What Are the Differences in Elongated & Standard Toilet Lid Covers?

Appearance

• A seat cover for a standard toilet seat is circular. A standard toilet seats and lids are nearly round. An elongated toilet seat cover, however, will have an elongated oval shape. The easiest way to tell when you are at the store is to set one on top of the other. The shorter of the two is standard while the longer one is elongated.

Width

• Elongated toilets are slightly narrower than standard toilets. The reason for the narrower width is enhanced thigh support, making the seat more comfortable. When measuring for the width, the first measurement should be at the back of the lid. This is typically 5 1/2 inches for an elongated toilet and 6 inches for a round toilet.

Length

• Elongated toilet lids are noticeably longer than standard toilet lids. A standard toilet lid is typically 16 1/2 inches long. A elongated toilet seat is typically 18 1/2 inches long. You cannot place a longer or shorter cover onto either lid. With the longer cover, the access fabric will sag at the underside of the lid. With the shorter cover, it will not completely cover an elongated lid, no matter how much you stretch it.

Variety

• With elongated toilets gaining popularity, you might have difficulty finding a good selection of toilet lid covers for standard toilets. If that’s the case, consider making your own. Remove your toilet lid from the toilet seat by unscrewing the bolts in the back. Set the lid onto your chosen fabric and trace the lid, adding an extra 2 inches all the way around. Next, hem the fabric’s edges and sew some elastic around it to hold the piece in place.