No-Dril Paper Towel Holder

Overview

A paper towel roll holder that mounts underneath a desk, shelf, or cabinet using damage-free mounting strips. It has two end brackets and a screw-in plug. The plug unscrews to swap rolls, and nothing needs to be drilled, screwed, or glued into the surface it hangs from.

Features

• No drilling, no tools. The whole thing mounts with adhesive strips and comes back off without a trace. That makes it a good fit for rentals, shared spaces, or furniture you don't own.

• Recessed for the strips. The mounting face on each bracket has an indentation that takes up the height the strips add, so the brackets sit snug against the surface.

• Easy roll changes. The plug on one end unscrews, leaving enough room to pull out the empty tube and drop in a new roll.

• Sturdy but light. Printed on standard settings, it's solid in use but surprisingly lightweight.

Instructions

Printing

Print one of each part:

• Fixed bracket

• Threaded bracket

• Plug

I printed mine on standard settings with no changes. It came out sturdy and surprisingly lightweight, so there's no need to crank up the infill.

Materials

• Mounting strips (or any damage-free adhesive strips), enough for both brackets.

Installation

1. Attach the strips. Stick mounting strips to the recessed face on each bracket.

2. Line it up with a roll. Place a roll between the two brackets with the plug screwed in, so the whole assembly is spaced and aligned the way it will hang.

3. Mount it. Expose the adhesive on the other side of the strips and press the whole assembly up against the mounting surface. Hold firm pressure for a moment on each end.

💡 Mounting with a roll already in place is the easiest way to get the spacing right. The brackets can't drift apart or twist out of line while you position them.

Replacing the Roll

1. Unscrew the plug from the threaded bracket.

2. Swap the roll. Slide the empty tube off the fixed end and fit the new roll onto it.

3. Screw the plug back in, making sure its end seats inside the roll.

Alternative: Tool-Free Swap with Reclosable Strips

If you use strips that can be repeatedly removed and reattached (like Command strips), you can skip the plug entirely. Print two fixed brackets instead. To change rolls, pull one end (or both) off its strip, swap the roll, and press the bracket back up against the half of the strip still stuck to the surface.

I prefer the screw-in plug, but either approach works fine.

Background

I keep a roll of paper towels handy in my office, but I had nowhere to put it and it bugged me. I know you can buy holders like this, and someone has probably already made a printable one, but I had this design in my head right away and went with it. It's exactly what I wanted.

Since it's for my office at work, the desk I wanted to mount it under isn't mine, so drilling into it wasn't an option. Adhesive strips made it the perfect solution, since it's completely undoable.