Kirkland toilet paper is a good way to save money, but it isn't the best toilet paper you can buy. It is soft enough, it breaks down fast in water, and it costs under a fifth of a cent per sheet. It is also thinner than premium rolls, and some owners report lint and uneven batches. That inconsistency makes sense once you know Costco does not manufacture it, a point we unpacked in our guide on who makes Costco toilet paper. Here is how it holds up on softness, plumbing, price, and the downsides, based on Consumer Reports testing, the NRDC scorecard, and what owners actually report.
Softness and Strength
The standard pack is 2-ply, 30 rolls, 380 sheets per roll, with each sheet measuring 4.5 by 4 inches, for 1,425 square feet total. That sheet size is wider than many store brands, and happy owners mention it first.
Consumer Reports tested Kirkland in an older round and found the toilet paper soft but less strong than top brands. Owner reviews also highlight the same thing. The 30-roll pack has around 4.6 to 4.7 stars on Costco's site, yet the newest complaints mention dust or lint on the outer layers and sheets that shred when you tear them. Forum shoppers say the opposite: same paper, no change in softness. Both groups share sincere reviews, so I read it as batch-to-batch variation, not a single verdict.
My take: It works fine for kids' bathrooms, guest baths, and everyday use. If you like a plush, thick sheet, it will feel thin next to Charmin Ultra Soft. If you open a pack that sheds lint, return it, since Costco accepts returns at its warehouses.
Is It Safe for Septic Systems and Pipes?
Costco labels it septic safe, and the paper is designed to fall apart in water. Consumer Reports rated it excellent at disintegrating in its older test, which is a real edge over thick quilted rolls that linger in drain lines.
The catch is that thin paper tempts people to use more, and a pile of wet sheets can still clog an old line. Some Reddit users say their plumbers told them to avoid the brand, as House Digest reported, but that is anecdotal, not lab-tested. If your pipes are old or you rarely pump your tank, flush in smaller batches for the first week and watch how the toilet drains. If it drains slowly, switch brands before you call a plumber.
Price and the Downsides
Recent price tracking across Costco warehouses shows the 30-roll, 380-sheet pack ranging from $19.99 to $27.49, averaging about $21.13. That is 11,400 sheets, or roughly 0.19 cents per sheet. Shoppers also report that online prices run a few dollars above warehouse prices, so check the app before you buy. You can only save if you already have a membership, and there’s enough room to store 30 rolls.
The bigger downside is sustainability. Kirkland has no recycled content, and the Natural Resources Defense Council gave it an F on its Issue with Tissue scorecard, which grades brands on their reliance on forest fiber such as Canada's boreal forest. The pack carries an FSC Mix label, but NRDC's grade did not change. NRDC also says it linked Costco's store-brand tissue to a mill in Dryden, Ontario, and that Costco did not say whether its products contain pulp from there. If that matters to you, a recycled brand will serve you better.
My Verdict
Buy Kirkland if you have a big household, a membership, and modern plumbing, and you care more about cost per sheet than plushness. Skip it if you want a thick, soft sheet, if your pipes are old, or if forest sourcing is a dealbreaker. I wouldn't call it the best toilet paper, but at around $21 for 30 rolls, it is a sensible choice for daily use.
