How to Take a Toilet Seat Off

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Tips for removing standard toilet seats & seats with hidden fixings
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The typically narrow space around your toilet can make working on it a chore, but removing a toilet seat can be surprisingly easy if you know what to do. To help you out, we spoke to professional plumber Dave Jones to get the lowdown on making this process as painless as possible. We’ll even cover the weirder seat configurations out there if you don’t have a standard toilet seat.

How to Remove Toilet Seats: Quick Steps

  1. Open the caps on the hinge by hand or with a flathead screwdriver.
  2. Grip the nut on the bolt underneath the first screw.
  3. Use a screwdriver to remove the first screw while holding the nut.
  4. Lift the screw, nut, and bolt out of the slot.
  5. Repeat the process on the remaining nut and screw to remove the seat.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Removing Standard Toilet Seats

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  1. Jones says that these caps are located at the back of the seat where the hinge is located. Most toilets have plastic covers for the bolts so you can’t see them. If yours does, open these covers by prying upwards on them with your finger or a flathead screwdriver. [1]
    • Use light pressure when opening the bolt covers if you’re keeping the seat. If you use a lot of force, the cover may crack. [2]
  2. Jones recommends wearing gloves if you want to keep your hands clean. There are two nuts—one on the left, and one on the right. Each nut is screwed onto the threaded end of a bolt. Some nuts may have a shape similar to a wingnut, allowing you to hold it in place by hand. If you have a weak grip, the nut is not wingnut-shaped, or the nut is stuck, try gripping it with a pair of pliers or vice grips. [3]
    • The fasteners of your toilet seat are usually plastic. Use light to moderate pressure when removing plastic hardware to keep them from breaking. [4]
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  3. Jones continues, “While holding the nut on the threaded end of the bolt, insert your screwdriver into the bolt head and turn it counterclockwise to unscrew it.” [5]
    • What if my hand can’t grip the nut? If the nut is so tight that the friction hurts your hand when you unscrew the bolt, use a wrench or channel locks to hold the nut still instead of your hand.
  4. After you remove the first nut and bolt, repeat the process on the second one. The toilet seat may rattle around a bit since there’s nothing anchoring the other side anymore, so it may help to rest your elbow on the seat or sit on it while you work.
  5. The seat will freely come up now that the nuts and bolts are off. Jones suggests you collect the nuts, bolts, and any loose plastic or metal hardware (like the bolt covers) that also go with the seat. Put these small pieces into a sealable plastic bag and tape them to the seat so they don’t become lost. Your toilet seat is removed, now you can install a new one . [6]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Removing Other Types of Toilet Seats

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  1. Look for release buttons. Some “slow close” lids that automatically drop peacefully rely on an interlocking system where the bolts connecting the seat are hidden. For these seats, raise the lid up and look for small buttons near the junction where the bolts meet the seat. Press these buttons to unlock the seat and take it off. [7]
    • Alternative: Some toilets with release buttons only have one button in the middle—not one button for each bolt. If you see a single opening in the middle of the hinge, try pressing on it. [8]
  2. Try pulling the seat straight up. There are a handful of “quick release” designs out there that aim to hide as much hardware as possible. If the bolts are hidden but there are no release buttons near the hinge, raise the seat up and try physically lifting it up out of the bolts. If you feel a little give, keep pulling until the seat comes off. [9]
    • You do normally have to use a fair bit of force on these, but if you don’t feel any give at all and you’re pulling pretty hard, you probably don’t have a quick-release lid. Don’t pull so hard that you might damage the toilet.
  3. Try pushing the seat back to the tank to unlock it. There are a handful of “luxury” quick-release designs out there that try to hide all of their hardware. If you don’t get any give when you try to pull the seat up and there aren’t any buttons, try sliding the seat back to the tank to see if it unlocks.
    • Alternative: You can also try raising the seat straight up and then twisting it clockwise or counterclockwise. You may be able to slide the seat off of the bolts that way.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Strategies & Tips for Stubborn Seats

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  1. While applying various stubborn seat removal techniques, it’s likely you’ll jostle the seat or push against it. Depending on your situation and the kind of fasteners used to attach the seat, you may want to tape the lid and seat together in a closed or open position.
    • If your situation requires you to cut or drill off bolts to remove the seat, you may want to tape a cover material, like cardboard, in place to protect the porcelain of the toilet and the plastic of the seat as well. [10]
  2. Penetrating oil is intended to revitalize metal parts that have rusted. Spray metal nuts and bolts that won’t come loose with this oil to make removing them a breeze.
    • Wait about 5 to 10 minutes for the penetrating oil to seep into the narrow spaces of the hardware and break up corrosion.
    • If you don’t have penetrating oil on hand, you can mix together a solution that is 90% vegetable oil and 10% acetone to make your own. [11]
  3. Remove hard-to-reach bolts with a socket or basin wrench . In some cases, you may be able to directly fit your socket wrench onto the nuts holding bolts in place. Some toilet designs may require a deep socket or socket extension for you to reach the nut. You can also use a basin wrench designed for this very thing. Turn the socket or wrench counterclockwise firmly to break the nut loose. [12]
    • Apply steady moderate force with your socket wrench. If the nut doesn’t loosen, intensify the force on your wrench to high for a very short interval. Do this several times until the nut loosens.
    • If the nut and bolt are already loose, the bolt may turn with the nut when you attempt to loosen it. Insert a screwdriver into the head of the bolt to hold it in place, then loosen the nut with your socket wrench.
  4. Slide a putty knife in between the bolt and the toilet to protect the porcelain. Then, slide your hacksaw in between the putty knife and the bolt. Cut away at the hardware fastening the seat to your toilet a little bit at a time with the hacksaw until you saw through the bolt. [13]
    • A regular hacksaw will be able to cut through unmoving toilet seat hardware, but a mini one will be easier to use in the narrow space.
    • Depending on the hinge of your toilet seat and the hardware connecting the seat to the toilet, you may have to cut through the hinge mounts and remove the seat with the bolts attached. Then, you can cut through the bolts.
  5. Put on safety glasses . Insert a thin drill bit, like one that is 1/16 in (1.59 mm) thick, into your drill. [14] Drill into the bolt with firm, steady pressure where the nut and bolt meet. Drill through the nut completely, then use increasingly larger drill bits to widen the hole. Remove the nut when it comes loose.
    • Warning: Save this technique as a last resort because there is a possibility that the drill bit might slip, causing damage to the porcelain or the seat.
    • When you’ve almost drilled through the entire nut, be very careful. Drilling into the porcelain or the seat may cause unsightly damage.
    • Drilled metal may have burrs or jagged edges that can cut you. Handle drilled metal with gloves.
    • Use pliers to try to pull the bolt off. Continue enlarging the hole as necessary and pulling at the nut with pliers until it comes free.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Maintaining Your Toilet Seat

