Elongated VS Round Toilet [Features Comparison With Image]

One of the most challenging things that homeowners face when picking a flushing toilet; and need to decide between a round and an elongated toilet. Before choosing any type, you need to know some finer details about every type. Things to consider include comfort (Comfort Height or Standard height), size, water-saving (1.6 or 1.28 GPF), ease of cleaning, ease of installation, single flush or dual flush, two-piece or one-piece, and ease of maintenance.
In this Elongated VS Round Toilet post, we have compared the elongated bowl toilet and round bowl toilet designs. The information will help you to decide on which toilet to choose for your big or small bathroom or according to your needs.

Install an elongated toilet if… large bathroom, commercial use, adults, comfort

Install a round toilet if… compact bathroom, residential use, kids, old people

Features Comparison Chart: Elongated vs. Round Toilet

The bathroom is one of the most important parts of your home. As a result, you need to ensure that the right bathroom fixtures are installed and don’t take up much space. From bathroom faucets to showers and toilets, you need to ensure that they blend well to create an aesthetically pleasing surrounding.

All About Elongated Bowl Toilet Design

When it comes to size, elongated bowl toilets are bigger than round toilets. A typical elongated toilet measures around 18.5 inches long from the post holes to the front edge.

However, the real size of the bowl is different from one toilet model to another, and the bowl will always be somehow bigger when compared to the round bowl toilet designs.

Pros:

• It is very comfortable
• An elongated toilet seat can be replaced with advanced bidet seats
• Some models may have forceful flush
• Easy to maintain
• Replacement parts available
• Provide more sitting space
• It is more of a modern design
• Ideal for commercial use

Cons:

• It doesn’t fit in small bathrooms, and toilet seats require more space
• Elongated toilets are quite expensive when compared to round-bowl toilets

Elongated Toilet’s Best Pick

Toto Aquia IV Toilet

• Two-Piece Toilet
• With Dynamax Tornado Flush
• Completely Skirted Design
• 1.28 or 0.8 GPF With Dual Flush Push Button

Kohler Highline Toilet

• Two-Piece Toilet
• Gravity Flush Technology
• 1.6 gallons per flush
• Comfort Height

American Standard Toilet

• Two Piece Toilet
• Flush Types: Single-flush
• Energy efficient, using only 1.1 GPF

Round Bowl Toilet Details With Pros & Cons

Unlike elongated bowl toilets, round bowl toilets have about 16.5 inches and are a little bit smaller than elongated bowl toilets. Round toilets have a round front shape, which gives them a great look compared to an elongated model.

As a result, the round bowl design is ideal for small place places, such as in the garage or attic, where you don’t need a very powerful toilet. Now let’s check the pros and cons related to this toilet model.

Pros:

• Round toilets are suitable for people with special needs, such as small children, disabled, or older people.
• Round toilets save space and are ideal for small bathrooms
• Most of the toilets come with a round toilet seat
• The toilets are less costly when compared to an elongated toilet bowl

Cons:

• It has a less forceful flush
• The toilet is somehow difficult to use and keep clean
• It is not very comfortable due to the small sitting area

Round Toilet’s Best Pick

Kohler Wellworth Toilet

• Two-piece toilet
• 1.1 or 1.6 Gallons Per Flush
• Dual-Flush Technology
• Left-Hand Lever Position

Toto Entrada Toilet

• Two-piece Toilet
• E-max Flushing System
• ADA, CALGreen, CEC, and WaterSense  Compliant
• 1.28 GPF With left-hand chrome trip lever

American Standard Cadet 3 Toilet

• Two-piece Toilet
• Material: Vitreous China
• Certification: WaterSense
• Cadet 3 Flush Technology

Details Comparison Between Elongated and Round Toilets

How to measure round and elongated toilets?

Before you pick either a round or elongated bowl toilet, you should consider whether it will fit well in your bathroom or take up a lot of space. Elongated bowl designs are usually 2 inches longer in the front than round bowl toilet designs. Sometimes, manufacturers make a toilet that is in between these two toilet designs. If you have ample space in your toilet, then an elongated toilet would be ideal for you. For smaller spaces, you should go for round toilets as it doesn’t require as much space.

Elongated toilets are more comfortable.

Even though both round and elongated toilet designs are used in the same way, the level of comfort differs from one another. The longer elongated bowl shape offers more comfort than the shorter round front bowl. This is because they provide more sitting space. Elongated bowls are also great for kids as they have a wider area.

Appearance

The shape of the toilet bowl doesn’t impact how the toilet looks. Most toilet manufacturers sell popular toilet models in both round and elongated designs. Elongated toilet bowls are oval in shape, while round toilet bowls are circular in shape. The elongated bowls are usually associated with large modern bathrooms, while the round design is associated with small, older bathrooms.

Power of flush

There are many types of flushing mechanisms on the market today. Some of the popular ones include pressure-assisted, gravity, dual flush, double cyclone, and much more. If the toilet uses a flush that circulates the water in the bowl using force, then an elongated toilet design will provide a slightly powerful flush.

Maintenance

Elongated toilets are slightly easier to clean when compared to round bowls. This is because the elongated shaped bowl in some brands has less of a crevice around the underside of the bowl, which makes it easier to get a brush to clean inside it.

Who is the Winner? Elongated or Round Toilet?

The toilet design that you choose depends on a number of things, such as available space for the installation, comfort that you need, ease of cleaning, appearance, and cost. Elongated bowl toilet designs are the latest additions to the market, and many people have started embracing them. They are more comfortable and very easy to maintain than round toilets. On the contrary, round toilet bowl designs have been in this industry for a long, and they are suitable for installation in small bathrooms. They are also cheaper and easier to install.

So, if comfort is what you’re looking for, then we will suggest that you go for the elongated bowl design. But if you’ve got a tiny bathroom, then the round bowl toilet will be an ideal toilet for you.

FAQ

Question: Does the type of flushing system matter in a toilet?

Answer: Yes, it does. The different flushing system offers different performances. Some are very effective than others. Gravity flush is the most powerful flushing system but also the loudest. There are some silent flushing systems, and others help you save water, like the dual flush mechanism. So, it depends on your choice and how you want your toilet to perform.

Affiliate Disclosure: “This page contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through our links, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.”

Robert Crossan

Hi, this is Robert Crossan, the owner of this website, has 17 years of experience in the installation, maintenance, and repair of toilets and plumbing systems. After completing the Level 2 Basic Plumbing course in 2005, I started working in both domestic and commercial buildings as a professional plumber. So I can figure out the core difference between different toilet models and brands. It also helped me monitor their work performance and setbacks.