Toilet Seat Risers – 10 Best Raised Toilet Seats

Last Updated on May 18, 2022 by toilethaven

How Does a Raised Toilet Seat Work?

Toilet seat risers or raised toilet seats as they are also called are installed on a toilet to make it higher and hence easy to sit and stand from especially by the elderly. They are also recommended for use after a hip surgery/replacement. These seats vary in height from from 2 to 6 inches.

Raised toilet seats are fantastic especially for the elderly whose bodies can’t allow them to sit and stand from a standard toilets. However, toilet seat risers need to be well made and properly installed otherwise the user can badly fall off and injure themselves.

You should buy a raised toilet seat in accordance with the user’s height. It is important to make sure that as they use the toilet their feet are firmly on the floor. Anyone using a toilet with their feet dangling in the air risks toppling off and hurting themselves.

To choose a good toilet seat riser, consider the shape of the toilet, the height you need to add on the toilet, ease of use, comfort, safety, portability, ease of cleaning among other factors like terms of warranty and returns. When buying for the elderly/seniors, consider a toilet seat riser with arms.

Raised toilet seat with arms are the safest. They transfer the responsibility of body support from the legs to the hands and are therefor the best raised toilet seats for the elderly or other persons after hip/knee replacement.

A standard toilet has a height of about 15 inches. Since toilet seat risers have a height of between 2 and 6 inches, a raised toilet will have a height of between 17 and 21 inches.

Some raised toilet seats can be used with your existing toilet seat while others will need the seat to be completely removed. To prevent awful urine odors, cleanliness is paramount while using a raised toilet seat.

What is the Best Raised Toilet Seat?

Below are is a list and comparison table of the 10 best raised toilet seats.

Reviews of the Best Toilet Seat Risers

Raised toilet seats/toilet seat risers/elevated toilet seats are a little trickier to buy than regular toilet seats. I hope these review will provide you with all the details needed to make a good and informed choice.

1. Vive Raised Toilet Seat

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Features and Specifications

• 5 inch toilet seat riser
• Portable
• Removable padded handles
• Fits on elongated and round toilets
• Easy to install
• 250 pounds weight limit
• Made of composite material
• Contoured design
• 7.05 pounds in weight
• Dimensions: 20.5 x 18.2 x 7.9 inches
• Lifetime guarantee

Review

The Vive raised toilet seat is among one of the best toilet seats risers in the market today. It fits both elongated and round toilet bowls perfectly.

The removable padded handles are especially helpful for people recovering from surgery and don’t want to put stress on their joints. They are padded with a soft spongy material and hence very easy on the hands. You can also travel with this raised toilet seat since the handles are removable and the whole seat only weighs 7 pounds.

Anyone can install this toilet. It has an adjustment knob at the front that you turn clockwise to tighten and counterclockwise to loosen it. The seat’s rear wing which attaches to the bowl’s rim make it even sturdier. You don’t need any tool during the installation process.

The contoured design of the toilet seat riser assumes the natural shape of the body and is therefore very comfortable.

There is however one main complaint about this toilet seat raiser.  If your toil bowl rim is too narrow or too thick, the wings will not clip on it. And if you tighten the knob at the front the seat start rising from the back.

Other than the above concern, the Vive raised toilet seat works very well and it is a very highly rated toilet seat riser.

2. Carex E-Z Lock Raised Toilet Seat

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Features and Specifications

• 5 inch toilet seat raiser
• Fits round and elongated toilets
• Contoured toilet seat
• 300 pounds maximum weight limit
• Built-in-handgrips
• Easy installation
• Easily portable
• Made of molded plastic
• 5.2 pounds
• Dimensions: 17 x 15.5 x 8.5 inches

Review

The Carex E-Z Lock toilet seat raiser will add an extra 5 inches to your already existing toilet height. It fits directly on your toilet whether round or elongated and you don’t have to remove the normal toilet seat.

Installing this toilet seat raiser is very easy and quick. You only have to place it on the toilet bowl and tighten an adjustment knob at the front to firmly secure it. You also follow the same step to remove it for cleaning .

For your comfort, the top of the seat is contoured to assume the natural shape of the body. It also has inbuilt hand grips which contributes to the overall firmness of the toilet and provides extra body support.

This Carex toilet seat riser weighs only 5.5 pounds and is therefore very portable. You can therefore switch it between different bathrooms. You can also take it with you on your vacation trips comfortably.

Carex is a big name in this industry and we feel that this is their best toilet seat raiser in the market.

Some people have complained about the seat soaking with urine and ending up being very smelly. You will therefore have to clean it from time to time.

