What Does Raised Toilet Seat Mean ?

It was prior to my mom having a hip replacement that my investigation into raised toilet seats went into full swing. The raised toilet seat is one of those pieces of equipment that most caregivers will become very familiar with, if they are looking after an elderly person.

What does “raised toilet seat” mean ? A raised toilet seat is a device which raises the height of a toilet seat in order to assist people with mobility issues in sitting down on, or getting up from, the toilet.

As our parents become more fragile with age, there are certain devices which appear in our lives, and the raised toilet seat is one of the most common of these. And it comes in quite a wide variety of forms.

Who can benefit from a raised toilet seat ?

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The standard height of a toilet seat in the US is around 15 inches, from the floor to the seat, which for individuals with mobility problems is typically too low to make sitting down and standing up easy, safe or comfortable.

Elderly adults are typically those who will most often benefit from a raised toilet seat due to a lack of muscle strength as they age.

People with the following health conditions can also benefit from a raised toilet seat –

• arthritis
• spinal conditions
• obesity
• Parkinsons
• hip replacement surgery
• knee replacement surgery

How high should a raised toilet seat be ?

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A raised toilet seat should be high enough that when the user sits, their hip is no lower than the middle of the back of their knee, especially if it is for someone who is recovering from a hip replacement.

A raised toilet seat should also not be so high that your feet are dangling in the air, as this can cut off the blood supply, causing the feet to go to sleep, and can lead to falls when standing back up.

If you want to know all the ins and outs of how high a toilet seat should be, I have a post all about how to measure and calculate that,  here – “How High Should A Raised Toilet Seat Be ?”.

Most raised toilet seats or risers, which fix to the toilet, come in a range of fixed heights from 2 to 6 inches, with a few models having an adjustable height of 2 to 6 inches.

Freestanding raised toilet seats which are placed over the toilet are adjustable, generally adjusting the seat height from 17 to 23 inches above the floor. Some models’ seats even go as high as 27 inches from the floor.

You will find all the different models and their heights in the post listed above.

What are the different types of raised toilet seats ?

What most people consider to be a raised toilet seat is a large white tire-like piece of plastic which is somehow attached to the bowl of the toilet, but there are also raised toilet seats on legs and on frames.

You can divide the raised toilet seats into six basic types –

• temporary seats which have no fixings
• seats which have some method for locking to the toilet bowl – side locking or front locking – which are somewhat more secure
• seats which bolt onto the toilet using the seat bolt holes – very secure and for long term use
• raised toilet seats which slot onto the toilet but also have supporting legs – again very secure and for long term use
• safety frames with elevated seats which are placed over the toilet – ideal for the elderly and others who need more support
• bedside commodes which can be placed over the toilet like a safety frame and elevated seat, and which are also ideal for the elderly and disabled users

Raised toilet seats for more temporary use

The seats can come in a variety of heights – 2 inch, 3 inch, 3 1/2 inch, 4 inch, 5 inch and 6 inch models depending on the design type and brands.

The systems for attaching these elevated or raised seats to the toilets vary somewhat.

Bubble seats

Simply slot onto the toilet, and you have to push them down hard. They are made of compressed foam which grips the toilet bowl.

These seats can range in height from 2 to 6 inches, depending on the model.

There are no clamps, bolts or locks, which I don’t particularly feel confident about.

An example of this type of seat is –

• The NRS Comfort raised toilet seat

These seats are also not height adjustable, have no armrests, don’t lock to the toilet bowl and have a lower weight capacity than seats which are fixed to the seat.
 

Clip-on seat/risers

The seats are a “c” shaped piece of plastic which you clip onto your existing toilet seat.

You will need to be very careful with checking the weight limit on these seats to avoid accidents, as there is no form of fixing, such as bolts or clamps, to hold them in place.

There are no armrests, or handles, for extra support either.

Some examples of this are –

• Ability Supertstore 4 inch Clip On Raised Toilet Seat
• Performance Health 4 inch Clip On Raised Toilet Seat

Because these seats come with no arm rests or handles, it is important to make sure that the user doesn’t have their feet off the floor when seated i.e. the seat is not too elevated, as this can cause them to lose their balance, when getting up off the seat, and with nothing to hold onto this can lead to accidents.

