Comfort Height Vs Standard Height Toilets – Pros & Cons
Last Updated on May 19, 2022 by toilethaven
What is the Difference Between Standard Height and Comfort Height Toilets?
There are 2 types of toilets in as far as toilet seat height is concerned. These are standard height toilets and comfort height toilets.
So, what is the difference between standard height toilets and comfort height toilets? And is one better than the other?
Comfort height toilets, which are also known as right/universal/chair height or ADA-compliant toilets are toilets with a seat height of 17 to 19 inches. Standard height toilets are toilets with a seat height of 14 to 15 inches.
It is important to make sure that when measuring the height of a toilet you measure from the floor to the top of the seat and not the bowl. This is because you actually sit on the seat and not the bowl.
This can be a little confusing since most toilets are sold without a seat and only the toilet bowl height is quoted in the specifications. Most toilet seats however have a height of 1 inch so you should always add that to the toilet bowl height.
Standard Height vs Comfort Height Toilets Comparison Table
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comfort Height Toilets | |
| Good for people with limited mobility | Not user-friendly to kids |
| Easy to sit and stand | Too high for short people |
| You don't need a toilet raiser | Can't fit in tight spots |
| Best choice for tall people | Heavy |
| Preferred toilet by seniors | - |
| Standard Height Toilets | |
| Best for Kids | Not compliant with ADA requirements |
| Great choice for short people | Uncomfortable for tall folks |
| Can fit under a tight spot | Raised toilet seat might be needed |
| Better user angle | Not good for the elderly |
| Lighter | - |
Pros and Cons Comfort Height Toilets
Are comfort height toilets better than standard toilets?
Most people are more and more embracing comfort height toilets because of the benefits that they come with. They are the most ideal toilets for physically impaired people, old and generally tall people.
Let us not look at the pros and cons of comfort height toilets and see if they are something you would consider or you are better off buying a standard height toilet.
Pros
- ADA-compliant
- Easy to sit and stand from
- No need for toilet risers
- Best for tall people
- Great choice for seniors
Cons
- They are Heavy
- Uncomfortable for kids and short people
- Can’t fit in a tight space
Pros and Cons of Standard Height Toilets
Standard height toilets are the oldest type of toilets, between them and comfort height toilets. Although comfort height toilets are growing in popularity, standard height toilets still have their place.
So why should you buy a standard height toilet instead of a comfort height toilets? Are standard height toilets better than comfort height toilets? Let us look at their pros and cons.
Pros
- Best for kids, short and people of average height
- Can fit in a tight spot
- Better user position
- lighter
Cons
- Not ADA-compliant
- User-unfriendly to the disabled, old and tall people
- Might need a raised toilet seat
Best Comfort Height Toilets
There are a couple of decent comfort height toilets in the market but I will only give you 3 recommendations here. If you would like to see a more detailed review of the 10 best comfort height toilets check out this post.
The 3 best comfort heights toilets are:
1. Toto Drake Elongated Toilet
Toto Drake is a powerful flushing and a comfort height toilet, which is one of the most popular toilet by Toto. I rank it highly since it is both a powerful flushing toilet and also very competitively priced.
Its toilet bowl height is 16.5 inches which translates to 17.5 inches after installing the seat. Toto Drake is unfortunately not WaterSense compliant as it uses 1.6 gallons per flush which is more than the required 1.28 gallons per flush.
If you would like to compare Toto Drake with other Toto Comfort height toilets check out this post.
2. American Standard Champion 4
American Standard Champion 4 is considered as one of the strongest flushing toilet due to its 4-inch flush valve. It is available in white, bone and linen.
The good thing is that the Champion 4 is available in both comfort height and standard height, and also in either round or elongated. It is a one-piece toilet and therefore more compact.
American Standard Champion 4 comfort height toilet has a seat height of 17.5 inches. Its surface is coated with American Standard EverClean surface to inhibit growth of mold, mildew and bacteria.
To compare the Champion 4 with other American Standard comfort height toilets check out this post.
3. Kohler Cimarron Comfort Height Toilet
Kohler Cimarron is a single flush two-piece elongated and comfort height toilet. It is available in white, black, biscuit and almond.
Using Kohler’s AquaPiston flushing technology, Kohler Cimarron is among the most powerful flushing toilet in the market. It uses only 1.28 gallons per flush meaning it WaterSense labelled and can be sold all over the United States.
Although you it is sold without a seat (you buy a seat separately) its seat height will be 17.5 inches which is really comfortable to sit and stand from.
To compare Kohler Cimarron with other Kohler Comfort height toilets check out this post.
Best Standard Height Toilet
Most toilets these days have a comfort height and getting a decent standard height toilet can be a little harder. I will however list 2 of the best standard height toilets in the market.
1. American Standard H2Option
American Standard H2Option is a dual flush two-piece toilet. It is available in white, bone and lines in both standard height and comfort height models. You can also choose to have a either an elongated or round model.
Dual flush toilets like this one gives you the option to use a less water to flush liquids and a little bit more water to flush solids. With a flushing rate of 0.92/1.28 gallons per flush, this toilet can be sold in every state without restriction.
If you would like a more high-end standard height toilet check out the American Standard Champion 4 standard height toilet. It however uses 1.6 gallons per flush and cannot therefore be sold in some states like California and Texas.
