Kitchen Roll Showdown: Premium Brands vs. Budget Options Put to the Test
Kitchen roll remains an essential household item, used daily for cleaning spills, wiping surfaces, and food storage. However, determining whether you're getting the best value for your money can be challenging. To address this, we conducted an extensive test comparing 19 different kitchen roll brands, pitting premium names against supermarket basics to evaluate their performance.
The Testing Methodology
Our testers spilled exactly one-quarter cup of black coffee on a standard kitchen worktop. They then measured how many sheets were required to achieve a completely clean, residue-free surface. This practical test aimed to simulate real-world usage while providing measurable results.
Key Findings: Performance vs. Price
The premium brands demonstrated significantly better performance in our test, but the cheapest supermarket essentials offered superior value for money. While budget options required more sheets to clean the same spill, their substantially lower prices offset this disadvantage. The equation changes when premium brands are on special offer, but for regular purchases, value-conscious shoppers might reconsider their choices.
Top Performers and Value Leaders
Best Overall Performer: Regina kitchen roll emerged as the most efficient option, requiring only three sheets to clean the coffee spill (with two sheets doing an adequate job). However, this premium performance comes at a premium price: £4.74 for two rolls with supersized sheets, or 3.4p per sheet. The total cleanup cost reached 10.2p.
Worst Performer: Morrisons Savers roll required seven sheets to clean the same spill, placing it at the bottom of our performance table. Despite this, at 0.49p per sheet, the total cleanup cost was just 3.43p—significantly cheaper than the premium winner.
Most Expensive Cleanup: The well-known Plenty brand cost 13.1p to clean the spill, requiring five sheets at 2.62p each.
Cheapest Cleanup: Lidl, Asda, and Sainsbury's essential ranges, along with Buffalo kitchen roll, all cost just 2.94p to soak up the coffee spill, making them the most cost-effective options in our test.
Detailed Brand Analysis
- Regina (£4.74 from Asda): While requiring three sheets, the third was only for final residue removal. The sheets measured 32.0cm x 26.5cm—significantly larger than competitors—and felt thicker and more substantial.
- Nicky (£2.95 from Ocado): Required four sheets for a clean finish. Testers noted it was tough and difficult to tear, with sheets measuring 21cm x 22.1cm.
- Flash (£3.50 from Morrisons): Needed four sheets despite slightly larger dimensions than standard 22.5cm x 22.5cm sheets. Felt heavier and more robust than many competitors.
- Plenty (£4.98 from Asda): Required five sheets with some residue remaining after four. Testers found the roll difficult to open, resulting in initial sheet wastage.
- M&S (£2.50): Despite smaller, thinner sheets, performed better than average with five sheets needed. Left room for additional cleanup capacity.
- Asda Shades (£2.48): Required five sheets almost entirely. Slightly smaller at 22.5cm x 20.8cm but cheaper than M&S.
- Waitrose Essential (£2.70): Felt thin like many supermarket options, requiring five sheets for cleanup.
- Aldi Power Force (£1.75): Needed six sheets for final residue removal. At 0.88p per sheet, it was the cheapest option in our top ten.
- Lidl Essential (£1.19): Similar to Aldi, required six sheets but felt slightly thinner.
- Morrisons (£2.50): Required about three-quarters of a sixth sheet. Smaller dimensions at 20.8cm x 22.5cm.
Surprising Discoveries
Our test revealed several unexpected findings. The coffee test showed minimal difference between budget and own-brand rolls at both Tesco and Sainsbury's, suggesting shoppers can save money by choosing budget versions in these supermarkets without sacrificing significant performance.
Additionally, some brands performed contrary to expectations. Lidl's more upmarket option (£2.09 for four rolls) felt like the thinnest and smallest in our test, requiring all six sheets despite its higher price point compared to their cheaper counterpart.
Practical Shopping Advice
For maximum efficiency: Choose Regina if performance is your primary concern and price is secondary.
For best value: Opt for Lidl, Asda, or Sainsbury's essential ranges, or Buffalo kitchen roll for the most cost-effective cleanup.
When comparing within supermarkets: Consider choosing budget versions over own-brand options at Tesco and Sainsbury's, as performance differences were minimal.
All prices in our analysis are based on packs of two kitchen rolls or nearest equivalents, with the cheapest available prices excluding temporary promotions. Sheet counts and dimensions varied significantly between brands, affecting both performance and value calculations.
