If you’re someone with a full or half functional bathroom in your home, you’ll have at least one toilet that removes your bodily waste products through a septic tank system or sewer. Eventually, your toilet will wear out or break down, and this will send you looking at various toilet installation costs to get a broad estimate that you can narrow down based on your circumstances. Luckily, the toilet installation cost is relatively minor compared to other projects you could have going on around your home, and it can be a quicker project to complete.
Of course, the more complicated the project is, the more time it can take from start to finish. Also, your toilet installation cost will go up if you have a smaller space with more restricted access because the plumber you hire to take on the job will have more trouble getting the old toilet out, putting the new one in, and working in restricted spaces. However, it’s still possible to get a working toilet installation cost estimate by calling around to a few companies.
On average, you can expect to pay between $400 and $800 for your total toilet installation cost. To install a float valve toilet with a standard design and a typical height, most people pay around $600. Luckily, this cost includes the toilet, any necessary equipment, and the labor. The final toilet installation cost will fluctuate based on your location too since you’ll want to hire a professional to do the install to ensure that it’s correct and that there are no leaks at the end that can wreak havoc on your floor.
Are you looking to install a new toilet? If so, this is for you. We’re going to outline the biggest cost factors that go into your toilet installation cost. This way, you can look and see which factors are relevant to your situation and which aren’t to get a more realistic working budget.
Although installing a toilet isn’t necessarily hard, you want to leave it up to the professionals and include the labor costs in your toilet installation cost estimate. Doing so will help ensure that the project goes smoothly. 05_16_09 by jcbonbob / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Picking a Toilet Style
One of the first things you want to do during a bathroom remodel project is pick a toilet style. A lot of bathroom fixture companies make suites that help ensure that your toilet matches your tub, sink, and faucets to give you a very cohesive look. Your toilet installation cost and the entire project’s budget will have to go up if you choose to buy a matching suite because some can be very expensive. The style will also impact how easy it is to keep clean, how it feels, and how it fits into your space.
If you want a color other than white for your toilet, you’ll also pay more. A lot of companies have their own version of white, and some have two or three shades to coordinate with other brand’s tubs or sinks. Cream, almond, and biscuit are three off-white shades that are very popular. The most popular styles and colors are below.
Corner
These aren’t very common, but they’re nice for very small bathrooms. This toilet is exactly what the name implices, and it slots into the corner of your bathroom. They have a normal-shaped bowl, but the tank comes in at an angle at the back. This allows the installer to slide it snugly into the corner of your bathroom, and this can save you space. The toilet installation cost for this model ranges between $500 to $1,500.
One Piece
This is a very popular but standard choice. The bowl and tank connect with this style to form one seamless piece. It gives you a very stylish and modern look, more than you could get if you decided to go with a two piece design. A one piece design is much easier to keep clean and maintain, and the toilet installation cost will start at $500 and go up to $1,300.
Stainless Steel
Although stainless steel sinks are very popular, stainless steel toilets are slowly gaining popularity for a very industrial look. Some models come plated with stainless steel for a more high-end look, and they’re very easy to clean while giving you a modern look. It’s durable and strong, and it won’t chip, stain, or break like china or ceramic would. The toilet installation cost is slightly higher at $800 to $3,000 for this style.
Two Piece
This is the most budget-friendly and simple toilet model you can get, so it’s great if you don’t have a lot of money set aside for this project. You’ll get the tank and bowl designed as two separate pieces with this model. It has a traditional and classic look, and your toilet installation cost will run between $250 and $750.
Wall Hung
This toilet gets built straight into your wall. So, you’ll have to remove part of your wall before fitting the toilet’s tank inside the hole. You then replace the wall around the tank and hang the bowl outside of the wall. This is a great option for very small bathrooms because it saves space since the tank gets hidden in the wall. It has a very modern design that makes it popular, and your toilet installation cost will range from $800 to $2,500 with this model.
