Is My Toilet Paper Shrinking?
Jul 28, 2009
Is it me or is my toilet paper getting smaller?
You’re not going crazy and you’re hands aren’t getting any bigger. One of closest companions is actually getting smaller.
Toilet paper was originally manufactured 4.5” wide by 4.5” long, which is relative to the average man’s hand size. The square makes it convenient to fold over a few times and still be acceptable for size/ sanitary coverage. Basically, the size was established because it worked – kind of like the 90-foot pitcher’s mound and the 10-foot basketball rim.
However, the size of toilet tissue has been reduced in the last decade as manufacturers try to trim costs by trimming sheet size.
Currently, most TP rolls are still 4.5” wide (or close too it at least), but have may contain much shorter sheets. Typical sizes of popular brands include:
- Kleenex Cottonelle; Standard : 4.5 x 4.0
- Angel Soft; Standard: 4.5 x 4.0
- Charmin Basic: 4.4 x 4.3
- Quilted Northern: 4.5 x 4.05
If you’re missing your old friend, have no fear. Two manufactures still produce 4.5x.4.5″ rolls of toilet paper:
- Boardwalk Toilet Paper; 2-ply
- Windsoft Recycled Toilet Paper ; 2-ply
**Product Update: As of November 1, 2009, Private Label brands Boardwalk and Windsoft Toilet Paper no longer produce sheets in 4.5″ x 4.5″ sizes. Both brands have reduced their sheet size to 4.5″ x 4.25″. Thank you to Phil for bringing this to our attention.**
Sort of out-of-date info:
Follow your own links for these two (to your own website) and you will see that these two are not 4.5 x 4.5″ anymore, but have been reduced to 4.5 x 4.25″ as well.
If you’re missing your old friend, have no fear. Two manufactures still produce 4.5x.4.5″ rolls of toilet paper:
- Boardwalk Toilet Paper; 2-ply
- Windsoft Recycled Toilet Paper ; 2-ply
Hi Phil,
Thanks for bringing this error to our attention. When the blog was written back in July, the sheet sizes were still being products in 4.5 x 4.5 sizes. We’ve updated the blog to show the current correct sizes. Sorry for any inconvenience!
I would like to see an update. After noticing my last purchase of Northern was 1/2 inch narrower than the prior purchase with same packaging (except dimension info), I decided to look closer at the store shelf. Almost all brands, except for one no-name brand, were between 4″ and 4.2″ wide. Doing the math, the reduction is about 15% less material with the same price tag.
I noticed the tissue getting smaller in the summer. I buy Northern and am not happy about the smaller roll. It goes back and forth on the roller. Everything is getting smaller and they charge the same price.
Isn’t there a regulatory agency that controls sizes? Just another case in point; it doesn’t matter what the people prefer.
Oh the ever shrinking roll of t-paper!
Northern now looks like rolls of adding machine tape. If you could find yourself a roll of
t-paper from back in the 50’s you would note the paper core fit around the paper holder with just enough slack to freely turn. That little core, of course, has enlarged and enlarged. It would now fit around a piece of 3/4 inch pipe with no problem. Dollar General Stores sell a nice big fat roll of paper, but I don’t see how they can manufacture paper so thin. You do use more but overall it lasts longer. I for one have spent my last cent on any Northern product.
Thanks very Good Sharing
We wish! No regulations on size of rolls.
I will stop buying Northern, too. I was my favorite toilet paper. I guess they don’t care what the customer thinks…..
I’ve noticed that Scott wrinkles the sheets near the end of the roll to make the roll look bigger.
Really? Can you send a picture? Jessica@cicgo.com
Okay, I am mad because my house was built in the 50’s and now the tp will not fit in the recessed holders. Has anyone replaced this type of recessed dispenser with one to fit the new width of the roll without ripping the whole wall out?
I have been on a toilet paper mission to find TP thet’s still 4.5 for the past year – Northern Quilted was the last one out there.
I, too, would spend a little more to have the wider paper. In fact, if a company made the smaller tubes AND a wider paper, maybe they could sell a 4 roll pack equivalent to the current space wasting 12!