Standard vs. Chair Height Toilet: Which Is Better?

A toilet is an essential appliance that every residential or commercial building must have. At first glance, deciding on the best toilet height option may seem like a negligible consideration, especially to first-time toilet buyers. Choosing between standard vs. chair height toilet is often a matter of comfort, health, and personal preference. This article will elaborate on the differences between these toilet height options to help you make an informed decision when shopping for your next toilet.

Standard Height Vs. Chair Height Vs. Comfort Height Toilets

When you shop for a new toilet, you will see that there are several options for toilet height, such as having a comfort height toilet or getting a regular or standard height toilet. It is easy to get confused by all the different toilet height options – but now we’ll help you get a clearer understanding once and for all.

Chair height and comfort height toilets refer to toilet designs that measure about 17 to 19 inches tall, while regular or standard height toilets refer to designs that measure around 16 inches from floor to toilet seat. The standard height toilets are designed for short individuals and children, while the comfort height or chair height toilet designs are perfect for tall people and individuals with mobility issues.

It’s important to note that while the two terms chair height and comfort height may be used interchangeably, the latter is a brand-specific term for all toilets that measure 17 to 19 inches from the floor to the toilet seat. In fact, right height, comfort height, or chair height are all terms that refer to the same design of toilets in terms of height measurements.

Chair height toilet
Chair height toilet

Kohler is an American manufacturer of high-quality plumbing products. This is the company that refers to their chair-height toilets as comfort-height toilets. On the other hand, American Standard Brand prefers the term right height while Toto, another popular toilet maker, calls their designs universal height toilets. Although all these brands may manufacture different styles of toilets, their features and functionality are similar.

Toilets that are set at a comfortable height are about 2 inches higher than normal toilets. The main difference between chair height and standard height toilets is how tall they are, measured to the top of the toilet seat. Chair-height toilets are usually 17 to 19 inches high from the floor to the top of the seat. The standard height unit is 14 to 15 inches without the seat and 15 to 16 inches when the seat is in place.

Is chair height toilet better?

Regardless of your toilet height, the perfect height that makes the toilet better for you depends on your preferences. For instance, while a chair-height toilet may be comfortable for taller individuals and people with disability, shorter people and children will find standard-height toilets more comfortable. In other words, the best option for toilet height depends on the user’s preferences.

Key Differences Between Standard Height and Chair Height Toilets

Here are some ways these two toilet design differ:

Height

A toilet that seats people comfortably is called an ADA toilet because the seat is tall enough to accommodate a person with a disability and allow him or her to sit comfortably in the toilet. This way, people can sit on a comfortable toilet and enjoy an experience similar to sitting in a comfortable chair for as long as they want. 

Therefore, the ADA-compliant toilet, comfort height, chair height, universal height, right height toilets measure 17 to 19 inches, while their traditional height, regular height, or standard height counterparts measure about 15 inches from the bathroom floor to the top of the toilet seat. The type of toilet height you choose depends on the height of the people living in your home and whether any of them has any disability concerns or not.

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Installation

Both types of toilets are installed the same way and perform well when installed by professionals. All the connections to the toilet bowl and the tank should be tight, and the flapper and flush valve should be functioning normally. Water connections in a house must be leak free to avoid causing costly water damage to your property. It’s important to remember that the cost of installation varies a lot from region to region.

Best use

It sounds weird, but when it comes to buying a toilet, go to the store and buy something that suits the specific needs of your family members or the people who will be using the toilet daily. When choosing the right toilet height, ensure it is easy to sit on and stand up from. Also, make sure that your toilet seat is comfortable and easy to use.

For this reason, the elderly or people with disability who often find it hard to stand up from a low position will prefer a comfort-height or chair-height toilet. Children and shorter individuals will prefer the regular height that doesn’t force their feet to be dangling, a position that may cause numbness to the feet or leg pain.

Costs

Standard-height toilets are more expensive than chair-height toilets. The former cost around $250 to $400, while the latter cost about $150 to $250. However, if you’re working on a very tight budget, you can still find a functional, low-quality toilet model at $100. Today’s most popular brands to consider today include American Standard, Kohler, and Toto. For example, an elongated bowl, comfort, or chair-height toilet that is a two-piece design from Kohler will cost around $168. The installation cost will be approximately $178, and thus the total for the entire project is $346.

Appearance

Chair-height toilets and traditional-height toilets are available in many styles and colors. The most common toilet unit color is white or beige color since this increases the value of your home when you sell it.

You’ll also need to choose between one- and two-piece designs. Two-piece toilets are typically less expensive and more conventional. It is easier to clean a one-piece toilet than a two-piece toilet since it has a sleek design. The insides of these toilets vary in height, too. There are usually conventional toilets that flush using gravity or have pressure-assisting flushing systems. You will be able to use your toilet with a bidet as well for both the one-piece and the two-piece toilet designs.

Standard height toilet
Standard height toilet

Constipation Problems

People who are frequently having problems with their bowel movements or often experience constipation issues will find that a standard chair is the best option for them to be able to evict their bowels. Because when the hips are just below the knees, bowel movements are easier. If you have a comfort height installed in your bathroom, you may need a step stool to mimic that squat position when handling your business in the bathroom.

What Is The Best Seat Height For A Toilet?

When several people live in one house, and there is only one toilet, ensure that the height of the toilet is a good compromise for all the family members! If you are planning to install a new toilet, it is very helpful to consider the unit’s height measured from the floor to the top of the seat. Furthermore, if there are multiple members of your family who use walkers or wheelchairs, then it is very beneficial to think carefully about the toilet’s size and shape.

Tall People and Persons with Disability

Many tall people find that sitting on a standard-height toilet (those that are about 15 inches high) is inconvenient. Those who are tall will appreciate a toilet that is labeled as a “Comfort Height” toilet. Comfort Height toilet seats are higher than average; they are usually 17 inches to 19 inches tall. Most floor-mounted toilet units’ toilet seat height is less than 19 inches tall. Examples of such toilets include:

  • KOHLER K-3754-0 Kelston Comfort Height Two-Piece Elongated
  • KOHLER K-3817-0 Memoirs Stately
  • WOODBRIDGE T-0001, Dual Flush Elongated One Piece Toilet
  • TOTO MS604114CEFG

Shorter People and Children

People who have very short statures (about 5 feet 4 inches or less) report that they prefer standard-height toilets, that measure 16 inches or less, to taller toilet models, that measure 17 inches or more, because it may be difficult to rest their feet on the floor when using tall toilets.

When people dangle their feet down, it can cause pain in the legs. If it is difficult for you to stand up from sitting in a standard-height toilet, you may get a taller toilet. However, short people often report that they regret doing that later. Examples of standard-height toilets include:

  • Medline’s Guardian Toilet Safety Rail with Adjustable Height
  • HealthCraft 32″ Long Hinged P.T. Toilet Support Rail, Right Side
  • HealthCraft SuperPole with SuperBar

Wrapping Up

Chair height toilet and comfort height are two different terms that are used interchangeably to refer to the same height of toilet designs that measure about 17 to 19 inches tall. In some instances, these toilets are also referred to as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) because such toilets’ designs are ADA-compliant.

Some brands or toilet reviews online can also refer to these toilets as handicap toilets. Therefore, the terms should be clear because they refer to the same toilet design. On the hand, a standard height toilet is a more conventional height toilet that is not as comfortable as the chair height toilet and measures about 15 inches from the floor to the toilet seat. However, the latter might be more comfortable for shorter people and children.

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