3. The Ultimate™ Raised Toilet Seat – Elevated Toilet Seat with Legs

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Features and Specifications

• Padded seat
• Blue toilet seat
• Adjustable height
• Sturdy and padded armrests
• Width of 20 inches between the arms
• Fits both round and elongated toilets
• Can also be used as a bedside commode or shower chair

Review

The Ultimate is a unique and genuinely one of the best toilet seat risers you could ever buy. Unlike other raised toilet seats, It does not sit on the bowl neither is it fixed anywhere on the toilet.

This raised toilet seat stands on solid ground and as a result it is very sturdy. The actual seat where you sit on is padded and therefore very soft, warm and comfortable.

Another interesting thing about this toilet seat riser is that its height is adjustable. The manufacturer recognize that human beings have different heights and therefore one height would not suit everyone. Its height can be adjusted from between 19.5 to 23.5 inches from the ground.

One more unique feature about this seat is that it is blue in color. This provides a great contrast against the toilet bowl and other bathroom items. Persons who are old or impaired in one way or another would therefore be able to notice where the seat is easily.

Two padded armrests on both sides helps to assist the user to lower themselves into the seat and also stand up with ease. The armrests also prevents fall unlike other toilet seat raises where you have to depend on your legs only.

And as if that’s not great already, the Ultimate toilet seat riser does more than just provide help with the toilet. You can also use it as bedside commode or a shower chair. This is of really great help to the elderly and those with limited mobility.

This seat fits both elongated and round toilets. The only downside to it is that it takes long to install but after that everything is easy-peasy!

4. Essential Medical Supply Toilet Seat Riser

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Features and Specifications

This toilet seat riser comes in 6 different variations to help you choose the most appropriate one for your toilet and personal needs. Let us look at each one of them.

a. Bolted toilet seat riser for round toilets

• Dimensions: 17.25 x 13.5 x 3.5 inches
• 3.5 inch toilet seat riser
• Fits under the toilet seat
• Mounted by two long screws and wingnuts
• Maximum weight capacity of 300 pounds
• 2.8 pounds
• Made of molded plastic

b. Bolted toilet seat riser for elongated toilet

• Dimensions: 19.5 x 14 x 3.5 inches
• 3.5 inch toilet seat riser
• Installed underneath the toilet
• Mounted by 2 long screws and wingnut
• Maximum weight capacity of 300 pounds
• 3.4 pounds

c. Hinged toilet seat riser for round toilet

• Dimensions: 17.5 x 13.5 x 3.5 inches
• 3.5 inch toilet seat riser
• Hinged for easy cleaning
• Easy to install with long bolts
• Usable with B5040 safety rails
• 3.7 pounds
• 300 pounds maximum weight capacity

d. Hinged Toilet riser for elongated toilet

• Dimensions: 19.2 x 14 x 3.5 inches
• 3.5 inch toilet seat riser
• 300 pounds maximum weight capacity
• Usable with B500 safety rails
• Long installation bolts included

e. Toilet seat riser with removable arms for round toilets

• Dimensions: 17.5 x 13.5 x 3.5 inches
• Arms makes it easy to sit and raise
• Installs under the toilet seat
• Installations bolts and nuts included
• 3.5 inch toilet seat raiser
• 300 pound maximum weight capacity

f. Toilet seat riser with removable arms for elongated toilets

• Dimensions: 19.5 x 14 x 3.5 inches
• 3.5 inch toilet seat riser
• The arms make it easier to sit and stand
• Installation bolts and wingnuts included
• Installs under the toilet seat
• 300 pound maximum weight capacity

Review

These toilet seat risers come in several specifications depending on the type of your toilet and the installation method as well as presence of arms or not.

There is no one toilet seat to fit all toilets. They are very specific. For instance an elongated toilet seat riser will only fit in an elongated toilet. The same also applies for round toilet risers.

Among the 3 categories, toilet seat risers with arms are the most preferred by many users. They are especially helpful for people recovering from knee or hip surgeries among other treatments. You would otherwise have to put a lot of strain in your knee/hip which would slow down your healing process.

These toilet seats are installed underneath your normal toilet seat and give you an extra 3.5 inches in height. They can accommodate almost everyone since their maximum weight capacity is 300 pounds.

The one complaint some people have about this toilet seat risers is that they are not as easy to install, which is somewhat contradictory since some people report them as easy to install.

Essentially what you do is slot in the long bolts through the mounting holes on the normal seat and the toilet seat riser and then through the toilet bowl mounting holes. You then tighten it with a wingnut from underneath the toilet bowl.

If your toilet is skirted then this toilet seat riser may actually not work for you. You need access to the underside of the bowl to tighten the wingnut.