Raised toilet seats which lock onto the toilet bowl

Seats with side fixings and a front “bracket” –

• has two plastic bolts or clamps, one on each side of the seat, towards the rear for securing the seat
• a lip at the front, called a “front bracket” by some brands
• are not height adjustable, and come in heights of 2, 3, 4, 41/2, 5 and 6 inches
• can be bought with, or without, lids
• don’t come with armrests or handles
• some are for all toilets sizes
• some are for elongated toilets
• some are for standard toilets
• all have their own different weight capacities 

I bought a seat of this type for my mom before her hip replacement surgery at 88 yrs old, but when we tried it, we found that it still moved all over the place.

It was when I tried this type of seat, that I became aware of how difficult an elderly person might find it to use a seat without handles or armrests.

Examples of raised seats using this system are –

AquaSense 4″ raised toilet seat w/ lid, Prod. No – 770 -626

Vaunn Medical 4.5″ Clamp-On raised toilet seat, (standard), Prod. No. M701 – A3

Carex 4.25″ Safe-Lock raised toilet seat, Prod. No. B31300 0000

PCP 4″ raised standard toilet seat, Prod. No. 7024

Drive Medical 6″ raised toilet seat w/out lid, Prod. No. 12066

Clipper seats

There is actually only one brand that makes these seats, but they are markedly different from the other types.

The clipper seat –

• installs very quickly once the toilet seat is in the upright position
• the raised toilet seat sits on top of the toilet bowl rim
• has an inside edge which drops several inches into the bowl
• has four plastic clips which grip the outside of the toilet bowl when pushed in, exerting equal pressure from four points around outside the toilet bowl
• on the models I, II, III they do not have armrests
• the models IV and V come with armrest
• VI and VII come with armrests and legs

The examples of these seats are –

Herdegen Clipper I 4.3 inch raised toilet seat, Prod. No. 500400

Herdegen Clipper II 4.3 inch raised toilet seat, Prod. No. 500410

Herdegen Clipper III 4.3 inch raised toilet seat w/ lid, Prod. No. 500411

Herdegen Clipper IV 4.3 inch raised toilet seat w/ swing-up armrests, Prod. No. 500420

Herdegen Clipper V 4.3 inch raised toilet seat w/ swing-up armrests and a lid, Prod. No. 500421

Herdegen Clipper VI 4.3 inch raised toilet seat w/ adjustable frame and armrests, Prod. No. 500430

Herdegen Clipper VII 4.3 inch raised toilet seat w/lid and adjustable frame and armrests, Prod. No. 500431

Front locking raised toilet seats

Systems which lock at the front of the toilet seat – these have a clamp located at the front of the seat with a knob for tightening, and the inner sides go down into the bowl of the toilet for stability.

At the back of the seat there is a small lip which sticks out and slots under the rim of the bowl of your toilet, and once it is in place you push down the front of the seat and secure the front locking mechanism.

The heights of the seats will vary depending on the brand, from 4 to 5 inches.

Most of these seats have armrests, some are adjustable and others are also removable.

The seats are compatible with all toilet shapes, as they clamp to the front edge only.

Don’t forget to check the weight capacity.

Some examples of this type –

• Carex E-Z Lock 5 inch Raised Toilet Seat with Arms
• Medokare 4.5 inch Raised Toilet Seat with Arms
• Vive 5 inch Raised Toilet Seat with Padded Handles

The fact that these seats have armrests means that you have something to grab a hold of as you sit back, which is good.

I still think, though, that you need a grab bar on the wall for some extra support if you have any issues with balance, or strength.

I am also not sure just how strong the clamps are.

Raised toilet seats with legs

This is a raised toilet seat which is wider than the toilet bowl, and has 4 legs.

The seat is resting on both the toilet bowl and on the legs.

The design stops any wobbliness, gives a wider distance between the armrests for a larger person, and makes the seat more sturdy in general.

