03/16/2026
The 1891 patent for the toilet paper roll may have settled the “over or under” debate long ago. Filed by American inventor Seth Wheeler, the patent clearly shows the roll hanging in the “over” position, with the paper coming down from the top rather than tucked against the wall.
The patent, No. 465,588, was granted on December 22, 1891, and introduced perforated sheets on a roll as an improvement on Wheeler’s earlier designs. Even though the written patent focuses on reducing waste and litter, the drawings repeatedly present the same orientation: over.
There were practical reasons for that choice. The “over” position makes the end easier to spot, keeps hands farther from the wall, and worked better with the thinner single-ply paper of the time. Some people still prefer “under” today, mostly for pet-related reasons, but the original patent remains the clearest clue to what Wheeler intended.
