Charmin and Cottonelle are giants in the toilet paper world. Both brands have a loyal and satisfied customer base that leaves glowing reviews for their products. Inquiring minds want to know- which of these two brands is the better toilet paper?
Researching both brands, their array of products, and their efforts to be more eco-conscious show Cottonelle is the easy winner. Their products offer similar or better benefits to Charmin while remaining more eco-friendly. When it comes to toilet paper performance, Charmin is the better option.
On the surface, these two brands of toilet paper may seem fairly similar, but there are plenty of differences. Do you want to find out which toilet paper is better between Charmin and Cottonelle? Our detailed guide will break down all the information you need to give you the confidence to choose the right product for you.
What’s the Difference Between Charmin and Cottonelle?
Let’s start by taking a look at their ingredients. Both Charmin and Cottonelle are made using water and sustainably sourced wood pulp or fibers. Charmin also has a conditioner added to its product for added softness.
Cottonelle’s toilet paper is 100% biodegradable and safe for septic tanks and sewers. Charmin is also biodegradable, however, due to the plushier nature of their toilet paper, it can form clogs in your plumbing more easily than Cottonelle.
The texture of Cottonelle’s toilet paper is also different from Charmin’s. This will largely depend on which product you’re buying, but for example, Cottonelle Ultra Clean has a ripple texture for a better cleaning experience. A similar product of Charmin’s, Ultra Strong, has a washcloth-like texture instead.
They’re also not the same size. A single sheet of Cottonelle Ultra Clean is 4in high and about 3.8in wide and contains 388 sheets per roll. Charmin’s similar product Ultra Strong is 4in high and 3.9in wide and contains 341 sheets per roll. If you do the math, you’ll see that Cottonelle Ultra Clean will offer you more product than Charmin Ultra Strong.
What Products Does Charmin Offer?
Charmin offers a variety of products designed to meet your individual needs. Here’s a quick brief of each product they offer.
1. Charmin Ultra Soft- Charmin Ultra Soft is 2-ply and designed to give you the most comfort possible without compromising on durability.
2. Charmin Ultra Strong Clean Touch Toilet Paper- Charmin Ultra Strong is also 2-ply and is said to be 4x more absorbent than the next leading brand. It has a washcloth-like texture for a more thorough clean.
3. Charmin Ultra Gentle Toilet Paper- Charmin Ultra Gentle is dermatologist tested to provide you with the gentlest touch possible. This toilet paper is infused with a touch of lotion to help moisturize and protect your skin.
4. Charmin Flushable Wipes- Charmin Flushable Wipes are perfect for when you need a good clean on the go. They’re safe to use with most plumbing, so long as you only flush a couple at a time and they come in resealable packages.
Charmin Essentials Line
1. Strong- Charmin Essentials Strong toilet paper is single-ply and has 3x the strength of regular toilet paper.
2. Soft- Charmin Essentials Soft toilet paper is soft, 2-ply, and safe to use on all skin types.
3. Charmin Forever Roll- Charmin’s Forever Roll more than triples the number of sheets as their other products. Each roll contains 1700 sheets and is guaranteed to last you a good while.
What Products Does Cottonelle Offer?
Cottonelle also offers a wide range of products that cater to their customer’s unique needs. Here’s a quick rundown of each of their products.
1. Cottonelle CleanCare- Cottonelle CleanCare is ultra soft, absorbent, and single-ply. It’s great for all skin types and has a ripple design for maximum cleaning power.
2. Cottonelle Ultra Clean Toilet Paper- Cottonelle Ultra Clean is 1-ply, soft, and free of any dyes or perfumes. It’s biodegradable and made from sustainable materials.
3. Cottonelle Ultra Comfort Toilet Paper- Cottonelle Ultra Comfort is 2-ply with unique cushioning to provide you with extra softness. Each sheet is designed to provide you with equal comfort and strength.
4. Cottonelle FreshFeel Flushable Wet Wipes- Cottonelle FreshFeel Wipes are free of alcohol, dyes, parabens, or other harsh chemicals. They’ll provide you with a gentle and thorough clean and come in a resealable package.
5. Cottonelle GentlePlus Flushable Wet Wipes with Aloe for Sensitive Skin- Cottonelle GentlePlus wipes provide you with all the comfort and cleaning power of their FreshFeel wipes with an added touch of aloe vera and vitamin E to help protect and hydrate your skin.
Which Toilet Paper is More Affordable?
When comparing Charmin vs Cottonelle, it’s easy to see which of these brands is the more affordable option. Charmin’s products are consistently priced lower than Cottonelle’s, but let’s break that down further.
Below is a table that will give you a breakdown of how much each roll of toilet paper costs per brand when comparing similar products. These prices were obtained through Amazon and may differ through other retailers.
| Toilet Paper | Cost Per Roll |
| Charmin Ultra Strong 24 Pack | $1.36 |
| Cottonelle Ultra Clean 24 Pack | $1.80 |
| Charmin Ultra Soft 24 Pack | $1.58 |
| Cottonelle Ultra Comfort 24 Pack | $1.87 |
By doing the math, it’s easy to see that for a comparable product, Charmin is the more affordable option. You end up consistently paying 30 cents or more extra for Cottonelle’s similar toilet paper products.
Who Makes the Better Wet Wipe?
To determine which brand offers their customers the best wet wipe, there are a few factors that need to be looked at. We’ll detail which which brand offers the best clean, the safest ingredients, and the more environmentally conscious product.
Charmin wet wipes are made with several ingredients, most of which are natural. There is a plastic ingredient in their wet wipes called dimethicone. Charmine says that their wipes are safe to use with most well-maintained plumbing systems, and their wipes are scented to provide a more pleasant bathroom experience.
