The humble loo roll can often spark a debate, with some preferring softness and others valuing thickness. However, prices have soared in recent years, particularly for market leaders like Andrex. Supermarkets across the UK, from Aldi to M&S, have now launched their own brands to challenge these industry titans. Quilted, super soft, luxury, budget-friendly, and even aloe vera-infused – there’s something to cater to everyone’s taste.
With such a wide variety of options, choosing the ideal one can be quite a conundrum. To save you the trouble, we’ve tested everyday toilet paper from all major supermarkets to determine which offers the best quality and value for money. To ensure a fair comparison, I purchased a four-pack of standard toilet rolls from each supermarket, folded two sheets from each roll together, and sprayed them with an equal amount of water. I also evaluated how easily they ripped under pressure.
Andrex
The toilet paper features a unique 3D wave texture, enhancing its resistance to tearing. However, the thickness is somewhat lacking; it’s soft, but at two-ply, it doesn’t quite measure up to other brands.
Rating: 7/10
Aldi
Echoing Andrex’s wave pattern, this £1.39 roll doesn’t quite hit the mark in terms of quality, struggling with water absorption and ripping more easily. Nevertheless, its low price makes it an attractive option.
Rating: 6/10
Lidl
Priced the same as Aldi’s offering, Lidl’s Floralys toilet roll was quite disappointing. Despite its “luxury soft” assertion, Lidl’s offering falls short on delivering genuine comfort.
Rating: 4/10
Asda
For £1.38, Asda’s toilet paper offers excellent value, exhibiting durability without tearing easily. It is soft to the touch and demonstrates effective water absorption capabilities. This is a reliable choice for individuals aiming to reduce their grocery costs.
Rating: 8/10
Tesco
Tesco’s toilet paper withstands moisture without tearing and offers absorbency comparable to Andrex, although it is not as soft. Competitively priced alongside Aldi and Lidl, Tesco’s product exceeds both, establishing it as an excellent option for individuals looking for value.
Rating: 6.5/10
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s own-brand toilet paper, available for £1.90, appeared more luxurious and denser compared to Andrex, although it lacked the same level of smoothness. In the water test, it demonstrated a moderate performance, yielding slightly under pressure when soaked.
A gesture towards environmental responsibility, it stood as the only option encased in paper wrapping, establishing it as the premier eco-conscious choice.
Rating: 8/10
Morrisons
The toilet paper from Morrisons featured a soft and smooth texture. Nevertheless, it performed poorly in water tests, breaking apart quickly when exposed to moisture. For £1.75, it is difficult to rationalise the expense given its performance.
Rating: 6/10
Waitrose
Waitrose’s toilet paper was soft and featured a sophisticated embossing, although the two-ply sheets were somewhat small and susceptible to tearing.
Whilst offering reasonable absorption, one might anticipate superior quality from a £2 package at this upmarket retailer.
Rating: 7.5/10
M&S
Marks & Spencer is my preferred choice for gourmet delights, providing reliable quality along with some unique discoveries. However, I have avoided their home products, cautious of a potentially higher cost.
Faced with a selection of toilet tissue choices, I came across Spring Meadow featuring its “delicate” botanical pattern and Shining Stars decorated with heavenly motifs. I opted for the super soft variant, featuring triple-layered sheets.
At 50p per roll, this choice proved luxuriously gentle and remarkably durable, courtesy of its three-ply construction.
Environmentally minded shoppers will value that it’s manufactured using a minimum of 15% recycled materials, combining comfort with ecological responsibility.
Rating: 9/10
Verdict
After conducting this experiment, I can confidently say that I have changed my preference from Andrex to M&S’s toilet paper. It is not only softer than Andrex, but it also features a thicker texture.
Whilst £2 may appear costly for toilet tissue, you won’t be compromising on standards by switching from Andrex. For those monitoring their spending closely, I’d recommend opting for Asda’s £1.38 toilet paper.