Choosing a color and style can impact your toilet installation costs because it’ll directly influence how time-consuming the process is. This is why it should be at the top of your list when you create a budget. Toilet Installation by Daniel Morrison / CC BY 2.0
Cost Ranges for Different Toilet Types
There are also various toilet types to choose from, and your total installation cost will heavily depend on the type you pick out. You can buy a basic toilet for $100 to $300, and your price starts to climb when you get into the pressure-assisted toilet category. Eco-friendly types are the most expensive options available, and each model has benefits and drawbacks.
Double-Cyclone
Better known as a self-cleaning type of toilet, it comes outfitted with jets that help to circulate your water through the bowl in a very fast cycling motion. This helps to clean everything and put it to the exit point. They’re a more modern bathroom design, but they’re not readily available because not all manufactures make them. Your toilet installation cost will hover around $500 for this model.
Dual-Flush
If you want to save water, you should check into a dual-flush toilet model. They come with a standard flush for any solid waste and a water-saving flush for liquids only. There are two buttons by the lever on the top of the tank, and this lets you pick which flush you want to use each time. Your toilet installation cost is right around $200 for this type.
Gravity-Fed
This is one of the most common toilet types available, and they use gravity to pull the waste through your pipes with a large amount of water. Originally, you flushed six gallons of water each time you used it, but this has now dropped to a single gallon. Unfortunately, this means that they’re not as effective, and you can expect to pay around $100 on average for it.
Macerating
If you don’t have a traditional waste pipe or you have a slab installation, you should seriously factor a macerating toilet type into your toilet installation costs. This toilet will cut your waste products into small pieces before pushing them through the pipes. You can install this type of toilet anywhere you use tubes instead of traditional pipes in the wall. On average, your toilet installation cost will start at around $600 for this type.
Pressure-Assisted
This type of toilet uses street-pressured water to make the waste products go through the pipes. If your waste must travel up, a pressure-assisted toilet is a nice pick. You should keep it in mind when you do a basement remodel if you have a bathroom down there. They are very noisy though, and you’ll pay around $250 for this toilet.
Smart
These are modern, high-tech toilets that come equipped with a huge range of technological advantages and extra features. You can get them in several heights, hands-free flushing mechanisms, hidden trapways, and self-cleaning modes. Some even have remote controls to allow you to adjust the seat’s heat levels and the water spray. They’re more expensive, and you can expect to spend between $600 to $8,000 for the toilet by itself.
Vented
Vacuum-assisted or vented toilets will push large amounts of air through your vent pipe before they open it for waste. The air will create a vacuum effect that will pull your waste through the pipes. It’s a nice pick if your toilets are on the first floor of your home, and you’ll need a stack line for them. This line has to be higher than your roof by two feet for it to work, and they cost around $100.
Waterless
Composting or waterless toilets are good to install if you don’t have plumbing. They use organic compounds to get rid of the waste instead of water, but this can drive your toilet installation cost up. You’ll see this type of toilet in RVs or outdoor areas. However, they’re also gaining popularity in homes for anyone who wants more environmentally-friendly options. Most models in this style start their price range at $900 and go up, so be prepared to pay more for it.
There are several toilet types you can pick from, and the one you choose will dictate how the installation process goes. Some are more labor-intensive than others, and this can drive your toilet installation costs up. Tile Installation in Dallas – Mid Job by Alexander Muse / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Flushing Mechanism Costs
Toilets have different flushing mechanisms to them, and many of them use a traditional flapper system. This system uses a pull chain that lifts the flap and lets the water flow into your toilet bowl to help push the waste out. This is a standard toilet that will add between $100 and $400 for your toilet installation cost on average. If you want a tower system with an enclosed mechanism, you’ll pay between $150 and $600. Tower systems are more powerful.
You can also get dual-flush systems that change the amount of water that goes into the bowl with each flush. On average, these toilets cost between $100 and $600. If you choose liquid only, you’ll use less water per flush than you will when you pick solid waste. It has a pair of buttons that let you choose between the two options.
