Toilets aren’t cheap — buying the wrong size can spell disaster for your home renovation budget and leave you with an inoperable toilet. Luckily, you can easily prevent this by measuring your toilet rough in size before going to the hardware store.
In this article, we’ll teach you how to get the toilet rough in measurement in various scenarios. Only then can you be sure that your toilet replacement will fit precisely into your bathroom. Whether you have a small or big bathroom, this essential step of the replacement toilet project will be helpful.
Keep reading to learn more about toilet rough in dimensions and tips for measuring correctly!
Source: Canva
A toilet rough in size is the distance between the centre of a toilet’s drain pipe or flange and the back wall behind it. Accurately measuring this distance ensures that your replacement toilet’s backside and tank fit snugly when installed. It determines the correct toilet size and prevents plumbing issues, such as leaks, wobbly toilets, and running toilets.
For most Ontario homes, the standard toilet rough in size is 12 inches, but it can still vary depending on a house’s structure and layout. Smaller bathrooms usually have a toilet rough in size of 10 inches while bigger bathrooms have a toilet rough in size of 14 inches.
Given this, having the exact measurements can prevent you from buying the wrong toilet and unnecessary costs. We’ve prepared a step-by-step guide on how to measure a toilet rough in size!
Learning how to measure a toilet is easy — you can do it by yourself! We’ll tell you everything you need to know about measuring toilet rough in dimensions. Many homeowners do this, so they have a reference when buying a new toilet. However, if you prefer accuracy and convenience, consult with professional plumbers and let them assist you in the measuring process.
Without further ado, here’s how to measure a toilet rough in:
Measuring the toilet rough in distance is possible even when you don’t have a toilet in the bathroom since it’s the first step of the installation process. Here’s how you can measure the rough in size:
Step 1: Look for the drain pipe or toilet flange opening on the floor. This looks like a round hole with a white plastic lining.
Step 2: Grab the tape measure, place its metal tip on the bare wall, and then extend the tape to the center of the toilet flange opening. If the wall has a baseboard, elevate the tape measure and ensure the metal tip touches the bare wall before extending towards the centre of the drain pipe opening.
Step 3: Repeat the measuring process, especially when you get inconsistent results. No matter how many times you do this, the rough in size should be the same on every try. Extend the measuring tape until the drain pipe’s center, and avoid going over or under the center. Your toilet rough in size should be 10, 12, or 14 inches.
Read more: How to Finish a Basement Bathroom Rough In
Don’t let your existing toilet act as an obstruction from getting its rough in measurement. Follow this guide, so you can get an accurate measurement:
Step 1: Find your toilet’s base and look for its small bolts or caps. If you’re having trouble, follow the toilet’s trapway because it’s where the bolts are usually found. Mark the bolts with painter’s tape, so you’ll spot them more easily.
For bathrooms with a skirted toilet, look for bolted indications on a toilet’s base or find the area where the toilet meets the floor.
Step 2: Use a tape measure to get the distance between the wall behind the toilet and the center of the toilet’s base bolts. This is the toilet’s rough in measurement and should be 10, 12, or 14 inches. If the measurements are more or less than those numbers, measure again. Do this multiple times until you get consistent results.
Important Note: If the wall has a baseboard or other types of mouldings, adjust the measuring tape by placing it above the baseboard. The metal tip should start from the bare wall.
Source: Canva
Corner toilets are placed at a 45-degree angle to the walls on either of their sides. Compared to the standard placements, corner toilets have a different measuring process:
Step 1: Look for the spot where the toilet is bolted to the floor, then find the toilet base’s caps or bolts.
Step 2: While the existing toilet covers the drain pipe or flange, you can still find it by looking at the placement of the bolts. Locate the center point of the two bolts of the toilet base because this is where the drain pipe will be. Mark the location with a painter’s tape, so you won’t lose it later.
Step 3: Get the measuring tape and start from the center of the drain pipe instead of the corner where the walls meet. Extend the tape until it reaches one adjacent wall, then do the same to the other wall. Make sure you measure from the toilet flange inward at a 90-degree angle toward the left and right side walls of the toilet.
Pro-tip: Use a measuring square to get the exact angle. You will find the toilet rough in size where both measurements meet at the midpoint of the toilet flange.
Read more: Is Your Toilet Leaking? Find Out the Possible Reasons Why Here!
Wall-hung toilets direct the waste through the wall instead of the floor. To get their rough in measurements, start the tape from the bare floor and extend it vertically to the center of the waste drain.
Read more: Are Smart Toilets Worth It? Click Here to Find Out!
Image Source: Canva
Aside from the toilet’s rough in distance, you also need to measure other dimensions such as the toilet, height, depth, and width. See the chart below to learn more about the different toilet dimensions:
| Toilet Rough In Dimensions | Standard Toilet Dimensions | |
| Toilet Height | The distance between the toilet rim and the floor | 14.5 to 19 inches |
| Toilet Depth | The distance between the front of the toilet bowl rim and the back of the toilet | 27 to 30 inches |
| Toilet Width | The distance from the left to the right edge of the toilet tank or toilet seat, whichever is widest. | 20 inches |
| Rough In | The distance between the center of the closet bolts and the toilet’s wall | 10, 12, and 14 inches |
Before you start measuring your toilet’s rough in size, here are a few tips to help you get the correct measurements:
Learning how to measure toilet rough in size is a handy skill to have, but for matters requiring expert accuracy, why take chances? Guarantee spot-on measurements and toilet plumbing rough in with 1st Rooter, Ontario’s reliable plumbing provider, and leave inaccuracies to the wind.
With over 25 years of experience, our professional plumbers have helped homeowners in Hamilton, Burlington, and Oakville secure comfort in their bathrooms any time and day. Let us do the same for you!
We’re always one call away for emergency rough in services or any other plumbing concerns. Contact us at (289) 768-9099 and our local plumbers will be at your doorstep in no time!
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