5. Vaunn Medical Toilet Seat Riser 

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Features and Specifications

• 4 inch toilet seat riser
• Fits round and elongated toilet seat
• Removable handles
• Easy to clean
• Easy installation
• 4.5 pounds
• Made of molded plastic
• Dimensions: 16.5 x 18.5 x 4 inches
• Width between arms: 19 inches
• 250 pounds maximum weight capacity

Review

These Vaunn Medical toilet seat raiser is a one-fit-all for both elongated and round toilets. It will add 4 inches into your existing toilet, which is therefore very easy to sit and stand from.

It is easily portable since it just weighs 4.5 pounds and the handles are removable. The handles are also padded and hence making them soft and hard to slip.

Installation of this seat is very easy. You simply place it on top of the toilet bowl and turn the knob at the front to tighten it. The push pins ensures a firm grip on the rim of the toilet bowl. Removal of this seat for cleaning is also as fast as it is to install it.

For your comfort, this toilet seat has an ergonomic design, which is contoured to accommodate the shape of the body. The gap between the two handles is 19 inches and can therefore accommodate even big-bodied people.

Although these seat is designed to be comfortable which it actually is to some people, there are people who report that the seat is rather uncomfortable and cause some pain on the thighs.

If you are not happy after buying this toilet the manufacturer will let you return it.

6. PCP Raised Toilet Seat and Safety Frame

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Features and Specifications

• Adjustable height (18 to 23 inches)
• Lightweight and portable
• Easy to install and remove when not in use
• 275 pounds maximum weight
• 18 inches between the 2 arms
• Dimensions: 18.25 x 14.4 x 26.75 inches
• Seat made of molded plastic
• 11 pounds

Review

This is a two-in-one product comprising of a toilet seat riser and a toilet safety frame. It is especially designed for the seniors, disabled, and patient recovering from knee, hip fracture, back, lower body surgery, strains or muscle injury.

The design of this toilet seat raiser and safety frame allows it to be very sturdy. The safety frame has four stand which are solid on the ground.

The toilet seat riser is then anchored on the safety frame at a height which can be adjusted in accordance with the user’s wishes. The toilet seat riser has a splash guard that goes directly in the toilet bowl whether it is a round or elongated toilet.

The safety frame’s handles are padded for comfortable sitting and standing and are 18 inches apart. The compact design of this product therefore makes it possible for use even in narrow bathrooms.

The major complaint about this toilet seat raiser and safety frame is that its width is not very friendly to big-bodied persons and it is also not adjustable.

This toilet seat raiser can also not be returned after you have purchased it and not pleased by it..

7. Carex 3.5 Inch Raised Toilet Seat with Arms

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Features and Specifications

•  3.5 inches toilet seat riser
• Fits round toilets
• Removable padded handles
• Made of molded plastic
• 250 pounds maximum weight limit
• 17 inches width between arms
• 3.6 pounds
• Dimensions: 13.5 x 17.3 x 3.5 inches

Review

If you are looking for toilet seat riser specifically made for your round toilet then this might be what you are looking for. It will add an extra 3.5 inches to your current toilet bowl and seat.

With this seat riser, you will need to remove your existing toilet seat, place the toilet seat rise on the bowl then install the normal toilet seat on top of the seat riser.

It comes with 2 long bolts and nuts for installation. To install it you slot the bolt through the seat and toilet seat riser and through the bowl mounting holes.

Hand tighten the two nuts from underneath the toilet bowl until just snug. Holding the nut with one hand, tighten the bolt from the top using a screwdriver.

For easy lowering and standing from the toilet, this toilet seat riser has two removable handles. The handles are padded with a soft spongy material to make it easy on your hands.

Because the toilet riser is only attached to the toilet bowl using the two bolts only, some users have reported that the seat can sometimes be wobbly. Most people however said it does the job.

A similar product for elongated toilets is also available.

8. Nova Raised Toilet Seat

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Features and Specifications

• 5 inch toilet seat riser
• Removable and adjustable padded arms
• For both round and elongated toilets
• 20 inch width between arms
• Easy installation
• 300 pounds maximum weight limit
• 6.6 pounds
• Dimensions: 12 x 21.5 x 16 inches

Review

The Nova raised toilet seat is designed to fit both round and elongated toilets. It is guaranteed to add an extra 5 inches into your existing toilet.

Its installation is easy. You only place it on top of the toilet bowl and secure it with an adjustment knob at the front of the seat.

You will not need to remove your existing toilet seat. You will just raise it and place the toilet seat raiser directly on the bowl. The only downside to this is that you will not have a way of covering the toilet hole.

