Toilet seat or lid replacement, hinge replacement, hinge bolt spread distances. This article describes standard and varying toilet or loo seat hinge bolt spread distances, sources of replacement toilet lids or seats, and toilet seat replacement.

We also provide a more comprehensive INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES for this topic, or you can try the page top or Toilet lid/seat hinge bolt spread bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need.

Replacement Toilet Seats or Loo Parts & Toilet Seat Bolt Spread

There are multiple measurements that may be relevant when replacing a toilet seat and lid.

Here we focus first on finding a replacement toilet seat or seat hinge whose bolts will match the distance between the seat bolt openings in the toilet base.

When replacing a toilet seat the standard hinge bolt spacing on the toilet base is 5-1/2" or 155mm but toilets vary and not all seats or seat hinges fit all toilets, as you'll read below.

If your toilet seat bolt spread is other than 5 1/2" (155mm) you can still find a seat whose bolts will fit, either from a toilet supplier or from plumbing suppliers.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Below we give a complete table of toilet and toilet seat/lid hinge bolt spread spacing distances. Here are the most-common dimensions:

• Standard toilet seat bolt hinge spread or spacing: 5 1/2" or 155mm
• Some American Standard wide-spread bolt inge spacing: 10" or 255 mm
• "Universal" toilet seat hinges are designed to slide horizontally along a supporting rod to fit a range of spacing between the seat bolt openings in the toilet base, like the Lasco and another example shown below, can solve other hard-to-fit toilet or loo lid or seat hinge bolt spread problems.

Before buying a new toilet seat you'll want to determine if you need to buy a "round" or an "elongated" toilet seat to fit the toilet bowl shape.

For a round toilet the distance from a center line drawn between the two seat bolt openings to the front edge of the toilet bowl will be about 16 1/2" (420mm) while an elongated toilet bowl distance will be about 18 1/2" (200 mm)

• See TOILET TYPES, CONTROLS, PARTS
• Campbell, Vernon W., "Adjustable spread toilet seat hinge." U.S. Patent 2,086,211, issued July 6, 1937. Original assignee: C.F. Chureh Manufacturing Co.
  Excerpt:
  It is customary to mount toilet seats and toilet seat covers on toilet bowls by means of hinges which, in the more modern type of construction, are usually secured to the bowl by means of threaded members which pass through vertical apertures in the bowl.
  
  The distance apart of these threaded members in the assembled hinge and seat must correspond to the distance apart of the vertical apertures in which they are to be positioned
  
  - Inasmuch as bowls are sometimes built with one spacing between apertures and sometimes with another spacing it has been necessary heretofore either to attach the hinge to the seat on the job in the cheaper types or in the better quality of seats and hinges to have as many different sizes of hinges as there were different spacings likely to be encountered in different bowls.
  ...
  One of the objects of the present invention is to produce a toilet seat hinge that can be used with toilet bowls having different spacings between the apertures for the hinge posts.
• Universal toilet seat hinges are sold in the U.K. by Homebase, Tel: 0345 077 8888 or in the Republic of Ireland, 0124 77708 Website: http://www.homebase.co.uk/ (illustrated below).
• Wooden toilet seat hinges often use a horizontal bar upon which the hinge plates can slide horizontally to fit different bolt spacings. (Photo below).
  
  In our example (below) the toilet seat hinge pictured is sold by Plumbers Mate, a U.K. toilet parts supplier Tel 01323 72 03 68, Website: http://www.plumbers-mate-sales.co.uk/ but hinges of this type are widely sold world-wide.

Photos of wooden toilet seat hinge and a universal spacing toilet seat hinge are given below and at the top of this page.

Toilet Seat Hinge Bolt Spread / Bolt Separation Distances

Standard space or spread between toilet seat bolts

Center to center bolt spacing: 5 1/2"

Examples of toilets or toilet seats with 5 1/2" (140 mm) bolt spread

• Alesio Toilets, both round & elongated toilet seats: 5 1/2" separation or spread between seat bolts
• American Standard
• Bemis
• Child-size toilets - also usually use 5 1/2" bolt spacing
• Eljer Toilets
• Kohler Toilets
• Toto Toilets

Other toilet & toilet seat bolt spread distances

The adjustable Lasco toilet seat hinge shown above has a total width of 12-inches. Its sliding seat bolt connectors can adapt to nearly all toilet seat hinge spread distances.

But this hinge wants to be screwed to the underside of the toilet seat itself - more suitable, then for wooden toilet seats. Available in plated chrome or in brass.

Below, an American Standard toilet seat that fits an American Standard toilet base with seat mounting holes 9-13/16" on center or spaced apart.

Notes to the table above

1. Lasco (Larsen Supply Co.) and similar "universal" adjustable bolt spread toilet seat/lid hinges vary in total bar length from about 7-1/2" to 12" so when buying one of these be sure to ask about the total adjustable width of the specific hinge to be delivered.
   
   Lasco metal toilet seat hinges are sold in brass and chrome-plated versions.
   
   Lasco also provides a white polyethylene toilet seat hinge kit, shown below (MOdel #411833) with a 1/2" diameter horizontal slider-bar. Distributed in the U.S. by A^M Hardware, 5000 US 209, Accord NY 12604 and other distributors. (Manufactured in Taiwan.)
2. Norwall toilet seats include a model whose seat bolts can be adjusted to a spread between 8 7/16" to 10 7/16"
3. Unique Toilet seats provides 10" center-to-center bolt spread toilet seats that fit some American Standard toilets including the Roma 2009.017, Luxor 2003.010 & Carlysle (Carlyle) 2010.031 toilets.
4. American Standard, Lystin, MUU Wayfair & other brands offer "Universal" Toilet Seat Bolts that provide an eccentric toilet seat bolt assembly that gives some lateral adjustment
5. Wayfair toilets use a seat bolt that incorporates an offset hinge pin to connect between bolt and seat, giving a small amount of adjustment of distance between the bolts.

