The best toilet paper brands, as tested and ranked by Consumer Reports

Most people grab whatever toilet paper is on sale, but the wrong roll can clog old plumbing, irritate sensitive skin, or shed lint across the bathroom floor. The differences between brands run deeper than ply count. Softness, tensile strength, lintiness, and how quickly a roll disintegrates in water all affect how a product performs and whether it's safe for your pipes.

Consumer Reports put 15 brands through a battery of home and lab tests, measuring abrasion resistance, ease of tearing, disintegration speed, and lint production to identify the ones that meet the most needs.

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At $25 for a 12-pack, Who Gives A Crap is one of the pricier rolls Consumer Reports tested, and it finished first across all 15 products. The three-ply bamboo roll starts easily with no tearing, and lint output was nearly zero, a standout result that bamboo brands often claim but rarely deliver. Softness is not a strength here, so people with sensitive skin may want a different pick. Each roll ships individually wrapped in colorful printed paper, making it a natural display choice for a guest bathroom, and the brand donates half its profits to fund sanitation projects in the developing world.

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At $15.50 for a 12-pack, Amazon $AMZN Aware is the cheapest bamboo option Consumer Reports tested, and its performance rivaled rolls that cost twice as much. Its disintegration speed was second fastest across all 15 products, trailing only Angel Soft, which puts it among the safer choices for septic systems and older plumbing. Lint production was nearly nonexistent. The low price and strong plumbing-safety scores make it a practical fit for households that want an eco-conscious roll without paying a premium.

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At $6.98 for a 6-pack, Quilted Northern Ultra Plush is among the most affordable picks here, and Consumer Reports found it was the strongest toilet paper in the entire test. Three plies give it a dense, near-fabric feel, with one side carrying a slightly more textured surface for extra grip. Tearing and ripping tests placed it at the middle of the pack, so you won't always get a clean break but you won't get a jagged, uneven piece either. Lint was notable, a common trade-off for plush rolls, and disintegration was slow enough that CR flagged clog risk for older pipes and septic systems.

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The Forever Roll starter pack costs $29.97 and refills run $9.99 per roll, the highest per-roll price in Consumer Reports' evaluations. The roll itself is as large as the price suggests, and the jumbo two-ply won't fit a standard toilet paper holder, so the starter kit includes a freestanding stand. Strength and abrasion resistance were both standout scores, and sheets tore cleanly from the starter pack rolls. Lint is the main drawback, as soft construction sheds more than firmer options, and refill rolls didn't tear quite as cleanly as those in the original pack.

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At $15.99 for a 12-pack, Reel is midrange for bamboo rolls, and Consumer Reports found it was one of the strongest performers across the full test battery. Three plies give it solid strength, and it held up well in abrasion tests, meaning the paper won't shred during use. Lint output was low. Softness is not a focus here, and CR noted that people accustomed to plush conventional paper will feel the difference.

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At $12.99 for a 12-pack, Cottonelle Ultra Clean is the priciest conventional roll among Consumer Reports' picks, and it is the only single-ply option in the group. Despite being one layer, it performed well on abrasion resistance, and CR found no meaningful tearing risk during use. The surface carries a striated texture, a contrast to the floral embossing common on most brands. Lint output was unexpectedly high for a single-ply, and the roll breaks down poorly in water, raising clog risk for older pipes and septic systems.

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At $29 for an 8-pack, Tushy Premium Bamboo is among the priciest rolls Consumer Reports tested, and above-average strength scores put it near the top of the bamboo category. Three-ply construction held up well in abrasion tests, the roll starts cleanly, and lint was barely detectable. One side carries a deliberately rough texture, a design choice Tushy frames around bidet use, where less paper contact is the intent. Each roll ships in individual packaging decorated with pandas and fruit, making it one of the more display-worthy options in the group.

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At $3.99 for a 6-pack, Angel Soft is one of the cheapest rolls Consumer Reports tested, and it dissolved faster than nearly every other brand in the field. The two-ply paper is smooth and gentle, with one side slightly more textured, and CR described the feel as close to fabric. It landed second overall in disintegration tests, making it a strong fit for septic systems and older plumbing. Angel Soft ranked last in strength across all 15 products and uses more adhesive than most to close, but for households with sensitive skin and vulnerable pipes, few options at this price check as many boxes.