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Sort of out-of-date info: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!
cottenelle has gone to a 4×4 sheet! Sheet thats way too small … we get a super sized meal but a baby sized sheet of a%% wipe … pretty sheety deal.
@Sheila,
This doesn’t make any sense. The rolls have become more NARROW, not wider. If your roll fit a recessed spot at 4.5 x 4.5, then certainly it will still accommodate a 4.5 x 4.0.
You may want to check again. That just doesn’t make sense that a house built in the 50s won’t accommodate the newer smaller rolls.
I could see if they were getting wider, but yeah…just a simple matter of physics it would seem to me.
Sheila’s comment does make sense, since some of the rolls are narrower AND fatter, so they won’t fit into the recessed TP holders.
If all tissue paper brands would have the same dimensions / size and standard number of plys, it would so much better!
But who would be the one to set the size? Some people prefer 1-ply to 2-ply, or vice versa. I think toilet paper democracy is a better way to go
Re: the recessed holders, the roll has nothing to hold it in since the holders come in from the side and the roll is narrower. It just falls out. Annoying!
I too do not like the change in the size. It looks stupid on the holder. It looks like I bought cheap stuff. But….. I had collected several large packages of Northern when it was 4.5 wide. I have lots of things like that put away. I only use them when company comes so it doesn’t look so stupid bouncing from side to side on the holder.
Who makes Boardwalk tissue paper? I am looking for their contact info. The mill contact info.
Costco’s Kirtland paper is 4.5 wide and very good.
Boardwalk is a private label manufactured for Lagasse Sweet. For contact information, please visit their website: http://www.lagassesweet.com. Hope this helps!
I switched from Northern to Costco’s Kirkland brand last year and LOVE IT. They are also individually wrapped, which is an added bonus. The quality seems very comparable to Northern and it’s less expensive. I was a loyal Northern user all my life until they shortened the rolls, which now looks ridiculous on my TP holders. I emailed Georgia Pacific and got the same canned response as written on another blog. I do not routinely blog or complain to companies, but this change almost felt like a betrayal after being a loyal customer for so long and the fact that the change was instituted without warning as if they thought people wouldn’t notice. They will never get another dime of my money and the Costco membership fee is well worth it!! Thanks Georgia Pacific for forcing me to find a better alternative to your overpriced generic TP!!
update: I have been researching and have found that tp on a continuous roll like at a resturant is 3″ with no perforations. Quilted Northern that I found was 4″ by a 4.5 sheet. Kirkland brand was 4.5 by 4.5. but most ranged 4.5 to 3″ core and the majority were 4.25 by 4.25. Now, we are still paying the high price and about the same price per brand…Are we getting “ripped” off?
And who determined the size of the sheets anyhow?
CVS Brand “Premium Bathroom Tissue” is 4.5 inches
wide in a 4 roll pack. 2ply.
I guess with smaller sheets size, they can somehow make more money, usually that is the only reason to change something?
Thanks for letting us know Eugene!
So I thought my tissue paper is really shrinking because everytime my mom is buying from the store I am wondering of its size.
Nowadays, tissue papers are getting more expensive and I agree that the size is shrinking. I guess that’s how they make money. Same price for a lesser production cost.
Maybe it is more economical for toilet paper to be produced with a smaller sheet size? How big of a sheet do we really need?
I think the toilet paper is shrinking. Before you can just use two squares to wipe your behind, but now you need 4 or at least 3.
The brand that I buy is 4.25 x 4 and it’s one of the widest one’s I can find any more. It’s a Safeway generic brand, SOFTLY, I believe. I have noticed for years that a lot of TP has been shrinking and I refuse to buy them. I am always looking for the bigger rolls and will switch when I find one in a heartbeat. It hate the feeling of being ripped off.
This is what I think the TP companies are going to do in a few years time. They will put out “new thicker and wider” TP for an increased price of their “regular” rolls. It will actually be the same size of what the rolls used to be, but most people who don’t see the shrinking of the TP now, will just buy into it, paying more money for what they used to get 10 years ago. It wouldn’t surprise me if the big TP companies plan was to both cut materials now so that they can make more product, therefore making more money now and THEN in a decade, after subtle shrinking over that time, make more money by marketing the original sized TP as a new “convenient product”.
