Installing a toilet in a fresh bathroom remodel or replacing an old toilet can seem straightforward. Simply visit your local toilet specialist, pick the first toilet you see, and hire a plumber to install it. Yet, there’s more to the process than meets the eye.
Alongside picking a toilet within your budget, you must also consider toilet dimensions and explore different toilet bowl types. Selecting a new toilet is not a process you should rush!
Fortunately, we’re here to help with your elongated toilet vs. round toilet decision. Keep reading for more information about each toilet type to learn which will suit your needs.
Elongated Toilet
As the name suggests, elongated toilets are toilets with elongated seats. Their toilet bowl dimensions differ from round toilets - 18 inches from the front of the toilet bowl rim to the rear mounting holes.
Elongated Toilet Dimensions
Elongated toilets are usually 14 to 16 inches high, with the chair height being between 16 and 19 inches. Rough-in dimensions from the center of the drainpipe or floor bolts to the wall behind the toilet are typically 10, 12, or 14 inches. If you need to replace your toilet seat in the future, you must specifically choose an elongated seat, as a round seat won’t fit.
Elongated Toilet Types
Once you choose to purchase an elongated toilet, the decision-making doesn’t stop yet! You must also decide whether you prefer a one- or two-piece toilet. One-piece toilets are installed seamlessly as one piece and are easy to clean. Two-piece elongated toilets have a separate bowl and tank. Your chosen plumber will mount the bowl first, followed by the tank on the back of the bowl.
Like most other toilets, you can then choose pressure-assisted or gravity-fed flush types, as well as a dual-flush option for water-saving benefits.
Elongated Toilet Benefits
Making a round vs. elongated toilet decision can be challenging, but learning about some of the benefits of installing an elongated toilet can help.
- More leg room for taller people
- Easier to keep clean with a larger bowl and seat shape
- A more powerful flush system to reduce the need for double-flushing
- Modern and stylish for aesthetics
- The elongated bowl toilet seat is comfortable to sit on
- A common choice for ACA compliance
Round Toilet
A round toilet is a toilet with a round seat. From the toilet bowl rim to the rear mounting holes, a round toilet measures approximately 16.5 inches. However, the seat heights and rough-in sizes are the same for round toilets as for elongated toilets. Therefore, if you’re searching for standard size toilet dimensions for roughing in or a replacement, you can confidently choose a round or elongated toilet.
Round Toilet Types
Like elongated toilets, there is more than one round toilet type. You can opt for a one- or two-piece round toilet. However, two-piece round toilets are the most common. Your chosen toilet will also have gravity-fed, flush valve, or pressure-assist flush technology. Don’t forget – if you install a round toilet, you’ll also need a round toilet seat!
Alongside a standard toilet/commode size, round toilets are available for smaller people and children. Smaller round toilets with a height of 10 ¼ inches are regularly installed in daycare and preschool facilities.
Round Toilet Benefits
If you’re on the fence about the best toilet to install in your home or business, learn about some of the benefits of round toilets below.
- Space-saving design – they take up less space than elongated toilets
- Less expensive than elongated toilets
- Child-friendly
- Classic and traditional look
- Smaller surface area to clean
- Suitability for smaller individuals
How to Measure for a New Toilet
If you’re replacing a toilet in your bathroom, you want the new toilet to fit as perfectly as the old one. Before removing your old toilet, perform some of these crucial measurements:
- Tank height: Measure from the floor to the top of the toilet tank
- Toilet depth: Measure from the toilet bowl’s front edge to the back of the tank
- Rough-in measurement: Measure from the wall behind your toilet to the rear set of bolt caps holding your toilet to the floor
If you need to replace your toilet seat, measure these three points:
- The distance between the bolts that attach the toilet seat to the bowl (standard measurement for seat bolts is 5.5 inches)
- The bowl width at its widest point, measuring from the outside of the brim
- The length of the bowl from between the seat bolts to the outer edge of the front of the bowl. Round bowls are typically 16.5 inches, while elongated bowls are 18 to 18.5 inches.
Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing® for Toilet Installation
Whether you need help deciding which toilet style to buy or are ready for a trusted plumber to install your new elongated or round toilet, Mr. Rooter Plumbing® is here to help. Contact us 24/7 for toilet repair, replacement, or new installation services. Request a job estimate today.
