Elongated vs. Round Toilets: Which Is Best for You?

Whether you’re building a new house or it’s time to replace an existing toilet, you have a lot of choices when it comes to the design and style of your new toilet. One of those decisions is choosing an elongated or round toilet. Your personal preferences, available budget, and space considerations all play a part in choosing the right toilet for your home. Below, we’ve broken down the key differences between elongated and round toilets to help you make a confident decision.

Elongated Toilets vs. Round Toilets: Key Differences

The main difference between the style profiles of elongated and round toilets is that an elongated toilet is oval in shape, while a round toilet is circular.

An elongated toilet bowl seat measures about 18 1/2 inches from the holes for the seat fasteners to the tip of the seat, which is its longest dimension. The exact measurements for any toilet seat can vary between manufacturers and designs, but generally, the elongated style will be about 2 inches longer than the round style.

Elongated Toilet Basics

Outside of the different sizes, elongated toilets can come in almost all the same accessories as a round toilet, like smart toilet features.

Best for: Larger bathrooms and/or individuals with accessibility concerns

Pros

Many people prefer the shape and look of elongated bowls, but this is usually a matter of personal preference and varies depending on the user’s height. An elongated toilet bowl may also be more accessible for people with disabilities. Additionally, the Americans With Disabilities Act mandates the installation of elongated toilets in public bathrooms. 

Elongated bowls may also be slightly easier to use for taller adults and may flush with somewhat more force than round toilets. This might mean they’re slightly easier to clean regularly and require fewer “double flushes” to empty the bowl after use.

Cons

With those advantages, why would anyone choose a round bowl? The main reason has to do with the available space. Round toilets do take up less space overall, so consider a round toilet if you’re working with a small bathroom where a full-size elongated toilet might not fit. In addition, elongated toilets tend to cost a bit more than round toilets.

Round Toilet Basics

The distance from the seat bolt holes of a round toilet to the front tip of the bowl is about 16 1/2 inches, which is an average of 2 inches shorter than an elongated toilet. The overall shape of a round toilet is more circular than the oval shape of the elongated style. 

Best for: Smaller bathrooms and half baths

Pros

The major advantage of a round toilet is that it fits more comfortably in smaller bathroom spaces. It’s also easier for children to use. Some families install a round toilet in a child’s bathroom and replace it with an elongated one as the child grows. Smaller adults may also find them more accessible to use. 

Cons

For many people, a round toilet and seat combination aren’t as aesthetically pleasing as the elongated style. The smaller profile may also make it harder for larger adults to sit down and stand back up. 

Elongated Toilets vs. Round Toilets

Elongated and round toilets each offer a different set of features and benefits. Figuring out which is right for your home bathrooms is often a matter of sorting out which features are most important to you and your family. 

Appearance​: Elongated

Many people prefer the longer shape of the elongated toilet seat over the smaller round toilet. However, this is truly a matter of personal preference, with many folks preferring the style they’re most familiar with.

Durability​: Tie

The shape of the seat and toilet bowl don’t have much of an impact on the overall durability of the toilet itself. The normal wear and tear between the two shouldn’t vary significantly. 

Price​: Tie

Elongated and round toilets both fall within a similar price range of between $100 to $300 or more. The toilet shape has little impact on price compared to other features like brand name, smart features, and flushing system. You’ll also spend the same amount hiring a pro to install them, with toilet installation costing on average around $400.

Ease of Installation​: Tie

Both elongated and round toilets involve roughly the same installation process. There’s not much difference in complexity or difficulty between these two toilet styles.

Ease of Repair and Maintenance: Tie

Again, there’s not much difference when comparing repair and maintenance needs between the two toilet shapes, except for two factors: 

• It’s sometimes easier to find replacement seats for an elongated toilet. 

• Round seats are easier to use for young children, making cleaning easier.

Comfort: Elongated

Which type of toilet provides the most comfort depends on the individual. Some folks prefer the rounder shape, while others find the narrower shape of elongated styles more comfortable. People with disabilities tend to prefer the elongated seat style, while young children and petite people may prefer a round toilet seat. 

Water Usage: Tie

Generally, picking between an elongated or round style has little impact on your overall toilet water usage. The primary factor impacting water usage is the toilet’s flushing mechanism. Some elongated toilets might have a slightly larger bowl, which could mean they use slightly more water per flush compared to round toilets. However, this difference is minimal so it doesn’t need to be a consideration in your home’s utility costs.

Elongated vs. Round Toilets: Which Style Wins?

Both elongated and round toilets each have pros and cons to consider. Which type of toilet is best for your home depends largely on personal preferences, although people with disabilities might prefer elongated styles. If space is at a premium, consider the round toilet, which takes up less room in a crowded bath. Your local plumber can help you decide on the right size for your layout. 

While cost can be a factor, with elongated toilets costing a bit more on average than round styles, the difference might not be substantial enough to outweigh comfort and style preferences.