Double Toilet Roll Holders

The standard installation height for a toilet roll holder in Australia is approximately 650–700mm from the finished floor level, positioned to the side of the toilet at a comfortable reach. It should be installed 200–300mm in front of the toilet bowl. Always follow any specific recommendations from the manufacturer.

Toilet roll holders are available as recessed wall-mounted, surface-mounted (open arm or enclosed), and freestanding floor-standing options. Surface-mounted open arm holders are the most common in Australian bathrooms, they allow easy one-handed roll change. Recessed holders give a very clean, built-in look and suit minimalist bathrooms. Choose a holder in a finish that matches your other bathroom accessories for a coordinated result.

The simplest approach is to buy your accessories from the same brand range as your tapware, many brands such as Phoenix, Caroma Urbane II, and Meir offer coordinated tap and accessory collections. If mixing brands, focus on matching the finish (e.g. brushed nickel or matte black) rather than the exact product range. Small variations in tone between brands are often barely noticeable in a finished bathroom.

Matte black has been the dominant finish for bathroom accessories in Australia for the past several years and remains very popular. Brushed nickel, brushed gold, and brushed brass are also strong choices for warmer or more luxurious interiors. Chrome remains the most versatile and classic option. For coastal homes, PVD-finished accessories offer the best long-term corrosion resistance.

A fully equipped bathroom typically includes a towel rail or heated towel rail, a toilet roll holder, a robe hook (or hooks), a soap dish or soap dispenser, and a toothbrush holder. In the shower, a shower shelf or niche is essential. For a cohesive look, choose all accessories from the same range and finish, most Australian accessory brands like Nero, Phoenix, Meir and Caroma offer complete coordinating sets.

A double toilet roll holder is a single fitting with two spindles or arms, holding two rolls side by side or one above the other, rather than one roll in use plus a separate spare-storage fitting. It solves the same problem as a spare holder, running out mid-use, but does it within one fixture rather than two.

The same general placement applies as for a single holder: to the side of the toilet, roughly 650 to 700mm from the finished floor and about 200 to 300mm forward of the front of the bowl, positioned within comfortable reach from a seated position. Because a double holder is wider or taller than a single-roll fitting, check the available wall space and any door swing or adjoining fixtures before finalising the exact spot.

Installation follows the same principles as any wall-fixed accessory: mark and level the fixing points, drill with the correct bit for the wall type (tile, plasterboard or masonry), and use wall plugs rated for the wall material. A double holder typically has two sets of fixing points rather than one, so getting both level is more important here than on a single-arm holder, since any tilt is more visible across the wider fitting.

This comes down to personal preference rather than a fixed rule, and a double holder doesn't change the answer, each spindle or arm works the same way a single holder's would. Over is the more common default in most households, since it makes the loose end easier to find, but a double holder lets two people or two preferences coexist on the one fixture if that's relevant in a shared bathroom.

A double holder covers two rolls at most, so a household going through paper faster than that generally still needs separate storage, a small basket, open shelf, or a section of a nearby vanity or linen cabinet works well for extra rolls kept close to the toilet. See spare toilet roll holders for a dedicated wall-mounted storage fitting if that suits the space better than loose storage.