2. Toto Drake CST744S
Toto Drake CST744S is a single flush two-piece elongated and comfort height toilet. Its toilet seat is 15.625 inches in white, black. bone and Sedona beige.
It uses Toto’s G-Max flushing technology which is known for powerful flushing. Unfortunately it does not come with a toilet seat and you will hence need to buy one separately.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements For Comfort Height Toilets
The comfort height vs the standard height toilets issue was not a big deal especially for toilet manufacturers and the general public until ADA was enacted. ADA recommends among other issues that:
- A toilet should have a height of 17 to 19 inches.
- The center line of the toilet must be between 18 inches from the sidewall.
- A 30 inch by 48 inch access to the sink. The door should not swing into that rectangle.
- A clear circle of at least 60 inches around the side wall and 56 inches from the rear wall. This is to accommodate wheelchair users.
Comfort Height vs Standard Height Toilets – Detailed Comparisons
So, is the comfort height toilet the best toilet for you? Or is the standard height toilet the best option? What factors should you look out for while buying one instead of the other? Let us compare and contrast them and find out.
Height
Comfort height toilets have a seat height of between 17 and 19 inches. This is just about the same height as the height of a chair. Standard height toilets have a seat height of between 14 and 15 inches or slightly more.
The decision to buy the comfort height toilet vs the standard height toilets by far depends on the end user. If your bathroom is in an institution or just any public place, you will have no alternative but to install a comfort height toilet.
If you are a very tall person, disabled, old or just have mobility problems the comfort height toilet should be what you buy.
If you are a person of average height or just short, the standard height toilet will better suit your needs. In case you need to install a toilet in the children bathroom, the standard height toilet will be without a doubt the clear winner.
A better option sometimes is to buy a standard height toilet and then install a raised toilet seat especially for the elderly or disabled. A raised toilet seat gives you an extra 2-6 inches on top of your existing toilet height.
Toilet seat risers with handles are especially great. Check out 10 of the best raised toilet seats here.
Cost
The cost of a comfort height toilet is slightly more than that of standard height toilet. In this case, we are assuming both toilets have the same features and from the same manufacturer.
There is for example a $100 difference between a Toto Ultramax II comfort height toilet and a Toto Ultramax II standard height toilet.
For someone with serious physical challenges or just love sitting high, $100 is a small price to pay considering the convenience that comes with a comfort height toilet.
Health
Apart from mobility issues, there are other body conditions that may influence the comfort height vs standard height toilets decision. The most obvious is constipation.
The most natural position for defecating is the squatting positions. But we can’t go back to squatting since we are living in modern times. The shorter standard height toilet maybe as close as possible to squatting. This a good choice for people seeking to prevent or alleviate constipation.
If you still want to use a comfort height toilet though, you should put a small stand/stool at the front of the toilet. You can then use the toilet with your feet in a raised position.
Installation
The installation of a comfort height toilet is similar to that of a standard height toilet. Plumbers also charge the same amount of money to install a comfort height toilet or a standard toilet.
One thing you will however notice is that comfort height toilets are taller than standard height toilets. If you want a toilet to fit in a tight spot space for instance under a shelf then a standard height toilet should be the obvious choice.
Repairs and Maintenance
A comfort height toilet and a standard toilet from the same manufacturer and of the same features and specifications have the same components.
As a result, these toilets’ repairs, maintenance frequency and costs are the same. It is also dependent on the end user. Needless to say, some people are more careful with things than others.
Design
Comfort height toilets and standard height toilets from the same manufacturer and with the same features and specifications have a similar design. The only difference is the height of the toilet bowl from the floor.
Other Factors
Choosing the best toilet for your home or business these days is getting tougher than years ago when just any toilet model would suffice. Apart from just the comfort height vs standard height toilets issue, you will also need to choose from:
Elongated vs round toilets
Elongated toilets are more comfortable with a toilet bowl length of about 18.5 inches on average. Round toilets are less comfortable with an average toilet bowl length of 16.5 inches. Round toilets are ideal for small bathrooms.
One-piece vs two-piece toilets
One-piece toilets have the toilet tank and toilet bowl manufactured as one piece. Two-piece have the toilet bowl and toilet tank as two separate pieces and have to be joined together during installation.
Dual flush vs single flush toilets
Dual flush toilets are the toilets which give the user the option to either use little water for flushing liquids or a little bit more water to flush solids. Single flush toilets are without flushing options.
Floor-mounted vs wall-hung toilets
Floor mounted toilets are the toilets which are mounted on the bathroom floor using toilet bolts, wax ring and a toilet flange. Wall-hung toilets are mounted on the bathroom walls and their tanks are normally concealed in the bathroom wall.
Slow close toilet seats vs slamming toilet seats
Soft/slow close toilet seats are features in toilet seats’ hinges which enable them to avoid slamming on the bowl by closing slowly after use. Slamming toilet seats on the other hand are always obeying the law of gravity.
FAQs
Can I replace a comfort height toilet with a standard height toilet?
Yes. A comfort height toilet is similar to a standard height toilet in all the other ways apart from the toilet bowl height.
What is the difference between toilet bowl height and toilet seat height?
A toilet bowl height is the distance from the floor to the top of the toilet bowl rim while the toilet seat height is the distance from the floor to the top of the toilet seat.