Nobody got promoted for running out of toilet roll. But nobody tracks it either — it just sort of happens, usually on a Friday afternoon when the nearest supplier is closed and someone's heading to Tesco.
Most businesses fall into one of two camps. The first over-orders: boxes stacked in corridors, products sitting for months, and a budget line that quietly inflates. The second under-orders: scrambling for emergency supplies at retail prices, staff distracted, guests unimpressed. Neither is a good look.
This guide cuts through both problems with straightforward maths. You'll finish it knowing exactly how much stock your business needs, when to reorder, and which format suits your footfall.
Why Getting This Wrong Costs More Than You Think
Over-ordering feels safe — until you're paying for storage you didn't budget for, writing off products that sat too long, and realising your storeroom now contains enough toilet roll to survive a minor siege. Dead stock is wasted capital.
Under-ordering is quietly worse. Emergency retail purchases typically run at three to four times B2B unit cost. Factor in the staff time to collect it, the disruption to service, and the reputational damage when a guest finds an empty dispenser. One bad experience travels further than a full stockroom.
The sweet spot is simpler than most people expect: order approximately 20% above your average monthly usage, and set a reorder trigger when you reach a two-week supply buffer.
How to Calculate Usage by Business Type
The core formula is straightforward:
- Rolls per day: (Daily visitors × average sheets per visit) ÷ sheets per roll
- Rolls per month: Rolls per day × working days per month
- Cases per month: Rolls per month ÷ rolls per case
For reference, a standard commercial jumbo toilet roll contains approximately 400 sheets. A standard case holds 12 rolls. These figures vary by product — always check your specific product spec.
All figures below are estimates. Actual usage varies by venue, product format, dispenser type, and occupancy patterns.
| Business Type | Est. Daily Visitors | Sheets/Visit | Rolls/Day (jumbo) | Rolls/Month | Cases/Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small office (20 staff) | 20 | 5 | ~0.25 | 5–6 | ~0.5 |
| Medium office (50 staff) | 50 | 5 | ~0.6 | 13–15 | ~1.2 |
| Large office (100 staff) | 100 | 5 | ~1.25 | 25–28 | ~2.3 |
| Restaurant / pub (80 covers) | 120 (incl. staff) | 5 | ~1.5 | 33–36 | ~3 |
| Hotel (30 rooms) | 60 guests + staff | 6 | ~0.9 | 27–30 | ~2.5 |
| Salon (15 clients/day) | 15 + 5 staff | 4 | ~0.25 | 5–6 | ~0.5 |
| Café (40 seats) | 80 | 4 | ~0.8 | 17–20 | ~1.5 |
Hotels skew higher because guests treat in-room rolls differently from workplace facilities. Salons often underestimate staff usage — your team uses the same facilities your clients do. Use these numbers as a starting point, then track actual consumption for two to three months.
Office vs Hospitality vs Salon — The Differences That Matter
Offices: predictable usage, weekday-only, lower peaks. You can plan monthly orders with confidence. That predictability is a genuine advantage — use it.
Hospitality: variable, seasonal surges — bank holidays, summer bookings, Christmas party season — can push usage 40–60% above baseline in a single week. Wastage is higher in public-facing facilities. Build a 30–50% buffer into weekend and peak-season planning.
Salons and clinics: low volume, high consistency. Client numbers are appointment-driven. The variable most owners miss is staff. In a salon with six chairs running back-to-back, your team uses the facilities as frequently as your clients. Count them in your baseline.
Rule of thumb: Hospitality venues should add 30–50% buffer for weekends and seasonal peaks. Offices and salons can operate on tighter buffers — but not zero.
Building a Reorder Schedule That Works
Knowing your usage is half the job. The other half is making sure you never run out. Three approaches:
| Method | Best For | How It Works | Main Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed monthly order | Offices, salons | Same quantity, same date each month | Drifts if demand shifts |
| Two-week trigger | Hospitality, variable | Reorder when stock hits 2-week level | Needs someone to check |
| Standing order | Any (reliable supplier) | Auto-delivery, adjust quarterly | Needs periodic review |
Start with a fixed monthly order. It requires no infrastructure and no buy-in beyond one calendar reminder. Once you have two to three months of data, adjust.
The trigger-based approach suits variable demand. Pair it with a clearly labelled reorder line on the shelf. Standing orders work once your usage is established — review quantities quarterly, not annually.
Choosing the Right Toilet Roll Format for Your Footfall
- Standard rolls (200 sheets): Low-traffic — small offices, back-of-house, staff toilets. Lower cost per unit, higher replacement frequency.
- Jumbo rolls (300–500 sheets): The commercial workhorse. Fewer changes, better value per sheet at volume. Medium to high footfall.
- Mini-jumbo: Middle ground — reduced changeover without full jumbo dispensers. Hotels and salons.
- Compact/coreless: Space-efficient and waste-reducing. Worth considering if storage is limited.
Match the format to the dispenser and the footfall. A jumbo roll in a low-traffic single-occupancy toilet is overkill. A standard roll in a busy restaurant cubicle is a maintenance problem waiting to happen.
For a deeper look at cost-per-use differences between formats, see our guide on the real cost of washroom supplies.
If you'd rather skip straight to a recommendation: tell us your venue type, daily footfall, and number of facilities. We'll suggest the right format, the right quantity, and a reorder schedule that fits your operation. One case. No contract. No minimum.
