In the battle between an elongated vs round toilet, there are numerous factors your need to consider.
Each of these is great on its own, but one or the other may not be what you want in your home.
Don’t worry. We’re here to put an end to this debate. We’ll help you determine which of these two is the ultimate winner that meets your bathroom expectations.
Elongated vs Round Toilet: The Basics
The first flush toilet, which is a precursor to the toilets we use today, was invented by Alexander Cumming in 1775.
Since then, countless toilet shapes and styles have arisen to fit our specific number one and two needs.
One highly debated feature that people fight about is the shape of the front bowl.
Should you go for the traditional round one or choose an elongated bowl instead?
First, we need to get to know each of them.
The Round Toilet
When humans first started using indoor toilets, every toilet in every home featured a round bowl, like a one size fits all scenario.
A round toilet’s front bowl is approximately 16.5 inches long, which is measured by the length between the bolt holes to the tip of the bowl.
The size of the bowl may differ depending on the manufacturer. However, standard round toilets are generally two inches shorter than elongated toilets.
Advantages of Round Toilets
One of the main reasons homeowners go for round toilets is that they’re compact.
This feature allows them to fit into tighter spaces and smaller bathrooms.
Additionally, homeowners who live with children usually go for round toilets because they’re more accessible and easier to use.
In some instances, parents would install a round toilet in their children’s bedrooms and replace it with an elongated one as the child reaches adolescence.
Disadvantages of Round Toilets
If you value aesthetics, and we know a lot of people do, you might think a round toilet doesn’t really elevate the overall vibe of your bathroom.
That’s one of the first disadvantages of round toilets.
The second thing you might not like about this toilet is its overall dimension profile.
Round toilets are generally smaller, which means people who are relatively tall and big might find it difficult or uncomfortable to sit on them.
The Elongated Toilet
The elongated toilet was actually born out of necessity and after years of research.
Apparently, a considerable number of people realized the challenges brought by round toilets.
As a result, manufacturers started producing toilets with a more oval clearing. Elongated toilets are often 18.5 inches long, which is two inches longer than standard ones.
Advantages of Elongated Toilets
While bathroom aesthetics is predominantly dependent on personal preferences, we can’t argue that elongated toilets generally look better than round ones.
Additionally, elongated toilets are arguably more accessible for people with disabilities.
In fact, the Americans with Disabilities Act specifies that public bathrooms must have elongated bowls.
Elongated toilets are easier to clean in most cases because the oval-shaped bowl produces more force when you flush it.
This could significantly reduce the number of flushes you make to clean the toilet and reduce your water consumption bill.
Lastly, the longer tip of the bowl provides more support for the legs, making it more comfortable for taller people to use.
Disadvantages of Elongated Toilets
As with pretty much anything, the elongated bowl is not free of flaws.
With its dimensions, it takes up a larger floor space, which means it may not fit in smaller bathrooms.
If it does fit, you might end up sacrificing some room for freedom of movement while you go about the bathroom doing other tasks.
Moreover, because elongated toilets use more materials, they are generally more expensive than round toilets.
Elongated vs Round Toilet: The Faceoff
It’s difficult to determine which toilet reigns supreme by simply talking about each one’s advantages and disadvantages.
We have to consider all the factors you might have to consider when choosing a toilet. Here’s our scorecard.
Appearance
Again, the appearance of a toilet is a matter of personal preference.
However, we believe that most people would prefer the longer shape of an elongated toilet.
That is mainly because they look more sophisticated and advanced than round toilets.
Winner: Elongated Toilet
Durability
The durability of a toilet depends mainly on the manufacturer and the materials used instead of its shape.
However, if installed in a small bathroom, we’re going to say that elongated toilets are at a higher risk of getting hit because of the additional two inches.
Nonetheless, the normal wear and tear of the toilet shouldn’t deviate significantly between these two shapes.
Winner: Round Toilet
Price
The toilet’s shape doesn’t significantly affect its total price. Factors like the brand and flush type are what really skyrocket a toilet’s tag price.
For instance, a dual flush toilet may only cost you $350, but an upflush toilet can reach more than $950, depending on the brand.
In general, round toilets cost around $280, while elongated toilets cost about $290, a mere 10-dollar difference.
On the other hand, if you’re working on a tight budget, check out our list of round and elongated toilets under $200.
Winner: Round Toilet
Installation and Size
In terms of installation, the elongated and the round toilets employ roughly similar installation processes.
Other factors like bidets or flushing mechanisms do more to affect the complexity of how to install them.
On the other hand, when it comes to size, we’d have to give the point to round toilets.
That is mainly because they can fit into different sizes of bathrooms, whereas elongated toilets can only be installed in relatively more spacious bathrooms.
You can also go for the best one-piece toilet to further save more space in your bathroom.
Winner: Round Toilet
Accessibility
Each toilet shape accommodates a different set of people.
Round toilets are easier to use for homeowners who live with children. They’re also more comfortable for smaller people.
On the other hand, elongated toilets are more accessible for people with disabilities.
Moreover, taller or bigger people will find the oval-shaped seat more comfortable.
Having said that, we’d have to leave this factor to your personal needs.
Winner: Tie
Maintenance and Repair
When it comes to maintenance and repair, we’d have to say that the elongated toilet wins by an inch.
The additional force caused by the oval-shaped bowl makes it easier to flush most of its contents, which means you only have to brush less residue when cleaning it.
Additionally, newer constructions use elongated toilets nowadays, leading manufacturers to produce more replacement parts for them than round toilets.
Ergo, it might be easier to fix elongated toilets because the replacement parts are much easier to find.
Winner: Elongated Toilets
Comfort
Just like the appearance, the comfort that each toilet shape provides varies from one person to another.
Some people prefer the rounder shape, while others prefer the narrow, oval shape of an elongated toilet.
However, if you ask us about the science behind them, we’d have to say that elongated toilets are more comfortable.
After all, this type of toilet was created after realizing the discomfort that round toilets bring to people.
Moreover, we believe that the additional two inches in length provide more support to the user’s legs, reducing fatigue, especially when you spend a long time in the bathroom.
Winner: Elongated Toilet
Elongated vs Round Toilet: The Verdict
First, let’s look at the scorecard:
- Elongated Toilet = 3.5 points
- Round Toilet = 3.5 points
Each toilet type has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s up to you what you’re willing to sacrifice in exchange for the benefits of one type of toilet.
What we can say is that people with disabilities will find elongated toilets to be much more comfortable and accessible.
On the other hand, if you want a more spacious bathroom or make room for a bathtub and a shower, we suggest you go for a round toilet.
The best thing you can do is to determine the dimensions of your bathroom first, then determine whether or not a two-inch difference is substantial enough to sway your decision.