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The Spruce / Chloe Jeong
Replacing your toilet seat is a quick and affordable way to make your bathroom feel new. Not only is it more sanitary, but you can also upgrade with features like slow-close, and select new colors or materials to provide your toilet with a refresh. When selecting a new toilet seat you’ll first want to make sure you’re selecting an option that works with your existing round or elongated toilet bowl.
Our favorite toilet seat, the American Standard Cadet Slow Close Toilet Seat with EverClean, is available in both round and elongated designs. It also comes with slow-close hinges so the seat won’t slam into the bowl. But we have other recommendations that might work even better for your porcelain throne.
Here are the best toilet seats.
Best Overall: American Standard Cadet Slow Close Toilet Seat with EverClean
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Home Depot
EverClean material gives it antimicrobial properties
Soft-close lid
Budget-friendly
Easy to install
Multiple colors
Neutral design works with most bathrooms
Some tools needed for installation
The American Standard Cadet Slow Close Toilet Seat is made with EverClean, a glaze additive that provides long-lasting antimicrobial properties, to keep your toilet seat stain- and germ-resistant through years of use.
The soft-close lid keeps it from slamming, even if you drop the lid. This is also a great feature for those with children, to keep their fingers from getting pinched. The budget-friendly purchase includes all hardware that you need for installation, requiring only a few basic household tools.
The American Standard Cadet Slow Close Toilet Seat is available in both round and elongated shapes. It has an intentionally neutral aesthetic—with both rounded and edged curves in the design—so it can match well with most toilets and bathrooms. It is available in three colors: white, bone, and linen.
Price at time of purchase: $35
Best Budget: Project Source White Round Toilet Seat
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Lowes
Budget-friendly
Durable
Hinges and seat match
No special features
Not soft-close
Our favorite budget toilet seat is made from wood, for an old-school, hefty feel. Featuring a simple design, with a high-gloss white finish matched by white hinges, the Project Source White Toilet Seat gets all the basics right.
Of course, without slow-close hinges, you should expect the occasional slam.
Made in the United States and easy to clean, the Project Source toilet seat is a cinch to install, with hinges that tighten from the top for easy access. Designed to easily fit most toilets, the Project Source White Toilet Seat is available as either an elongated seat or an even more affordable round version.
Price at time of publish: $13
Best Elongated: Kohler Brevia Quick-Release Elongated Toilet Seat
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Wayfair
Affordable
Two colors available
Soft-close
Matched hinges
Installation instructions are not universal
Made of solid polypropylene plastic, the Kohler Brevia Quick-Release Hinges Elongated Toilet Seat won’t chip or stain. It fits most elongated toilets and won’t shift around, thanks to the grip-tight bumpers on the bottom of the seat. The lid has a soft-close feature, so you won’t accidentally slam the toilet lid.
It’s easy to clean, affordable, and quiet. Plus, installation is easy, thanks to quick-release hinges that make it easy to attach and detach the toilet seat.
The Kohler Brevia toilet seat is available in two colors: white and biscuit.
Price at time of publish: $22
Best Round: Kohler Figure ReadyLatch Quiet-Close Round-Front Toilet Seat
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Lowe's
Soft-close
Easy to install
Lock and unlock hinge for cleaning
Only available in one color
Another top pick from Kohler, this toilet seat also has a soft-close feature and grip-tight bumpers on the bottom of the seat. Installation is also easy because it is all done from above the bowl. No more bending, crouching, or lying on the bathroom floor to tighten screws. The hinge can also be unlocked easily when it’s time to clean.
The seat only comes in white and is a bit expensive for its relative simplicity.
Fortunately, it fits almost all round toilets so you don’t have to worry about size (round seats tend to be popular in half-baths, smaller bathrooms, and older homes). If you want a good-quality toilet seat that includes all the must-haves, such as soft-close and easy cleaning, this is a great choice.
Price at time of purchase: $50
Best Open Front: BEMIS Round Plastic Toilet Seat White
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Amazon
Non-corroding hardware
Affordable
Round and elongated
Fits most toilets
No special features
Only available in one color
More common in public restrooms, an open front toilet seat can be a good option for toilets that get a lot of use. The Bemis round plastic toilet seat in white is easy to install and fits most major toilet brands, including American Standard and Kohler. The installation hardware uses non-corroding metals so you never have to worry about the toilet seat failing with splashes, leaks, or other moisture.
This is a budget-friendly toilet seat, great for commercial use, but it doesn’t have any extra comfort features. Expect to hear the lid slam from time to time since it does not have a soft-close. It does come in both round and elongated designs, however. This allows you to learn the installation process for one seat and replicate it as many times as needed for your facility.
Price at time of publish: $17
Best With Bidet: Bio Bidet Slim One Electric Bidet Seat for Elongated Toilets with Fusion Heating Technology
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Home Depot
Heated seat, water, and air
Control settings via side panel
Night light
Multiple water pressure settings
Expensive
Complicated installation
Weight limit
For the ultimate experience when you “go,” consider the Bio Bidet Electric Bidet seat. It is pricey but it comes with just about everything you could ever want or expect a toilet seat to do. The seat is heated, the water is heated, and even the air to dry your tush is heated.
