TOTO Elongated vs Round Bowl: How to Choose
The short answer
An elongated bowl measures about 18.5 inches from the seat bolts to the front rim; a round bowl is about 16.5 inches. Elongated is more comfortable and now the more common choice. Round saves roughly two inches of floor space, which matters in a small bathroom.
How to measure your bowl
- Find the two bolts at the back of the seat, where it hinges.
- Measure in a straight line from the centre of those bolts to the front edge of the bowl.
- About 16.5 inches is round. About 18.5 inches is elongated.
Measure the ceramic, not the seat — a seat can overhang. If you land between the two figures, measure again with the seat removed.
The difference
| Elongated | Round | |
|---|---|---|
| Bowl length | About 18.5 inches | About 16.5 inches |
| Shape | Oval | Circular |
| Comfort | More supportive, especially for taller users | Adequate, less room |
| Floor space | Two inches deeper into the room | Saves those two inches |
| Availability | Most models | Fewer models |
| Typical price | Slightly higher | Slightly lower |
One of each shape
TOTO Drake Two-Piece Toilet - Universal Height, Elongated
The comfortable default for adult bathrooms.
$514.54
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Which should you choose
Elongated, if
- You have the floor space — check you keep clearance in front of the bowl.
- Adults are the main users.
- You want the widest choice of models and bidet seats.
- Comfort matters more than a couple of inches.
Round, if
- It is a powder room, cloakroom or tight alcove.
- The door or a vanity would clash with a longer bowl.
- Children are the main users.
Most building guidance suggests around 21 inches of clear space in front of the bowl. If an elongated toilet would eat into that, a round bowl is the sensible choice.
This decides your bidet seat too
Bidet seats are made in both shapes and they are not interchangeable. An elongated seat on a round bowl overhangs at the front; a round seat on an elongated bowl leaves the ceramic exposed.
Round bidet seats are also less widely made. If you are planning to add a bidet seat later, elongated gives you far more to choose from — worth knowing before you buy the toilet.
Compact elongated bowls
Some TOTO models offer a compact elongated bowl: the oval shape and seating comfort of an elongated bowl, in a footprint closer to a round one. If you like the idea of elongated but are short on space, it is worth asking us which models offer it.