I know, a conspirator lives within me
Toilet paper resizing is pissing me off:
Angel Soft Standard has gone from 4.5 x 4.0
to 4.0 x 4.0
Whats next 3.5?
I am on a crusade to find the min of 4.5 in width
(height)
@Kathy, I think you’re on to something there.
Today I opened a new package of Scott tissue, 1000 sheets per roll and a single sheet is only 5.375 x 3.75! I’ll be looking for another brand, but I’m not hopeful of finding anything better (or larger) for the price.
The sizes of tissue papers will depend on the manufacturers. There are some tissue papers that are small and its price is cheaper.
Yep, Ann .. .I just discovered the same thing and my dispenser has no spindle, so now the TP is sitting on the back of the toilet . . . grrrrr. I just sent the following message to Scott:
Having been a loyal consumer of Scott 1000 Bathroom Tissue for well over 10 years, imagine my surprise upon purchasing a 12-roll pack at my local Stater Bros. store last week when the rolls would not stay on my dispenser. In an apparent effort to shave 3/8″ off the width of each roll (saving you what, 1 cent?)you have instead, lost a long-standing customer. I’m sure most consumers have no clue about the change as they use a spindle dispenser, ours is designed around the accepted width of 4-1/2″. Congratulations on proving yourselves to be just another cynical American Corporation which thinks the American Consumer is an unblinking, thoughtless patron of your rapidly declining product. I hope your shareholders have fun with the lost dividends. (PS, no, I don’t have the lot numbers as the original packaging was discarded prior to my discovery of your subterfuge . . . you know very well what I’m talking about)
I just found a 2-ply 4.5 X 4 @ Food City (TN.VA.KY) Full Circle (Brand) All Natural Bathroom Tissue 100% Recycled Paper. 4 Roll Pkg.
$2.99.
I cannot believe the tp companies are shrinking to this level. Bought some Charmin today at the grocery store (4.27 x 4)–It looks like it should be sold for a doll house. Like we don’t have enough to worry about in this world…
Thanks for the great post about toilet paper. Your post brought up a lot of interesting points that I haven’t thought about. I’m looking forward to reading a lot more of your site in the future.
This is not all the manufacturers fault. The grocery stores are the big culprits here. The large chains charge manufacturers ‘slotting fees’ in what amounts to saying if you want us to put your product on the shelf you will pay us a fee. These funds drive the cost of the product up considerably and YOU pay for it. With all of the rising costs out there some grocery chains (actually most) have told manufacturers that they would not accept price increases, so manufacturers have had to shrink packaging to adjust for not raising the price.
Thank you David for the information. Does that mean we should be buying more toilet paper online?
I had noticed a change and thought I’d have some fun with it.
)
That’s so funny.
Let’s kick up a fuss and complain to the manufacturers. Here’s the information for Scott: Send your complaint to Scott on the form at http://www.scottbrand.com/community/contact or call telephone numbers 888-525-8388 or 800-834-7268. Ask where you can still buy the previous size rolls.
Please post similar information for other manufacturers.
Jack
Tissue papers are getting more expensive and I agree that the size is shrinking. I think that’s how they make money. Same price for a lesser production cost.
I have some old packages of Angel Soft that are 9 mega rolls. Each sheet is 4″x4.27″ and had 469 sheets/role. The new package had 4″x4″ rolls and only 400 sheet/role. The total square feet per package went from 500.6 to 400. Both packages are marked at 9 mega rolls. This is deceptive and it should be illegal to market a different product in the same package.
Toilet paper should be made from recovered, second generation fibers. There certainly are paper products that still have to be made from trees in order to achieve the quality needed. Toilet paper is NOT one of those products.
