Installing a Toilet the Right Way | Step-by-Step Guide

Installing your own toilet is an impossible task, right? Wrong!

Within this easy-to-follow guide, you’ll find step-by-step instructions that will guide you from start to finish of installing your own toilet. Let our experts teach you everything you need to know so you can make DIY toilet installation look easy!

Toilet Installation Process (Easy Step-by-Step)

Take Measurements

Don’t risk buying a toilet that won’t fit in your bathroom. As you shop for a new toilet, there are a few important measurements to keep in mind.

Here are the 4 main measurements you’ll want to be sure of before purchasing your new toilet:

1. Rough-In

The rough-in measurement is the distance between the wall behind the toilet and the center of the toilet’s drain pipe. Often considered the most important measurement to keep in mind when purchasing a new toilet, it determines if you’ll be able to connect your new toilet to your existing pipes. So make sure you know the rough-in measurement of your current toilet.

Most toilets have a 12-inch rough-in, but some can measure between 10 and 14 inches.

If you select a toilet with a rough-in that doesn’t match the size of your bathroom, the pipes won’t match up—meaning you won’t be able to install it.

2. Toilet Dimensions

Beyond the rough-in, you’ll want to measure all the key specs for your old toilet. These include the bowl length and width, toilet height, width of the base, and water supply line distance. Be sure to measure from the wall and not the baseboard when measuring the water supply line distance.

For a toilet with a broader base, be sure to confirm how much room you have around the water supply line. You want to be sure the new toilet will fit properly.

3. Space Around the Toilet

Another factor to consider is the available space for the toilet within your bathroom. We recommend that you measure from the bowl to the wall and to any other appliances on either side of the toilet to make sure it will fit in the available space. There’s nothing worse than picking the perfect toilet and finding out it won’t fit in your bathroom!

4. Toilet Bowl Shape

You’ll also want to pay attention to your new toilet’s bowl shape. While many toilet bowls are elongated for comfort, they also come in other shapes, like round and compact elongated.

If you are limited on space, consider going for a round bowl, which takes up less room and will be more likely to fit in a smaller bathroom.

Tools and Preparation

Be prepared with the necessary equipment before you start your installation. You’ll want to gather all of your tools from the beginning, including:

Besides these tools, you will also need some other materials. Some of these may come with your new toilet. It’s important to stock your workspace with these before you start; otherwise, you may have to stop midway through the installation to gather additional parts. The additional materials you may need include:

With these materials in place, it’s time to embark on the installation journey. There are two major steps for this process: removing the old toilet and then installing the new one.

Removing the Old Toilet (Easy Steps)

Download the PDF version of this step-by-step removal guide!

Out with the old, in with the new—the first step to installing your new toilet is removing the old one. As a whole unit (including the tank and bowl), a toilet can be pretty heavy.

If you have a two-piece toilet, you can make this process a little easier by removing the tank first and then the bowl. If your toilet is a one-piece model, however, you’ll likely want to get help from someone else. One-piece toilets can weigh 80 lbs or more. Heavy lifting? We’d say so!

STEP 1: Drain Water

Start by shutting off the water supply line to the toilet by turning the valve located on the wall behind the toilet. Once you’ve cut the water supply, flush the toilet to remove any leftover water in the tank. Use a sponge or towel to soak up any residual water inside the tank.

STEP 2: Lift Off Toilet Tank

Next, you’ll want to disconnect the water supply line by unscrewing it from the bottom of the toilet tank. Before you do this, place a bucket on the floor to catch any water that remains in the pipes or bowl. Then, unscrew the nuts attaching the tank to the toilet bowl (these are usually located on the bottom of the tank on either side).

Lay a towel on the floor to create a safe space to set down your toilet tank. At this point, you should be able to lift the tank off completely. Be careful—it can be heavy!

Wear rubber gloves to give you an extra grip on the tank, which can be slippery. There’s always a risk of the tank cracking, and gloves will protect your hands from any rogue shards of porcelain if this happens.

STEP 3: Uninstall Bowl

First, dry up any excess water remaining in the toilet bowl with a sponge or rag. Next, loosen and remove the nuts that secure the toilet to the floor. You can then carefully lift the bowl straight up and remove it from the space.

Don’t be ashamed to tap in a helper here—an extra pair of hands can be a lifesaver as this step requires some heavy lifting. It’s also important to note that if you have a one-piece toilet, you’ll need to do steps 2 and 3 together since the tank and bowl cannot be separated.

STEP 4: Remove Old Wax Ring

Since wax rings are not designed for reuse, you will have to remove the old one from the previous toilet. To remove the wax ring, use a putty knife to scrape off the old wax ring from the flange. After you’ve done this, you’ll want to stuff the drain to prevent sewer gases from entering your bathroom and to ensure nothing falls into the pipe. Simply stuff a rag or towel into the open drain.

