Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the micellar characteristics and solubilization efficiency of the oligomeric surfactant Tyloxapol and compare these with the corresponding standard monomeric surfactant Triton X-100 using spectral and scattering techniques. The focus has been to determine the solubilization of the commercially important compound bisphenol A (BPA, also an endocrine disruptor) in these two nonionic surfactants and its effect on the micellar structures in solution. 5% Triton X-100 in water at 30 °C forms ellipsoidal micelles ( R h (DLS) ≈ 5.5 nm, R a (SANS) ≈ 6.3 nm, R b (SANS) ≈ 2.0 nm, N agg ∼ 287), whereas small spherical micelles ( R h (DLS) ≈ 3.4 nm, R c (SANS) ≈ 2.1 nm, N agg ∼ 16) are formed by Tyloxapol. BPA solubilized to a greater extent in Tyloxapol micelles than Triton X-100 micelles; the molar solubilization ratio and micelle–water partition coefficient were higher than for Triton X-100 micelles. BPA induced micelle growth was seen for both the surfactants which resulted in a noticeable change in phase behaviour, viscosity and shape/size of the micelles. Small spherical Tyloxapol micelles transform into ellipsoidal ones while the ellipsoidal Triton X-100 micelles transform to short rods/stretched ellipsoidal structures. Micellar/phase behaviour for BPA solubilized micelles was markedly dependent on the pH of the solution.