Finally, you get touchless flush systems that use two methods. There can be a sensor located above the toilet that detects movement. It’ll activate the flushing mechanism when you stand up. A second method has a trigger that flushes the toilet when you close the lid. There is no lever or valve with this style. These options tend to increase your toilet installation costs by $400 to $1,200.
Popular Brand Price Points
Each brand can influence your toilet installation costs too. No matter if you’re adding a bathroom or upgrading your current setup, you want to go with reputable brands without breaking your budget. There are several well-known options available to choose from, including:
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- American Standard ($100 to $400) – You’ll get a few color choices with several suites available with this brand, and they also offer a broad range of flush technology.
- Eijer ($100 to $300) – This is a budget-friendly option that offers several colors and a range of flush technology. They also have the corner toilet models available.
- Kohler ($100 to $800) – Kohler is a more well-known brand that offers a range of colors with designer styles. There are many suites available that you can pick from without massively increasing your toilet installation costs.
- Saniflo ($300 to $1,200) – This company specialized in compact toilets and macerating toilets. They’re more high-end, and they offer several designs with eco-friendly models.
- Toto ($200 to $1,000) – You’ll get advanced flush technology with eco-friendly options with this company. They have modular roughs with many other designs available.
Average Toilet Height
Your toilet installation costs will also depend on the toilet height. Most times, the height refers to the seat. You can personalize the height of the back or tank of the toilet, but the seat height is the most important measurement. From the floor to the rim and not including the seat, the standard height is 15-inches. This is the most common height in the United States.
In the past few years, companies have introduced comfort height and universal height to give you more variety. If you want the universal toilet height, your measurement from the rim to the floor is 17-inches. This is the height of a traditional chair when you include the seated part. You won’t have to bend your knees as far when you sit down. People who have mobility problems or who are tall can benefit from this toilet height. It’s nice to add if you’re trying to make an elderly or mobility-impared bathroom with a walk-in tub or other convenient fixtures.
Finally, there is a shorter toilet that comes aimed at children. This is more rare, but it has a floor to rim height of 12-inches. It’s uncommon because most children grow out of it too quickly to justify the original toilet installation cost.
Toilet Installation Costs for Labor
Generally speaking, toilets are relatively simple to install. Your plumbing has to be in good condition though or this can drive up your toilet installation costs. Installing a toilet involves putting a new wax ring in around the pipe, placing the toilet on the ring, locking it down, and connecting your supply hoses. On average, the process takes one to two hours from start to finish, and many plumbers charge between $45.00 to $65.00 an hour.
The installation costs start between $45.00 and $130.00, and $90.00 to $100 is the average. The costs don’t include the valves or supply lines. If they’re damaged or old, you’ll have to pay to replace them with newer models. If your plumber has to install the waste pipe because the old one isn’t working correctly, your toilet installation costs will go up because the project will take longer.
If you find yourself replacing your waste pipe, the installation process can take between six to eight hours at $45.00 to $65.00 an hour. The pipe will cost right around $150, so this can raise your total toilet installation costs to $400 to $700. This replacement can be necessary if the pipe is corroded or you want to move the pipe to a new location in your bathroom.
If you go with a standard toilet, your labor costs will be one of the biggest factors that influence how much you pay to complete the project. Some contractors will work faster while others will take more time, and they charge per hour. 2006-N-WA745-1161 by U.S. Pacific Fleet / CC BY-NC 2.0
Understanding Rough-In Dimensions
The rough-in dimensions are essential to monitoring your toilet installation costs, and many people overlook it during the planning process. The rough-in is the measurement of how much space is between the wall and the waste pipe in the floor. They come in 10, 12, and 14-inch sizes, and 12-inches is the standard or most common size.
Luckily, it’s easy to find the rough-in dimensions for your project. To start, measure from the finished wall above your baseboard to the center of the bolt cap in your flooring. If you get 9 or 10-inches, you have a 10-inch rough. A measurement of 11 to 12-inches is a 12-inch rough and a measurement of 13 to 14-inches indicates a 14-inch rough.
