Replace a toilet

Heavy, a bit messy, and done in an afternoon. Bring a helper for the lifting.

This fits in a car

About 102 lb of materials. Comfortably inside what a car carries (200 lb), so any shopper can take it. ⚠️ 3 items on the list have no weight on file, so the real load is a little heavier than this.

Shut it off first

Shut off the water at the valve behind the toilet and flush to check it is really off before you disconnect anything. A toilet is heavy and broken porcelain is sharp, so lift with a helper and wear gloves. Call a licensed plumber if the valve will not close, the floor flange is cracked or corroded, the floor around it is soft, or it still leaks after tightening.

What to buy — untick anything you have

Plumbing

1 Toilet, bowl and tankAlmost always a 12 in rough-in; the customer can confirm by measuring wall to floor bolts. Check both boxes are there. It takes two people to load.
1 Wax ring with flangeAn extra-thick one if told the flange sits below the floor. A wax-free seal is fine too.
1 pack of toilet floor bolts
1 Braided toilet supply line, 3/8 in12 in long unless told otherwise.
1 pack of plastic toilet shims
1 tube of white silicone caulk

Tools — already ticked off, since most people have them

Tools

1 Adjustable wrench· most people have this
1 Putty knife· most people have this
1 Sponge and bucket· most people have this
1 Mini hacksaw· most people have this
1 Torpedo level· most people have this
1 pair of rubber gloves· most people have this

It lands in the shopping form, where you can edit anything and say what you think each thing costs. Nothing is ordered until you send it.

How it goes · about an afternoon · confident

Shut off the valve behind the toilet, flush it, and hold the handle down to empty the tank. Sponge out what is left in the tank and bowl.
Disconnect the supply line, take the caps and nuts off the floor bolts, and rock the old toilet free. Lift it straight up with a helper.
Scrape the old wax off the floor flange, stuff a rag in the opening to block sewer gas, and look at the flange. If it is cracked or rusted through, stop here.
Fit the new bolts and wax ring, pull the rag out, and lower the new bowl straight down onto the bolts. Tighten the nuts a little at a time, side to side, and shim it if it rocks.
Fit the tank following the instructions in the box, connect the new supply line, and turn the water on slowly.
Flush it several times and check for water at the base and the tank bolts, then trim the bolts and caulk around the base, leaving a gap at the back.

Something else

Build a raised garden bed Mulch a flower bed Paint a room Put up garage shelving Fix a patchy lawn Build a fire pit Mount a TV on the wall Cookout for a crowd

Feeding people instead? The recipe book works the same way — pick a meal, say how many, every ingredient lands on the list.

Replace a toilet — everything for it, in one tap · DriverRuns