paper, it’s mostly there for drying.

Because of this, Japan hits the “average rolls per person” charts with just 91 rolls. That’s almost 30% less than we use in the UK. You can get bidet attachments that will fit standard toilets in the UK, so they’re worth looking into if you’re keen to keep each roll on the holder for as long as possible. 

4. Look at the sheet count
If you’re reaching for cheap rolls, take another look at the count of sheets (it should be displayed on the packet). Toilet paper suppliers who manufacture with more sheets will often last longer and offer the best value toilet rolls in the long run. Especially if you bulk buy toilet paper or set up a toilet roll subscription (both of which we can help with).

Final roll-call

How long should a toilet roll last? If you’re in the UK, you’re bang on average if you’re using 10-11 rolls per month (or 6 rolls, if you’re using bleach-free Naked Paper).

It’s a disposable product, but it’s still worth taking a moment to think about. Because when you know how toilet paper is made, and what it’s made of, you start to see it differently. There’s time, energy, and resources in every single sheet. Slowing your roll probably won’t save the planet, but it’s a small step in the right direction. 

Want to try soft, sustainable rolls that last longer than average?