Do you think someone in your household uses too much toilet paper? Find out now! Heavy use is one of the quiet reasons households end up calling for professional drain cleaning.
Average Toilet Paper Statistics
In a poll conducted on a convenience item taken advantage of the most, toilet paper outranked any other item by a whopping 69%! Aside from its originally intended used, toilet paper is a commonly consumed item for other reasons in the household, including:
- Nose care
- Makeup removal
- Cleaning hands/face of children
- Wiping up small spills, though paper towels used this way should never be flushed, as we cover in 6 things you should never flush down your toilet
- Cleaning mirrors
- Covering the toilet seat prior to use (mostly in public restrooms)
- Cleaning glasses
Individual Toilet Paper Use
The facts concerning the amount of toilet paper used on average by a person each year are:
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Approximately 57 sheets per day of toilet paper are used, with 8.6 sheets being used per trip to the bathroom.
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Most people use about 20,000 sheets of toilet paper per year (or about 100 rolls).
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Each person uses roughly 50 pounds of toilet paper a year! That is a LOT of toilet paper usage!
As an individual, if you go through a regular roll faster than 3-4 days (or double roll every 6-7 days), then you use more toilet paper than the average person! Heavy use in one bathroom is a common reason a toilet starts needing a plunger every week, and that usually points at toilet repair rather than at the paper.
Folders, Wadders, & Wrappers
When using toilet paper, do you wad it up, wrap it around your hand, or fold it up? Studies show that most women are wadders and most men are folders!
- 40% of people (mostly men) fold/stack toilet paper when using.
- 40% of people (mostly women) wad it up.
- The remaining 20% prefer the wrap method.
The Cost of Toilet Paper
A study conducted yearly on the use of paper products per person in the United States reported that the annual cost of toilet paper, paper towels, and napkins per person in 2016 was approximately $120. Considering the fluctuating market, sales, and different size rolls entering and leaving the market, it is hard to get an accurate cost per year. Paper is a small line on the household bill next to water, and there are bigger savings in decreasing water usage in your home and in the ways your bathroom could be costing you money.
What is the best bang for your buck?
Should you choose single roll or double roll? How about 1-ply or 2-ply? Thicker 2-ply is harder on older drain lines and on septic systems, so the choice matters more than most people expect. Households on septic should also read our tips for maintaining your septic tank system. Figuring out the best bang for your buck can be challenging, especially since there is no true standard to roll sizes.
Single rolls usually fall around 150 sheets per roll. However, double rolls have been known to range from 176-352 sheets per roll.
Figuring out the cost per sheet.
There is no easier way to figure out if you are getting the best deal on your toilet paper purchase other than doing the math. The equation for figuring out the actual cost of one pack versus another is to figure out the cost per sheet.
- Divide the cost of the package by the number of rolls in the package.
- Use the cost per roll. Divide the cost per roll by the number of sheets per roll.
- Use the cost per sheet to compare the price and value to other products.
Avoid Using Too Much Toilet Paper
If you find you are going through toilet paper in your home too fast, chances are you are using way more than necessary during your bathroom time. Avoid using too much toilet paper and save money and avert potential plumbing issues. A low flow toilet is less forgiving with a big wad, which we covered in does a water saving toilet really help save money and in 5 types of toilets and what type you should buy.
Using too much toilet paper can cause clogs. Most of them clear with the methods in how to unclog a toilet without a plunger. The ones that do not are usually further down the line, where they turn into a sewer backup or, on a septic property, a strained drain field. True Plumbers & AC clears both across Lakeland, Plant City, and Winter Haven. Call (863) 667-6364.
