Ever wondered how long you could go with just one roll of toilet paper? A good rule of thumb is the 3-ply variety. A single sheet can absorb 12x its weight, so if you’re using a roll of standard 2-ply paper, that means it will last about 5-7 days. But if you’re on the 3-ply stuff, it’ll last about 7-14 days depending on how you use it.
One of the most contributing factors is the number of people who will be using toilet paper and the frequency of use. So if you have a small family and/or only one person using the toilet paper, it will last much longer than if you have a large family and/or every member of your family is using it. Basically, just think about how many times throughout the day you’ll use it.
Factors that affect How Long a Toilet Paper Lasts.
Size of the Toilet paper:
This factor is pretty obvious. The more sheets you have on your roll of toilet paper, the longer it’s going to last. Normally, a standard roll of toilet paper has about 500 sheets on it, but if you’re using the large family-sized rolls that have 1,000 sheets on them, then you’ll be able to use more than likely 10 to 14 days worth of time.
A number of people using it:
This is a little harder to figure out. Do you have only one person using it or two people? This is because of how far apart the people are from each other and how often they’re going to the bathroom. If you have two people in the bathroom and they’re sitting down on opposite sides of the toilet, then they’ll probably use a lot less toilet paper because they’ll just dry off instead of wiping (yes, I used my math skills early this morning).
Frequency:
How often are you using toilet paper? If you’re only going to use it once or twice a day for a small family and haven’t even started using it, then your roll of toilet paper will probably last longer than if you’re using it all day every day.
Male vs Female ratio:
This is a little bit of a tricky one. But research shows that women use more toilet paper than men do. So if you have an uneven ratio of males to females, it’s probably going to use up more toilet paper than normal.
Quality of the Toilet Paper:
It’s worth noting that just like any other product, there’s a huge difference in quality when it comes to toilet paper. We’ve all heard the old saying, “you get what you pay for”, and it definitely applies to toilet paper.
Toilet paper with 3-ply or 5-ply is obviously going to absorb more than 1-ply toilet paper. Toilet paper with an anti-clog coating is going to absorb less than toilet paper with no anti-clog coating. So a 3-play toilet paper will certainly last longer than a 1-ply toilet paper.
How You Use the Toilet Paper:
This is one of the most important factors because this is what determines how long your toilet paper is going to last. If you’re using a roll of toilet paper just to dry yourself off, then it’s going to absorb more and last less than if you were wiping your behind with it. So no matter how much toilet paper you have or how often you’re using it, the use of the different factors listed above will determine how long it lasts.
How many rolls of toilet paper does a person use in a week?
2-3 rolls at the most, however for larger families or where people are going to be doing a lot of heavy-duty wiping, then it will usually be closer to 4-5 rolls a week.
How to make toilet paper last longer?
Opt for Mega Rolls rather than Regular-Sized Rolls:
Mega rolls, or double rolls, are designed to last much longer. They’re also more cost-effective when you think about how much can be used per roll. With mega rolls, you can go for about two weeks or more without having to buy.
A good quality toilet paper will absorb better and last longer. This should directly result in you using less paper, making the roll last longer. Most premium quality toilet paper is going to be 3-ply or 5-ply, which means they are specifically designed to absorb more than thinner 1-ply or 2-ply toilet papers.
Conclusion on How Long Should a Roll of Toilet Paper Last?
So with all the things listed above, how long does a roll of toilet paper last? Well, a standard roll of 2-ply toilet paper will usually last 5-7 days, but if you have 3 plies and it’s more heavily used, then it’ll last 7-14 days.
Arthur C. Jackson is the resident handyman and toilet expert for BestToiletGuides.com. Drawing from his experience, he tends to focus on how he can help the consumer.