The main points –

• the legs have to be adjusted to the height of the toilet bowl
• the seat itself adds about 4 1/2 inches in height to the toilet on most models
• depending on the brand the raised seats may attach differently to the bowl, but with four legs there is no real risk of it coming off
• these raised seats can take greater weight than those without legs and are more stable

Definitely more solid than the seats without legs, and armrests are a lot easier for an elderly person to use, and as I have seen with my own mom, when a seat has legs it gives the person more confidence when using it, as there is no problem with the seat moving around.

Some examples of raised toilet seats with legs –

Maddak Extra wide Tall-Ette elevated toilet seat w/ aluminum legs, Prod. No. T725881000

Maddak Extra wide Tall-Ette elevated toilet seat with steel legs, Prod. No. T725882000

Mobb 4.5 inchRaised Toilet Seat With Legs Prod. No. MHRTSL

Herdegen Clipper VII 4.3 inch raised toilet seat w/lid and adjustable frame and armrests, Prod. No. 500431

Raised toilet seats which bolt to the toilet

Risers

A riser is a ring shaped block of plastic which is available in a range of heights from 2 to 4 inches.

To install the riser, you remove your existing toilet seat and place the riser where your seat was, taking care to line up the bolt holes on the riser with the toilet seat bolt holes of your toilet.

The toilet seat and lid that you removed are then placed back on top of the riser, and the new bolts, which came with your riser, are placed down through all the parts, and secured on the underside of the toilet.

Do not tighten the bolts too hard, as the toilet is ceramic, and you can crack, or break it.

Some risers come with a built-in hinge just like a seat does, which means that you can lift the front edge to clean underneath.

Risers can be bought with, or without armrests, depending on the model.

Some examples of these risers are –

• Nova 3 1/2 inch toilet seat riser
• Maddak 4 inch hinged seat riser

Because they are bolted to your toilet, risers are very solid, and with armrests  and a grab bar on the wall by the toilet they are a good option for all but the most elderly and frail among us.

Tall Seats or Seats with Spacers

These are seats which have small legs, or spacers, on the under side of the seat, and that come in 2 inch, or 3 inch, high models.

You can get them with, or without lids, and they can be open or closed at the front of the seat.

Tall Seats do not have armrests and the height is no adjustable.

To install these, you take off the existing seat and lid from your toilet, and replace with the Tall seat.

An example of one of these seats is –

• Centoco 3L440STS-001 raised toilet seat with lid

I think these would be fine for a younger, and stronger adult, but because there are no armrests it is again a case of needing grab bars, or a toilet safety frame, and so more expenses, to make it suitable for more elderly parents with mobility and balance issues.

Safety frames with seats

A safety frame with an elevated toilet seat is a freestanding metal frame – aluminum or steel – with a toilet seat built into it. These are not to be confused with toilet safety frames, which don’t have their own raised seat.

To install them, you lift the toilet seat and lid of your toilet, and then place the frame and raised seat over your toilet.

The frames have –

• adjustable height
• large, practical armrests
• the weight capacity is higher than on plastic clamp-on seats
• legs on all sides
• bariatric models for heavier people

The frames all have armrests and there are plenty of places a person can grab onto if they start to lose their balance or slip off.

Some examples of frames with elevated seats are –

Maddak Tall-Ette elevated toilet seat with legs 

PCP raised toilet seat and safety frame 2-in-1

MOBB elevated toilet seat and frame

Aidapt President raised toilet seat and frame 

Lattice commode toilet seat and frame 

There are also mechanized frames with raised seats, which actually take some of the person’s weight to assist them in sitting down, or getting up.

Some examples of toilet lift –

The Uplift Commode

Easy Access Tilt Toilet lift (this model is slightly different as it is secured to the toilet without legs)

The Liftseat Powered Toilet Lift

The Drive Solo Lift with Arms

If you have an elderly parent who is in great pain and very frail, or lacking in strength, the lifts are a very good option. The first two are the more affordable models of lift.

Portable bedside commodes

Now to my mother’s favorite, the portable bedside commode.

Also known as a 3-in-1 commode, it’s a metal chair frame with toilet seat and a potty.

