Do toilet seats come in different sizes?

Are all toilet seats the same size?

No.  Toilet seats come in different sizes and shapes. Toilet seats are available in two shapes for different toilet bowls-- round and elongated. Round and elongated toilet seats do have sizes and can be sized to fit your toilet seats with a little effort. If you want accurate sizing don't eyeball it and guess. Guessing is how you get the wrong size, all toilet seats are not the same size. You'll need a tape measure to accurately do this, trust me there are some odd shaped toilet seats, which you can find at your local hardware store.

What is the size of an elongated toilet seat?

About 18.5 inches.

What is the size of a round toilet seat?

About 16.5 inches.

How to Measure the Toilet Bowl

Find out if if your toilet seat with fit

  1. Take off the old toilet seat. Get help with this or do it yourself.
  2. Get a measuring tape, paper, and a pencil or pen.
  3. Start at the center of the two mounting holes and extend the measuring tape to the very front of the bowl.
  4. Write down the length of the toilet bowl.
  5. If the toilet bowl is 16.5-17 inches then you have round toilet seat dimensions.
  6. If the toilet bowl 18.5-19 inches are the size of an elongated toilet seat.
  7. FYI, both toilet seats have a width of 14-14.5 inches.
  8. Mr. Rooter suggests you write down the width, or the amount of space across the bowl at it's widest part, in order to cross-check the fit of the new toilet seat. Make sure there is enough space to sit on and make sure it's not too small or thin.

Importance of Compatibility

We cannot stress enough how important the above measurements are. A toilet seat might look the best for you, but really, you have to forget about it if its size does not fall between the range of measurements that you got from the toilet bowl and the toilet seat. With that said, is there a possibility that you purchased the wrong size even if you got the right measurements?

Believe it or not, this is still possible. We know that it can be frustrating, especially if you already have the toilet seat. This problem is brought about the hinges, screws, or the blocks that came with the toilet seat kit. Some manufacturers do not check the kits, and they end up sending over hinges that take up too much space, which eventually adds to the measurement of the toilet seat.

In order to avert this problem, always check if the hinges are too small or too large. You also have to imagine if these connecting parts have a place on your toilet bowl.

That is where the measure of the two bolt holes on your toilet bowl is essential. If you have that measure, you can easily see if the hinges that came with the kit will fit the toilet bowl.

What Are My Other Toilet Seat Sizing Options?

For children. There are also sizing options for toddler sized toilet seats. These can vary from a little more than 14, 15, and 16 inches in length. This is great for toddlers who are learning to use the potty and parents who are teaching their toddlers. Seats that fit toddlers are great for their safety because it helps prevent them from falling into the toilet, and has a fit that will keep their hands away from the inside of the bowl.

Extended sizing. There are also extended sized toilet seats for taller and larger toilet users, as well as anyone who wants a more roomy and comfortable toilet seat. The lengths and widths of these toilets are extended in size. They can be adjusted from 17 inches, up to almost 20 inches in length. Also great for use by a variety of sized behinds, as well as women who are pregnant, and anyone who has ailments that require a larger seat.

You also have to keep in mind that toilet seats with extended sizes should be at a different bathroom than those of the bathrooms that can be accessed by children. The reason behind this is that this poses a drowning risk.

Your little one might get into it, and with its large opening, he or she might put his or her head in. At the same time, it will be easier for them to put things in it, which can easily clog the toilet.

Room to grow and customization. Please note that some people prefer to have more toilet seat space and will order up in size if they can get it customized. Be warned that these sizes are about half an inch bigger than the average round or elongated toilet seats, and other sizes can be found. This is great if you have a larger bathroom and not suggested for homes with small or oddly shaped bathrooms. The only drawback is that it will cost you a lot more money. These are great for women who are pregnant, and people who are overweight or very tall.

More than that, you also have to think about where the plumbing and tubes go. For this, just take a look at the orientation of the wall.

There are options where the toilet can really be backed up against the wall without exposed piping. Therefore, this type is great for smaller homes wherein you need to utilize all the space that you can get.

Recover and feel better. If you have aches and pains, have had recent surgery, are pregnant, or even have back problems or sciatica, raised toilet seats and padded toilet seats are a good option for you. These toilet seats have the same lengths as standard toilet seats, but are very thick and can even have padding and propped up support if you need it. There are also warming and cleaning toilet seats that will help people with aches and pains from age or injury.