Some of the little tiny rolls of paper I see these days make me laugh, they won’t last long at all. I think rolls of paper should get bigger, even if we have to pay a little bit extra. Better than wiping with tiny little squares.
Man, this shrinking dung paper rolls is a wad of schit. I clearly recall when Scott crap paper rolls were so big, you could hardly grasp one when it was new. They bragged about their “1000 sheets per roll”, etc., but now? Well, like any crooked company will gladly do to make more profit, they give LESS, and charge MORE and MORE and MORE. Rolls of “SCOTT” schit paper come two different ways. Single rolls, and multi-packs. Quite naturally, the SINGLE rolls (the ones wrapped up in that wrinkled white paper stuffed into the roll ends) are larger, and, of COURSE, MUCH more expensive. But look at the MULTI-PACKS you find ‘ON SALE’ at places like Kmart, Wal-Mart, etc. But before BUYING them, believing you are getting a LOT MORE WIPES for your bucks, take a close look at the TINY rolls contained in these multi-packs of SCOTT schit paper. They are ‘SHORTER’ by nearly a HALF INCH, and contain FAR-LESS sheets. (The spool in the center of these rolls is almost as large as a Campbells condensed soup can!) They come in different sizes, length, width, paper (sheet) count, etc., usually dependent on the NUMBER of rolls in the multi-pack. (The more rolls, the smaller they are!) I KNOW this is true, because being a person who gets REALLY PIZZED about being SCHIT on, I checked it out thoroughly after noticing the BIG differences in some rolls I have at home. Suggestion? STOP BUYING ANYTHING WITH THE NAME ‘SCOTT’ on it. DO NOT patronize a company who is CLEARLY cheating the public put of their hard-earned money, just so THEY continue to get richer and richer. I realize that other brands have also SHRANK, but this company, (SCOTT) makes different sized rolls to deceive the public into thinking they are getting ‘BARGAINS’ when they buy these ‘MULTI-PACKS’. Conclusion? The SCOTT schit paper company are AZZWIPES, and do not deserve your business. Buy ANY other brand!
I thought my eyes were failing me when I inserted a new roll of scott toilet tissue. The roll looked like it shrunk. The price went up but the quantity when down. I no the economy is bad butcome on.You’ve been in bussiness it seems like forever and your profitability has sored in that time. Now when the working people of this country who built your business are hurting so badly with allmost 10% unemployment ETC,instead of helping us you take more away from us. SHAME ON YOU! Hasn’t the Government done enough to us allready.
What’s with 2 sizes of paper in the 24 roll? The original is fine works great with septic, but the other is about a half inch taller, narrower and takes 2 or 3 flushes for the paper to go down. It’s soft as anything. I think it is a rip off, you think you’re getting the real thing and you are getting ripped off.
[...] Dec 8, 2010 In the past year, we have covered the phenomenon of shrinking toilet paper. [...]
Scott has reached a all time low. The new 1,000 sheet roll I just bought looks so small, I checked the size. Guess what, 4.1″ X 3.7″! I might as well wipe with postage stamps!
Check out Kimberly-Clark’s response to their smaller toilet paper sheets.
It’s not just the width of the toilet paper roll that’s shrunk, it’s also the size of the cardboard roll in the middle getting bigger! I just compared some that I’d saved for the kids to do projects with and found quite a difference. And that’s not something you can compare in the store! I’d rather the companies just told us it was going to cost more to get the same old size than that they use cheating to keep the cost the same. Of course, then they raise the price anyway.
DID ANYONE NOTICE THAT QUANTITY HAS CHANGED?
The good old people at Charmin probably not wanting to increase pricing on their packaged toilet tissue have resorted to renaming them and reducing the quantity of sheets by a whopping 22 percent!!!!!!
Yep the old “regular size 100 sheet roll is now 88 sheets ,and the Double roll [used to be called big roll] was 200 sheets is now 176!!!!! If you are lucky you might find some of the older stock in the store before its replenished with the new packages.
So maybe they think that no one would notice. But there you go, another manufacturer either reducing quantity and/or increasing prices.
