Text by
Bryan MaddockUpdated on
January 30, 2020
Toilets
Toilets are bathroom fixtures used for the sanitary collection and disposal of human waste products such as urine and feces. Consisting of a bowl and seat, toilets provide hygienically safe and convenient facilities for relieving ourselves. Toilets come in a variety of disposal methods that range from common flush toilets, dry toilets, and vacuum toilets to pit latrines, portable toilets, and chemical toilets. Toilet bowls are typically made of ceramic (porcelain) but other disposal designs may be made from concrete, plastic or wood. Toilet manufacturers also offer diverse options for seat styles and bowl design along with new possibilities to integrate technology into the toilet that may improve your experiences. The most common toilet design variations are two-piece, one-piece, and wall-hung toilets.
Common Questions
How big is a typical toilet?
Toilets are designed and manufactured in a range of sizes and styles with typical depths between 27”-30” (69-76 cm), widths around 20” (51 cm), and back heights from 21”-31” (53-79 cm).
How tall is the toilet seat from the floor on an ADA compliant toilet?
The distance measured to the top of the toilet seat, not the bowl height, must be between 17”-19” (43.1-48.3 cm) to be ADA compliant. Before recently, most standard toilets were manufactured to be 15” (38.1 cm) in height which does not meet accessibility requirements.
What is the rough-in measurement of a standard toilet?
The Rough-In measurement of a toilet refers to the distance from the back wall to the center of the drainpipe at the base of a standard toilet. The rough-in measurement of a standard toilet design is typically 12” (30.5 cm).
