Nuie Fay Rimless Comfort Height Close Coupled Toilet with Soft Close Seat (NCS791)

November 12, 2026 Essential Bathrooms

Comfort Height vs Standard Height Toilets: Which Should You Choose?

Most people never think about toilet height until they sit on one that feels noticeably different. A comfort height toilet is simply a toilet with a taller pan, so the seat sits a few centimetres higher than a standard model. It is one of the easiest upgrades to make when you are replacing a toilet, and fitting it is no different from a standard model.

What is a comfort height toilet?

A standard toilet pan usually puts the top of the seat at around 400mm to 420mm from the floor. A comfort height pan raises that to roughly 450mm to 480mm, which is closer to the height of a typical dining chair. The rest of the toilet works in exactly the same way: the same cistern, the same flush and the same waste connection.

Why choose a comfort height toilet?

Easier to sit down and stand up. A higher seat means less bending at the knee and hip.
Suits taller people. Many taller users simply find a raised pan more natural to use.
Future-proof. If you are planning a bathroom to last many years, a raised pan is a sensible choice for every member of the household.
Same footprint. Comfort height toilets usually take up the same floor space as standard models, so they fit the same rooms.

When a standard height toilet makes more sense

Standard height is still the right choice for many homes. Shorter adults and children often find a lower pan more comfortable, and it is the height most people are used to. In a family bathroom used by young children, a standard pan is usually the better fit.

How to check the height before you buy

Look for the overall height to the top of the pan or seat on the product's technical drawing. Measure the height of a chair you find comfortable and compare it with the pan height. Remember the seat adds around 10mm to 20mm on top of the pan rim.

Other ways to raise a toilet

If you want to keep your existing toilet, a raising plinth can lift a floor-standing pan, and wall-hung toilets can be mounted at whatever height you choose on a frame. For a new installation, though, a comfort height pan is the simplest option.