For easy lowering on to the toilet as well as standing up, the arms of the toilet seat are padded with a softy spongy material. It will therefore be really gentle on your hands.

The arms are also adjustable and removable in case you need to pack and travel with this seat raiser. You will be able to adjust the width of the arms from between 17.75 and 20 inches.

Few questions have been asked about the steadiness of this product. Since it is only secured at the front, if you apply disproportionate force on the arms it could easily topple.

Other than the above concern most people seem to be very happy with the NOVA toilet seat raiser.

9. Maddak Elevated 3 1/2 Inch Toilet Seat

CHECK PRICE ON ACTION

Features and Specifications

• 3.5 inch toilet seat riser
• Used with regular toilet seat
• Easy to install
• 300 pounds maximum weight limit
• 21 inch width between arms
• Available for both round and elongated toilets
• 5.2 pounds for  elongated seats
• 4 pounds for round seats
• Elongated dimensions: 26 x 22 x 8.25 inches
• Round dimensions: 19.5 x 21.5  x 4.5 inches

Review

The Maddak toilet seat riser is a unique product designed for either round or elongated toilets. It has 2 arms which unlike most toilet seat risers are permanently joint to the entire seat.

The two arms provides support when the user is sitting and standing from the toilet. There is a 21 inch width between the two arms to accommodate even big-bodied individuals.

While using this toilet, you can also use your existing toilet seat alongside it. It therefore helps you to keep your toilet seat closed at all times.

This toilet seat riser is sold with the installation gear which basically are long bolts, nuts and washers. You will be required to remove your old seat, place the Maddak toilet seat riser on the bowl and your seat on top.

The long bolts will go through your seat, the toilet seat rise and on through the toilet bowl mounting holes. You will then tighten it from the underside of the bowl with the nuts and washers.

A few users have complained about the seat rocking a little on the toilet bowl. This could happen if the bolts are loose..

10. Carex Toilet Seat Riser

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Features and Specifications

• 5 and 5.5 inch toilet seat riser
• 300 pounds maximum weight capacity
• Fits round and elongated toilets
• Contoured shape and wide sitting area
• Portable
• Slip-resistant
• Weighs 5.5 pounds
• Made of molded plastic
• Dimensions: 16 x 15 x 7 inches

Review

These toilet seat risers don’t require any kind of sophisticated installation. You just place them on top of the toilet bowl and you are good to go.

On the underside of the of seat riser there are anti-slip pads where the seat engages the toilet bowl. These prevent the seat from slipping while being used. They are designed to be used for both round and elongated toilets.

Unlike many other toilet seat risers, these ones are not used together with the normal toilet seats. You simply lift the toilet seat up and place the Carex toilet seat riser on top. You sit directly on it and not your normal toilet seat.

Questions have been asked on the steadiness of this toilet seat risers. The big concern is due to the fact that they are not attached to the toilet bowl by any fixture.

Some customers especially those with elongated toilets have also complained of the toilet seat riser being wobbly. There even some who have even complained that they have actually fallen down while using them.

Their lack of arms have made some customers especially skeptical of their steadiness. The trick in using these toilet seat risers is by sitting directly on top of them. If you sit at the front part only it is going to topple and send you flying to the ground.

This product is non-returnable.

Toilet Seat Risers vs Comfort Height Toilets

Comfort height toilets which are also known as ADA toilets or sometimes handicap toilets are toilets with a toilet seat height of 17 to 19 inches as opposed to standard height toilets which have a seat height of about 15 inches.

Raised toilet seats works the same way as comfort height toilets. The thing about toilet seat raisers is that sometimes they come with safety frames or padded arms. You can therefore hold onto this frames and arms to gently sit and stand, unlike comfort height toilet where you have no form of body support.

You could also have a perfectly working standard height toilet which you don’t need to replace with a comfort height toilet. A toilet seat raiser costs anywhere between 20 and 100 dollars. Installing a toilet seat riser is therefore both easy and cheaper. Toilet seat risers are also portable.

Incase you don’t need hands support and just need a high enough toilet, you can then consider installing a comfort height toilet. They are sturdier than raised toilet seats. In case you would want to see some of the best comfort height toilet seats check out this post.

How Do I Choose a Raised Toilet Seat?

Before settling on a particular product, we implore you to go through this list of the factors you should consider before buying a toilet seat riser. We believe that the best toilet seat raiser should be able to fulfill most if not all the listed concerns.

1. Height

Although the idea behind toilet seat risers is to add an extra height to standard toilets, human beings are born with different heights.

A person with a height of 5 feet and another with a height of 6 feet and a couple of inches would surely need different heights for the toilet seat risers.

