toilet replacement cost

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 12, 2022

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Compare Toilet Replacement Costs

	Low $100 – $275	Average Cost $280 – $450	High $455 – $740+
Toilet Cost	$100 – $275	$280 – $450	$455 – $740+
DIY	Yes or No	Yes or No	Yes or No
Quality	Cheap to Average	Average to Good	Good to Excellent
Features	Basic	Basic to Mid-Range	Mid-Range to High-End
Color	White	White or Non-white	White or Non-white
Repairs	No	Yes or No	Probably

Sections: Overview | Product Costs | Installation Cost | DIY or Pro

Overview of Bathroom Toilet Bowls

Replacing a toilet a generation ago was a simple project. Remove the old one, and install a toilet very much like the one it replaced. Sure, you could update the color and upgrade the seat, or maybe choose an elongated rather than round bowl. But your options were few.

Today, you have a wide spectrum of options. While a “traditional” round or elongated toilet are still most common, you can select features like heated seats or double-cyclone flushing. Models are made in several height. Water-saving dual-flush toilets are becoming very popular.

Price varies with features, as you’d expect. Retail costs for toilets and supplies are included along with factors related to installation.

We’ve gathered other toilet installation estimates for comparison and invited homeowners to share the scope and cost of their project. Please consider returning to Business Finance News to do the same for the benefit of other readers.

Project Cost Details

Replacement Toilet Price Factors

This toilet installation cost estimate explores price based on two main factors:

• Toilet feature options
• Installation and potential repairs needed before the new toilet can be installed

Toilet Cost Factors

• Quality – Like most home fixtures, toilets come in basic, better and best quality regardless of features.
• Features – The more performance features built into the unit, the higher the cost. See the retail cost list below for toilet price ranges.
• Color – It’s common for an almond, gray or other color model to cost 20% to 40% more than the same model in white. Shop toilets online, and this will immediately become clear.
• Whether a Seat is Included – Some mid-range and expensive toilets do not include a seat, so you can customize it with the seat of your choice.
• Height – Comfort height and Chair height is 2” taller without the seat than standard height – 16.5” to 14.5”. This raises cost by 10% to 20% for comparable toilets.
• Water Supply – You can save a few dollars by using the old supply, but this is a good time to replace it and prevent an unexpected leak from an old supply line.
• Upgrading the Seat or Handle– Homeowners often choose a nicer seat or handle to replace the one that comes with the unit, especially on cheaper toilet models.

Installation Factors that affect Cost

• Flange Repair/Replacement – When the old closet flange is bad, cost will rise based on the style of the new flange and the work involved in replacing it.
• Height Adjustment – If bathroom flooring has been replaced, and the new floor height is different, the flange height will have to be changed. A flange that is too high will cause the toilet to rock. And it might eventually leak. One that is too low is also susceptible to leaks.
• Disposal of the Old Toilet – There’s a small upcharge for disposing an old unit.
• Floor Repair beneath the Toilet if it was Leaking – A very common unplanned expense during a bathroom reno, the floor under your toilet is prone to wood rot. If the toilet is pulled off and you see black flooring, it’s time to explore further, which will quickly increase the cost.

Cost of Toilet Installation Supplies

Let’s start with common toilet types and their prices and then list additional supplies and their cost.

• $90 – $650 | Best-selling round ($100-$575) and elongated ($200-$650) toilets with traditional flush. Cost is based on bowl shape, stylistic points, quality and color. High-end models in this category exceed $1,200. Many models from about $100 and up are ADA compliant.
• $100 – $750| Best-selling Dual-flush toilets. These models have two gallons-per-flush (GPF) rates, usually .6 to .8 GPF for liquids and 1.28 to 1.6 GPF for solid waste.
• $375 – $1,100 | Touchless toilets with motion sensor. Most are activated by holding your hand over the sensor for a few seconds.
• $600 – $1,200 | Models with Bidet function.
• $600 – $1,000 | Toilets with Heated Seats. Many of these also have Bidet functionality.
• $225 – $700 | Wall-hung models.

Other features often found on mid-range to high-end toilets are night lights, remotes and slow-close lids.

• $7 – $20 | Water Supply
• $5 – $25 | Toilet Flange (most common styles)
• $4 – $12 | Wax or Synthetic Ring and Bolts Kit (Universal – fit most brands)
• $12 – $18 | Flange Spacer Kit for raising flange to floor height (optional)

Permits, Inspection, Related Costs and Toilet Installation Time

Permits and Inspection Cost

• $0 | Unless new plumbing is installed, no permit is needed to install or replace a toilet

Related Costs and Installation Time

Replacing a toilet takes 1 to 2 hours depending on whether the flange requires replacing too.

• Up to 15 Minutes | Remove existing toilet
• Up to 1 Hour | Repair/replace Flange
• Up to 1 Hour | Set, secure and test new toilet

Handyman services cost less than licensed plumbers, and either should be able to do this job. Hourly rates start at about $50 for an experienced and insured handyman and about $75 for a licensed plumber. Rates can be as high as $75 or more than $100 per hour respectively.

The labor cost of toilet installation is factored into the costs quoted in this Costimate.

DIY or Hire a Pro?

Replacing a toilet is usually straightforward. It’s even easier in a newly built or remodeled bathroom.

What I usually tell friends is this: If the toilet isn’t leaking from beneath, rocking or doing something else it shouldn’t do, then give it a shot. If you have basic skills, you will probably be successful in replacing your toilet.

If it is leaking, take the toilet off and inspect the flange. The leak might be caused by a bad wax ring, which you’ll replace. An easy DIY solution.

If the flange is broken, then it’s your call whether you want to try to repair it or not.

With a broken flange, the main concern is this: If you damage the waste pipe below the flange while trying to remove it, which is possible with a glue-in flange, then you might be looking at a major repair bill.

If there is no issue with the flange, basic toilet replacement/installation steps are:

1. Shut off the water.
2. Flush and drain the toilet.
3. Unbolt, lift off and remove it.
4. Remove and replace the wax or synthetic seal.
5. Before placing the fresh seal, inspect the flange to ensure it isn’t cracked or chipped, which will potentially allow for leaks beneath the floor. If not…
6. Place the new seal and bolts. The set often includes plastic keepers to keep the bolts upright. Align the toilet over the flange and bolts, and push it down firmly. Add washers, and tighten the bolts – snug without overtightening to avoid cracking the flange or toilet.

If the flange is damaged, which is most common on older plumbing, consider calling a plumber. Toilet flange repair requires moderate skill and techniques. This video from a pro plumber covers a range of flange types and might help you decide to DIY or call a pro.

There are plenty of how-to videos about flange replacement, but the problem is that there are many types of flange, so you’ll have to determine which type you have before learning how to replace it.

What about the water supply? If it is old or if it is cheap PVC, this is a good time to replace it at a DIY cost of less than $10, or less than $30 for pro replacement.

What do you think? Cast your vote below – DIY or NO?