How to Tell if Your Toilet Seat is Elongated or Round: The Complete Expert Guide
As a home improvement specialist with over 15 years of experience renovating bathrooms, I‘m often asked how homeowners can identify whether they have an elongated or round toilet seat. This is an important factor when selecting a new seat, as the shape must properly fit your toilet bowl size and shape.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll provide detailed insights on determining your toilet seat shape through measurements, visual cues, compatibility considerations, and more.
Defining Toilet Seat Shapes
First, let‘s clarify the key differences between round and elongated toilet seats:
Elongated Toilet Seats:
- Oval or egg-shaped
- 2-3 inches longer than round seats
- 18-19 inches long from back to front
- Extra room for sitting comfort
- Modern, stylish appearance
Round Toilet Seats:
- Perfectly circular shape
- Typically 16-16.5 inches long
- Compact size fits smaller bathrooms
- Traditional look
How to Accurately Measure Your Existing Toilet Seat
The only sure way to identify whether your current toilet seat is elongated or round is to remove it and take measurements:
- Lift the seat and lid straight up off the toilet bowl. This usually requires loosening wing nuts or plastic bolts underneath.
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Measure from the back of the seat to the very front of the seat. This will give you the length.
- Elongated seats will measure 18-19 inches in length
- Round seats measure 16-16.5 inches in length
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Next, measure the widest part of the seat from left to right.
- Both styles are around 14 inches wide.
- Compare the length vs width. If the length is longer, it‘s an elongated seat. If they are equal, it‘s a round seat.
- You can also set the seat back on the toilet to see if it extends past the bowl edges (elongated) or aligns flush (round).
This precise measuring method is the only sure way to identify your current toilet seat shape.
Visual Cues for Identifying Seat Shape
If you don‘t want to remove the seat, here are some visual signs to help determine if you have an elongated or round toilet seat:
Elongated Seat Visual Cues
- Oval or egg shape
- Extends over the rim of the toilet bowl
- Lid may not fully enclose bowl when shut
- Modern stylish lines
Round Seat Visual Cues
- Perfectly circular
- Flush with the outer edges of toilet bowl
- Lid encloses bowl when closed
- Traditional design
However, visual cues alone can sometimes be misleading. The only way to be 100% certain is to remove the seat and measure it.
Can an Elongated Seat Fit on a Round Toilet Bowl?
This is one of the most common toilet seat questions I receive. The short answer is no:
You should never install an elongated seat on a round bowl toilet.
While you may technically be able to attach an elongated seat to a round bowl, this is ill-advised for several reasons:
- The extra length will extend awkwardly beyond the toilet bowl rim
- Can lead to lack of support and instability when sitting
- Increased wobbling from improper fit
- Lid will not close properly around the bowl
- Overall unsightly appearance
For proper fit, always install the same shape seat as your toilet bowl:
- Elongated seat = elongated bowl
- Round seat = round bowl
Mismatching these shapes leads to headaches down the road. Take my expert advice and avoid it!
The Pros and Cons of Elongated vs. Round Toilet Seats
Understanding the unique benefits of each shape will help you decide which is best for your bathroom:
Elongated Toilet Seat Advantages
- Extra room is more comfortable
- Easier to sit down and stand up for those with arthritis, knee pain, hip issues, or mobility challenges
- Stylish modern appearance
- Brings visual harmony to elongated bowl toilets
Potential Downsides of Elongated Seats
- Require more bathroom space
- Not ideal for half baths or very small spaces
- Lid can be prone to slamming if no soft-close
- More expensive than round seats
Round Toilet Seat Advantages
- Compact circular size
- Better suited for small bathrooms and half baths
- Very affordable option
- Matches traditional round bowl toilets
Round Seat Disadvantages
- Less room than elongated seats
- Can feel cramped for larger individuals
- Harder access for those with mobility issues
- Old school look
Once you know the pros and cons of each shape, you can better evaluate which will work for your space and needs.
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Toilet Seat
Here is my expert advice for selecting a great new toilet seat:
- Carefully measure your existing toilet bowl to confirm elongated or round shape
- Pick the matching seat shape for proper fit
- Consider bathroom space – elongated for larger, round for smaller
- Evaluate your comfort needs – elongated provides more room
- Assess ease of access if mobility is a concern
- Decide on style – modern elongated or classic round
- Add convenient soft-close feature if preferred
- Choose material like antimicrobial plastic, solid wood, plastic wood composite, stainless steel
- Compare brands and prices to fit your budget
Taking the time to make the right elongated vs round decision will ensure toilet seat satisfaction.
Leading Toilet Seat Brands
Based on my professional experience installing countless toilet seats, these brands offer excellent quality and value:
Elongated & Round Seats
- Kohler (my #1 choice)
- American Standard (affordable, durable)
- TOTO (sleek high-end models)
- Brondell (great antimicrobial seats)
Elongated Only
- Mayfair (soft-close seats)
- Eljer (stylish designs)
Round Only
- Eljer
- Renovator‘s Supply (simple and affordable)
Always double check that the model is available in your required shape before purchasing.
What To Do If You Install the Wrong Size Seat
If you realize too late that you‘ve put an elongated seat on a round toilet, or vice versa, take these steps:
- Remove the improperly fitted seat
- Re-measure the toilet bowl to confirm needed shape
- Buy a seat in the matching elongated or round shape
- Thoroughly clean the bowl
- Install the new proper-shaped seat
- Use plumber‘s putty to ensure a secure fit
It‘s an easy mistake to make, but thankfully also an easy fix. Taking the time to identify and buy the correctly shaped toilet seat will prevent major headaches.
Additional Factors in Choosing a Toilet Seat
Along with the shape, also consider:
- Hinge Type: Exposed vs concealed hinges
- Soft-Close: Prevents noisy slamming of lid
- Material: Plastic, wood, antimicrobial?
- Weight Capacity: Important for heavier individuals
- Color/Style: Match your bathroom decor
- Cleaning: Easy to sanitize?
- Price Range: From budget $20 models to premium $200+ options
Prioritizing these factors will help you select your perfect toilet seat match.
Let‘s Recap Toilet Seat Shape Essentials:
- Elongated seats are 2-3 inches longer than round
- Measure accurately to identify current seat
- Never use elongated seat on a round toilet
- Consider bathroom space when choosing shape
- Select material, soft-close, and features
- Take time to get the ideal elongated or round seat for your toilet
I hope this detailed toilet seat guide provides you with all the insights needed to determine whether your seat is elongated vs round. Please let me know if you have any other questions!