Offset Toilet Flange – A Fix For 10/14 Inch Rough-in Toilets

Last Updated on August 3, 2023 by toilethaven

A toilet flange is a piece of pipe fitting that connects the toilet to the drainpipe and anchors it firmly on the floor. Toilet flanges are also called closet flanges, made of PVC or cast iron.

An offset toilet flange is a type of flange that is used to install standard toilets on a drainpipe with a non-standard rough-in. The offset toilet flange can be installed in different orientations, depending on whether you want the toilet closer or further from the wall.

Offset flanges allow you to shift your toilet in any direction by about 2 inches. Apart from back and forward adjustments, an offset closet flange will enable you to shift your toilet sideways. This is especially the case if the plumbing was poorly done or you want to move the toilet away from a certain fixture.

The rough-in is the distance between the rear wall of the toilet and the center of the drainpipe. You could also measure the distance from the wall to one of the toilet bolts if the toilet is installed. The standard rough-in of a toilet is 12 inches, but some toilets, especially in old houses, have a 10 or 14-inch rough-in.

If you have an old toilet with a non-standard rough-in that you need to replace with a modern toilet, there are 4 ways you could go about it:

Related Article: WHAT IS A TOILET FLANGE?

Offset Toilet Flange vs. Other Methods

When you have a toilet with a non-standard rough-in, you will have installation options. Which one is the best? Let us look at how they all compare with the offset toilet flanges.

  1. Replace it with a new toilet of the same rough-in. The problem with these toilets is that they are way more expensive than the standard toilets and are not readily available in all home improvement stores. This is where the offset toilet flange comes in.
  2. Install a toilet rough-in adapter. Toto toilets mostly use toilet rough-in adapters to replace toilets with a non-standard rough-in with those with a standard rough-in. The problem with this method is that the adapters are only compatible with a few toilet models.
  3. Replace a 14-inch rough-in toilet with a 12-inch rough-in toilet. You can replace a toilet with a rough-in of 14 inches with one with a rough of 12 inches. The problem with this method is that a 2-inch gap will be left between the toilet tank and the wall.
  4. Install an offset toilet flange. This is the best method for installing toilets with non-standard rough-ins. It is inexpensive and can be used to install all toilet models.

Toto Makes some toilet models designed to address the issue of non-standard rough-in. The 2 most famous models are the Toto Vespin II and Toto Carlyle II.

While both of them are 12-inch rough-in toilets, they are skirted, giving you the option of installing the Toto Unifit adapter. This adapter can convert a 12-inch toilet into either a 10 or 14-inch toilet.

Toto Carlyle II is the skirted version of the Toto Ultramax II, while Toto Vespin II is the skirted version of Toto Drake II. I have written a complete guide comparing both of these toilets. If you would like to read it, check it out here.

How to Install an Offset Toilet Flange

Before buying an offset flange, you will first need to determine the size of your toilet’s drainpipe. The standard drainpipe size is 3 inches, but some are 4 inches in diameter.

Apart from an offset closet flange, you will also need to buy a wax ring and toilet mounting bolts. Installing an offset toilet flange is not very different from installing a standard toilet flange. These are the steps to follow while installing the offset flange:

  • Turn off the water and drain the old toilet tank and bowl
  • Remove the old toilet
  • Remove and trash the old wax ring
  • Remove the old toilet flange
  • Install the offset toilet flange
  • Fix the wax ring
  • Install the toilet
  • Reconnect water supply.

In case you would like a detailed guide, here is how to replace a toilet flange.

Best Offset Toilet Flanges

The following 2 offset toilet flanges are reliable, so if you want to install one, you won’t go wrong with anyone.

1. SIOUX 889-GPOM

  • Material: Plastic
  • Fits Pipe Size: 4 inches
  • Stainless steel ring
Sioux Chief Manufacturing 889-GPOM, 1
  • Material Type: PVC
  • Fits Pipe Size: 4 inches
  • Stainless steel ring

2. Oatey 43500 Level-Fit Offset Toilet Flange

  • ABS material
  • Metal ring
  • Installs inside a 4-inch pipe or over a 3-inch pipe
Oatey 43500 Level-Fit Offset Toilet Flange, 3 X 4...
  • The metal ring provides added strength and cracking resistance to the flange and can be rotated to allow precise alignment of bolts and screws
  • Solvent welds inside of 4 inch or over 3 inch schedule 40 dwv pipe
  • 2 inch offset allows a margin of error for drain pipe/flange alignment

And basically, that is all concerning offset toilet flanges. I hope that this guide was helpful.