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  1. Dirtiness and buildup can contribute to the corrosion and degradation of your toilet seat and its hardware. For this reason, you should clean it regularly with a suitable general purpose bathroom cleaner. [15]
    • Check cleaners before using them on toilet porcelain or the seat itself. In many cases, abrasive cleaners should not be used on toilet seats. Check the labels of cleaners to verify their suitability.
  2. Rubber bushings are basically a cheap way to upgrade your toilet seat. Slide the circular, rubber bushings up the threading side of the bolt with the tapered side of the bushing facing up at the toilet. Then tighten the nut with the tightening tool that came with the bushings. [16]
    • Many hardware stores will sell this product under a name like "Toilet Seat Tightening/Fastening Kit."
    • Alternatively, you can apply clear silicone to the areas where the seat attaches to the bowl. This will prevent the seat from sliding around.
  3. Add seat stabilizers to loose seats . Fasten these stabilizers to seats that wiggle back and forth. The stabilizers should touch the inner rim of the toilet bowl. When the stabilizers are in position, fasten them permanently in place with the screws that came with the stabilizers. [17]
  4. Over time, usage can wear out parts or weaken them. Thinness, brittleness, and visible discoloration are good indications that plastic needs to be replaced. Cracked plastic should also be replaced immediately.
    • Inspect other parts, like the hinges, the fasteners on the bottom of the seat, and the nut on the threaded end of the bolt. Replacing these before they degrade could save you a lot of trouble. [18]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you remove a toilet seat with no visible screws?
    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 you have one of those newer toilet seats with a quick release design. If this is the case, look for a button on the underside of your seat. Press it and try pulling the seat away from the tank. It may slide out without any screwing or anything.
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    Not Helpful 24 Helpful 12
  • Question
    What should I do if I can't tighten the nuts all the way?
    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
    If the toilet seat isn't sliding around, the nuts are tight enough. You don't actually want to overtighten those nuts, since you may end up cracking the porcelain. If that happens, you're going to need to buy a new toilet!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Fill small cracks in wooden toilet seats with white or clear silicone to prevent buildup of bacteria. For large cracks, remove the seat and fit a new toilet seat in its place. Avoid using bleach to clean wooden toilet seats, as it can damage the wood as well as the metal hinges and bolts.
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      References

      1. ↑ Dave Jones. Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. Expert Interview. 29 March 2021.
      2. ↑ http://www.toiletseats.com/customer-service/installation-guides/
      3. ↑ Dave Jones. Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. Expert Interview. 29 March 2021.
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP7KXv2ab-o
      5. ↑ Dave Jones. Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. Expert Interview. 29 March 2021.
      6. ↑ Dave Jones. Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. Expert Interview. 29 March 2021.
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/bLN8aLVXWqE?t=10
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/bLN8aLVXWqE?t=63
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/bLN8aLVXWqE?t=35
      1. ↑ https://finerhomeliving.com/how-to-replace-toilet-seat/
      2. ↑ https://www.engineeringforchange.org/how-to-make-penetrating-oil/
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/gwM9Sk3E_Ok?t=87
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP7KXv2ab-o
      5. ↑ http://bobmay.astronomy.net/misc/drillchart.htm
      6. ↑ https://finerhomeliving.com/how-to-replace-toilet-seat/
      7. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/toilet-repair/toilet-seat-repair-keep-your-seat-tight/view-all
      8. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/toilet-repair/toilet-seat-repair-keep-your-seat-tight/view-all
      9. ↑ https://finerhomeliving.com/how-to-replace-toilet-seat/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you need to remove a toilet seat, use your fingers or a screwdriver to pry off the plastic covers at the back of the seat. Once you’ve exposed the screw that holds the seat in place, use your fingers or a pair of pliers to hold the nut in place, and unscrew the bolt with a screwdriver. Typically, the nut is located beneath the toilet seat, or even beneath the back of the bowl. After you’ve removed the fastener, lift the seat off of the toilet bowl. Keep reading to learn how to remove a stubborn toilet seat!

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