I have been following the shrinking toilet tissue and facial tissue for several years now. My Kroger brand just changed its name and went from 4.27″ to 4 ” wide. I bought my last of their toilet paper. Anyone have an update on brands that are at least 4.25″ wide? I refuse to buy narrower even if I have to bring back the Sears catalog. Facial tissue is shrinking so much you need two or three sheets for one runny nose clean up. Where can we make our complaints felt aside from not buying it anymore?
There are still toilet papers at least 4.25 inches wide. Check out our selection of toilet paper, including sheet sizes and number of sheets per roll.
I wrote on this blog last year, when COSTCO still had the 4.5 wide paper. No more. I did see some 4.27 4 packs at a local Fred Meyer (Kroger) yesterday, but the 12/24 packs were only 4.0.
Let’s all forward our concerns to Northern/COSTCO/Kimberly Clark!
Laurene, I complained to Scott about a year ago and got a “rationale” and a couple of good coupons. I think stop buying is about the only way consumers can have an impact. I plan to let Kroger know what I think today. FYI Something is up with paper towels, too. Big change out at the grocery store.
When it comes to toilet paper, the industry now grows it own, but they still get away with charging more for less. And even though they advertise the texture, the many plies, and everything else that doesn’t appeal to people like me who think the paper doesn’t need to be scented or thinker, or anything other than paper to wipe your butt.
Now, as I studied this further, I noticed that my paper was not going as far as it did several years ago, or even last year for that matter.
For instance, I went to my home if Florida last summer and brought back some paper I had purchased several years ago, and found that this paper even though it was the same brand was larger in diameter, being 4.5 inches square. I checked the paper of the the most recent and found that it was 4.0 inches square. As I looked further, I found that many paper companies have reduced from 4.5 and 4.0 to 4.0 by 3.75 inches or as little as 3.5 inches square. I came to the conclusion that one day we will be back to using our fingers, because toilet paper will no longer be in existence. This reminds me of the Reese’s Cup, where they didn’t change the size of the wrapper for years, even though the cup was half the size it used to be. How stupid do these companies really think people are?
Scotts has gone from 4.5 to 4.1
I noticed it a few weeks ago, I said that roll is not as tall as it used to be, before putting it on the Toilet paper holder. Low an behold, I have more of the roller showing than the toilet paper is covering.
Wonder if the TP companies have consulted the Holder makers to let them know that their rolls are getting shorter, what Home Decorater’s nightmare.
Past few years Scott has been playing with the thickness, perforating & ply consistancy. This year it has come down to the reduction of the product.
Reduced to paying the same price for a roll of TP & Less Prodcut. Way to go to capitalize on the all might dollar during hard times.
You would never have thought that they’d make toilet paper shorter/narrower, thats what makes it so clever.
I bet that they save alot of more money in the long run.
Mike , have you ever used a bathroom in a restuarant or a supermarket or even some office buildings?
Most of the restrooms have these BIG narrow rolls of toilet tissue so thin that you can practically see through it [sort of like the junk people used to stand online to get in the old Soviet Union]. Its really horrible and you need to use more of it than the standard quality stuff sold to consumers for household use.
For those who prefer the eco-brands, high-end choices are more than about status. High-quality paper contains long cellulose fibers with intact cell walls, so it can be used to make high-end products, including toilet paper. The gold standard is virgin pulp from newly harvested trees, whose fibers are long and strong. Each time that paper gets recycled, the fibers become shorter and weaker, with lower-quality brown paper producing recycled material with the shortest, weakest fibers.
Have we no recourse? I don’t want to use the shrinking toilet paper, paper towels, tissues. I’ll pay more for the large size. How do we launch a rebellion. Facebook? Consumer Reports.
Toilet paper from recycled materials costs around the same. If you’re really in savings mode, you can also save on paper (and save yourself some cash) by opting for 1 ply paper. While a roll of 1 ply can be more expensive, there’s more usable paper and studies have shown that people tend not to use more of it. 1 ply also breaks down faster, which is particularly a good thing in septic systems. Less paper, less pumping out, less cost.
