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How Much Does a Toilet Weigh

If you’re planning to install a brand new toilet in your bathroom all by yourself, then be prepared to put your back into it, as toilets can be pretty heavy. Your average toilet weighs between 70 and 100 lbs, but it can vary depending on the model. It’s always recommended that you have a partner-in-clogs for installing toilets, but sadly, neighbors and friends aren’t always available.

If you’re a homeowner bent on renovating your bathroom and wondering how much pain you are in for, keep reading.

Average Toilet Weight

Not all toilets are equal, nor do they weigh the same. When it comes to toilet weight, the design, build quality, the brand, and the type of toilet make a difference. While they may look similar to the naked eye, the differences in the manufacturing process, as well as the materials, play a key role in the weight of the finished product.

One of the biggest factors for toilet weight is the toilet’s shape. Ready-for-use toilets usually come in two forms: two-piece units and one-piece units. The former is lighter compared to the latter. You’ll find the specifics about these units and more below in the article.

Weight of Two-Piece Units

Two-piece toilet units are the most common toilets in households as they are more affordable than one-piece units, and you’ve guessed it, they’re the lightest and easiest to install.

Two-piece toilets are made from two separate components: the toilet bowl and the toilet tank. Because they are separate, it’s easier for a single person to lift and install them piece by piece. DIY homeowners can purchase the toilet from a store, install them without a helping hand, and carry them to and from the toilet for additional measurements on the fly.

The exact weight of your toilet might vary depending on the make and build, but on average, two-piece toilet units weigh between 70 and 100 lbs. Different factors contribute to the 30lbs weight difference, but we’ll talk about that later.

The toilet bowl is where the bulk of the weight is located. The bowl is heavier as this is the throne on which you will sit for the years to come, and it has to be well-built and sturdy. Two-piece unit bowls usually weigh around 60lbs on their own. The second part of the two-piece toilet, the toilet tank, is the lightest component, and it’s usually not heavier than a third of the bowl’s weight. This depends on the make and model, but usually, toilet tanks weigh between 25 and 40 pounds. These figures apply for a brand-new toilet that is empty. If the tank is filled with water, then then you can add about 20 lbs more.

Weight of One-Piece Units

While two-piece units are the standard for any household, one-piece units are gaining popularity as they provide aesthetic benefits and give a modern look to your bathroom. These single fixtures are sleek to the eye, but they are heavier than their two-piece counterparts.

As the name suggests, the whole toilet is a single unit. Both the toilet tank and the bowl are fitted together, and they are also shipped as a single item. While they are aesthetically pleasing and uplift your toilet into the 21st century, they are a bit trickier to install for a single person.

These toilets look like regular toilets, but good luck fitting one through a bathroom door. This is a two-person operation at the minimum, as they are bulky and quite heavy. The average weight of single-unit toilets is around 88 lbs, but they can weigh up to a whopping 120 lbs for the more premium models.

Your average two-piece toilets have a lot of air space between the tank and the bowl, and you can still see the slopes and the contours of the trapway even after they are assembled. Single-piece toilets don’t have any air space between the tank and the bowl as it’s covered with a skirt that packs all that extra weight.

Weight of Wall-Hung Toilets

Wall-hung toilets aren’t standard for home toilets and are a rarity since they are expensive, but they are widely utilized in commercial buildings. You can consider getting a wall-hung toilet if you have lots of free space and like the neo-minimalistic style with soft edges. There are toilet brands that specialize in manufacturing wall-hung toilets for household bathrooms.

Unlike standard toilets with a visible water tank, wall-hung toilets flush water from a low-profile tank hidden in the wall. There are also units with built-in siphons that can be directly connected to a water supply line to send waste down the drain, though these are rare in households.

One of the more interesting things about wall-hung toilets is that they’re pretty light, and you can only see the toilet bowl. The bowl on its own weighs between 50 and 80lbs and can be installed by a single person. The steel frame that is mounted on the wall might make the toilet a bit heavier, but this component gives the toilet the strength to support a human’s weight. All in all, these toilets are great but quite expensive.

What Makes Toilets Heavy?

Toilet weight can vary between different manufacturers in the toilet industry. If you compare the toilet weight of some of the most famous brands, you will see that the difference between the heaviest and the lightest unit is rather significant. You can find some of the most notable factors that contribute to the weight of a finished toilet product below.

Materials

Toilets are made out of porcelain, a hard and durable material. The finished product is a thick clay-like substance molded and hardened in a kiln or large oven. The baking process removes any moisture from the substance and hardens it into a toilet.

You may think that the toilet would become lighter after the elimination of moisture from the porcelain, but the difference in weight is minimal. Porcelain is a dense and tough material that is heavy even without any moisture.

There are toilets made from other materials such as metal or plastic, but these materials don’t have the longevity or the practicality of the porcelain toilet. Steel toilets are usually installed in prisons.

Footprint

The toilet’s footprint is where the bottom of the toilet meets the floor or tiles. Not every toilet can fit into your bathroom, so you have to consider the size of your space and the toilet’s footprint when buying one.

Compact toilets are smaller ones placed in powder rooms or tight spaces such as utility closets. Their footprint is a couple of inches slimmer than regular toilets, and they are lighter because they use fewer materials. Remember – the larger the toilet, the heavier it is.

Some other contributors to the weight of a toilet can be:

  • Built-in bidets
  • Cleaning wants
  • Built-in fans
  • Heating elements
  • Deodorizers
  • Unique bowl styles with extra materials

Can a Single Person Carry a Toilet?

If you’re planning to install a regular two-piece toilet unit, you shouldn’t have to worry as you can carry each component one at a time and install them in the bathroom. It’s recommended that you have a set of helping hands when installing the toilet bowl over the wax ring, as it’s a bit tricky when you’re doing the lifting on your own.

If you’re planning to install a one-piece toilet unit, then you should ask for help from a friend or a neighbor, as these toilets are a bit of a hassle to mount and install. Their shape makes them virtually impossible to be picked up by a single person because you have to carry a toilet bowl, toilet tank, and a porcelain skirt all at once. If you can’t find anyone to help you, use a wheelbarrow to get the toilet through the door, and you won’t strain your back while installing it.

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