Choosing a top-fix or bottom-fix toilet seat starts with access to the pan, not the look of the hinge cap. If you cannot reach the fixing holes from underneath, you normally need a top-fix arrangement. If the underside is open and reachable, a conventional bottom fixing may be suitable.
Counter rule: fixing method is only one check. Measure the pan shape, width, front-to-hole length and fixing-hole centres before buying a seat or spare fitting.
Quick shop: top-fix or bottom-fix toilet seat parts
Euroshowers Long D Slimline Soft-Close Toilet Seat
The exact 87610 seat is supplied for top or bottom fixing and uses an adjustable hinge. It is a Long D shape, so check the pan dimensions and hinge centres rather than treating the fixing pack as proof of fit.
View the Long D toilet seat
Euroshowers Top-Fix Grommet Pack
This SP2 spare pack contains two black rubber well nuts and two screws for a top-fixing toilet seat. Match the M6 fixing and 66mm grommet length to the existing hinge and pan before ordering.
View the top-fix grommet packFor more seat shapes and bathroom spares, browse APM’s toilet seats and bathroom accessories.
Top-fix or bottom-fix toilet seat: inspect access first
Look behind and underneath the pan before loosening anything. On a conventional open-sided pan, the hinge bolt may pass through the ceramic with a nut fitted from below. Euroshowers’ fitting instructions describe this as the bottom-fix arrangement and show an underneath bolt. You need enough access to hold or tighten that lower fixing without forcing tools against the ceramic.
Back-to-wall and enclosed pans often hide the underside of the fixing holes. In that situation, the fixing has to be installed and tightened from above. The same Euroshowers instructions specify an expanding grommet for a top-fix, back-to-wall toilet. The grommet passes into the hole and expands as the screw is tightened, so the hinge can be secured without reaching beneath the pan.
Do not decide from the toilet style alone. Some close-coupled pans still provide underside access; some boxed-in installations hide otherwise conventional fixings. Check the actual pan in front of you, including any removable access panel. If the old fixing spins, photograph the top and underside before cutting or drilling anything.
| What you find | Likely fixing route | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Nut or bolt end is reachable below each hinge hole | Bottom fixing may be used | Hole diameter, bolt length, washer arrangement and working access |
| Pan is enclosed and the hinge holes are accessible only from above | Top-fix expanding grommet or approved anchor | Hole diameter, screw size, grommet length and hinge compatibility |
| One fixing turns but will not tighten | Existing anchor may be damaged or mismatched | Remove and identify the complete fixing; do not keep tightening |
| Seat fits the holes but overhangs or misses the pan profile | Fixing type is not the main problem | Pan shape, overall width and hole-to-front dimension |
Measure the pan before choosing a top-fix or bottom-fix toilet seat
A hinge with enough adjustment can line up with the holes and still leave the wrong seat on the pan. Record four measurements: the pan width at its widest point, the distance from the fixing holes to the front edge, the centre-to-centre spacing between the two fixing holes, and the diameter of each hole. Also photograph the pan outline from directly above.
The Euroshowers Long D Slimline seat is product 87610, confirmed by GTIN 5029067876101. The exact product listing records a 362mm seat width, hinge adjustment from 120mm to 220mm and a recommended fixing-hole-to-front measurement of 425mm to 475mm. Those figures are useful screening dimensions, not permission to skip checking the shape. A D-shaped seat must follow the pan profile without fouling the cistern or hanging significantly over the sides.
Keep the old seat until the replacement has been checked. If the original hinge centres were offset to one side, mark their positions before removal. Adjustable hinges can correct normal manufacturing variation, but they should not be used to drag a seat into a twisted position.
When a top-fix grommet is the right spare
The Euroshowers top-fix grommet pack is a specific spare rather than a universal repair for every toilet seat. APM’s current product record identifies SP2, barcode 5029067005020, with two rubber well nuts, two screws, M6 fixings and 66mm grommet length. Compare all of those details with the removed fitting and the hinge plate.
If the screw is the wrong diameter, the grommet is too long for the void, or the hinge requires a different head or thread, do not improvise. An anchor that cannot seat correctly may spin before the hinge clamps, while excessive tightening can damage the fixing or the ceramic. Use the seat manufacturer’s specified fitting pack wherever that information is available.
Clean soap residue and limescale from around the holes before fitting. Set both hinge plates square and tighten in small, even steps. Stop when the assembly is secure; do not use extra leverage to chase the last movement out of a damaged or unsuitable anchor.
Top-fix or bottom-fix toilet seat installation checks
Dry-assemble the hinges and verify their orientation before clamping them to the pan. On the featured Euroshowers seat, the manufacturer’s instructions show adjustable hinges, a push-button release for lifting the seat during cleaning, and the need to press the seat firmly back onto the hinges after refitting. Follow the current instructions supplied with the exact product because hinge packs can differ between models.
Once fitted, lower the seat and lid slowly. They should sit centrally, clear the cistern and remain stable when light sideways pressure is applied. If the seat walks across the pan, recheck hinge alignment and fixing engagement rather than simply applying more torque. Recheck the fixings after initial use if the manufacturer requires it.
Toilet seat replacement checklist
- Photograph the old seat, hinge plates and accessible underside before removal.
- Confirm whether each hinge is tightened from above or uses a reachable nut below.
- Measure pan width, hole-to-front length, hole centres and fixing-hole diameter.
- Match the seat shape as well as the fixing method.
- Check every spare by product code, screw size, anchor length and hinge compatibility.
- Fit both hinges squarely and tighten evenly without forcing the ceramic.
- Confirm the seat is centred, stable and clear of the cistern through its full movement.
- Keep the manufacturer’s fitting instructions for cleaning and future adjustment.
Bring the old fixing or measurements to APM in Acton
Bring the old hinge fixing in a labelled bag if it can be removed safely, together with photographs and the four pan measurements. APM can compare the Euroshowers Long D top-and-bottom-fix seat, the SP2 top-fix grommet pack and other toilet seat options against the pan details.
Specification sources: Euroshowers’ soft-close toilet-seat fitting instructions distinguish the underneath bolt used for a conventional bottom fix from the expanding grommet used for a top-fix back-to-wall pan. The exact 87610 product listing corroborates the seat shape, dimensions and top-and-bottom fixing pack, while the 5029067005020 spare listing corroborates the black top-fix grommet pack identity. Recheck the instructions supplied with the product before fitting.
24 Western Avenue, Acton, W3 7TZ
020 8702 8080
Check the exact product page before travelling, then bring the old fixing or measured pan details to the trade counter.
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