Further, there are toilet seats with an ergonomic design. This means that the seat moves with you and will eventually take on your body's shape. This is great because, through continued use, the toilet seat will be more comfortable to use. Do not worry as this type of design will not curve or change shape, it just has a bit of leeway in terms of your body's proportions

Other countries. If you are in another country like the UK, you will want to take 3 measurements like Victoria Plum's site mentions. You'll want to measure the length, width, and height of the toilet. You will also want to take into account the shape of your toilet. Some European toilets and toilet seats may have a D-shape, square shape, traditional rounded nose shape, or a traditional pointed nose shape to them. Research and purchase accordingly.

Tips for Getting the Best Size Toilet Seat for Your Bathroom

  1. Determine if you have a small restroom, a roomy one, or a uniquely shaped restroom.
  2. If you don't have much space or you have an oddly shaped restroom, you will want to get a space-saving round toilet seat.
  3. If you have space to spare, then you'll want to go with an elongated toilet seat.
  4. Determine whether small children and the elderly would be able to sit on the toilet comfortably.
  5. Children can balance better on smaller round toilets seats compared to elongated ones.
  6. Elongated toilet seats may make your child's sitting position unbalanced and toward the inside of the toilet.
  7. Seniors may want to have seats that are raised or padded for extra comfort and easy up and down.
  8. If your toilet is by a door, be careful which kind of toilet seat you buy. If you get the elongated seat, you may risk the door and people bumping into it. This can lead to bruises for the bathroom visitor, broken or cracked ceramic for the toilet, and scratches for your bathroom door.

Common Toilet Seat Problems

Usually, three common problems have a lot to do with your toilet seat. The good thing about this is that they are fairly easy to fix.

Some of them do not even require you to use any tools as you can fix them with the use of your bare hands. Let us now take a look at these problems.

1. Toilet Seat is Unsteady, Wobbly, and Slides

The reason behind this is that something in your toilet seat is loose. It can be because you got a toilet seat that is incompatible with your toilet or it can be a problem with the screws or the hinges. Nevertheless, here are some ways that you can deal with it.

  • Loose hinge locking screw: Never tighten this one! If you see that this one is loose, you have to go back to the fitting instructions that came with the toilet seat to see how you can keep this in place. Again, in no way should you tighten this screw because it can easily give way or much worse, crack.
  • Tighten the fixing bolt: This happens through continued use of the toilet seat. In line with this, it can also be due to the washer that got compressed, so it has a lot of pressure against the fixing bracket. For this one, all you have to do is to tighten it back in place. You can easily see if you did the right thing because the washer will fit back into its original place.
  • Failed washer or fixing bolt: This happens when the washer and the fixing bolt that came with the toilet seat are not of high quality. If you want to risk them failing again, then you can just tighten them back in place. On the other hand, to make sure that it does not happen anymore, you have to purchase new washers and fixing bolts. This time, make sure that they are not made of plastic.

2. Toilet Seat Keeps on Falling Down

Now, this is a problem that can get really annoying when not remedied for a long time. At the same time, this problem can lead to the ultimate break down of your toilet seat as it tends to bang against the bowl, which will then lead to its cracking. We do not want that happen, especially if you have children around and their hand can get stuck underneath that toilet seat.

A reason behind this occurrence is that the hinges are placed too far back. Therefore, all you have to do is to remove the hinges and move them a bit closer to the opening of the bowl compared to its original position.

After securing them in place, you then have to test if it is still falling by itself. If it still does that, then just move the hinges closer.

3. Legs are Touching the Bowl When Seated

The reason behind this problem is actually the opposite of the problem that we discussed earlier. This time, the hinges are too close to the edge of the toilet bowl. So what you can do is to move it further. At the same time, you have to check if the toilet seat will fall by itself.

If it does that, then it only means one thing, you have the wrong toilet seat size. Therefore, there is really no workaround on this issue. You have to go out and purchase a new one, and this time, really take note of the measurements so that you have the right size.

Conclusion

Toilet seats come in two standard sizes, round and elongated. They can also be extended, customized, raised, padded, and can even come in kid-appropriate sizes. It's up to you to decide what your most optimal toilet seat looks and feels like, and the reasons why you'll want a specific type of toilet seat over other types. When you make this clear, you'll be on your way to finding a toilet seat that will be worth seating your family, friends, and yourself for the 30 minutes a day we spend using the restroom. Life's too short for improperly sized and uncomfortable toilet seats. Keep reading for better ways to increase your overall toilet seat knowledge and make going to the bathroom a more enjoyable experience.

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