Short answer: bamboo and regular toilet paper are made the same way. The main difference is the fibre: regular toilet paper usually uses wood pulp or recycled paper, bamboo toilet paper a fast-growing grass. Softness and strength depend more on how the paper is made than on the plant, and the footprint depends on how and where it’s made.
When it comes to choosing toilet paper, most people don’t think twice about what they grab off the shelf. If you’re weighing up bamboo against the regular rolls you’re used to, here’s how they actually compare, including the points where the evidence is still mixed.
Bamboo vs Regular Toilet Paper at a Glance
| What to compare | Regular toilet paper | Bamboo toilet paper |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre source | Usually virgin wood pulp (often eucalyptus with some softwood) or recycled paper | Bamboo, a fast-growing grass whose stems regrow after harvest |
| Softness | Short hardwood fibres give a smooth feel; recycled paper tends to be less soft | Depends on the fibre blend, creping and plies, not on bamboo alone |
| Strength | Longer softwood fibres add strength | Bamboo fibres are roughly twice as long as eucalyptus fibres, which helps strength |
| Bleaching | Usually bleached, mostly ECF; some unbleached | The same range: ECF, TCF or unbleached (Master Roll: ECF) |
| Packaging | Varies; many multipacks use plastic film | Varies by brand (Master Roll: each roll wrapped in paper) |
| Footprint | Depends on how and where it’s made | Depends on how and where it’s made |
| Price per sheet | Varies widely; compare the price per 100 sheets | Can cost more per roll than budget rolls; compare the price per 100 sheets |
What Are They Made From?
Regular toilet paper is commonly made from virgin wood pulp, often eucalyptus hardwood blended with some softwood, while recycled rolls use waste paper. Bamboo toilet paper uses pulp from bamboo, a grass whose stems can be cut without killing the plant, so a managed stand regrows. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), commercially important species usually mature in four to five years.
Is Bamboo Softer Than Regular Toilet Paper?
It can be very soft, but softness doesn’t come from the plant alone. Short hardwood fibres such as eucalyptus are widely used for a smooth feel, while longer fibres add strength. Much of the softness is created on the tissue machine, by creping, the drying method and the number of plies, so two rolls made from the same fibre can feel very different. You can see each step in our guide to how toilet paper is made.
Is Bamboo Stronger?
Bamboo fibres are roughly twice as long as eucalyptus fibres (about 1.7–2.2 mm against 0.7–0.9 mm in peer-reviewed measurements), and longer fibres help a sheet hold together. Laboratory research suggests bamboo pulp can add strength without losing softness. In practice, ply count and how the sheet is made matter too: a 3-ply sheet has more body than a 2-ply one.
How Are They Bleached?
Both are usually whitened during pulping. Look for ECF (elemental chlorine free, using chlorine dioxide), TCF (totally chlorine free) or unbleached paper, and check whether any fragrance, lotion or dye has been added. Master Roll is bleached without elemental chlorine (ECF) and unscented, with no added fragrance or dyes.
What About Packaging?
Packaging depends on the brand, not the fibre. Many supermarket multipacks come in plastic film, while some brands wrap each roll in paper. Master Roll wraps every roll individually in paper (here’s why we wrap every roll).
Which Is Better for the Environment?
It depends on how and where each is made. Bamboo regrows quickly after harvest, and the environmental group NRDC says bamboo often has a lower footprint than forest fibre. But some bamboo plantations were created by clearing primary forest, and a 2025 peer-reviewed life-cycle study by NC State University researchers found that a China-made bamboo blend had a higher carbon footprint than US wood-based tissue, mostly because of coal-heavy electricity. Recycled paper scores well too: in NRDC’s 2025 US scorecard, the top grades went to products with high recycled content.
We look at both sides in more detail in the environmental impact of regular toilet paper vs bamboo.
How Do Prices Compare?
Per roll, bamboo toilet paper can cost more than budget supermarket rolls. But rolls differ in sheet count and ply, so compare the price per 100 sheets instead: pack price ÷ total sheets × 100. Master Roll has 300 sheets on every roll, and our 48-roll pack has our lowest price per sheet. Our guide to choosing eco-friendly toilet paper shows the method step by step.
Where Does Master Roll Fit?
Master Roll is a 3-ply bamboo toilet paper with 300 sheets per roll, unscented with no added fragrance or dyes, bleached without elemental chlorine (ECF) and individually wrapped in paper. Our bamboo toilet rolls come in a 24-roll pack and a 48-roll pack, with free UK delivery (usually 2–5 business days), same-day dispatch on orders placed by 12pm, and free returns within 30 days on unused packs in their original packaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does bamboo toilet paper feel like normal toilet paper?
It can. Bamboo toilet paper is made on the same kind of tissue machines as wood-based paper, so a soft, multi-ply bamboo roll can feel very similar to a regular one. Recycled paper tends to feel less soft, because its fibres bond less well.
Is bamboo toilet paper more expensive than regular toilet paper?
Per roll, it can be, especially against budget supermarket rolls. But sheet counts and ply vary, so compare the price per 100 sheets to see the real difference. Master Roll’s 48-roll pack has our lowest price per sheet.
Final Thoughts
Bamboo and regular toilet paper are closer than the marketing on either side suggests. The fibre is different, but softness, strength and footprint depend on how the paper is made, how it’s packaged and how far it travels. If you’d like a soft 3-ply roll with no added fragrance or dyes, wrapped in paper, Master Roll is worth a try.
