Should you hang toilet paper over or under?

Pineapple on pizza? Socks with sandals? Marmite? 

The side you come down on won’t make much difference to your life, but we bet you have an opinion. Sometimes it takes a low-stakes debate to really get the arguments flying.

Well, the stakes don’t get much lower than the topic we’re tackling today: Should the end of a toilet paper hang over the roll, or under it? 

As toilet paper manufacturers, we’re familiar with the shape of the debate. Scroll through any of our social media posts that feature a toilet roll hanging on a holder and, no matter whether it’s overhanging or underhanging, you’ll see comments saying it’s been put on the wrong way.  

Today we’re giving our expert opinion on this pressing issue.

The case for overhanging toilet paper

Overhangers up first.

The main argument for hanging a toilet roll so that the loose end is hanging over the roll is ease of access. When the paper hangs over the top of the roll, the first sheet is always visible. There’s no risk of fumbling at the back of the roll, only to find that it’s still sealed.

Overhangers also argue that this arrangement is more hygienic, especially in public loos. There’s less chance that the loose end will disappear behind the roll altogether, and so there should be no reason for your hand to come into contact with the toilet wall. 

But the real clincher for the overhangers is The Patent.

Back in 1891, inventor Seth Wheeler patented the perforated toilet roll, designed to be used with holders in the same way we do today. And in the accompanying drawing the roll is hanging over the holder. 

The Patent has been shared far and wide (thank you to the very detail-oriented customers who have sent it our way). So if you’re hanging over, good news, you’re staying true to the original vision.

The case for underhanging toilet paper

The primary argument given for hanging toilet paper in the “underhanging” or backward position is aesthetic. When the toilet roll hangs with the end in the backwards position, the roll itself looks tidy and defined; it’s not hidden by the long flap of the loose sheet. 

We at Naked Paper have been quietly representing the underhang faction for years in our own promotional materials. When we make icons or take photos to use for our products, we often show a roll in an underhanging position, with the loose end behind, because that makes the most recognisable “toilet roll” shaped toilet roll. 

It is, quite literally, iconic.

There’s also a practical element to consider. If you’re living in a house with adventurous toddlers, or mischievous cats, hanging the paper under might be your best bet. When the loose end is safely at the back of the roll it’s harder, and less rewarding, for small hands (or paws) to unravel the whole roll in a flurry. 

There’s 320 sheets on one of our bleach free rolls. You don’t want all those soft brown sheets piling up on your floor, it’ll take forever to re-wind. 

So who’s right?

Where should you stand, or hang, when it comes to the great toilet paper debate? It’s going to come down to your priorities. 

If the possibility of touching the toilet wall gives you the ick, or you’re concerned about historical accuracy, we’d recommend going over. Prefer a sleeker look, or need to guard against the chaotic impulses of smaller members of your household? Go under.

Just know that either way, you’ll have some vocal defenders backing you up. When US advice columnist Ann Landers gave her opinion on the matter back in 1977 (she was Team Under, by the way), she got over 15,000 letters in response. It was, according to her, the most letters she’d ever received on a single topic.

That’s pre-internet. People were hand-writing actual letters, licking stamps, and going to the post box to express their hanging preference.

Conclusion

We always say that people don’t want to think too much about toilet paper, and most of the time it’s true. But as toilet paper makers we’re glad there’s one tissue issue out there that’s guaranteed to get people talking.

But we’re lovers, not fighters, at Naked Paper. Most of our team are overhangers, but in our current product photography we’ve gone without the hanger altogether and just put the rolls on a shelf. Less arguments that way!

Want to try hanging our lovely bleach-free toilet paper, in whatever position you choose?