Companies collect hefty profits when they change their product packaging, so it’s highly unlikely that this trend of “shrinking” will reverse. But savvy consumers don’t have to be taken for a fool. A smart shopping strategy, including comparison shopping and coupon clipping, can offset this unfortunate case of shrinkage.
Good education on toilet paper, I could care less how wide the TP is as long as it is soft on my bum I’m happy
That’s a good attitude Adam!
Rather than just complaining, let’s all start looking for a source of good old fashioned 4.5 inch wide paper that looks decent on a standard dispenser and tell the rest of us here where you found it.
I’m not complaining, Jack. I’ve stated my position….4.25 to 4.5 inch toilet paper or else….. but I can’t find it anywhere. Can you? Let us all know and we will buy it.
I just bought Angel Soft and it measures 3 13/16″ wide. It is also very rought/hard, not soft any more. It is really getting bad. What paper is better and bigger ?
Yep, the toilet paper companies have caught us with our pants down. I just went shopping for toilet tissue at one of the local big box stores. Couldn’t find anything larger than 4″x4″. What? Should the size of TP sheets really be inversely proportional to the size of our duffs? Better buy some hand sanitizer along with that potty paper. You’re gonna need it. Last time I checked you could get authentic 4.5″x4.5″ butt buffer on Amazon. The price wasn’t bad, but you do have to buy a case. Might as well get one or two. Your friends and relatives are gonna be begging you for some once they find out you’ve got the real deal.
I do not like the double toilet paper. I use more, then the single rolls, and I refuse to let manufacturers force me to buy double, just because they decided what was good for me. Nuts.
I will to a discount store if I have to.
New houses for sale, What is the brand name of the 4.5″ x 4.5″ wide toilet paper carried by Amazon? I’ve searched and cannot find it.
Audrey Brown, Kroger brand “Home Sense” one-ply TP measures 4.5″ wide.
interesting article…
I have never seen toilet paper of this size
I live in Asia and here we use water. Much more hygienic.
What do you wipe off the water with?
I will also stop purchasing Northern, too. It was my favorite toilet paper. I think they don’t care for their customers requirement .
thanks
all the best
The only 4.5 inch wide TP that I can now find is at Costco.
I used to use Scotts 1000 sheets, but they too have shrunk the rolls.
It seems a growning trend in business. I forget the olive company that, years ago, saved huge $$$ by taking out two (yes 2) olives out of each jar. Less product + same price = more profit.
It’s true! Never knew that about the olives.
Hale the lowly corn cob, and newspaper…..Tis sad, truly sad I must now turn back the clock. Farewell toilet paper, farewell indoor plumbing. Now I have to clean my butt with the neighbors garden hose, and drag my behind in the grass like my dog.
Wow, it really is getting smaller, isn’t it? Have these changes still been happening since then even?
Still happening. The widest I can find is 4.27 inches Lowes Foods brand and they are phasing it out.
Wife and I recently had to clean out the house of her brother who had died. Fortunately for us, he was a hoarder, and had several cases of toilet paper hidden away in a back room. It was 4 1/2 by 4.4 inches!!! It’s wonderful. I hope it will last the rest of my life! But we need to complain to the paper companies. Please publish phone numbers and addresses here for us to use.
Jeff
I guess hoarders’ houses are like time capsules!
Yikes
I had noticed many other products being shrunk but I had not noticed the tolet paper till now
Thanks for the heads up
Tom
Not only are the tp sheets getting smaller, the core on Northern tp are getting smaller! Sneaky, huh? I now have 3 different sized cores. The guest bath is rarely used, and therefore the oldest roll in the house with a core of 1-5/8″ . Next roll is 1-7/8″, and finally the third is a whopping/sneaky 1- 15/16″. Pretty sneaky, huh?
This is a sneaky/ deceptive cost increase!! I’d much rather see an honest price hike than sneaky, deceptive price hikes.
That’s true- I will research more on toilet paper cores. Has anyone else noticed smaller cardboard cores?
