Hand Dryer vs Paper Towel: Choosing Washroom Accessories

Picture a busy washroom at peak hour—taps running, hands dripping, and everyone eyeing that last step before they walk out the door. That final moment is exactly where the hand dryer vs paper towel decision gets made. So which wins? It depends on your wall space, your power access, and how much noise you can live with. Hand dryers suit spots with an outlet already nearby and no concern about noise, while paper towels are useful when you need quiet operation. Below, we break down both options in detail.

A MythBusters investigation testing whether hand dryers are hygienically cleaner than paper towels, offering independent, factual insight relevant to choosing washroom hand-drying accessories.
Video Credit: MythBusters

Why Hand Drying Matters in a Washroom

The basins are busy, but once you step back from the tap and turn to dry your hands is where you make the choice between hand dryer vs paper towel.

Consider how much space you have on the wall around the basin and whether the dispenser or dryer needs to be locked to protect the consumables or components inside.

Metal wall-mounted hand dryer with chrome nozzle on grey tiled bathroom wall

Comparing Them on the Facts

The big question is: what are the differences in the hand dryer vs paper towel comparison? Forget the marketing and think about what these items do.

Hand dryers run on electricity. You must connect the product to an electrical outlet, either via hard wiring or a plug-in cable. Paper towel dispensers are non-electrical. Hand dryers generate a certain amount of noise, depending on the model. Each listing contains the noise level in decibels (dB). Hand dryers are usually fixed with theft-resistant screws rather than a lock, while some paper towel dispensers include a tumbler lock for the consumables inside.

Stainless steel hand dryer mounted on grey tiled wall beside vanity basin

When Hand Dryers Make Sense

Hand dryers don't need refilling. Our range of Metlam slimline automatic hand dryers are electric and both listings show they can be hardwired by a licensed electrician or plugged into a nearby outlet using the cord and plug. If you need a new power outlet installed near the dryer, that work must be done by a licensed electrician.

Take the noise level of a hand dryer into consideration when choosing which to buy. A loud hand dryer installed outside a doctor's office or in a quiet change room is not the best idea. Noise levels vary between models. The EcoSlender makes 68.9dB to 74.3dB at 240V 1000W, while the Eclipse is 72dB (+/- 3) at one metre on 220-240V. If your premises already has a power outlet nearby and the noise won't be a nuisance, a hand dryer could be right for your wall.

Man in suit pulling paper towel from wall-mounted dispenser in office corridor

Advantages of paper towels

Paper towels are useful when you need quiet operation or cannot install a power outlet close to the basin. All paper towel dispensers we examined are lockable, non-electric and list the size of paper towel they require, so make sure you get the right size when ordering. The Metlam surface-mounted dispenser accepts standard-size commercial slim paper towel, while the Poseidon in satin stainless has a tumbler lock on its hinged front.

Food businesses must provide soap and single-use towels or another effective way to dry hands at hand-wash basins, under the FSANZ Food Standards Code. And don't forget that someone needs to empty the bin, so put it close to the dispenser so you don't have to walk across a wet washroom with paper towels in your hand.

Hand pressing dark grey wall-mounted soap dispenser pumps above shower in tiled bathroom

Who Looks After It

Even if you use a hand dryer or paper towel, you'll still need to provide soap at the basins, so choose soap dispensers that are easy to refill and it will save you time on your maintenance schedule. Some bench-mounted soap dispensers we found let you fill the bottle from the top, including the Fienza Isabella and the Fienza Kaya, as well as the Meir Round with top refill technology.

Mounting hand dryers or a paper towel dispenser does not need a licensed tradesperson unless the dryer is hardwired, in which case a licensed electrician makes the connection. Check out the listings for instructions on how to restock them before you buy, and you'll be ready to go.

References

National Construction Code 2025, ABCB Housing Provisions, Part 10.8 Condensation management

AS 1428.1:2021 Design for access and mobility, Part 1: General requirements for access — New building work, Standards Australia

AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical Installations (Wiring Rules) (incorporating Amendment 3:2023), Standards Australia

Plumbing licensing requirements, state and territory plumbing regulators

FAQs

Can I run a hand dryer off a standard power point, or does it need a dedicated circuit?

Some slimline models can be plugged into a standard power point while others need to be hardwired — check the product listing and ask your electrician to confirm the circuit can handle the dryer's power draw, especially if installing more than one, before installation day.

How often should paper towel dispensers actually be checked during a busy trading day?

There is no fixed rule — frequency depends on foot traffic and dispenser capacity, so check the product page and inspect periodically, increasing checks at busy times rather than waiting for a staff member to notice an empty dispenser mid-shift.

Is it worth having both a dryer and a paper towel dispenser in the same washroom?

Plenty of sites do exactly this as a backup for power outages or peak-hour queues, though it does mean budgeting for both electrical work and ongoing paper refills rather than settling on one running cost.