How to Choose Between Hand Dryers and Paper Towel Dispensers

The hand-drying decision is one of the most-debated specs in commercial restrooms, and the right answer is usually 'both.' Here's how to make the call for your facility.

The four options

1. High-speed hand dryers: Excel XLERATOR, Dyson Airblade, World Dryer SMARTdri
2. Standard warm-air dryers: older tech, 30–45 second dry time
3. Paper towel dispensers: manual lever, hands-free roll, multifold, center-pull
4. Combination: both options available in the same restroom

Total cost: high-speed dryer vs. paper

The cost case for dryers is the most-cited reason to switch, and it turns on traffic. A dryer costs more to buy and install, since it needs an electrician and a circuit, and then uses a little electricity per dry. A paper program costs less to set up and then buys towels, liners, and the custodial time to refill dispensers and empty receptacles, every day, in proportion to use.

Bottom line: the more hands a restroom sees, the faster a dryer pays back. In a low-traffic restroom the gap is small and paper can be competitive. Run the numbers with your own towel price, electricity rate, and daily count before you decide.

Hygiene research: what's actually true

The hand-drying hygiene debate has been genuinely contested in published research, with funding sources visible on both sides.

The honest summary:

• Drying hands thoroughly (by any method) is more hygienically important than the method itself
• Wet hands transfer more bacteria than dry hands
• Modern HEPA-filtered jet dryers (Dyson Airblade, XLERATOR-Eco) significantly reduce airborne particle dispersal vs. older warm-air units
• Paper towels physically remove residual bacteria via friction; jet dryers remove water faster but rely on evaporation
• The CDC has not endorsed one over the other for general use; healthcare settings often spec paper for the friction-removal benefit

Practical takeaway: Either method is fine in standard commercial restrooms. Healthcare and food prep tend to favor paper. High-traffic public spaces tend to favor dryers for cost and cleanliness of the floor area.

Sustainability

• Hand dryers: energy use, but no consumables, no transport, no landfill waste
• Paper towels: recycled-content options exist (Tork, GP), but transport, landfill (most aren't recycled), and water/energy in production are real costs
• MIT and Climate Conservancy lifecycle studies generally favor jet dryers over paper for lower carbon footprint, but the gap narrows with high-recycled-content paper from a regional source

If LEED certification is on the project, both can contribute (paper to MR credits, dryers to EA energy credits).

ADA requirements (Section 308)

Both hand dryers and paper towel dispensers must meet ADA reach and operation requirements:

• Operable parts: 15"–48" AFF
• Maximum projection: ≤ 4" from the wall when mounted between 27" and 80" AFF (avoids head-strike hazard for blind users)
• Operation: One-handed, no tight grasping, 5 lbf max actuation force

Practical impact: Many high-speed dryers project more than 4" when surface-mounted, which is a head-strike hazard on a circulation path. Spec a recessed or low-projection model, or place the dryer in an alcove out of the path. Mounting it higher is not a fix, because the controls and airflow still have to be within reach.

Noise

High-speed dryers are loud, and the loudest models are very loud. For schools, libraries, healthcare, and any quiet environment, this is a real concern.

Look for the manufacturer's published dBA spec and compare models on the same measurement distance.

When to spec which

Dryers only:

• High-traffic public restrooms (sports venues, transit, parks)
• Cost-driven facility programs at scale
• Facilities aggressive about waste reduction

Paper only:

• Healthcare patient-facing restrooms (friction removal preferred)
• Quiet environments where noise is unacceptable
• Premium hospitality where the paper-towel experience is part of the brand
• Older buildings without easy access to a dedicated circuit

Both (most common in new commercial):

• Office buildings: paper near the door, dryer in the main bank
• Schools: paper backup if dryer fails
• Restaurants: dryer for staff efficiency, paper for customer preference
• Airports: both, in alternating banks

What we list

Hand dryers: ASI, Bobrick, Bradley, and Gamco hand dryers, surface-mounted and recessed.

Paper towel dispensers: ASI, Bobrick, Bradley, and Gamco paper towel dispensers.

Combination cabinets: towel and waste combination units such as the Bobrick B-3944, which put a paper towel dispenser and a waste receptacle in one recessed unit.

Need help speccing?

Send us your restroom plan with traffic estimate and we'll recommend the right configuration with budget options. Most quotes back in one business day.