The commode be placed by the bed and used –

(a) as a commode

(b) over the toilet as a frame to hold onto when you sit down, or get up (without the seat and bucket), or

(c) you can use it with its seat over the toilet as a raised toilet seat

You can adjust the height and width, and you can also get bariatric frames which can support far greater weights.

Some examples of this type of commode are –

Drive Medical heavy-duty bariatric commode

Drive Medical steel folding bedside commode 

UltraCommode bedside commode

This is, in my opinion, a very good option for an elderly person who needs a bit of assistance with their balance and who has mobility and, or, pain issues. There is lots of support and nothing else is required.

To find out about all the types of bedside commodes that you can use over a toilet, you can see them in my article about the different types of raised toilet seats here.

Raise your toilet seat height permanently with a base riser or plinth

For a permanent change to your toilet seat height, other than buying and installing a taller toilet, you can install what is called a “toilet riser” (not to be confused with “toilet seat riser”), “base riser”, or “toilet plinth”.

Raising the actual toilet higher off the floor

You can install a plinth, or riser, under your existing toilet, which will raise the toilet seat level up by the equivalent height of the riser.

These look like the toilet, they don’t replace your seat, and the whole toilet structure remains just as sturdy, but is simply taller.

To install –

• the toilet has to be uninstalled
• the new riser is placed on the floor
• the toilet exit pipe is re-attached, with a new section the height of the riser
• the riser is bolted into the old bolt holes
• the toilet is then sat atop the new block, and it is bolted in place

Examples of these –

Medway Easy Toilet Riser

Toilevator

Thetford toilet riser

Easy Toilet Riser

Don’t forget that for elderly loved ones, you will still need some kind of grab bars on the wall, or a safety frame around the toilet, for them to maintain their balance. 

Raised toilet seat features to consider

 
The important features that you want to keep in mind when looking at the raised toilet seats are –

• height – what height seat do you need
• how long will you need the seat, will determine the locking system – push-on, clip-on, bolt-on, side fixings, front-locking, front-locking with legs, or freestanding
• armrests – generally advised for the elderly and frail
• weight capacity – most raised toilet seats which fix onto the toilet will hold up to 300lb (there are some tall seats by Bemis, which can take more), with bariatric 3-in-1 bedside commodes having weight capacities to over 1000 lbs,  but you must check this, and
• seat width – don’t forget to check the seat width, as any models with legs, or on a frame, will take a little more room, and some up to 32 inches between the armrests
• with or without lid
• is the seat you are looking at is a universal fit, or is it just for an elongated or round toilet design – safety frames with raised toilet seats, and 3-in-1 bedside commodes, will typically fit over most toilets, you just have to check how high the seat can go, and add about 1 1/2 inches, and see if it clears you toilet bowl rim height
• materials – the freestanding models are way more solid, and are built on either aluminum or steel frames

If you want to check weight capacities, you can check my list-post here –

“Raised Toilet Seat Weight Capacity: Over 180 Examples”

If you are looking for a bedside commode to use as a raised toilet seat for a larger person, you can check out each of these articles –

“Raised Toilet Seats For A Large Person : The complete guide”

“Do Bedside Commodes Come In Different Sizes ?”

“How Wide Is A Bariatric Commode ?”

To find out more about what toilet design you have, you can check my article illustrating how to do this –

“How To Measure For A Raised toilet seat ?”

To see what height toilet seat you need, you can check my post here –

“How High Should A Raised Toilet Seat Be ?”

Where to buy raised toilet seats ?

 
You are going to find raised toilet seats, of all types, at large retailers such as –

• Walmart
• Amazon
• Lowes
• Home Depot

As well as, in specialist medical equipment supply stores, although these may be more expensive.

Unfortunately, raised toilet seats are not covered by Medicare Part B for use in the home, although they do in certain circumstances cover bedside commodes.

If you qualify for a bedside commode under their guidelines, you will need to make your purchase with a Medicare-approved Supplier.