STEP 5: Check Flange

Finally, once you’ve removed all the parts from the old toilet, the last step is to check the flange. If it’s worn or otherwise in poor condition, you’ll want to repair or replace it in this step.

If you need to make a repair, start by removing the old closet bolts from the flange. Then, repair the flange by using a repair kit. You can often find them at your local hardware store. If the flange is beyond repair, you’ll need to replace it. Make sure to purchase a replacement flange that fits snugly inside the pipe to create a tight seal.

Nice work—you’re halfway there! Now let’s move on to installing your brand-new throne!

Install Your New Toilet (Easy Steps)

Download the PDF version of the installation step-by-step guide.

With your old toilet out of the way, you’ve freed up space to install your new one! Make it happen in no time by following these easy steps.

STEP 1: Install New Bolts

To install the new closet bolts, simply slide them into the slots on the flange, making sure they’re aligned well. You must use washers or nuts to hold the bolts securely to the flange. Tightening these washers will make it easy for you to align your toilet as you set it in place.

If the bolts are rusted, please try the steps outlined in our rusted bolt removal guide here (link to rusted bolt guide).

STEP 2: Apply New Wax Ring

Next, you’ll want to install the new wax ring on the base of the toilet bowl. Start by placing the new bowl upside down on a towel so you can easily access the base. Then, run the wax ring under warm water to soften it. Once softened, gently press the wax onto the base of the toilet bowl, not the flange—this will prevent it from shifting when you flip the bowl over. Be sure not to over-soften the wax ring to ensure a proper seal.

STEP 3: Install Toilet Bowl

Once the wax ring is set, you can now remove the rag that’s been blocking the drain. Then, carefully lower the toilet bowl over the new bolts. Make sure to lower the bowl straight down over the flange, slowly rocking it into place. It’s important to be steady and careful at this point to prevent damaging or shifting the wax ring.

Lastly, once you have the bowl in place, press down on it firmly, ensuring that it is square with the wall. This will help create a tight seal and prevent leaks.

STEP 4: Secure Toilet Bowl

As the next step, add the cap bases, nuts, and washers to the closet bolts. Ensure that the right side of the cap bases face up. It’s also a good idea to alternate tightening the nuts so you keep the pressure even across all points. However, be careful not to tighten the nuts excessively, as the bowl can easily crack. Once you have everything tightened, you can use a hacksaw to cut off the excess bolt if needed.

STEP 5: Get Tank Ready

Once the toilet bowl has been secured, the next step is installing the tank. You’ll want to start by flipping over the tank so you can install the bolts that will secure it to the bowl. Ideally, the bolts ought to slip into slots located on the tank. After installing these bolts, you’ll then install the rubber gasket to the tank’s base. Take your time on this step to ensure you do it correctly, as this determines if the seal between your tank and bowl is watertight. If you’re installing a one-piece toilet, you can skip this step and the following one since the tank and bowl are already connected.

STEP 6: Securing Tank in Place

Now, set the tank in place on the bowl while hand-tightening the nuts, ensuring the tank is level. Once again, be careful not to over-tighten the nuts to avoid cracking the porcelain.

STEP 7: Reconnect Water Supply

With your new toilet now fully installed, it’s time to reconnect the water supply and do a final once-over. Reconnect the water supply by reversing the steps you took previously to turn it off, including reconnecting the water supply line and opening the valve (do this slowly to avoid a sudden surge in water pressure).

STEP 8: Check for Leaks

Once you connect the water supply and turn on the water, you’ll want to check for any leaks around the gasket base and supply line. Flush the toilet several times, observing for any leaks. If you spot any, the bolts are likely too loose, so you’ll want to carefully tighten them some more.

If you’ve tightened all the bolts and still notice leaking between the tank and bowl, you may have to take the tank off and check that the gasket has been installed correctly.

If you notice leaking around the base, you may need to tighten the bolts or reinstall the wax ring or gasket to ensure everything is fully sealed.

STEP 9: Install the Seat

Lastly, after confirming there are no leaks or other issues, it’s time to get back to basics with a simple step: installing the toilet seat. Most seats should come with straightforward installation instructions. Typically, all you’ll need is a screwdriver to fasten the bolts and install the new toilet.

Congratulations!

That’s it—your new toilet is ready to go! Nice work. You’ve just saved yourself toilets of cash, and now you’re a DIY VIP!

Whether you use the money you saved to stock up on toilet paper, take your special someone out for dinner, or give your rainy-day fund a boost, know that you did it all yourself. Well done!

Our Final Thought

As you can see from our simple step-by-step guide, it’s easy to replace your toilet with a brand-new one! You should now know everything you need to about removing your old toilet and installing your new one. We hope you’re feeling accomplished now that you’ve joined the royal line of DIY toilet experts! Trust us, it’s a journey well worth taking.

Good luck on all your future toilet repairs, and get in touch if you need any guidance. Don’t forget to check our other installation guides too!