Its amazing. but need to show picture of paper.
do not like the double toilet paper. I use more, then the single rolls, and I refuse to let manufacturers force me to buy double, just because they decided what was good for me. Nuts.
It has crossed my mind that it is all a plot to get everyone to use toilet clogging “flushiable” wipes.
Correction … The cores are getting LARGER!!
My error. When the companies make the core larger, you don’t notice the ” short sheeting”
I think sometimes there are more sheets on a roll than advertised.
Classique Correction – It is actually 2 ply and is made in Canada. I have seen it advertised in cases of 48 in addition to 96. If anyone else tries it let us all know your impression!
Awesome information, thanks
I also noticed that tissue paper is getting smaller in summer. I am not satisfied about smaller roll because of same rate.
I am trying to find a roll of toilet paper with a larger core tube. The standard size on the 4.5 or 4″ rolls is just a bit too small to roll freely around the holder. Does anybody have any recommendations?
What’s the diameter of the holder that you’re using? We will try to help you Jessica! You can e-mail me directly at molly@cicgo.com with your answer, we’ll get to the bottom of your problem!
4.5 inch wide tissue IS available!!! I just bought Classique from Danzi Janitorial Supply, 146 South Black Horse Pike, Williamstown, NJ 08094, 856-629-1858 and paid $64.99 for a case of 96 rolls.
They also sell
Atlas Paper Mills #125 Green Heritage” 1-ply with a 4.5” x 3.8” sheet size (1000 sheets per roll)
Atlas Paper Mills #280 Green Heritage” 2-ply with a 4.5” x 4.5” sheet size (500 sheets per roll)
Also several other sizes, most of which meet “green” recycle standards.
The Atlas website is http://www.atlaspapermills.com/ their address is:
Atlas Paper Mills, LLC
11400 NW 32nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33167
800-562-2860
Call then to find a distributer near you.
Just found a video about Atlas Paper at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioO2o9vy8kI
They sell Atlas 4.5″ wide paper right here at toiletpaperworld.com. Just search for it.
http://www.toiletpaperworld.com/search.aspx?q=Atlas
Prices a bit high, but htey carry it!
I do guess the shrinking of the size of toilet paper has to do something with the environment part of it. Further if you’re using a smaller size the production cost will decrease automatically and this will in turn increase the profit margin…
Why do you think they did this? To try and conserve? I’m wondering how price has varied since the size has diminished- tp probably still costs the same amount…or more! This seems to be the way most industries work now, you get LESS bang for your buck.
-Lizzy-
With everything these days, they are trying to get more for less. Nonetheless, I would think tp quality has improved, at least for the “non-generic” brands. BTW, I bought this gadget I really enjoy and want to share: see changemytoiletpaper.com
I see lots of discussion of the size of the toilet paper, but why did the roll it goes on get larger? Can anyone say?
Because it still appears to have the same number of sheets. Just like a magician , it’s slight of hand. It’s nit obvious they are giving us less and less sheets for MORE money.
Yes, it is obvious. But how is it possible that ALL manufacturers would agree to this? Wouldn’t there be at least one who believes in ethics and quality, and believes that there are some who would recognize that fact and, reading the label to make sure it has the same square footage as the others, purchase toilet paper with a smaller, easier-to-handle, roll?
Years ago one brave tissue manufacturer made a roll with a very small diameter cardboard tube (I believe it was 3/4″ ID). I don’t really know why it didn’t catch on since it held much more paper than the then “standard” roll. It might have been roller size, since rollers were made of sliding wooden tubes.
People don’t generally think much about the real value that are getting in most products and have convinced manufacturer’s that the public will accept paying more for less, as evidenced by the demise of the ice cream half gallon. The “super soft” bathroom tissues are fluffed up so much that much of what appears to be a roll is really air. The only way to really judge the REAL cost of your bathroom tissue is to calculate it by WEIGHT!
