Young, healthy people tend to take it for granted how easy it is to get on and off the toilet. As soon as you start to struggle with an injury, illness, age, or other disability, you understand how difficult it can be. Luckily, handicap toilet seats are a relatively cheap solution to this problem. There are a ton to choose from, so we’ve narrowed it down to the top 5 to help make your decision easier.
The Best Handicap Toilet Seats
1. Drive Medical Elevated Raised Toilet Seat
The Drive Medical Elevated Toilet Seat is 5” high and has a simple locking mechanism for easy installation and portability. It has padded arms that are 18” apart, and it will support up to 300 pounds. This plastic seat fits all regular toilets and most elongated toilets.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
The primary complaint was from people who said this seat didn’t fit their toilet or didn’t clamp onto it securely. A few men complained specifically about a lack of room in the front. However, most people found this product secure and easy to install.
Our Take
This elevated toilet seat may not lock into place well on some toilets, and some men may find that the hole isn’t large enough to accommodate them. However, this seat is comfortable and easy to clean and install, which is why it’s our top pick.
2. HealthSmart Portable Elevated Toilet Seat Riser
For an easy to install, slip-resistant handicap toilet seat, the HealthSmart Portable Elevated Toilet Seat Riser has you covered. It fits most standard toilets and supports up to 250 pounds.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
A fair number of people felt like this riser wasn’t very stable, and it slid around too much. Others complain that urine would get between the seat and the toilet. Most people love how easy it is to install and that it’s an affordable price.
Our Take
While the relatively small hole causes problems for some men and larger people, and some people found the device to be hard to clean, we feel that this product is a good value and will suit the needs of many people. It’s easy to install, and many people appreciate that the plastic doesn’t get as cold as porcelain.
3. Carex 3.5 Inch Raised Toilet Seat Riser with Arms
The padded handles on the Carex 3.5 Inch Raised Toilet Seats are 19” apart, which is wider than many similar products. It installs under your existing toilet seat in just minutes and fits most standard round toilets.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
Most of the complaints are from people who didn’t receive the long screws needed to attach this seat to the toilet, while some people complained about how difficult it was to clean this seat riser. Most people love how much easier it was to get on and off the toilet.
Our Take
Our Take: The handles pose some problems for bigger people, and some people report that urine gets between the toilet seat and the riser, making this product challenging to clean. However, this is one of the more secure raised toilet seats, making it ideal for people who need the handles to raise and lower themselves.
4. PCP Raised Toilet Seat and Safety Frame
Do you have people who need a raised seat sharing a home with people who don’t? An easy solution is the PCP Raised Toilet Seat and Safety Frame. There’s no assembly required, and it’s easy to move when it’s not in use.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
The biggest complaint is about the plastic insert breaking where it screws into the frame. The other major complaint people had is that the handles are too close together for larger people. However, most people love this for use in homes where multiple people use the same toilet, and not all need the toilet seat risers.
Our Take
While bigger people may struggle with the handles only being 18” apart, and there are some reports of the plastic liner cracking, this is one of the highest-rated products in the category and works quite well for most people who use it.
5. NOVA Toilet Seat Riser, Raised Toilet Seat (For Under Seat)
This 3.75” tall toilet riser installs under your existing toilet seat and supports up to 300 pounds. The NOVA Toilet Seat Riser fits most elongated toilets and is relatively simple to install.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
The biggest complaint was that the seat didn’t fit their toilet, or the bolts wouldn’t work with their existing seat. Others reported that the seat worked loose or crumpled within a relatively short period. However, most people think this product is great and highly recommend it.
Our Take
While some people find this product to be difficult to clean and not very durable, it’s typically sturdy and is relatively simple to install (as long as the shipper doesn’t forget to include the long bolts necessary to attach the seat to the toilet). With its ability to support up to 300 pounds and lack of handles to restrict the width, this is a good option for larger people.
Best Riser Toilet Seat Buying Guide
What factors do you need to consider before buying a raised toilet seat? Here are the top few features to think about.
Height
In general, taller people will need taller handicap toilet seats. While a 3.5” lift might be perfect for somebody shorter, taller people might benefit from something as high as 5”.
Additionally, you should think about the reason for the lift – while the user’s feet shouldn’t dangle off the ground, a higher lift might be best for specific injuries or conditions. When in doubt, ask a doctor what height lift would be best for your (or your loved one’s) situation.
Keep in mind that while the average toilet height is about 15 inches, they can be as tall as 19”, so you should measure your toilet before deciding how much height needs to be added to it.
In addition to the height, keep in mind the size of the seat itself. Some work better with a two-piece toilet than with a standard one-piece toilet.
Weight
The sad reality is that the world is not designed to accommodate bigger people. While most handicap toilet seats will support up to 250 pounds, some will support up to 300 pounds. A fall from a toilet of regular height can be disastrous, and adding up to 5” won’t help; try not to test the maximum weight capacity of a product and risk it breaking.
Stability
A elevated toilet seat that wobbles is arguably worse than a standard toilet seat that doesn’t. Some products that don’t secure as tightly to the toilet can cause falls, so pay close attention to reviews to see how wobbly or sturdy the product is before taking a risk that it could create a hazardous situation.
Sturdiness
What good is a product if it breaks within a few weeks of buying it? While it may be tempting to buy the cheapest handicap toilet seat you can find, the costs will add up if you need to replace it frequently. You may be better off spending more money on a product that will last longer.
Portability
If you’re caring for both small children and elderly parents, you may not want a handicap seat that’s mounted permanently to the toilet, making it difficult for children to use the same one. Portable options may be a better bet in those cases. If everybody using the toilet is okay with the height, then portability becomes less of an issue.
If you’re looking at a portable toilet seat, you also need to consider how much floor space it will take up when it isn’t in use. In a tiny bathroom, a standing frame elevated seat might take up too much floor space when it isn’t in use.
Frequently Asked Questions about Handicap Toilet Seats
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about handicap toilet seats.
How Do I Install a Raised Toilet Seat?
There are several different types of raised seats that have different installation processes. Here are some quick notes on how to install the most popular types:
What is a Handicap Toilet Seat Riser Used For?
You might be surprised at just how many people can benefit from using a toilet seat elevator. Here are just a few examples of people who could benefit:
How Do You Clean a Raised Toilet Seat?
Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions because harsh chemicals can sometimes degrade plastic. Generally, it’s safe to wipe down an elevated toilet seat with a diluted bleach and water mixture.
One commonly reported problem with elevated toilet seat riser is that urine can collect between the toilet and the seat. Keep in mind that you may need to remove the seat to clean everything properly.
Where Do You Buy a Toilet Riser?
Aside from the internet, you can typically find elevated toilet seats at pharmacies, drugstores, and medical supply stores. Under certain circumstances, a raised seat might be covered by your health insurance, so you should talk to your insurance company and find out if they require you to buy the product anywhere specific.
Wrapping Up: The Best Raised Toilet Seat
While trying to find the best raised toilet seat can be frustrating, we hope one of the products we have recommended here will help you out. Every 19 minutes, an older person dies from a fall, so an elevated toilet seat could be a literal life-saver. It’s essential to find the right one to meet your needs.
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