How to choose the right toilet seat size

I never thought that choosing a banal toilet seat would be so difficult. I thought: “I’ll measure it and buy something suitable and not too expensive.” And it’s good that I managed to look on the Internet before going to the store, otherwise I would definitely have been confused at the sight of such a variety. And if the ubiquitous sales consultants had also come running, I would definitely have spent half my wallet on something I didn’t need. Therefore, let's figure out what kind of toilet seats there are, and how to choose them.

What should a toilet seat look like?

Four main qualities that you need to pay attention to first:

• convenience;
• appearance;
• strength;
• hygiene.

Of course, it is important to remember about sizes, but we will talk about this a little later. First, let's look at each of the listed properties.

Unfortunately or fortunately, you can’t check the convenience in a store (you probably wouldn’t want to buy a toilet seat that someone has already “checked”), so here you should rely only on logic. Whatever change your heart desires, if the old seat was comfortable for you, look for the same shape. Experiments in this area can lead to the fact that any visit to the toilet will be associated with discomfort, and in the end you will have to return to the previous convenient option.

Another potential inconvenience is the nasty lid, which loves to land on the seat with a crash, especially at 3 am. To combat this evil, seats with a microlift were invented, providing the lid with a “soft landing”.

Now about aesthetics. It’s not for me to teach you interior style, but still, before you swoop in on “that beautiful one with patterns, kittens, gold and rhinestones,” just imagine how it will look in your toilet. If it is decorated with patterns, kittens, gold and rhinestones, I have no more questions.

I'll talk about materials a little later, but for now just keep in mind that strength is important. You can consider yourself whatever fluff you want, but the seat has to withstand the weight of this fluff every day. Plus, I’ll return again to the falling lid, on which cracks may appear from impacts, and again I’ll remind you about the existence of microlifts.

Hygiene is everything to us, especially if two or more people live in the house. But even if you live alone and do not allow guests near your throne, you will still have to clean the toilet and clean the seat of germs. Therefore, it must be resistant to chemical cleaning agents and have a convenient shape, without places that are difficult to reach with a rag.

Reference! Note that there are also many seat add-ons: heated seats, a bidet lid, and a smart lid with a motion and heat sensor that allows it to automatically rise and fall as a person enters and exits the toilet. But, of course, they cost accordingly.

Toilet seat material

We'll start with the popular and beloved plastic. Its main advantages:

• ease;
• ability not to cool at room temperature;
• a wide range of shapes and colors;
• affordable price.

It has only two disadvantages: fragility and poor tolerance to acids contained in some cleaning products.

Duroplast is a new generation of plastic. It is much more durable, has an antimicrobial effect and is resistant to aggressive chemicals. Outwardly, it cannot be distinguished from ceramics, but it costs less. However, if you compare it with regular plastic, it will still be more expensive.

Plywood. Yes, plywood! Not everyone knows, but toilet seats are also made from it, which look great in an eco-style interior. They are durable and inexpensive. The only drawback may be that it doesn’t match your taste preferences; nevertheless, this is a non-standard and unusual option.

Plastic + foam rubber = the most comfortable visit to the toilet. Disadvantages: lower hygiene than previous options and more difficult to clean. And be careful: when you combine a soft seat with access to Wi-Fi and charging, your toilet can become a place you end up in and never come back from.

How to choose the right toilet seat size

Before going to the store, you need to take the following measurements:

• distances between mounting holes;
• width;
• dimensions between the edge of the cover and the straight line between the mounting holes.

It will look something like this:

Don’t worry if the measurements are not accurate; as a rule, toilets of standard shapes and sizes come with the same lids, so measurements are taken only to be on the safe side, so as not to accidentally stumble upon a non-standard option. If you are the owner of an unusual toilet, then, alas, the range of lids for it is sharply reduced.

Reference! It is best to contact branded stores, because otherwise the search may take a long time.

Why did I write this article? To save your time. Having decided on specific parameters, you can purposefully go to the store for a specific model, without wasting energy thinking about whether you need something else or not.