The height difference
Comfort height toilets (also known as universal-, right-, chair-height or ADA-compliant toilets) measure about 17 to 19 inches in height, measured from the floor to the top of the toilet bowl. They are taller than the standard height toilets, making them more comfortable for average sized people and those that have a hard time getting up from a low seat.
People who have a hard time getting up from a low seat are typically elders or those with disabilities and limited motor skills.
Comfort height toilets also carry ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) seal of approval, as long as they measure anywhere from 17 to 19 inches in height.
Toilets with standard height toilets measure about 15 to 16 inches in height. This height is lower than the height of a standard chair, thus more comfortable for children and shorter people.
Installation cost
Both comfort and standard height toilets are installed the same exact way and the installation cost shouldn’t be any different between them. A comfort height toilet might be a little heavier compared to its standard height alternatives, but the weight difference is negligible.
Price difference
This might come as a surprise, but comfort height toilets are more often than not a bit more affordable than the standard height toilets. The reason for this is the fact that the comfort height toilets are more popular. However, that’s not always the case and the difference in price is usually negligible.
Which toilet height is better for you?
Young families with young children are better off choosing the standard height toilet because it accomodates the needs of shorter people better.
If you live in an aging household without children and the residents are of average height or taller, the comfort height toilet is an obvious choice that will offer the highest levels of comfort for the entire household.
If you have the luxury of living in a multi-bathroom house and there are people in your household that would benefit from both toilet heights, you might want to consider installing both types to make everybody happy.
Raised toilet seats
If you have a standard height toilet and want to experience the increased levels of comfort without buying a new toilet, an option to consider is to buying a raised toilet seat. It typically raises the height of sitting position for 2 to 4 inches, making your sitting position identical to that of comfort height toilets. It costs anywhere from $20 to $40 on average which is much less than installing a new toilet.
