"Which toilet paper is the best?" is a question without a simple answer. It depends on what you value: softness, sustainability, price, or a combination. In this buying guide we break it down into clear criteria, compare the most common options, and give our honest ranking for 2026.
Full transparency: Bamboi makes bamboo toilet paper ourselves, so we have a stake. That's why we keep the criteria objective and also point out where other brands are stronger.
The 6 criteria for good toilet paper
Before comparing brands, the criteria that actually matter:
- Softness — number of plies (2 or 3-ply), pulp quality, no scratchy feel
- Wet strength — does it fall apart or hold up
- Sustainability — raw material origin, production process, transport distance, FSC certification
- Packaging — plastic-free or not, recyclable material
- Price per roll — fair comparison must account for roll size (MAXI vs standard)
- Hypoallergenic — no fragrances, dyes, perfume or chlorine for sensitive skin
The main categories of toilet paper
Toilet paper falls into roughly 4 categories, each with their own pros and cons:
1. Standard supermarket toilet paper
The most common type. Made from virgin wood pulp, often chlorine-bleached, delivered in plastic packaging. Price €0.30 to €0.60 per roll at promotional prices.
Plus: cheap, widely available.
Minus: environmental impact (tree felling, water, energy, chlorine), plastic packaging, not always soft.
2. Recycled toilet paper
Made from recycled paper (post-consumer or post-industrial). Saves trees, but the recycling process also uses water and energy, and the end quality can feel grey or rougher.
Plus: no new trees felled, often cheap.
Minus: less soft, can contain PFAS from old food packaging, often not 3-ply.
Read our deep comparison of bamboo vs recycled.
3. Wood-based eco brands (FSC)
Paper from sustainably managed forests with FSC certification. Better than standard, but still tree-based with associated impact.
Plus: forests are sustainably managed, often chlorine-free.
Minus: still tree-dependent, price often €0.80 to €1.20 per roll.
4. Bamboo toilet paper
Made from bamboo pulp, a grass that regenerates from its root system. Bamboo grows up to 91 cm per day and needs no replanting or pesticides.
Plus: 35% more CO2 absorption than equivalent trees, no deforestation, often hypoallergenic, breaks down quickly in water.
Minus: higher price in supermarkets (€0.80+), BUT via subscription or bulk pack much better priced.
Our ranking for 2026
Based on the six criteria, this is our honest assessment:
| Category | Best in | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Softness | Premium 4-ply supermarket brands | 9/10 |
| Sustainability | Bamboo (Bamboi®) | 10/10 |
| Price per roll | Recycled / supermarket private label | 8/10 |
| Packaging | Bamboo subscription (plastic-free) | 10/10 |
| Hypoallergenic | Bamboo / FSC chlorine-free | 9/10 |
| Best overall | Bamboo via subscription | 9/10 |
Which brands do well?
In the eco category, the following brands are known for quality:
- Bamboi — 100% bamboo, FSC-certified, plastic-free, MAXI rolls, subscription-friendly
- Who Gives a Crap — bamboo and recycled, international, colourful packaging
- The Good Roll — recycled and bamboo, Dutch brand, donates portion to sanitation projects
- Bumboo — bamboo, focus on subscription model
- Page Eco — FSC, widely available in Dutch supermarkets
What sets Bamboi apart: the combination of premium quality (3-ply MAXI rolls, hypoallergenic) with the best price per roll via the 48-roll pack. Plus direct delivery, plastic-free packaging.
Which paper is best for whom?
For people with sensitive skin or allergies: bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic, no added dyes or perfumes.
For the most environmentally conscious: bamboo in plastic-free packaging via subscription is the most sustainable.
For budget-conscious households: look at supermarket FSC private label or bamboo in 48-roll MAXI pack (€0.40 per roll at Bamboi).
For businesses and hospitality: bamboo in bulk packaging, fast-degrading (no clogging), profiles sustainability policy.
Bamboi
100% Bamboo Toilet Paper
48 MAXI rolls · 3-ply · Plastic-free packaging
€49.99
Order now✓ Free shipping · ✓ FSC certified
Conclusion
The best toilet paper depends on what you prioritise. For most people who want to combine softness, sustainability and fair price, bamboo toilet paper comes closest. See Bamboi's 48-roll pack, or start with the 4-roll trial pack if you want to test before ordering a larger pack.
