Open measurement method
Measure toilet paper usage with a reproducible method
Use one transparent protocol to compare rolls, metres and cost per 100 user-days across households, offices and hospitality.
All practical details are collected clearly below.
An open measurement method for households, offices and hospitality. There is no universal correct number of rolls per person: ply, sheet size, visitors, work patterns and dispensers affect usage. This page therefore provides a reproducible method instead of an invented market average.
What should be measured?
- Opened rolls per measurement week.
- User-days: one present user during one day.
- Roll specifications: ply, sheet count, sheet dimensions and total roll length.
- Location type and exceptional circumstances, without personal data.
- Stock-outs, complaints and wasted or damaged rolls.
Five-step measurement protocol
- Choose a representative period of at least four consecutive weeks.
- Record identical product specifications and dispenser settings at the start.
- Count only newly opened rolls; record internal stock movements separately.
- Calculate rolls and metres of paper per 100 user-days every week.
- Report the median, lowest and highest week and disclose exceptions such as events or closures.
Formulas
User-days = the sum of users present on each day.
Rolls per 100 user-days = opened rolls ÷ user-days × 100.
Metres per 100 user-days = rolls per 100 user-days × sheets per roll × sheet length in metres.
Cost per 100 user-days = total product and delivery cost ÷ user-days × 100.
Why this method is useful
Comparing boxes or roll counts can mislead when roll length and usage differ. A normalised result makes locations and periods easier to compare. It remains a practical measurement, not a life-cycle assessment or a statistically representative market study.
Open research approach
Bamboo Disposables uses this method to build an anonymised practical benchmark. Results are published only when the sample is large enough and the method can be checked per location. We publish sample sizes, spread and limitations, never personal or identifiable location data.
Use the free calculator with your own inputs, or contact us to contribute a measurement series.
Method version 1.0, August 2026. May be cited with attribution and a link to this page.