Chair Height vs. Standard Height Toilet: What's the Difference?

Today’s toilets can get pretty fancy with upgrades like bidet attachments and heated seats. But despite all those bells and whistles, one of the most important things to consider when shopping for a toilet is the height. If you’ve ever tried to use a toilet at an elementary school, you know it’s a challenge when you’re too big for the machinery.

Fortunately, toilet shoppers can choose between standard height and chair height (aka comfort height, right height or American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant) toilets. We talked to Leah Tuttleman, interior designer at Re-Bath bathroom remodeling, to educate us on the difference between chair height vs standard height toilets.

We’ll focus on standard, bolted-to-the-floor models here, but know that wall-mounted toilets can be hung at either height.

Toilet Height Options

Standard height toilets are roughly 14-1/2 to 16 inches high. That height is measured from the floor to the top of the seat or the bowl, depending on the context. For example, a standard height toilet sold without a seat may be listed as 14-1/2 inches from the floor to the top of the bowl. The seat adds a half-inch or more, so when assembled, the toilet including the seat is 15 inches off the ground. Either of these measurements meet the criteria for a standard height toilet.

While standard height toilets have been around forever, Tuttleman says comfort height toilets, which range from 17 to 19 inches high, have become the new industry standard. Comfort height toilets are about as tall as a standard dining room chair, and many people find this height easier to maneuver. Comfort height toilets sold without a seat are often listed as 16-1/2 inches tall. The addition of the seat pushes it into the ADA-compliant height of 17 to 19 inches.

Why Does Toilet Height Matter?

Toilet height is a personal preference, but it often comes down to three things: Comfort, ease and safety. Depending on the makeup of your household, you may find the two heights appropriate for different reasons.

Tall people or those with bad knees may prefer a comfort height toilet because there’s less squatting involved. On the other hand, families with small children will likely find potty training easier with a standard height toilet. Standard height toilets are safer for little ones to climb, and boys will find it easier to hit the bowl without a step stool.

For people at the other end of the age spectrum, “a higher toilet seat or a seat riser can make getting up and down easier,” Tuttleman says. The extra two inches on a chair-height toilet may not sound like a lot, but for people with mobility challenges it makes a huge difference. Toilet height, like grab bars and no-slip flooring, is a bathroom modification that can make aging in place safer and more convenient.

Choosing the Right Toilet Height for You

So, which toilet height is best? Consider these three factors when making your decision.

Accessibility

There’s a reason the ADA specifies a height range of 17 to 19 inches for toilets receiving their stamp of approval: it can be hard for people with mobility issues to use a standard height toilet. Whether you’re older, in a wheelchair or recently had surgery, a chair height toilet makes going to the bathroom easier and more dignified. Larger and taller people may likewise find chair/comfort height toilets more accessible, even if mobility isn’t an issue.

Installation

Standard toilets have less porcelain and therefore weigh less, on average, than comfort height. One-piece toilets, where the tank and bowl are part of one streamlined design, will be heavier than separable two-piece models. If you’re installing the toilet yourself (and other factors like mobility don’t take precedence) a standard height, two-piece toilet will be easier to install due to the weight.

Toilets also have what’s called a “rough-in” size, which is the distance from the wall behind your toilet to the middle of the floor drain. An easy way to measure this is to measure from the wall to the bolts holding the toilet down. The two bolts are located at the midpoint of the drain, so you don’t even have to take the toilet off.

Both standard height and chair height toilets come in rough-ins of 10 inches, 12 inches and 14 inches, Tuttleman says. Before you buy your new toilet, measure this distance to make sure you buy the right toilet for your plumbing setup.

Comfort

Ultimately, you want your toilet to be comfortable and safe. When picking out a toilet, think about what’s good for your current situation and what’s coming in the future. Even though swapping out a toilet is pretty straightforward, it’s not something you want to have to do frequently.

Are you 6 feet 6 inches tall? A chair-height toilet prevents awkward knee contortions when you sit. If you’re young and healthy, this might not be a big deal, but as you get older it may become one. But, “[c]omfort-height toilets may not be suited for everyone,” Tuttleman says. For shorter people, standard height toilets keep your feet squarely on the ground with minimal dangling.

“It’s a good idea to test different heights to determine which is best for you,” Tuttleman adds.

About the Expert

• Leah Tuttleman, interior designer at Re-Bath, is an Allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers. She has more than 25 years of experience in all areas of design from commercial to residential, including design direction, project management and fabrication.

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