Cottonelle’s wet wipes are made from 100% natural materials and don’t contain any plastic. They’re biodegradable and safe to use with most septic tanks and sewer systems. Their wipes are free of any alcohols, perfumes, or other harsh chemicals.
Taking all of this information into account, it’s clear that Cottonelle makes the better wet wipes. Their ingredients are safer and more eco-conscious, and their products are more easily biodegradable.
Which Toilet Paper Has More Strength?
Charmin and Cottonelle offer similar products and it can be hard to determine which offers the stronger toilet paper. Both Charmin Ultra Strong and Cottonelle Ultra Clean are advertised as being thicker, stronger, and more absorbent than their competitors, so which is the stronger toilet paper?
Charmin Ultra Strong is 2-ply, while Cottonelle’s Ultra Clean product is only 1-ply. Having that extra layer of toilet paper will give Charmin’s product more strength than Cottonelle’s single ply toilet paper.
Which Toilet Paper is Softer?
This is going to be another difficult comparison because Charmin and Cottonelle offer such similar products. However, if you take a look at their products that are designed to bring you the gentlest clean possible, then it’s easy to see which toilet paper is softer.
Cottonelle Ultra Comfort toilet paper is 2-ply and designed with a ripple texture that absorbs moistures while providing you with the comfort you need. Charmin Ultra Soft is also 2-ply and offers a unique cushioning touch that doesn’t compromise its strength.
Charmin is the clear winner here because their toilet paper’s design is gentler on your skin and provides you with more cushioning than Cottonelle.
What is the History of Charmin?
In 1928, Charmin began in Green Bay, Wisconsin as Hoberg Paper Company. An employee once described the toilet paper they produced as ‘charming’ and that is how the brand got its iconic name.
Their brand and image grew with the times and their toilet paper became known to be as soft as a baby’s bottom, which heavily influenced their advertising. In the year 2000, they changed up their advertising to a family of bears who became the face of their brand ever since.
Charmin introduced their Ultra Strong product in 2007, which quickly became one of their most popular toilet papers. The brand has continued to grow since then, and is an active social media presence, including introducing a SnapChat filter in 2019.
What is the History of Cottonelle?
Cottonelle toilet paper didn’t come onto the market until much later than Charmin. It was introduced in 1973 by a corporation known as Kimberly Clark. Their advertisements began by featuring a woman and there was a large focus on how soft their toilet paper was.
Their toilet paper was often compared to the softness of a cotton ball in early advertisements. The name Cottonelle came from this comparison and their focus was on providing a product that was both soft and absorbent.
They changed their advertising focus in early 2008 to feature a dog. Their products expanded, and they began offering toilet paper that contained aloe and vitamin E to help protect and soothe your skin.
Related Questions
Do you have more questions about Charmin and Cottonelle toilet paper? Read on to learn more about these two brands.
Charmin Ultra Strong vs Ultra Soft
These two products are incredibly similar, but Charmin Ultra Strong focuses on absorbency while Ultra Soft focuses on providing you with the gentlest clean possible. Charmin Ultra Soft sheets are actually wider than Ultra Strong so they’ll provide the same amount of absorbency while offering you a thorough and gentle clean.
Read our full Charmin Ultra Strong vs Ultra Soft article here.
Cottonelle Ultra Clean vs Ultra Comfort
Cottonelle Ultra Clean is inlaid with a ripple texture to give you the best clean possible. It’s single ply and made with the same biodegradable ingredients as Ultra Comfort. Cottonelle Ultra Comfort is 2-ply, which means each sheet is thicker than Ultra Clean. This will provide you with more cushioning for a gentler cleaning experience.
Charmin Essentials Soft vs Strong
Charmin Essentials Soft and Strong are very similar products. They’re both made of the same materials and are comparably priced. The major difference between these two products is that Charmin Essentials Strong is 1-ply, while Charmin Essentials Soft is 2-ply. The extra cushioning makes Charmin Essentials Soft a more comfortable product.
What is the Cottonelle Clean Ripple?
The Cottonelle Clean Ripple is the texture that all their toilet papers are designed with. These ripples are meant to hold moisture better and also provide you with a more thorough clean. It’s unique to Cottonelle and sets their products apart from their competitors.
What Other Brands is Charmin Affiliated With?
Charmin’s parent company is Procter and Gamble, which means that they’re associated with the other brands that this company represents. In particular, most people associate Charmin with Bounty and Puffs.
Do Both Offer Subscriptions to Save Money?
Yes, Cottonelle and Charmin offer subscriptions to save money through Amazon. These subscriptions mean that you’ll pay for and be sent their products at set intervals and you’ll receive a discount for subscribing to their products.
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Final Verdict- Which Toilet Paper Should I Buy?
There’s a lot to think about when choosing between Charmin vs Cottonelle. Both offer a wide range of products and strive to meet environmentally conscious standards. However, there’s a clear winner between the two, and it’s Cottonelle.
Even though Charmin’s products are slightly more affordable, Cottonelle offers products that are 100% biodegradable and free of alcohol, parabens, or harsh chemicals. The slight difference in price will more than make up for the positive effect Cottonelle’s company will have on the environment and they offer a range of products to meet your individual needs. Whether you’re looking for maximum strength or a gentle toilet paper infused with vitamin E, Cottonelle has the perfect product for you.
Jamie is the Founder of My Home Dwelling. He is a homeowner and enjoys sharing his homeowner tips with others. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. Jamie has worked on numerous residential construction sites helping with interior and exterior renovations. He loves refinishing furniture, DIY home projects, and sharing his knowledge online.