 

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Question: where to find a seat for this Celite brand toilet, 5.75" bolt spacing?

Any ideas ? The 5.75 inch btw bolts is biggest problem. Thanks ash Philly, PA - Anonymous by private email 2023/01/04

Moderator reply:

Yes, there are two sorts of adjustable toilet seat bolt spacing devices, one an eccentric seat bolt assembly that probably will work for your toilet as its so close to standard 5 1/2" and the other that uses a bar with sliding hinge bolt hardware - both are described in the article above on this page.

On 2022-02-07 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - replacement seat for European toilet

@Kevin,

You might have a little better luck if you either find a name for the toilet brand or if you get measurements for the seat that's required

On 2022-02-07 by Kevin

I am looking for a replacement seat for an oversized rectangle European made toilet with the following logo. Can’t seem to find any info. Also the tank stamp is …

...

On 2021-05-04 by (mod) - where to find a long toilet seat

@woodland,

I've found that armed with the measurement of the distance from a line drawn between the center of the toilet seat mounting bolt holes and the toilet bowl rim outer edge or front, I could check out the oval toilet seats at any building supplier and find one that fit quite well.

A typical oval toilet seat will be 19-inches from the center-line of its mounting bolts to the front edge of the seat. And the seat width is 14-inches.

On occasion the ovate seat will project out a bit beyond the face of the ceramic bowl front - that's not going to be a problem for anyone.

What is unpleasant is mounting a toilet seat that's too short. Typically that occurs if someone mounts a more-round standard toilet seat on an oval bowl. Having made that mistake once, the next time I took the old toilet seat along to my local building supplier to match it. Close-enough.

Other than that mistake you'll find one that fits. There are dozens of standard generic toilet seats and virtually never a need to buy one only from the original toilet manufacturer.

You might find just a bit of variation in width and length, but it's rarely a problem with oval toilet seats on a generally-oval toilet bowl.

Below is a 20110-0 Kohler Brevia Quiet-Close Elongated Toilet Seat White

Take a look at the KOHLER BREVIA TOILET SEAT SPECIFICATIONS & DIMENSIONS [PDF]

- Variations around standard toilet seat dimensions still fit most toilets -

and this Bemis oval toilet seat is slightly shorter - as you'll see in the

BEMIS WOOD ELONGATED TOILET SEAT SPECIFICATIONS [PDF]

These two example toilet seats (Kohler and Bemis) illustrate that as long as the width between the mounting bolts matches your toilet (usually 5 1/2" = 140mm O.C) the other toilet seat dimensions can vary slightly from the standard 19" x 14" - but it won't be a problem as long as the seat isn't so short that for mounting on your particular toilet you're leaving a lot of porcelain toilet bowl sticking out in front - which can be cold on the user's thighs.

On 2021-05-04 b by woodland

looking to replace a toilet seat but the dimensions seem non-standard; distance between hole mounts is 7 inches and from hole mounts to front of toilet bowl is 18 inches.

width from outside edges of toilet bowl is 14 inches. it's an elongated toilet. there is a stamp on the inside of the toilet tank with the numbers 00 50727 and then below that there is a 'zTg 99' stamp.

it's a one-piece. i was hoping to identify the toilet bowl/tank manufacturer to then see if i can purchase a replacement toilet seat from them. thanks in advance

On 2021-03-28 - by (mod) - find a toilet seat for a Carola toilet

@Anonymous, the good news is that most toilet seats are standard in dimensions and can be replaced by any dozens of models readily available.

On 2021-03-28 by Anonymous - toilet seat by Pressalit.

I am desperately looking for a toilet seat by Pressalit. The toilet is VILLEROY AND BOCH - CAROLA model. Currently, the toilet seat is PRESSALIT DANIA top fix. Can anyone help me find a solution?
PW

On 2020-07-01 - by (mod) - replacement parts for Mode Foster toilet

Alan

Modern versions at least of Mode Foster close-coupled toilets are produced by Mode Bathrooms - you might want to contact that company directly:

Mode FosterToilets, [shown below] produced by Mode Bathrooms, Mode Bathrooms Bridgehead Business Park Hessle HU13 0DG UK, Email: info@modebathrooms.com Website: https://modebathrooms.com/

Mode Toilets are distributed by VictoriaPlum.com, Bridgehead Business Park, Hessle, HU13 0DG U.K., - Victoria Plum Limited (Company Number 04177694) is a company registered in England and Wales.

On 2020-06-30 by Alan

I have a Mode Foster wall hung toilet and need to get a replacement seat as the quick release mechanism has broken, an ideas where I might get a seat in the UK

On 2020-06-14 - by (mod) - who makes Summer toilet seats?

Ron

Thanks so much for asking - it's a company not previously in our list.

Summer Toilet Seats are produced by

Summer Infant- Baby Products
1275 Park East Drive
Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895 USA
Tel: 401-671-6551
Website: https://www.summerinfant.com/

On 2020-06-12 by Ron

Who is the company that makes 'Summer' toilet seats?

...

Continue reading at TOILET CISTERN / TANK LID REPLACEMENTS, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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TOILET SEAT / SEAT-LID REPLACEMENT & BOLT SPREADS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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