The Bio Bidet seat has a wide range of cleaning, with various pressure options. All of these things, as well as the built-in night light, water pressure, and adjustable heat can all be controlled via the side panel. It also has a smart sensor so that you won’t accidentally activate the bidet when you don’t need it.
Additional features include self-cleaning, stainless steel, oscillating nozzles; an adjustable seat; and a slow-close lid.
Installation for this seat requires an outlet within 4 feet and a water line, so you may need to get the help of a professional. There are round and elongated options, but neither will fit a toilet with a french curve to the back. The Bio Bidet also has a 200-pound weight limit.
Price at time of publish: $259
Best Heated: TOTO A2 Washlet Electric Heated Bidet Toilet Seat for Elongated Toilet in Cotton White
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Home Depot
Uniformly heated seat
Bidet
Soft-close
Self-cleaning
Adjustable settings
Expensive
Requires electrical and water install
May not fit all toilets
This heated toilet seat does it all: seat warming, bidet, self-cleaning, and soft-close. The seat has an adjustable height as well as multiple bidet settings for the best clean for you. The heated components cover the entire toilet seat uniformly and can be adjusted using the side arm right on the seat.
It does come with a hefty price tag and will likely need professional installation. You will need to connect it to a source of power as well as the water line to your toilet. It comes with the hardware and plumbing components to divert water from your existing water line. This seat is also considerably larger than other toilet seats and may not work with all toilets. If your toilet has a tapered back, measure the available space to ensure that the TOTO bidet seat will fit.
Price at time of publish: $298
Best Wooden: Design House Dalton Round Toilet Seat
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Amazon
Made of durable oak
Matches other bathroom accessories
Hidden screws
Installation can be tricky
Only available in round
Not a single piece of wood
For a natural look, consider the line of wooden bathroom accessories from Design House. They are made of honey oak, which is durable and looks great. The screws are hidden so they won’t compete with the overall traditional look of your bathroom. This does make them a bit harder to install, however.
The toilet seat only comes in round. It is also a separate purchase from the rest of the accessories, which can come in a money-saving kit. The wood grain on the toilet seat all goes in the same direction but it is not made of a single piece of wood, so you will see seams.
Price at time of purchase: $48
Our favorite toilet seat is the American Standard Cadet Slow Close Toilet Seat, which has an antimicrobial additive that can ward off stains, a clean design, and hinges that will keep your toilet lid from slamming shut. It’s available in both round and elongated versions. If you’re ready to go high-tech, check out the Bio Bidet Electric Bidet Seat, which has a wealth of options for a customized bidet experience.
What to Look for in a Toilet Seat
Shape
When purchasing a toilet seat, the most important consideration is the shape of your toilet. There are two common shapes: round and elongated. Round toilets are often found in older homes, while elongated toilets are more popular with modern plumbing fixtures. It’s important to know the shape of your toilet so you can pick a seat that fits.
Material
Toilet seats are typically made of either plastic or wood, and there are pros and cons to each material. Plastic seats tend to be lighter and have a longer lifespan, while wooden seats are sturdy and heavier. While wooden seats can impart a unique aesthetic, plastic seats tend to retain antimicrobial qualities longer, and can also be easier to clean.
Soft-close
Does it drive you crazy when you close the toilet seat and it makes a loud noise? If so, you may want to consider a soft-close toilet seat, which is designed to shut slowly and quietly.
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How do you measure a toilet seat?
In order to find the right size toilet seat for your toilet, use a tape measure to measure from the bolts or bolt holes at the back of the toilet bowl to the very front of the bowl. Then measure the distance between the bolt holes. Finally, you will want to measure the maximum width of the toilet bowl from one side to the other. With these three measurements, you should be able to find a compatible toilet seat. Elongated seats are typically between 18 and 19 inches in length, while round seats are between 16 and 17.
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How do you remove a toilet seat?
Toilet seats are typically fastened to the toilet with two bolts that pass through the porcelain and are secured with nuts from underneath. To remove the toilet seat, open the bolt caps located at the back of the seat in order to access the bolts. Use a screwdriver to hold the bolt in place while loosening the nut with a set of channel locks. Repeat this process with both bolts to free the toilet seat.
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How do you tighten a toilet seat?
Tighten a toilet seat by opening the bolt caps at the back of the seat to access the bolts. Each bolt is secured with a nut. Tighten the toilet seat by using a screwdriver to hold the bolt in place and a set of channel locks to tighten the nut. Repeat with both bolts.
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How do you clean a toilet seat?
Keeping your toilet seat clean is important for maintaining a hygienic bathroom. Use a set of rubber gloves to protect your hands and make sure that the room is well-ventilated while working with a bathroom cleaning product. Apply the bathroom cleaning product and scrub the toilet seat with an abrasive sponge or brush. Rinse and dry the toilet seat after cleaning.
Why Trust The Spruce
This article was researched and written by Katie Begley, a freelance writer specializing in home and family products. Katie has been writing for The Spruce since 2019. To create this list, she consulted a variety of sources, including manufacturer data, toilet installation videos, and consumer feedback.
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