🧻 Which way should toilet paper hang?
The classic answer is “over”—with the loose end hanging over the top of the roll toward you.
There isn’t a health rule requiring one direction, but over is generally more practical:
Easier to grab and tear a sheet.
You don’t need to reach behind the roll.
The loose end is less likely to rub against the wall.
It makes it easier to see how much paper remains.
Interestingly, the original 1891 patent for perforated toilet paper illustrated the roll with the paper coming over the top, although the patent isn’t proof that this is the only “correct” orientation.
What about “under”?
Hanging it under is perfectly functional and some people prefer it because the loose end is less visible or harder for pets and small children to pull.
So the verdict: 🧻 Over is the conventional choice, but either direction is hygienically acceptable. The bigger hygiene issue is keeping the loose paper from touching dirty surfaces and washing your hands after using the toilet.
