Can You Put an Elongated Toilet Seat on a Round Toilet? (What You Neeed To Know)

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Can You Put an Elongated Toilet Seat on a Round Toilet?
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Is It Possible To Put An Elongated Toilet Seat on a Round Toilet?

Most of us don’t think about the seat we use when it comes to our toilets. However, sometimes the standard round toilet seats just won’t provide enough comfort, which means it might be time for an upgrade.

You can put an elongated toilet seat on a round toilet. All you need to achieve this is a little elbow grease and a few minutes of your time. However, keep in mind that doing so can affect your toilet’s look, comfort, and functionality. 

However, before you go replacing every single round toilet in the house with an elongated seat, you need to make sure that you know the difference between the two and how to replace them properly.

Additionally, always keep in mind that when the seat shape doesn’t match the toilet’s, you won’t get the optimal results when it comes to comfort.

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What Is the Difference Between Round and Elongated Toilet Seats?

The main differences between round and elongated toilet seats are their size and shape. The former is a 16.5 in (41.91 cm) round bowl, while the latter is an 18.5-in (46.99-cm) elongated bowl.

The elongated seat has often been considered to be more comfortable and more accessible for children to use. Additionally, it’s ADA-compliant for people with mobility issues, making it much easier to use for those who have trouble sitting and standing.

If you want to make sure that you can use a toilet seat without any real trouble, then you’ll probably need to get an elongated toilet seat. The added support can be very comfortable to sit in; therefore, if you have the extra space, it’s a no-brainer.

Other than the size difference, there’s no real difference between the two seats besides comfort level and ease of use, which tends to vary per person. This makes them interchangeable if you know what you’re doing and have some experience with a toolbox.

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How Do I Know What Type of Seat Fits My Toilet?

To know what type of seat fits your toilet, take a tape measure and measure from the tip of the lid to the center of the mounting holes on the back. You’ll get a measurement of either 18.5 in (46.99 cm) or 16.5 in (41.91 cm) The former corresponds to an elongated seat, while the latter to a round.

Since there are only two types of toilets and several ways to confirm which one you have (such as simply looking at the length of the toilet), you shouldn’t run into too many problems figuring out what toilet seats will fit the bowl you currently have.

While an elongated toilet seat can fit on a round bowl, the opposite isn’t true. Due to the difference in length, the round toilet seat won’t cover the elongated bowl, which will leave part of the toilet rim exposed.

So if you want an elongated seat but have a round toilet bowl, you’re out of luck unless you can handle the size difference of the lid.

Most commercial toilets will come with their corresponding lids attached to them, but if you find a mismatched toilet and lid, you won’t need to worry about it too much.

The size difference likely won’t affect your experience too much; however, if you become too uncomfortable with this situation you might want to replace the entire toilet and not just the lid.

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Can You Replace a Round Toilet With an Elongated Toilet?

You can remove your round toilet and replace it with an elongated one. Replacing a round toilet requires going through the same process as replacing an old toilet with a brand-new one. 

If you decide that replacing a toilet seat isn’t enough, make sure to follow these steps to transform the look and feel of your toilet seat.

  1. Remove the water from your old toilet by flushing the tank and turning off the water supply line.
  2. Unscrew the nuts on the bottom of the tank, before slowly lifting them off and away from the bowl. If it’s an older toilet, you should wear gloves in case it ends up cracking.
  3. Remove the nuts that hold the tankless toilet bowl onto the floor and remove the bowl from its location.
  4. Remove the wax ring that connected the toilet to the top of the drainpipe (called a flange) and make any repairs to the flange as needed.

Once the old toilet is removed, install the new bolts that’ll hold your toilet on the drainpipe, attach the new wax ring, and install the toilet bowl.

Ensure the bowl is over the bolts and that it’s square with the wall before tightening the bolts in. Once the toilet is secure, then attach and secure the tank by screwing the tank back in with the new nuts.

Finally, you can attach your new elongated toilet seat by lining up the seat and then lining up the seat with the two holes on the toilet. Screw the seat into those holes using the included nuts and bolts, and then you’ll have a fully functioning new toilet and seat!

The first time you use your new toilet, you’ll probably feel different after sitting down on an elongated toilet seat for the first time; however, chances are the new setup will feel much more comfortable. If not, the new seat will take some getting used to after a few uses.

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Conclusion

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of replacing your toilet, you can put an elongated seat on a round one. You just need a few screws and 15-20 minutes. You’ll get about 2 in (5.08 cm) of extra space that isn’t covered by the bowl, but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

If you want a perfect seat to ensure optimal comfort, taking the time to get an elongated toilet is something to consider. Having the bowl and the seat the same length will help make using the bathroom all that easier.

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