I think the government should step In and standardize the sizing so that the consumer can make an educated decision on our purchase. Wrapping the tissue looser and changing the sheet size AND increasing core size, make it impossible to make an informed decision. And to confuse us even more, the manufacturers put different amount of sheets of tp within their own product line – ie, the 4 pack as compared to the larger packages.
We can’t win. TP manufacturer’s have us by the balls!!!
Thanks, Jack, and thanks Linda for giving me what I take to be the technical term for this object: core. This still leaves the fact, however, that they ALL agree to try to deceive us. When I was a boy, we thought of a system that offered only one, standard, low-quality product as COMMUNIST, and we were taught to ridicule such a system. Is this what we have now?
[...] TP has been shrinking in size – so much so that some people call it "Toilet Ribbon" Read this blog and then watch for size when you buy. We have shifted to Shop-Rite's house brand, double ply, and [...]
I would be happy if they would make th tube smaller again so the roll had enough paper to last more than 3 days! But what really chaps my cheeks is the games they play with the roll sq. Footage relative to the number of rolls. Think you’re getting a better value per sq foot buying 24 rolls vs 6 rolls? Don’t count on it! And supermarkets collude in this by giving you the price per sq foot on one product but the price per 100 count on another so you can’t compare. Shop with your calculator (app)!
Same with paper towels. While I like the ‘choose a size’ idea, often I can’t get the biggest roll in bulk, with the shorter sheet.
Dawn, you are so right and it is frustrating. Not to mention the other shrinking paper products like facial tissue and dryer sheets. I wish there were some organized way to protest this in a way that makers got the message. Like by boycotting their products.
I sure do search for weird things on the net, but recently I noticed that the package for our toilet paper says that each sheet measures 4.5 inches by 4.27 inches. That struck me as odd, because 4.27 inches doesn’t convert to a tidy metric number; it equals 10.1 centimeters.
So finally I plugged these numbers into Google and discovered the truth about the incredible shrinking TP.
The irony is that this is the Charmin double roll, which makes a big deal about how it is equivalent to two “regular” sized rolls. I note that they never specify how they define “regular.”
Charmin is the only brand I can find that still makes paper that is 4.27 inches wide. Any others that you guys know of?
This Windsoft Toilet Paper still has 4.5 x 4.5 in sheets as well as this Boardwalk Toilet Paper. For a green option, check out Atlas Green Recycled Toilet Paper.
Molly, Bulk purchase required. Are samples available? I wouldn’t want to buy 50-100 rolls of TP that I didn’t like when I got it.
Both Classique and Atlas are sold by janitorial supply houses. Most of these will sell a few single rolls to try out. Normal case sizes for these are 48 and 96 rolls, so it’s a very good idea to try before you buy.
I’ve been trying to find a decent size (the old sizes were decent) and it is very difficult. They are 2ply too, so I need half a roll to do the business they were designed for!!
I am sick and tired of getting ripped off by the manufacturers.
The consumers are upset with the rising costs as it is without
having to pay so much for less of the product.
I have maintenance service for snow plowing and lawn care and the owner is still charging me the same cost as 4 years ago inspite of rising gas prices so why can’t these greedy big companies eat the costs and give the consumers a break!!!!!!
The is a good side behind shrinking toilet paper… Less clogged toilets.
Nice post 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. Thanks a lot for posting this article.
HOW DO WE GET WORD TO THE MANUFACTURERS THAT PRODUCE TOILET PAPER TO STOP CHANGING THE DIMENSIONS OF THE TOILET PAPER SO THAT THEY CAN CUT COSTS AND OBSORB THE FINANCIAL LOSS ON A PRODUCT THEMSELVES.
WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER ALWAYS TAKE THE LOSS ON THE COST OF A LESS THAN PERFECT PRODUCT.
I AM SICK AND TIRED OF BUYING PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN ALTERED IN SIZE, WEIGHT OR OUNCES AND
THEN PAYING A HIGHER PRICE.
WE THE CONSUMER ARE BEING FINANCIALLY RAPED!!!!’
