Nothing in the toilet makers' or builders' documents defines "RV toilet paper" by a test or a standard, so nothing forces you to buy the pack on the store shelf. What matters is how fast the paper breaks apart in water: an RV toilet drops it straight into the black tank with about a quart of water, and it sits there for days.
RV Toilet Paper: What "RV Safe" Means and What Clogs a Black Tank
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At a glance
- Why it matters: an RV flush uses about 1 quart of water against about 1.6 gallons in a house toilet, so paper has to fall apart on its own.
- What the label means: "Septic Safe" or "Made for RVs" is the maker's own claim that the paper dissolves quickly, not a tested standard.
- What actually clogs tanks: wipes (including ones sold as flushable), sanitary products, and too little water in the tank.
On this page (7)
Our picks
- Scott Rapid-Dissolving toilet paper, 12 double rolls: sold as rapid-dissolving; still worth the jar test before you stock up
- Camco 1-ply RV toilet paper, 4 rolls: single-ply, the kind Jayco asks for
- Thetford RV Tissue Digester, 19 oz: for paper that has already packed into the tank
Do you need special toilet paper?
You need paper that dissolves fast, not a particular brand. Every toilet maker and RV builder checked for this page asks for it: Dometic's gravity-flush manual says rapid-dissolving tissue, and Jayco says RV-grade single-ply.
The reason is plumbing, not marketing. An RV toilet flushes with about 1 quart of water, and the holding tank stores waste for several days. No sewer line carries the paper away as you flush. How an RV toilet works covers the valve and seal side.
What "RV safe" and "septic safe" mean
They are the makers' own claims, not a tested standard. Keystone says to use only paper approved for RVs, and the pack will read "Septic Safe" or "Made for RVs". No maker or regulator defines either term by a test, so treat the label as a strong hint, not a certification.
A jar test you can run at home
This simple check shows how a roll behaves in a little water. Run it on any paper you are considering, including the one you keep in the house.
- Drop two or three squares into a clear jar of water.
- Screw the lid on and shake it a few times, the way water sloshes in a tank on the road.
- Hold it up to the light. Paper that has broken into small, loose pieces is fine. Paper that stays in a sheet or a rope is what builds up under the flush valve.
Can you use the paper you have at home?
Yes, if it passes the jar test. Dometic explains that adhesives in some household tissue keep the fibers from breaking apart, which can clog low-flow plumbing. Thick, quilted or lotion-treated paper is the kind that stays in sheets.
Water matters as much as the paper. Put water in the bowl before you flush solids and paper, as Dometic and Keystone both ask. Winnebago says to prime the black tank with five gallons of water before use so solids do not settle under the flush valve.
Tip: With too little water, waste and paper pile into a pyramid under the toilet and block flushing even though the tank is not full. Airstream calls this out; enough water in the bowl and the tank prevents it.
What should never go in the toilet
Between them, the manuals give a short list. Keep out of the bowl:
- Wet wipes and sanitary products, including any sold as flushable.
- Facial tissue, paper towels and paper cups.
- Cotton swabs, dental floss, hair and food.
- Bleach, drain openers, automotive antifreeze, ammonia and solvents.
If paper has already packed into the tank, a tissue digester or tank treatment is where the makers point you.
Composting and cassette toilets
Dry toilets are easier on paper. Nature's Head says any toilet paper works, though single-ply breaks down quicker, and Thetford's separation toilet takes paper in with the solids. That is one reason owners look at a composting toilet. Cassette toilet manuals say nothing about paper, so use quick-dissolving paper as for any small tank.
Common questions
Do RVs need special toilet paper?
No rule or regulation requires it. Any paper that breaks apart quickly in water does the same job, whether or not it was sold for RVs.
Can I use regular toilet paper in my RV?
A thin household single-ply usually works. Test a few squares in a jar of water first, and skip anything quilted or lotion-treated.
What can I use instead of RV toilet paper?
Any septic-safe paper, or a thin single-ply you have checked. Some composting toilet owners put used paper in a trash can instead, which Nature's Head says keeps the compost material going longer.
Are flushable wipes safe for an RV toilet?
No. Dometic bans wet wipes, and Keystone bans sanitary products even when they are labeled flushable. They do not break apart in an RV flush, and they are a common cause of a tank that will not drain.