What Is A Short Projection Toilet? | And Should You Get One?
Are you looking to maximise the space you have available in a small bathroom? A short projection toilet could be just the thing you’re looking for!
In this post, I’ll explain what a short projection toilet is and why you might want one as well as answer some popular questions about the topic.
Let’s dive in!
What Is A Short Projection Toilet?
A short projection toilet is a toilet that sticks out a shorter distance away from the wall than a regular toilet.
You may have come across them in older properties, where the toilet seat will have looked smaller and rounder compared to yours at home. Today’s plumbing design calls that smaller and rounder seat a short projection toilet. A standard toilet seat and bowl found in most homes and flats is more oval and projects farther into the room.
The oval design replaced the short projection version around 1980 because the larger seat is more comfortable for many adults. However, short projection toilets are seeing a resurgence for homeowners looking to add a two-piece cloakroom in smaller and unusual spaces.
A close-coupled short projection toilet measures an average of 600mm from the wall to the front edge of the seat. That can reclaim up to 150mm of space compared with a more traditional toilet. In a small bathroom space, that room is pure gold.
Take it one step further and maximise your space with a hidden cistern that fits into the wall while the short projection seat provides relief to your guests. Using up as little as 470mm of space in the room.
You will not give up any functionality with a short projection toilet. Its flush is just as powerful, uses the same amount of water, and can be ordered in the style needed to fit into your water closet.
Look for versions that fit into corners, stow the cistern up high, or offer the added comfort of a bidet.
Cost
A short projection toilet styled like your standard toilet will cost between £120 and £200.
If you must have a trendy toilet loaded with heat, lights, hands-free operation, and power flush you can spend well into the thousands. But for most homeowners, this is no more expensive than any other piece of traditional sanitaryware.
The plumbing connections are the same as a standard toilet. A confident DIY’er can replace a standard toilet with a short projection version in a morning with the help of a good friend.
Your contractor will charge about £200 for labour to replace a toilet. If you are building a whole new cloakroom, the entire project including running new pipes and electricity can cost between £3,000 and £10,000.
Why Would You Need A Short Projection Toilet?
If your bathroom is uncomfortably narrow, sitting on the toilet could result in your knees bumping the wall. A short projection toilet gives you those extra centimetres needed for a more comfortable visit to the WC.
Stand up and turn around without feeling crowded in petite bathrooms. In some instances, the smaller toilet may leave enough room to add a compact shower.
These toilets can help you add a cloakroom in surprisingly small spaces such as under the front stairs or in a top-floor flat. The smaller seat can also help your toddlers feel more confident when moving to the big kids’ bathroom.
For the B&B opening in an old Victorian cottage, a short projection toilet will be more in keeping with the clawfoot tub and black and white tiles.
Advantages Of Short Projection Toilets
- Compact Size: The seat of the short projection toilet is just a touch smaller and fits into smaller spaces.
- Same Performance: You don’t give up function while downsizing the bowl and seat of the toilet.
- Wide Variety of Styles: Most sanitaryware manufacturers produce short projection versions of all their most popular toilets.
- All the Trending Options: You can choose a short projection toilet that includes touchless flushing, an add-on bidet, or a power flush.
- No Special Installation Needed: These smaller toilets use the same water supply and waste pipes found on larger models. It won’t confuse your plumber!
Disadvantages Of Short Projection Toilets
- Not Quite as Comfortable: With a smaller circumference, some users may find the feel of a short projection toilet to be not quite right. Test drive before you buy.
- Outdated Design: A round toilet seat may give your bathroom the look and feel of a loo from early last century.
What size is a short projection toilet?
A close-coupled short projection toilet generally has a measurement of 600mm -620mm from the wall to the front rim of the seat. While back-to-wall or wall-hung short projection toilets can measure under 500mm.
Other versions are not designed as a short projection, but rather a circular toilet seat often used during the previous century. These seats generally measure about 640 mm.
Extremely compact versions made for narrow boats and caravans can be as small as 580mm where every centimetre of space is crucial for a more comfortable living area.
What is the standard projection for a toilet?
A traditional close-coupled toilet with an oval seat usually has an overall projection of 700mm to 750mm. A wall-hung or hidden cistern toilet can measure as little as 500mm – 600mm. However, there is no actual standard size assigned to toilets except for the purpose of creating an accessible restroom.
What styles of short projection toilets can you get?
Most toilet manufacturers offer short projection toilets in nearly every style sold. The only difference will be the size of the seat–not the way the toilet works. Find them as close-coupled, rimless, wall-hung, corner, hidden cistern, traditional, two-piece, touchless, and even with lights and Wi-Fi.
If you see a toilet that you would like to add to your home in a standard projection, but need something smaller, don’t hesitate to ask the manufacturer if they have short-projection options.
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Are short projection toilets comfortable?
Your comfort level while sitting on the loo is entirely dependent on the use. Short projection toilets are designed to support the average adult body, and they work just like their larger cousins.
If you have difficulty sitting comfortably on small chairs, then a short projection toilet may not work for you. The best way to determine if it is right for you is to have a quick sit down on a display model at the local DIY centre.
Final Thoughts…
There you have it! Everything you need to know about short projection toilets.
A handy space-saving toilet option for any compact bathroom or cloakroom. Short projection toilets can claw back value real estate when you need it most. However, due to their smaller footprint, you may be sacrificing a more comfortable seating experience at the expense of that extra room.
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Michael R
Michael is a KBB designer from the UK. He's been designing and project managing new Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom installations for over eight years now, and before that, he was an electrician and part of a KBB fitting team. He created The Bathroom Blueprint in early 2020.
