Toilet seat dimensions: how to measure and fit?

If you live in an apartment where everything was ready for your arrival: repairs, communications, and a bathroom with a toilet, which had a lid with a seat, and all other devices for a normal human life - this is great. For now, you don't have to worry about anything. But it takes some time, and you find that the toilet seat "outlived" its, therefore, urgently needs to be replaced. And how to choose the right product for the existing toilet, we will consider in this article.

It is most logical to first choose a toilet seat according to the shape and size of the bowl, and only then look at the material, convenience, additional functions, design and quality of the product. Besides, you should immediately decide which types of toilet seat you are interested in constructively - universal or model.

These seat options fit almost all standard toilet seat designs. The main thing is that they correspond in shape and size to them. For example, you should not purchase square seats for the rounded shape of the bowl, or, conversely, it would be irrational to attach rounded seats to the square-shaped bowls. The manufactured models of toilets have certain standard dimensions in terms of height, width and length of the bowl, as well as the thickness of the rim and the distances of the holes for fastening the seats. All standard sizes are summarized in tables, which are used by manufacturers of accessories for plumbing fixtures.

An interesting group of universal seats, which are often called family seats. They are a folding set consisting of 4 elements - three seats of different sizes and a common cover. The seats are suitable for family members of different ages and equipment levels.

But copies of the toilet seat model range, which usually come with toilets and are intended only for a narrow range of modifications of this sanitary ware or only for a certain one model, will be quite difficult to find for replacement. Such toilet seats have, as a rule, unusual shape and non-standard sizes, but are made for the same non-standard toilet bowls.

To find and buy a new seat, it is recommended to either make a mock-up of the old product, or take some measurements of the toilet bowl in order to then determine the correct size of the toilet seat. The layout is made exactly in accordance with the dimensions of the old seat, and if it is not there, then with the dimensions of the toilet bowl. Even a small mistake can lead to the fact that the purchased product does not fit the toilet at all. For the layout, thick paper or cardboard is taken, on which the outer dimensions of the old seat are outlined and then cut out with scissors.

How to take measurements is described below.

1. Measure the distance between the mounting holes with which the seat will be attached. The standard distance should be 150 mm (plus / minus 5 mm).
2. Determine the distance from the axis of the centers of the mounting holes to the extreme point in the front of the toilet bowl. Here the standards are very different (for example, 430 mm).
3. Measure the outer side of the widest part of the toilet. Also, the value varies depending on the model (for example, 367 mm).
4. Measure the rim of the bowl in relation to its width. This is necessary to accurately determine the width of the seat base.

It will not be superfluous to measure the internal dimensions of the bowl opening (along the length and width of the toilet bowl). For example, there is such a standard: 280x220 mm, respectively.

When choosing a toilet seat by size, you should take into account (for reasons of hygiene) the fact that it should be about 10 mm wider than the rim of the toilet. There are several types of seat sizes.

1. Standard - these are the usual seats that are installed in new buildings with a turnkey finish. They are intended for adult family members, but teenagers also use them.
2. Baby - they can be installed on standard seats at the moment when the baby wants to use the toilet, and then they are removed. There are other design options, including folding ones, necessary for travel or long trips, both by personal and public transport.
3. Special - are made for people with disabilities. As in the case of children's seat options, they have various modifications - folding, with handles, and so on. Such models are being developed for different categories of those in need.

Here it is worth mentioning once again the universal seat models, especially their family variants. They also differ in size, the main thing is to choose the most suitable kit, convenient for all family members.

The video below provides detailed instructions for choosing a toilet seat.