Toilet Seat Buying Guide

An integral part of any bathroom, ensuite or cloakroom design, your choice of toilet seat can have a massive impact on the look and feel of your space.

Choosing a new toilet seat can be confusing, as you are confronted with rows and rows of white, hinged plastic seats that, at first glance, can be bafflingly similar. However, the right toilet seat can add the finishing touch to your bathroom suite, and should not be thought of any differently as any piece of décor.

Luckily, help is at hand. This buying guide will give you a brief overview of the toilet seats available at Victorian Plumbing, so you can make an informed decision.

Types of toilet seats

There are 2 main types of toilet seat: standard close and soft close. Let's look at these in closer detail.

Standard close toilet seats

A standard close toilet seat can be contemporary or traditional in style and can come in a variety of materials and finishes. They are easy to fit and can suit a wide variety of bathrooms.

Soft close toilet seats

This type of seat is designed to provide a gentle closing mechanism for the seat and lid so that it doesn’t bang against the bowl if you let go. As well as adding a feeling of luxury, soft close toilet seats can also be a good idea for family bathrooms, helping to avoid trapped fingers.

Toilet seat shapes and sizes

Toilets come in different shapes and sizes, and to find the right seat you have to work out what shape and size your pan is. We stock the following shapes:

Round toilet seats

By far and away the most common shape available, traditional toilets usually require a round-shaped toilet seat.

Square toilet seats

Usually found with contemporary style toilets, a square toilet seat (or, more accurately, a rectangular toilet seat) features sides which are roughly parallel.

D shaped toilet seats

A combination of the two toilet seats above, a D shaped toilet seat comes with a flat hinge edge and is most common with contemporary toilets.

You should be able to tell which shape you need simply by looking at which shape your toilet pan is. You may notice that some toilet seats feature a 'wrap around' design. This means the lip of the toilet seat fits down over the pan, to create a smooth, contemporary shape.

To get the perfect fit we recommend you take the following measurements:

• Fixing centre distance - The point between the two fixing holes of your toilet.
• Width at widest point - The width of your toilet pan at it’s widest point.
• Total depth - The distance your toilet pan sticks out from the wall or cistern.

Toilet seat hinges

Toilet seat hinges fit onto your fixing centres.

There are two options for hinges, and be aware that not all hinges are suitable for all toilets. A top fixing toilet seat features two bolts fed into the toilet pan. A bottom fixing is a more traditional style fixing, with two bolts that fit down into your pan and are then tightened from underneath. Top fixing hinges are used when there is no access to the bottom of the pan, like in some back to wall toilets, or modern one-piece style toilets.

Also available are quick release hinges that let you easily remove the seat and lid from the pan, making the job of cleaning the toilet much easier, and soft close hinges that feature a hygienic, slow release system that cuts out any annoying slamming noises. We recommend soft close toilet seats for that added touch of luxury that we are sure you will love.

Toilet seat materials

Your choice of toilet seat is a great opportunity to pull your look together into a cohesive whole. There are antibacterial finishes available, for those who want an extra hygienic boost. These are finished with a material that provides an added layer of protection and peace of mind.

Don't forget, you can always make a statement with a stylish seat, for example one printed with a design, or a bright colour. There are also a number of special wood materials and finishes. We see these used most often in traditionally-inspired bathrooms, with a high-end look; a deep mahogany fits the luxurious, traditional look, while beech retains the same quality, but has a much lighter, more versatile feel.

We recommend that you browse what is available, and pick something that complements your existing features.

Extras and additional features

There are always novelty options available if you wish to give your bathroom a fun feature, while there are family-friendly toilet seats available that can even help with potty training the mini members of your family. In addition, keep an eye out for these neat features when buying your toilet seat.

Smart toilet seat

With a  smart toilet seat, you can transform your toilet into a hygienic smart toilet without breaking the bank. Available with or without a remote control, features include a heated seat with 5 adjustable temperature settings, front and rear warm water sprays (which can be set to pulsating or oscillating) for intimate cleansing, warm-air drying, automatic deodorisation for odour control, plus safe-to-use, waterproof buttons. A great option for those with restricted mobility, where maintaining personal hygiene may be a concern.

Quick release mechanism

Cleaning your toilet seat can often be tricky and pretty unpleasant. Many of our seats come with a quick release mechanism, which allows you to easily remove the seat from its hinges for simple yet thorough maintenance.

Fitting a toilet seat

Replacing a toilet seat is usually a simple process, as most have standard fittings and require basic tools such as a screwdriver. All the toilet seats at Victorian Plumbing come with full and clear instructions for easy fitting.

• Read our article "How to fit a toilet seat", complete with step-by-step instructions.

If you’re selecting a new seat for an existing toilet, be sure to check all the measurements to ensure it will fit.

• Read our article "How to measure for a toilet seat".

Toilet seats come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you can never assume it will fit a "standard" toilet design.

• Read our article "Are toilet seats a standard size?".

Shop toilet seats

When choosing a toilet seat, we recommend you discover which styles will fit and suit your pan; what shape is it? What size is it? What kind of hinge will affix to it? Once you have done this, you can think about the ways in which your new seat and lid can add to your bathroom.

When constructing a look, take time on the little things. Get the right shape, the right size, choose a material and create a theme. The benefits will be clear.

Got a good idea which type of seat you want to go for? Shop our comprehensive range of toilet seats today.