When homeowners start renovating their bathrooms, they tend to focus so much on the grand picture that they forget about smaller details. This is particularly true about toilets. One of the most overlooked factors is its weight.
If you’re planning on installing a new toilet, be prepared to do some heavy lifting! Toilets are very heavy fixtures. Understanding the weight of a toilet is important. Not only will you be able to determine if your floors can support it, but you can get a better idea of what to expect during the move.
So, how much does a toilet weigh? Well, the answer to that question is a bit more complicated than you’d think.
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Table of Contents
Average Weight of A Toilet
Truth is, weight can vary dramatically based on design, build quality, and brand. Not all toilets are made the same. While they might look similar at face value, small differences in the construction of the commode can have a bit effect.
One of the biggest factors is the overall shape of the toilet. Typically, two-piece units are much lighter than one-piece options.
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Weight of a Two-Piece Toilet
Two-piece toilets are, by far, the most common you’ll see in homes. They’re much more affordable than the alternatives. Not only that, but they’re lighter and easier to install.
Let me explain…
These fixtures are comprised of two main components. Each component is built and shipped separately. The bowl and tank are kept separate the entire time, which makes things a lot easier for you.
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By keeping the parts separated, you can easily carry the toilet into your bathroom without any issues. In most cases, it’s perfectly possible to carry the toilet piece by piece by yourself without any assistance.
In total, the average two-piece toilet weighs between 70 and 100 pounds. This is just an average. We’ll get into the different factors that can alter a fixture’s weight a bit later.
The bowl is where most of the weight is located. This is the section you’ll be sitting on, so it needs to be solid and built tough. Most bowls weigh between 50 and 60 pounds alone.
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The tank, which attaches to the backside of the toilet, is the lightest component. It usually only tips the scales at about a third of the toilet’s final weight. Depending on the design of the fixture, this is usually somewhere between 25 and 40 pounds.
Those figures all apply to a brand-new empty toilet. Once you fill the tank and bowl, you can expect the commode to hold an extra 20 pounds or so.
Weight of a One-Piece Toilet
One-piece units are quickly growing in popularity due to the many benefits they provide. These fixtures are sleek and can create a nice modern look to your bathroom space.
As the name would suggest, the entire toilet is molded as one piece. The tank and toilet bowl are built into a singular product. While this does improve things from an aesthetic standpoint, it’s not the greatest thing to deal with during installation.
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Due to the unique shape of a toilet, getting these one-piece options through doors can be a nightmare. Plus, they are significantly heavier than two-piece toilets. The average weight of a one-piece fixture is roughly 88 pounds. Some models can even weigh upwards of 120 pounds!
A lot of that extra weight comes from the skirting that goes around the commode. With a two-piece unit, there’s a lot of air space between the bowl and the tank. Even after you connect the two, you can see every slope and the individual contours of the integrated trapway. On one-piece toilets, all of that is covered up by a skirt. That extra material does a lot to weight the toilet down.
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Weight of a Wall-Hung Toilet
Wall-hung toilets are pretty rare in residential homes. However, they’re prevalent in commercial buildings. Some brands are starting to produce wall-hung models for homes that offer clean looks and minimalistic design at every corner.
Rather than having a visible water tank, flushing water is hidden behind a wall in a low-profile tank. Some units are connected directly to a water supply line and use a powerful siphon to get rid of waste. Though that design is typically reserved for commercial settings.
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The cool thing about wall-hung units is that the only thing you can see is the bowl. Thus, it’s pretty lightweight. Most will weight around 50 to 80 pounds. The steel frame that’s mounted inside the wall may add several pounds to the final measurement. However, this component is crucial in giving these toilets the strength they need to support your weight.
Weight of a Portable Toilet
While many people aren’t familiar with the concept of a portable toilet, they’re pretty common for homesteaders and travelers. As a whole, the category of portable toilets includes products like compost toilets or hiking commodes.
Typically, they’re made out of plastic. You don’t have to worry about lifting heavy porcelain or metal. Most models only weigh 10 to 15 pounds when they are empty.
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What Contributes to a Toilet’s Weight?
Weights can vary quite a bit throughout the industry. When you compare the weights of products from big-name brands, you’ll quickly find that the difference between the lightest and heaviest option can be significant. Here are some factors that can contribute to a fixture’s overall weight.
Material
The most common material used to make toilets is porcelain. By itself, porcelain is a very heavy material. It’s a type of ceramic that’s combined with other minerals like quartz or silica. The clay-like substance is then molded and hardened in a kiln, much like pottery. This process sucks out all of the moisture.
While you’d think that the heating process would make porcelain lighter, the differences are very minute. Porcelain is incredibly tough. This is due, in large part, to its weight.
Other materials can be used to make toilets. It’s not hard to find stainless steel or resin. However, those materials don’t have nearly as much longevity as porcelain, so they are rarer.
Footprint
Another thing to consider is the toilet’s overall footprint. Contrary to popular belief, toilets are not one-size-fits-all. There are many different sizes available. Compact toilets, for example, are commonly used in small powder rooms where space is tight. They’re a few inches slimmer than traditional toilets. Most of that space is cut from the water tank, which cuts back on weight, too.
Then, there’s the battle between round and elongated toilet bowls. Elongated toilets can be a couple of inches longer than round ones. Considering that a bulk of a toilet’s weight is in the bowl, you can expect some overall weight differences between the two.
Style Choices
Style can play a role, too. As we mentioned earlier, skirting is the biggest culprit. That extra porcelain can add several pounds. Even something as minor as molding or trim around the tank lid can have an effect.
Extras
Finally, there are a ton of extras that could weight a toilet down. Toilet bidet combos, in particular, are notorious for being heavy fixtures. Many models can go past the upper limits of the weight range.
This is because these units are equipped with tons of smaller components. Cleaning wants, built-in fans, heating elements, deodorizers, and more help to add functionality to the system. However, they can also make it a pain to carry!
Can a Toilet Be Carried By One Person?
f you’re installing a traditional two-piece porcelain throne, you should have no problem carrying it by yourself. Just carry each component into your bathroom individually and assemble it there. We do recommend getting an extra pair of helping hands when it comes time to lift the toilet onto its wax seal.
When it comes to one-piece units, you should always get some help. These toilets can be very difficult to work with. The shape alone makes it virtually impossible for one person to lift alone. Even if you have a full team with, consider using a dolly or wheelbarrow. This will remove the stress off your back and ensure that your toilet makes it to its destination safely
Conclusion
All in all, a new toilet can be considerably heavier than most would suspect. While they’re not going to be the heaviest fixture in your bathroom, it’s important to be careful when transporting them. More than anything, toilets are awkward to carry. The shape of these units makes navigating your home a tough task, so it’s always good to have some extra people and moving accessories to get the job done.