You can find out how to find those on the Medicare website here – Locate A Medicare Approved Supplier 

If you go to my article “Where To Buy A Raised Toilet Seat ?” you will find out which retailers have the widest ranges, and which brands they stock, as well as where to buy a 3-in-1 commode if you are covered by Medicare, or you are a Veteran, and where to get refurbished models.

Top brands of raised toilet seats

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The most established brands of raised toilet seats are –

• PlatinumHealth
• Drive Medical
• Nova
• Vive
• TFI Healthcare
• OasisSpace
• Bemis
• Centoco
• Maddak
• Lumex
• Mobb
• Medline
• Probasics
• Performance Health
• Guardian
• Graham Field
• Invacare

Raised toilet seats near me ?

 
The easiest thing is to buy the seats online.

I have the site I prefer, just because I like to support small businesses when I can, and I have a hard time finding a lot of the specifications for these products on Amazon, or Walmart – plus Amazon sellers tend to stuff their products with so many keywords, that it makes things rather inaccurate sometimes, and very hard to get what you are actually asking for.

The online stores that I like to use are –

Rehabmart.com

American Discount Home Medical Equipment
 

How much does a raised toilet seat cost ?

 
A raised toilet seat in the US costs from $15.00 to $259.00, and in the UK from £14.00 to £479.00.

If you want to find out more about prices, you can check out my post – “How Much Does A Raised Toilet Seat Cost ?”

This does not include specialist bedside commodes, which can be used over toilets, an can cost $300.00 or more.
 

What’s the best raised toilet seat for the elderly ?

After a knee or hip replacement – this is

If your parent has had a hip or knee replacement, you will doubtless know how nervous you can be when you first see them with a nurse being taken off to the toilet, and you start to wonder how you are going to deal with this when you get them home.

So here is the first step

It is important that your elderly parent, and their caregiver, learn how to sit down, and to stand back up, after the surgery.

If your loved one can do this properly, the risk of strains and accidents is greatly reduced.

I found it very helpful, for myself, to learn this, as my mom, who is over 90, kept forgetting the exact process at first, and I was able to quickly remind her about how to do it correctly.

I have many blog posts about hip replacement precautions, and in particular, “How To Sit On A Toilet After Hip Surgery: A Detailed Illustrated Guide”, which is an illustrated guide on how to sit down and stand up, when using the toilet, as well as other precautions you will need to observe, if you have had posterior or lateral hip replacement surgery.

I can tell you, that in my elderly mom’s case after her hip replacement surgery, we were advised to use a freestanding frame with armrests with a raised toilet seat.

This could be a safety frame with a raised toilet seat, or a portable bedside commode.

Mom chose to purchase a 3-in-1 bedside commode which could be placed over the toilet.

For those readers who are looking for a full length post on the topic of hip replacements and raised toilet seats, I have a post with what are, in my opinion, the best raised toilet seats for a bunch of different situations, so you should be able to find a situation similar to your own. You can read that here – “Best Raised Toilet Seats After A Hip Replacement”.

What kind of raised toilet seat should I get for my parent who has mobility or pain issues ?

This greatly depends on the age of the person in question, their balance and strength.

If your parent is not too elderly, and they still have a good amount of strength in the arms and legs, then a bolted on riser with armrests, and your own toilet seat on top, is probably the most solid of the seats which attach onto the toilet.

This can then be combined with some grab bars, or toilet safety frame, for extra support.

Example of a good riser with armrests are –

Carex 3 1/2 inch Riser with Arms

Essential Medical Supply Toilet Seat Riser with Removable Arms

Drive Medical 3 1/2 inch premium Seat Riser with Removable Arms

Maddak 3 1/2 inch Elevated Seat Riser with Safety Arms

One other point to consider is, how good is their eyesight – mainly their peripheral vision – as they will have to reach back to sit down.

For this a grab bar on the wall, to the side, can be a great help – placed just to the side and inline with the front of the armrests of the seat.

I don’t really like any kind of seat without a frame – it just seems like one more accident waiting to happen – and quite frankly, aging is tough enough on our elderly parents, without them hitting the floor because we bought a cheaper plastic seat for them.

Certainly for a parent who is frail, elderly, or both, I would only buy some form of frame with a seat, be it a safety frame or a bedside commode.

