How to Fix a Loose Toilet Seat

Co-authored by Dave Jones

Last Updated: August 20, 2024

A loose toilet seat is pretty easy to fix, and we'll walk you through the process step by step. The seat is usually attached to the toilet bowl with bolts and nuts and using a screwdriver to tighten these bolts typically solves the problem. If your seat is more seriously damaged, you may want to replace it, and we'll explain how to do that, too.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Tightening the Seat

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1
Find the screws and pry up the cover. The back of your toilet seat is usually connected to the toilet with two long screws that run through the porcelain at the back of the bowl. The screws are secured by two nuts underneath. In the front of the cover, look for a small groove that is designed to help you pry up the cover. Then, use a small screwdriver to pry up both the seat and the cover.^{[1]
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- In cheap toilets, the screws are made of plastic. Most toilets, however, use steel screws, and more expensive models may even use brass or stainless steel.^{[2]
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  Research source} Be especially careful with plastic screws!
- To protect yourself from germs, put on protective gloves before you touch the toilet seat.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Dave Jones
  Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
  
  Expert Interview. 13 December 2021.}
If the seat is loose, then it may wobble back and forth, in and out of alignment with the rim of the toilet bowl. Straighten out the seat so that it rests evenly atop the bowl.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Dave Jones
Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Expert Interview. 13 December 2021.} Consider sitting down to test it out for comfort.^{[5]
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Research source}

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3
Tighten the bolt. Turn the screwdriver clockwise to tighten. Remember: "righty tighty, lefty loosey." There's usually a nut with a wing attached to prevent the nut from turning. If there isn't, hold the nut with a rag while you tighten the bolt.
- Decide which screwdriver is the best fit. Make sure that the screwdriver head is big enough to fit into the notches of the bolt head. If the screwdriver is too small, then the bolt will not turn. The friction from the slipping screwdriver will quickly wear down the bolt and make it unusable.
- You'll have to reach underneath the toilet bowl to grip the nut that holds the screw in place.^{[6]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Dave Jones
  Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
  
  Expert Interview. 13 December 2021.}
4
Apply tension. If the bolt keeps turning without tightening up, clamp the nut underneath with a small pair of pliers. Clamp onto the end of the nut, and hold it steady as you screw the bolt. Once you have twisted the bolt several times, the wing on the nut should prevent it from turning anymore.
- To loosen the nut, spray it with WD 40 and wait 5 minutes.
5
Keep screwing until the seat is tight. When the bolt feels tight, give it one more quarter rotation so it's extra secure. Once the seat does not wobble back and forth, push down the lid. It should click closed.
- Don't overtighten the bolts, or you could break or crack the porcelain.^{[7]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Dave Jones
  Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
  
  Expert Interview. 13 December 2021.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Replacing the Seat

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If the bolts are damaged or the toilet seat is still loose after you tried tightening it, then you may just want to replace the individual pieces but leave the seat intact. If the body of the seat itself is in poor shape, however, then you may just want to swap it out for the sake of longevity. Look for toilet seats at a local hardware or home-and-garden store.
2
Know which type of seat you need. There are two standard commercial toilet seat shapes: round and elongated. The round seats are perfectly round, while the "elongated" seats are oblong and egg-shaped. Buy the seat that matches your bowl.
- Try to find a seat made by the same company that manufactured your toilet to fit it perfectly. Off-brand seats may well do the trick, but they may not fit quite as precisely.
- Keep in mind that plastic toilet seats are easier to sanitize than wooden seats, and they hold their color for longer.
3
Install the new seat. You will need to unscrew the old seat, set it aside, and then tighten the new seat onto the bowl. Make sure that the new seat is aligned straight onto the toilet!
- Save the bolts and nuts from the old seat in case you need to replace a bolt on your new seat.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Why is my toilet seat loose?

Dave Jones
Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Dave Jones is a Professional Plumber and the Midwest Regional Vice President at Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. In 1992, Jones joined Roto-Rooter as a drain service technician at the age of 18. Since then, he has risen through the ranks into positions of increasing authority. Dave served as general manager of Roto-Rooter’s Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia branches before being promoted to Contractor Area Manager and later to Regional Vice President. Dave holds Master Plumber Licenses in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Dave Jones

Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Expert Answer

It's possible that the bolts that attach the toilet seat to the toilet bowl rim are loose. They must be tightened to prevent accidents and injuries.

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Question

How do you tighten toilet seat bolts?

Dave Jones
Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Dave Jones is a Professional Plumber and the Midwest Regional Vice President at Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. In 1992, Jones joined Roto-Rooter as a drain service technician at the age of 18. Since then, he has risen through the ranks into positions of increasing authority. Dave served as general manager of Roto-Rooter’s Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia branches before being promoted to Contractor Area Manager and later to Regional Vice President. Dave holds Master Plumber Licenses in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Dave Jones

Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Expert Answer

First find the right screwdriver type and size and insert it into the bolt heads slots, then reach under the back of the bowl and grip the nut using your fingers or an adjustable wrench. Tighten them one by one, being careful as to not overtighten the bolts and crack or break the porcelain.

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Question

My seat was designed to close slowly. Now, 5 years later, it just slams down. Can I fix it without replacing it?

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Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Staff Answer

No, you'll need to replace it. Toilet seats do wear out. Fortunately, it's an easy replacement.

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Tips

If you have a broken bolt already, you can buy generic plastic ones at the hardware store.

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Be sure you have a place that is made to pry up. Most are in the front, a few have little twist locks and are recognized by notches on the covers.

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If you just want to replace the seat completely, remember that there are only two types of toilet seats: round and elongated. Look at the front of the toilet is it round or egg shaped (elongated). The box should clearly state which one it is.

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