Toilet set-out guide
The set-out is the distance from the finished wall to the centre of the waste — measure it before choosing a pan, because a pan bought for the wrong set-out cannot be made to fit without moving the drain or fitting an offset connector.
What set-out means
For an S-trap (waste through the floor), the set-out is measured from the finished wall surface to the centre of the floor waste. For a P-trap (waste through the wall), it is measured from the finished floor to the centre of the wall waste.
Common set-outs
| Type | Typical set-out |
|---|---|
| S-trap, standard | 140mm, 160mm or 170mm |
| S-trap, adjustable / universal | 60–260mm depending on model |
| P-trap | 140mm–185mm above finished floor |
| Wall-hung with in-wall cistern | Set by the cistern frame, not the pan |
| Back-to-wall | Usually adjustable via the connector |
How to measure yours
- 1Identify whether the waste goes into the floor (S-trap) or the wall (P-trap).
- 2For an S-trap, measure from the finished wall to the centre of the waste pipe.If the wall is not tiled yet, add the tile plus adhesive thickness your tiler confirms — usually 12–20mm.
- 3For a P-trap, measure from the finished floor to the centre of the waste outlet.
- 4Photograph the waste with a tape measure in shot and send it with your enquiry.
Replacing an existing toilet? Measure these too
- Water inlet height — from the finished floor to the centre of the stop tap. Close-coupled suites generally want it around 100–150mm; a higher inlet can foul the cistern.
- Stop tap position — from the stop tap to the pan’s centre line. Back-to-wall pans typically need about 150–200mm clear, or the tap stops the pan sitting flush against the wall.
- Projection — from the finished wall to the front edge of the existing pan, compared against the new pan’s depth, so the door still opens and the room still works.
- What surrounds it — clearance to the vanity, shower screen, walls and door swing, and that the stop tap stays reachable once the new pan is in.
Photograph each measurement with the tape in shot — front-on, from the side, and close on the pipework — and send the set with your enquiry.
If the set-out does not match the pan you want
- Choose an adjustable or universal pan — these cover a wide range and are the simplest fix.
- Fit an offset or flexible connector. Your plumber will advise whether the fall still works.
- Move the waste. Possible, but it means lifting the floor and is a job to price before committing.
Send us the set-out and we will tell you which pans in the range fit it. This takes a minute and prevents a return that, on a made-to-order pan, would not be accepted.
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