Whether you need a new toilet to replace your old one or you are finishing up a bathroom renovation, I am here to offer you some real advice and help you choose the best toilet for your space.
Yep. I am going there! I have been finishing our basement bathroom and how to choose a toilet for it has been on my mind.
It’s not the most glamorous thing to talk about, but there are so many things to consider so here we are.
It honestly makes my head spin.
A lot of questions pop up like what should I look for when buying a toilet? Should I get a round or elongated toilet? How do I choose the right size toilet? Which type of toilet is the best? Is an expensive toilet worth it?
So let’s break it down into 9 things to consider.
9 Things to look for when you choose a toilet
- Depth. Measure your space and see how far into your room your vanity will go and how much space will be between the end of the toilet and the wall. I would suggest that you buy one that is not much deeper than your vanity if the space in your bathroom is tight. You can buy an elongated toilet if your space allows and that will give you more depth.
- Height. There is nothing worse than falling onto a chair that is lower than expected. The same thing goes here. Consider who will be using it and how tall they are. Toilets come in different height options so consider that. Also, did you know that they make kids toilets? They are so cute! Consider this in a kids’ bathroom because you can always change it out when they get bigger. My friend did this and gosh it was so cute and made it really easy to potty train.
- Lid. You have options. The lid and the seat are connected and you can change them out if they break or you decide you don’t like the one you have. Do you want a ceramic or plastic lid and seat? Ceramic can break more easily than plastic and can be cold to the touch. Also, consider one that offers soft-close and is removable for easy cleaning. We have these in our home and I love them. You just flip up the tab and pull the seat off. You will wonder where this has been all your life!
- Shape. This goes along with depth. A round toilet will be less deep. An oval or elongated will take up more space but is more accommodating to the majority of people. Consider how much space you have and base the shape you buy on that.
- Power. You’re going to use your toilet every day for years, so get a good one. Plan to spend $100 to $500 for a gravity toilet and $225 to $600 for a pressure-assist model.
- Function. Consider if you want a push button or lever handle. Do you want to have a water-saving handle?
- Base feature. Consider what you have to do to clean your toilet weekly. A base usually has lots of grooves and areas that need to be kept clean. There is the option to have the base of your toilet one solid piece so you literally just have to wipe it down. That will cost more than a standard base that has curves and lots of small areas that need to be sanitized. I have these and really despise cleaning them.
- Cost: What is your budget for the space and do you need to be conscious of what you have to spend on a toilet?
- Rough-in: How far in is the center or your toilet drain from the wall? The standard is 12″ but sometimes you have 10″ or 14″. Measure from the wall to the center of your drain (called the flange) and that will tell you the rough-in length. Then you can buy a toilet based on that measurement. It is REALLY important. Otherwise the toilet you buy won’t work for your space!
Design by Lisa Gilmore Design / Photo by Native House Photography
Should you choose a round or elongated toilet?
An elongated toilet is 2″ longer than the average toilet. Here is a great article about round and elongated toilets from Lowe’s.
Are expensive toilets worth it?
My daughter is building a house and I recently went with her to pick out all of her toilets and sinks for it.
Wow! There are a lot of things to consider when buying a toilet and there are so many amazing options if you’re willing to pay for them.
An expensive toilet is ultimately the same as any standard toilet because they both do the same job: dispose of waste.
Do I like the toilet I chose for my space?
In all honesty, after 3 years I don’t really like the one I chose and will be looking for a new one soon. It is almost too small for our guests to use comfortably. I really took a “small bathroom” to heart when I had to make this decision haha!
The bowl is smaller than I would like and after going back through all of these considerations, I am reconsidering the choice I made may just opt for a slightly longer bowl because I don’t think it will affect the space that much and offer a better experience for everyone.
The good news is that it isn’t that hard to switch out a toilet and a new one won’t be that expensive. A couple of YouTube videos and you will be able to do it yourself if you are looking to change yours!
I will have to revisit the building codes for Colorado to be sure any new toilet I buy will be the correct distance from the vanity and the shower curb.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a (very) small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. As a Lowe’s Partner I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!
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