Are All Toilet Seats The Same Size

In that location are so many options when it comes to buying toilet seats that you might want to simply buy the commencement one yous come across and become out of there. Merely, I think I tin can save you some time and hassle. The start thing you really need to know, is the answer to this question: are toilet seats universal sizes?

In that location are two standard sizes of toilet seats in the U.s.. They are elongated and round. Elongated toilet seats are 18.v inches long and circular toilet seats are 16.v inches long. To find out what kind of toilet seat you need, measure from the terminate of the bowl to the eye of the seat post holes

If this all sounds like jargon, don't worry. In the next couple of sections, I'll show you the differences between the ii, and how you can properly measure the size y'all need for your toilet seat.

Are Toilet Seats Universal?
How to Measure Your Toilet Seat
Non-Standard Toilet Seats
Related Questions

Are Toilet Seats Universal?

Before we swoop into the two primary standard sizes of toilet seats, there's a couple of overall toilet standards that you lot should know.

First, the distance between the two bolts that hold your toilet seat to your toilet bowl is standard across nearly all toilets, regardless of what kind of shape it has. These are chosen seat post holes and they should be about 5.5 inches apart from the center of 1 pigsty to the other.

Second, the width of the toilet bowl is normally the same regardless of shape as well. If the width does vary, it'south normally but by less than one-half an inch.

At present that nosotros've got those things covered, permit'southward dig into the different types of toilet seats.

Elongated Toilet Seat

Elongated toilet seats measure about 18.5 inches long and nigh 14 inches wide.

Elongated toilet seats are preferred by many, particularly men, because of their extended size. Because of its popularity, this is the seat that is standard in most large businesses such as hotels, gas stations, and airports.

Although they're more common in large businesses, you can also find them in houses and apartments.

Round Toilet Seat

Kickoff off, the measurements. Round toilet seats measure nearly 16.5 inches long and about 14 inches wide.

In general, circular toilet seats are more mutual in homes and houses. They are also used more often in smaller bathrooms considering they take up less space than their elongated counterparts.

Likewise, because round toilet seats are a couple of inches smaller than elongated seats, they tend to exist on the cheaper side, but not by much.

How to Measure Your Toilet Seat

Now that yous know about the standard sizes, you probably want to know how to figure out what size of toilet seat you have.

To make sure you get all the measurements you lot need before you go to the hardware store, measure these 3 things:

Length
Width
Seat post holes

Let's get to information technology.

1. Length

This is by far the nearly important measurement. The other 2 are unremarkably standard then if you don't want to hassle with remembering three different numbers, only go this one.

But, I'd suggest you to measure the other two just to brand sure you lot have a standard-sized seat.

To get this measurement, measure from in betwixt the seat mail service holes to the end of your bowl. Make certain you lot mensurate to the outside edge of your toilet bowl, otherwise you'll end up getting a shorter measurement than you need.

Here's a movie for all you visual learners out there.

This will determine if you have an elongated bowl or circular bowl. Merely to review, elongated bowls will exist effectually 18.5 inches, like the one I'thousand measuring in the photo higher up, and round bowls will be well-nigh sixteen.five inches.

2. Width

Like I said earlier, the width is ordinarily standard, but merely to brand certain you don't have a actually weird sized toilet, take this measurement anyways.

To go this measurement, just measure across the widest part of your toilet basin. Over again, make certain yous're measuring from outside edge to exterior edge. Here's another pic to illustrate.

If you do get a measurement that's different than the typical 14 inches, then you may have a not-standard toilet seat which I talk nigh in the next section.

iii. Seat Post Holes

Lastly, you'll desire to mensurate your seat post holes to ensure your toilet is a standard size.

For this measurement, measure from the center of ane seat post hole to the heart of the other.

If you don't accept your toilet seat off, don't worry, only try to line upwardly your measuring tool to the center every bit all-time y'all can. Here'southward a picture to show you what I hateful, I didn't take my seat off.

Your seat post holes should measure 5.five inches, and, if they do, all standard toilet seats volition fit your seat mail service holes regardless of shape.

Non-Standard Toilet Seats

And then, yous've gone through all the steps and measured your toilet seat only to find out that it's non a standard size. Now what?

Not to worry, you can still supersede your toilet seat if you need to. It just might be a niggling harder to find the right seat. Only first, allow's figure out what a non-standard toilet seat is and why you might take one.

What Is a Not-Standard Toilet Seat?

A not-standard toilet is anything apart from the standard sizes listed earlier in this article. Surprising, I know.

They could exist an odd shape, length, or have seat post holes that are farther apart or closer together than the standard 5.v inches.

If y'all have different sized seat post holes, you lot can get replacement hinges for a toilet seat which will lucifer the different sizes of the seat post holes. This also might exist cheaper than ownership a special toilet seat.

Yet, buying new hinges won't prepare every situation. Sometimes, you'll take to buy a specially fabricated toilet seat. The kind of seat depends on who the manufacturer is for your toilet.

Proprietary or OEM Seats

You're probably wondering, 'why are there toilet seats that aren't the standard size?'

Manufacturers are constantly trying out new styles and designs in lodge to stay competitive and innovative. And then, they sell modest amounts of these new styles and shapes of toilets to see if they accept potential in the marketplace.

These types of seats have ii names. They are either chosen proprietary seats or Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) seats.

In either instance, replacements for this type of seat tin often exist hard to find and expensive to replace.

But, not all hope is lost, a lot of specialized plumbing stores and DIY stores sell odd-shaped toilet seats at a cheaper price than buying it directly from the manufacturer.

How To Know What Blazon of Seat To Become

If you have a not-standard sized toilet seat and you demand a replacement, you lot commencement demand to figure out who the manufacturer is of your toilet.

About toilets take a logo or the proper name of the manufacturer in betwixt the seat post holes. If your toilet doesn't have that, take off your toilet tank chapeau and check for a manufacturer's label. This will exist more common if you lot have a proprietary or OEM toilet.

If all yous can find is the logo in between the seat posts, that'southward alright. Accept measurements of your toilet and do one of two things. You tin can search online for places that sell your sized seat, or you tin can accept information technology to your local hardware shop and see if they can assistance you out.

If you find a manufacturer's label under your toilet tank hat, you lot should be able to search the manufacturer's website for replacement parts.

If you want the cheaper option, check the manufacturer's website to go the name of your specialized toilet. Then search specialized plumbing stores to observe an alternative. Putting it into a search engine should give yous lots of options.

European Toilet Seat

Some other possibility if you have a non-standard seat is that you accept a European toilet seat.

European seats have two styles similar to elongated and round seats, but they also have a D-shaped seat that is pretty mutual.

Luckily, you can pretty hands buy this D-shaped toilet seat online and have it shipped to you. Brand sure yous measure thoroughly before yous make a purchase to ensure you're getting the size you demand.

How do yous know what size toilet to buy?

To determine the toilet size you need, you first demand the rough-in measurement. This is from the heart of your toilet drain pipage to your wall. If y'all take limited infinite, make certain you lot also measure the width and length of the expanse that y'all want your toilet to fit in.

How practice y'all supercede a toilet seat?

To supercede a toilet seat, begin by removing the old seat by unscrewing the seat posts. You may take to use a wrench if the bolts are rusted. Installing the new seat depends on what type of seat you lot take. You should check the installation instructions or the manufacturer's website to ensure you follow the proper steps.