It is really not a good idea to use a toilet when your feet are dangling from the seat riser. This could pose a danger to the user.

2. Portability

This is an important issue because if you travel a lot you want to be able to move everywhere with your seat. What contributes to a seat’s portability are its weight and overall dimensions.

It is possible to have a light seat but its shape might make it cumbersome to carry around.

3. Sturdiness

A wobbling toilet seat raiser is always a red flag. Toilet seat raisers are designed for people with limited mobility and the stability of the seat has to be paramount.

For a stable seat, make sure the seat is well installed. Loose toilet seat fixtures can cause the seat to rock and therefore endangering the user.

4. Return Policy

Some manufacturers do not allow return of toilet seat risers if somehow the buyer ended up not liking them. Check this out before committing your money on a particular product, unless you would be happy to donate it if it fails to work as anticipated.

5. Ease of Installation

A toilet seat riser should be easy to install and uninstall. This is precisely because you need to clean it often and also clean the entire toilet.

6. Design of the Toilet

Some toilet seat risers will require access to the underside of the bowl to tighten wingnuts on a bolt. If your toilet is skirted you will therefore have to look for a toilet seat risers that will be compatible with your toilet.

7. Ease of cleaning

Toilet seat risers need top hygiene. Due to their small opening, sometimes waste can adhere on to their sides.

You will therefore need a toilet seat that will be easy and quick to clean and does not retain a bad odor.

8. Shape of your toilet

Toilets are either round or elongated. Before you go ahead to buy the toilet seat riser of your choice, make sure it will fit on your toilet bowl.

Elongated toilet seats are installed on elongated toilet bowls while round toilet seats are installed on round-front toilet bowls.

In case you are not sure about it, I have written an article on how to measure a toilet seat. Read it here.

How to Install a Raised Toilet Seat

Toilet seat risers are fairly easy to install. For some you don’t need any tool to install. Others you will only need a screwdriver and will take you roughly 15 minutes to do it.

There are 4 types of toilet seat risers depending on the method of installation.

1. Toilet seat risers with bolts

This toilet seats risers are installed beneath your already existing toilet seat and you will therefore have to remove the seat. You will therefore be sitting on your toilet sitting and not the toilet seat riser.

Proceed as follows to install:

• Remove your old toilet seat.
• Clean the top of the bowl area
• Place the toilet seat riser on top of the bowl and the seat and lid on top of the riser
• Slot the long bolt through seat, the riser and all the way through the bowl mounting holes
• Feed a washer a nut through each of the protruding end of the bolt from underneath the bowl
• Hold the nut with your hand and alternatingly tighten the bolt with a screw driver

It is important to alternatingly tighten the two nuts in order to keep the seat level. If you tighten one side before the other the entire assembly will lean to one side.

If the seat becomes wobbly after some time, always tighten the seat in place. A wobbly seat is dangerous to the user hence should always be tight.

If your toilet is skirted, this toilet seats will not work with your toilet since there is no access to the underside of the bowl.

2. Toilet seat risers with a safety frame

A toilet seat riser with safety frame is pretty easy to use. The safety frame which comes pre-installed goes over the toilet bowl. They are normally very sturdy.

The height of the toilet seat riser is not predetermined and is normally adjustable to suit different people. The only thing you will need to do is to select a height that you are comfortable with and set the seat.

Yow will not need to remove your existing toilet seat. Just lift up the seat and the lead and position the safety frame and the riser in place.

This is also easy if you need to remove the safety frame and the riser for other people to use the bathroom

3. Toilet seat risers with an adjustment knob

These toilet seat raisers come with an adjustment knob at the front which you turn clockwise to tighten and counterclockwise to loosen

Some also have some clips that hook up on the rim of the toilet bowl. They are easy to install and remove for cleaning or to free the bathroom for other users

4. Toilet seat risers with no fixings

This types of toilet seat risers have no fixings at all. You simply place them on the bowl and that’s it! Before using such make sure they are snug on the bowl and always sit on it uniformly to avoid toppling.

You will not need to remove your toilet seat in order to install these toilet seat risers.

How to Measure for a Raised Toilet Seat

A toilet seat riser should ideally be 2 to 6 inches in height. You will therefore have to choose the right height of a toilet seat riser depending on the height of the intended end user.

Here is how to measure for a toilet seat riser:

• Have the person stand straight on their feet if possible.
• Take the measurement from the floor to the back of their thigh, just behind the knee. That is their ideal toilet seat height.
• Measure the distance from the floor to the top of the regular toilet seat.
• Subtract the second measurements from the first measurement.
• The difference is the raised toilet seat size that you need to order.

For more information check out this post.