Additionally, you must determine whether your toilet is round or elongated and buy the corresponding seat shape.
Even still, your toilet may be a specialty toilet that requires a specialty seat.
These two terms refer to the shape of thetoilet bowl.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Measuring your toilet is the only way it’s possible for you to be certain of its shape.
Beyond being either round or elongated, most modern toilets are generally the same size and shape.
In the United States, the spread of the bolt holes is 5-1/2" (13.97 cm).
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
However, this width could vary if you have an older toilet or a custom or specialty toilet.
This is often all that’s wrong with toilet seats that are considered “broken.”
Then, measure down the middle of the toilet bowl to the edge of the front lip.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
If the measurement you find is around 16-1/2 inches, your toilet is round and requires a round seat.
If the measurement is around 18-1/2 inches, your toilet is elongated and requires an elongated seat.
This will more than likely measure 5-1/2 inches, which is standard in the US.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Measure the Width
Measure the width of the toilet from lip to lip at the widest point.
This can lead to some options fitting your toilet better than others.
So, it’s important to obtain proper measurements before purchasing these potentially expensive items.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Both round and elongated toilet seats have a width of around 14-1/2 inches.
Take a look at your toilet and note the shape of the bowl.
If the bowl is a circle, it’s considered round.
If it’s an oval, it’s considered elongated.
To verify, measure the length of the bowl.
A round toilet will be around 16-1/2 inches, while an elongated toilet will be around 18-1/2 inches.
The bolts fit into the provided holes on the toilet seat and tighten in place using nuts below.