If you get a concealed trapway toilet, it can easily fit any rough measurement because you can move the trap inside the concealed portion of the toilet to fit. If you don’t have this style, you’ll have to buy a toilet that fits the rough-in dimensions of your bathroom. This is especially important if you have things like tile flooring that you don’t want to rip up and put back down to accommodate moving your toilet to fit the rough.
Average Cost to Move a Toilet
Maybe you’re going to remodel your bathroom and your toilet’s current position just doesn’t fit your new design. If so, it’s possible to move your toilet to a new location, but this will drive up your toilet installation costs. The average cost to move your toilet fluctuates between $2,500 and $3,5000. When you want to alter your current floor plan, labor is one of the biggest cost factors. Your plumber may end up relocating vent lines and the drain to accommodate your new location, and this can be time-consuming and expensive.
Toilet Removal Price
Maybe you have an old toilet that you need out before you bring in a new one. If so, it’s a good idea to factor calling a professional into your toilet installation cost. The toilet type and your location will influence the price, and you have to consider the hourly rate. On average, you’ll pay between $30.00 and $60.00 to remove an old toilet. If there is extra labor required, you may pay more. The job will be larger if you have a wall-hung toilet where you have to remove part of the wall to get to it.
Additional Cost Factors
There are a few optional cost factors that will influence your toilet installation costs. Since these are all optional and considered to be upgrades, you don’t have to add them if your budget can’t take them or if they don’t fit into your lifestyle.
Bidet
Bidets are very popular throughout Europe, and they’re gaining in popularity in the United States. You install your bidet alongside your toilet to help clean yourself after each use while reducing your toilet paper consumption. Bidets will add around $1,000 to your total toilet installation costs.
Heating
Underfloor heating is very popular, but you can also get heated toilet seats to fit any existing toilet. If you don’t want to spring for underfloor heating, a heated toilet seat starts at around $100 to buy and install it.
Self-Cleaning
No one likes cleaning the toilet, so you can get self-cleaning models to do it for you each time you flush. These types of toilet circulate strong jets of water around the bowl to help clean it after each use, and their prices start at around $500.
Urinal
A urinal is another option you have to add to your bathroom alongside the toilet. They’re usually pretty cost-effective, and the prices start at around $200. You will have to factor in the installation costs, and this can fluctuate.
Where to Find Toilet Installation Experts Near You
If you’re looking for a plumber or expert to install your toilet, you want to compare two or three companies to get the best prices without sacrificing quality. The following resources give you a solid starting point to help you find a reputable contractor by your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Knowing which questions to ask when you call your local contractors can help ensure you get a good match to help keep your toilet installation costs low. Installing a Toilet by SuSanA Secretariat / CC BY 2.0
1. Is it possible to reuse a toilet?
Once you instal your new toilet and you don’t want to get rid of the old one, it is possible to reuse it in another area of your home. Of course, it should be in good shape and have no leaks. If it isn’t, it’s better to get rid of it and get a new one.
2. How much does a toilet weigh?
If you get a one-piece toilet, it’ll weigh around 88 pounds. A two-piece toilet is slightly lighter because you carry the two parts by themselves. It weighs around 55 pounds.
3. Is it possible to temporarily remove a toilet and put it back?
Yes. You can temporarily remove a toilet. You’ll loosen the bolts on either side that hold the toilet to the flange. Turn off your water supply and disconnect it. Flush the toilet to drain any existing water out and uncouple the bolts. Lift the toilet straight up to get it off the pipe. Stuff a rag into the pipe to stop sewer gasses from entering your home until it’s time to reinstall it.
4. How often will you have to replace your toilet?
On average, your toilet will last around 25 years. However, if it gets damaged, you’ll have to replace it much sooner. Stainless steel can last longer than ceramic or porcelain.
Bottom Line
Your toilet installation cost will depend on several factors, and we outlined the biggest ones below. When you’re trying to figure out your toilet installation costs, you can look at this guide and use it to get a rough estimate. You can take this estimate to contractors in your area to see which one gives you the closest prices. This way, you’ll get your new toilet without breaking your budget.
