If you’re renovating a house, you will need to consider toilet installation. An important question that pops up during this time is, “how heavy is a toilet?”
This is important as it will affect what toilet you can install and how much heavy lifting you will need to do.
Unfortunately, this is not a simple question to answer as there are several factors you will need to know of beforehand. This article will look at this question in-depth and help to arrive at a satisfactory answer.
Factors That Affect the Weight of a Toilet
How much does a toilet weigh varies based on several factors. These factors include:
1. Type of Toilet
Depending on the types of toilet, the construction will differ. Due to this, it can be hard to judge the weight of a toilet without knowing what type it is.
The type can refer to the shape or, in some cases, how it is installed. Types of toilets include two-piece, one-piece, wall-hung portable, and also smart toilets. Later in this article, we’ll look at the different types and sample their average weights.
2. Size
Even with different types, toilets can vary in size. Larger toilets will weigh more, but you can also get more compact toilets for smaller bathrooms. If you are installing or changing a toilet, choose an appropriately sized one based on your bathroom.
Compact ones suit smaller bathrooms where the limited area is an issue, and you will want it to be lighter so that it is easier to carry or move around for a replacement. We highly recommend to measure toilet tough-in before buying a new toilet.
3. Material Used for Construction
It is also essential to know what material is used to construct the toilet. Most toilets are made out of porcelain because it has beneficial properties. Porcelain is waterproof and long-lasting.
Some toilets have porcelain mixed in with quartz for a better look. Usually, they end up being slightly heavier. Although much rarer, there are heavier steel toilets but aren’t used as often due to being susceptible to rust.
4. Brand
Finally, it would be best to consider that different brands have different techniques or specialties when manufacturing toilets. As a result, this can cause variances in weights even for the same type of toilet. It is hard to pinpoint precisely the differences in weights as it is more of a case-by-case study.
Average Weight According to Toilet Types
To know how much does a toilet weigh, we usually look at the toilet type. We’ve mentioned before that the main determining factor of a toilet’s average weight is what type of toilet it is.
Here we’ll look at each type separately, explaining their distinction and what their average weight is based on some samples. Let’s dive in:
1. One-Piece Toilet
As the name suggests, one-piece toilets are toilets molded into one complete piece and cannot be taken apart. They are shipped as one whole unit.
Due to being molded as one whole piece, they generally look sleeker and better. However, they are also much harder to carry around and fit through doorways.
On average, they weigh around 95 pounds, and some models can reach up to 120 pounds, so they can be pretty heavy.
This is mainly due to the extra material that is used to construct the skirt. The additional material is mainly used to reduce any extra air space and make the molding more secure.
2. Two-Piece Toilets
We’ve mentioned a few problems with one-piece toilets. Most of them are a non-issue if you happen to use two-piece toilets.
There are two separate components in these types, and these include the toilet bowl and the water tank, which are shipped separately. During installation, you will need to connect the two parts.
Due to the two-component design, they are much easier to carry through doorways and move.
They are also much lighter than one-piece toilets since they feature little to no skirting. On average, they weigh around 70 to 90 pounds, with some brands having models that go up to 100 pounds.
The water bowl makes up most of the weight since, on average, they weigh around 50 pounds. Tanks are lighter, weighing anything between 25 pounds to 40 pounds.
Do note that this estimate does not take into consideration water filling the tank. Ideally, before moving, you would want to drain the water first.
3. Wall Hung Toilets
Contrasting the first two types we discussed, wall hung toilets aren’t used in homes but usually in commercial buildings where you need to fit many of them.
They are attached to walls and often draw water directly from the supply, and as a result, no water tanks are required. It cuts down on their weight resulting in wall-hung toilets being one of the lightest toilets.
Most of them weigh 50 to 70 pounds and are sometimes supported by a steel frame during installation. Altogether the most they weigh is 85 to 90 pounds. They are easy to carry, for the most part, into places for installation since they only consist of the bowl.
Though primarily for large office places or work areas, there are some models made for home use.
4. Portable Toilets
The lightest toilets available, portable toilets weigh in at 15 pounds at most. They need to be this light since they are meant to be used by travelers.
Unlike the other ones we have covered, they are not made from porcelain but rather plastic since plastic is much lighter and easier to carry.
5. Smart Toilets
Smart toilets come in various designs, with some having separable tanks and others being one-piece toilets. On average, smart toilets are much heavier than two-piece toilets. That is because they have some extra features installed, which end up adding to their weight.
Smart toilets have a small heater for heating the seat up or keeping it warm. They also have bidets and some other notable features. Most brands have smart toilets with weights around 115 to 120 pounds.
You will need extra assistance when lifting or moving them around for installation or repairs.
Though one thing to note is that some smart toilets need to be assembled, and thus the parts come separately. There are also more compact designs in the market. All these make it easier to move it around for when you are renovating your home.
How Heavy Is a Toilet for Lifting?
Now it is worth looking at the toilet weight and how difficult it can be to lift them. From the types we have covered, most people will easily carry portable and wall-hung ones if required. They are the lightest of the bunch.
Next, let us look at two-piece toilets. As long as you separate the two parts before removal or lifting, it is not too difficult to lift them or move them.
Remember to drain the water before you attempt to lift the tank, as a full tank can add up to 15 or 20 pounds. It’s also possible to make a large mess if the water leaks out.
This advice also applies to most models of smart toilets if they can be disassembled. Finally, for one-piece toilets, although you can lift them alone, it is not recommended.
The toilets are heavy enough that they can put a significant strain on your back and hurt you. Always ask for assistance when handling some models of smart and one-piece toilets.
Conclusion
So, to deliver an answer to the question of “how heavy is a toilet?” our estimates say that the weight range can be from 70 to 120 pounds. This estimate omits wall-hung and portable versions, which are much lighter. For most homes, you will be working with that range.
