Toilet Too High? A Footstool Fixes the Reach and the Posture
A high toilet leaves your feet dangling and your knees below your hips. Test a sturdy box for free, then add a stool that stays put at the right height.
By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 7 min read
- Time
- 10 min
- Cost
- Under $20
- Difficulty
- Easy
In this guide
Quick answer
A toilet too high for your legs is easy to fix without replacing it: raise your feet instead. Prop them on a sturdy box or stack of books for a few days to find the right height, then switch to a footstool made for the toilet. A loose box slides on tile and tips when you shift your weight, while a proper stool has non-slip feet and a fixed height, so it stays where you put it.
Free fix vs. permanent fix
Test with a sturdy box or stack
- Measure the floor to the top of the seat
- Aim for knees level with, or a little above, your hips
- Set a firm, dry box under both feet
- Keep it out of the walking path
How long it lasts: Fine for a few days of testing. Boxes and stacks slide on tile, soak up water and get kicked around, so they rarely stay in use.
An adjustable-height toilet footstool
A stool made for the toilet does the same job as your test box, without the wobble. The height is set, the base is wide and the feet grip, so you actually use it every day, and kids and adults can share one.
What to get: Adjustable-height toilet footstool
How long it lasts: Years. It is rigid, has non-slip feet and sits in the same spot every day.
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What you'll need
-
Tape measure
To measure seat height and the gap under your feet
You have it -
Sturdy box or stack of books
For a short test only, not for daily use
Free -
Rubber shelf liner
A small piece under the box stops it sliding on tile
You have it - Our pick Illustration
Adjustable-height toilet footstool
The lasting fix: set height, non-slip feet
- Illustration
Basic fixed-height toilet stool
A low-cost option if one person uses the toilet
- Illustration
Two-step stool with handle
For kids or anyone who needs a hand to climb up
Why it happens
A comfort-height or tall toilet
Standard toilet seats sit about 14 to 15 inches off the floor. Comfort-height models sit about 16 to 19 inches. That suits tall adults and leaves shorter legs hanging.
A thick raised seat
A previous owner or renter may have fitted a raised seat or spacer. It can add a few inches that you never needed.
Short legs or a small body
Kids, shorter adults and some older adults cannot reach the floor on a tall seat. Dangling feet put the weight on your thighs and lower back.
Try this first (free)
Do these in order, starting with the simplest.
-
Measure your seat height
Tool used: Tape measureMeasure from the floor to the top of the seat with the lid up. Then sit down and see where your knees land. Aim for knees level with your hips, or a little above, with both feet flat.
-
Test with a firm box or books
Tool used: Sturdy box or stack of booksSet a firm box or a short stack of books under both feet. Try about 4 to 8 inches. A taller seat needs a taller step. Sit for a few minutes and adjust until your feet rest flat and your knees feel comfortable.
-
Stop it from sliding
Tool used: Rubber shelf linerCut a piece of rubber shelf liner and put it under the box so it grips the floor. Keep the floor dry. A box on wet tile is a slip risk.
-
Check for an extra raised seat
Lift the lid and look for a spacer or a thick add-on seat. If you find one, take it off and try a standard seat. That alone can drop the height a few inches.
-
Swap the test box for a footstool
Tool used: Adjustable-height toilet footstoolIf you are still using the box after a week, buy a footstool made for the toilet. Pick the height you found works, and set it where your feet land naturally.
IllustrationCheck price on AmazonTool for this step
Adjustable-height toilet footstool · The lasting fix: set height, non-slip feet
When free fixes aren't enough
A box or stack is a good test, but it is not a daily fix. It slides on tile, gets wet and can tip when you shift your weight. If kids, older adults or anyone with weak balance use this bathroom, a loose box is a fall risk. A real footstool has non-slip feet, a stable base and a set height, and many slide out of the way when you are done. If you would rather lower the toilet itself, that means replacing it with a standard-height model, which is a plumbing job and costs far more.
Buy the fix
Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.
| Pick | Product | Fixes | Who it's for | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best pick | Adjustable-height toilet footstool | dangling feet and a poor seated posture on a tall toilet | Most people, and homes where adults and kids share one toilet. | Check price |
| Budget pick | Basic fixed-height toilet stool | dangling feet on a tall toilet at the lowest cost | One person using one toilet who already knows the right height from testing. | Check price |
| Upgrade pick | Two-step stool with handle for the bathroom | a toilet too high to climb onto, for kids and anyone who needs to hold on | Toddlers learning to use the toilet, older adults, or anyone who needs a handle to step up. | Check price |
Adjustable-height toilet footstool
Fixes: dangling feet and a poor seated posture on a tall toilet
Look for: Two or more height settings, such as about 7 and 9 inches; Non-slip rubber feet that grip tile; A wide, stable top for both feet; A listed weight capacity above the heaviest user.
- Who it's for
- Most people, and homes where adults and kids share one toilet.
- Honest downside
- The gap beside your toilet is very tight and a stool would block the door. Measure the floor space first.
Basic fixed-height toilet stool
Fixes: dangling feet on a tall toilet at the lowest cost
Look for: A height that matches your measured seat height; Non-slip feet; A low profile that fits close to the base.
- Who it's for
- One person using one toilet who already knows the right height from testing.
- Honest downside
- People of very different heights share the toilet. A fixed height will suit one of them badly.
Two-step stool with handle for the bathroom
Fixes: a toilet too high to climb onto, for kids and anyone who needs to hold on
Look for: A handle or grab bar to hold while stepping up; Wide, non-slip treads; A compact or folding design that stores beside the toilet; A listed capacity above the heaviest user.
- Who it's for
- Toddlers learning to use the toilet, older adults, or anyone who needs a handle to step up.
- Honest downside
- You only need to raise your feet while seated. A low footstool is simpler and gives a better seated position.
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How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on standard and comfort-height toilet measurements, toilet-footstool product instructions and the problems and fixes people report in owner reviews. We do not test products by hand.
Toilet too tall? Which stool height fits
- Seat about 14 to 16 inches: a stool of about 7 inches usually gets your knees level with your hips.
- Seat about 17 to 19 inches: a stool of about 9 inches is usually a better match.
- Not sure, or several heights in the family: an adjustable stool covers both.
Treat these as starting points. Sit with your feet on the stool and check how your knees feel.
Where the stool will live
Measure the floor space beside and in front of the toilet before you buy. Pick a stool that fits close to the base, or one that slides under it, so it does not trip anyone at night. Set it back on the same marked spot each time and keep the floor dry.
What to skip
Piles of towels, soft cushions and wobbly stools
Folded towels, stacks of books and wobbly stools shift, flatten and get wet. Skip anything without a non-slip base, and never stand on an unstable stool to climb onto the seat. If you are tempted to replace the whole toilet, try a footstool first. Plumbing costs many times more.
Frequently asked questions
How high should a toilet footstool be?
Is my toilet too tall? What is a normal toilet height?
Does a footstool really help your posture on the toilet?
My child's toilet is too high. What should I do?
Can I lower a toilet that is too high?
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