Replace a Toilet Seat

$25 and 5 minutes — the highest-effort-to-impact bathroom upgrade. Almost every toilet uses the same standard bolt spacing.

Difficulty: Easy Time: 5–10 min Cost: $20–$60

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Tools

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Replacement toilet seat
Measure shape before buying: round (~16.5" front-to-back) vs. elongated (~18.5"). Soft-close hinges are worth the extra $10.

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1

Pop the bolt covers

Use a flathead to flip up the two plastic caps at the back of the seat, exposing the bolt heads.
2

Loosen and remove

Hold the bolt head with a screwdriver while you turn the nut underneath with pliers. Once loose, hand-spin the nuts off and lift the seat away.

Tip: Old nuts are often corroded. A few drops of penetrating oil and 5 minutes of waiting saves you from snapping the bolt.
3

Install the new seat

Drop the new bolts through the bowl holes, position the seat, hand-tighten the nuts from below. Snug — not cranked.
4

Close the covers

Press the plastic caps back down over the bolt heads. Done.