P
I guess we just have to accept that we, the consumer are at the bottom of the totum pole. I first noticed this when I saw that the containers that were once 32 oz are now 30 oz and the prices have gone up e.g. Mayo, coffee and most canned foods. Do you know that it is difficult to find a 16 oz mug? They now make that average mug to hold only 15 oz.
Quoted northern has done it again! Just bought some at walmart: the core is now 1 7/8″; I have an older roll, and the core is 1 1/2″. That is 3/8″ of paper they have cut out, and the price was the same! I just bought my last roll of quilted northern.
I have been buying Walmart Brand toilet paper. It is 4.2″ x 352 2ply sheets and fits deeply to the back of your holder (Full Roll). It seems to be about the same as Angel Soft in texture. It is a bigger roll and cost is $4.96 for 12 double rolls. You can even feel the heavyness of the bundle. Try it, see what you think.
The note on this post says that in NOV 2009 Boardwalk & Windsoft went from 4.5″ long to 4.25″ long. I just looked it up and they are now both 3″ long!!! WTF?!!*#!??? Was looking for an alternative to Scott… they are all screwing us. This BS about capitalism’s supply and demand is smoke and mirrors people!!!! There is a DEMAND for normal sized toilet paper. But, as long as they can get away with the main suppliers all changing it, you have no alternative. When only a few corporations dominate an industry, it’s called an oligarchy. The oligarchs are all around us. This free trade/free market is BS. They are bleeding the middle and lower income segments of society out of greed. There is a demand for products made in the USA… instead we get Asian crap. There is a demand for non-genetically modified food… instead we get Frankenfood that you are eating every day. There is a demand for decent sized frigging TP!!!! See, it’s controlling the market because they all collude to set standards… hey… they can tell each other… if we ALL make them smaller, we’ll make a killing and nobody can really switch! LOL Rat bastards!
Do you realize how much they save on these cuts? Scott TP in 2010 was 4.5 x 3.7. Now it’s 4.1 x 3.7. That’s 124.5 sq ft in a 12 pack. Rounded… let’s say 125 sq ft. That’s the frigging size of my kitchen! Compared to the original 4.5 x 4.5, they save over 423 sq ft!!! That’s almost half my apartment size in just a 12 pack!!! It’s brilliant marketing… Scott still gets to list themselves as “1000″ sheets! They don’t charge the same, though… they charge MORE! This might sound stupid because we’re talking about toilet paper. But seriously people… what’s the one thing after food that Americans will make sure to buy? People will go without cable, phones, and could even get by without soap. But TP? This is about the 1% a**holes screwing the rest of us.
If you have a flat wall, you can replace the toilet paper dispenser with a paper towel dispenser – the kind that can be screwed onto a wall. Mine is wooden with a spring-type 1-inch roller. It holds 2 rolls each 4 inches wide, and would hold 3 rolls if they were 3-1/2 inches wide. That doesn’t save paper, but at least you don’t have to change a single roll as often and it accepts every brand. Separate the 2 rolls with a large metal washer or large bead.
Great idea! Thanks Jo Anne!
To all my consumer advocats,,,,,we are getting screwed all over the place….
Have you checked the sizes of boxes and ounces on cereal, coffee, sugar, and baked stuff etc…yeah, right, and because this pisses me off I need to use more TP so that’s an added expense.
My toilet paper plays musical chairs on the holder with the extra space while the supplier makes more money on the 423 sq.ft. that they took from us.
I have written to the customer service department, consumer department, manager for product information to Scott company with NO response…how’s that for concern!!!!!!
Nice idea Jo anne ! thinks that we should test it out soon!
When you compare TP rolls for quantity of paper and cost, place your thumb just inside the core and your forefinger on the top edge of the roll. Squeeze the paper and notice the minimum thickness of the roll. That tells you how much the manufacturers are messing around with paper texture so they can sell to you more air and less paper.
[...] 4.5 inches but with the increased cost of paper and the push to be more environmentally responsible most companies have cut the rolls to 4 inches. Wausau did cut the length, but not by much. The sheet sizes range from 3.75 to 4 inches in [...]