And if they don’t have enough strength in their legs, then maybe  it’s time to consider one of the toilet lifts with a seat.

Choosing the best raised toilet seat for an elderly parent, or loved one, is a subject which takes careful consideration and time, and cannot really be dealt with in a couple of paragraphs, as there is no “one size fits all” answer.

If you want some in depth information on the topic, along with the seats that I consider to be the best options for elderly adults of differing body types, and capabilities, you can take a look at my article – “Best Raised Toilet Seats For Elderly Seniors: A Detailed Guide With Prices”

Frequently Asked Questions

Are raised toilet seats safe ?

There are a number of different types of raised toilet seat.

Some models which either clip on to the toilet seat or are pushed down over the toilet rim are really only intended as a temporary, and or travelling solution – the seats have no fixings or clamps to secure them to the toilet.

Risers with armrests are far more secure, and bolt to your toilet under your existing toilet seat, and are very solid.

The most sturdy and secure are the models which have armrests and four legs.

In my opinion, for an elderly adult, the best and safest options, are 3-in-1 bedside commodes which can be place over the toilet, a safety frame with raised toilet seat, or a riser with armrests.

My 93-year-old mom uses a 3-in1 commode, and has done so for a number of years, and finds it to be really solid.

Do raised toilet seats fit any toilet ?

A freestanding elevated toilet seat should be able to be place over most toilets, as they typically have a maximum seat height of at least 21 inches from the floor.

Raised toilet seats which attach to the toilet, depending on the particular model, can be for –

• elongated toilets only
• round toilets only
• universal, fitting both types of toilet type

Can a raised toilet seat be too high ?

If a toilet seat is too high and the user’s feet are hanging in the air, and not flat to the floor, the blood circulation in the legs can be affected, causing the user’s feet to go to sleep, and lead to falls when standing.

Secondly, for those with issues with constipation, a lower seat is more conducive to passing a bowel movement.

What’s the tallest toilet height ?

The tallest toilet height is a wall mounted toilet from Kohler.

The Kohler Veil Wall-hung Toilet K-6303 has a maximum bowl height of 28 1/2 inches from the floor.

The tallest standing toilet is the Signature Hardware Bradenton Elongated Toilet, which has a bowl rim height of 21 inches without a seat from the floor.

How to measure for a raised toilet seat ?

To find the correct height of raised toilet seat that you need –

• measure the height of the toilet bowl rim from the floor
• measure the from the floor to the back of your knee where it bends
• subtract the first measurement from the second, and the difference is the height of raised toilet seat that you need

The position you are looking to achieve is one where, when seated, your hip is not lower than your knee.

What is the tallest toilet seat available ?

The tallest toilet available is a wall mounted toilet from Kohler.

The Kohler Veil Wall-hung Toilet K-6303 has a maximum bowl height of 28 1/2 inches from the floor.

The tallest standing toilet is the Signature Hardware Bradenton Elongated Toilet, which has a bowl rim height of 21 inches without a seat from the floor.

Who makes the tallest comfort height toilet ?

Comfort height toilet seats are 17-19 inches from the floor.

The Americans with Disabilities Act stipulates that the height of a toilet seat must come within this range.

Companies making these comfort height toilets, include Kohler, American Standard, DeerValley, and more.

Is there a way to raise a toilet seat ?

To raise a toilet seat, you can –

1. raise the toilet itself with a “toilet base riser”, or “toilet plinth”, don’t confuse this with a toilet seat riser
2. use a form of raised toilet seat which attaches to the bowl
3. use a freestanding raised toilet seat
4. buy a tall toilet

Raised toilet seat weight capacity ?

Raised toilet seats all have different weight capacities, ranging from 220 lb all the way up to over 1000 lb.

Standard raised toilet seat models which attach to the bowl have varying weight capacities in the range 0f 220 lb to 350 lb, with only a few exceptions.

The heavy-duty seats, except for Big John, and Bemis tall seats, are all 3-in-1 bedside commodes which can be used over the toilet as a raised toilet seat, and as I said some models will support over 1000 lb.