Pros of elongated: much more comfortable for adults. I would definitely choose it for the master bathroom.
Pros of round: easier for very young children to use due to the smaller opening in the seat. Also, there are code requirements of how much foot space you need in front of a toilet. If you have a small space, that will impact your choice of toilet size.

We've always had round and never gave it a second thought. DS has elongated and says he'll never have round again. I think elongated takes up more space than round.

men appreciate elongated toilets for obvious reasons :)

Not all elongated's take more room than rounds, you need to measure if that's a concern. The front of our new elongated is actually the same distance from the wall as the 30 year old round that just came out due to the new tank being smaller than the old one.

In general the round ones are about 2 inches shorter than the elongated. I am redoing a small bathroom and had to go with the round for space reasons. But I have an elongated in the main bathroom I did a few months ago and it is much more comfortable. Worth the price.

definitely opt for elongated (although I agree with astridh about the kid thing).

Didn't know I liked it until I had one!

We also had a tiny almost 1/2 bath that we put in an American Standard Cadet Compact elongated that worked out well.

I vote: only do round if necessary for the space. Round is only okay for a small powder room, but use elongated if possible.
If given the choice would you use a 4 foot tub or a 5 foot tub?
If given the choice would you use an 18" vanity or a 36" vanity?

Thanks for the excellent feedback. I am going to order two elongated Drake ADAs. My daughter is seven so I think she will be okay from here on out and I want it to be comfortable for adults who use it.

I think your seven-year-old will be fine with the elongated. Only kids about four and under will probably have an easier time with the round seats.

I have the Drake ADA elongated, and am so happy with it I wrote an article about it entitled "handicap toilets...not in the closet anymore" about the joy of having one in my home and not just in a public handicap restroom. Im sure you'll be pleased with your choice.

In a powder bath, I elected a round toilet to save about 2." Here's before and in-the-middle-of-remodeling pix:

Okay, who remembers the hilarious thread from a couple of years ago that described the male need for elongated toilets? Did anyone save it?

That's why I read this thread - to see if that came back up!

Hope someone finds it --

Here is a quotation from the Toto Toilet FAQ:

Although manufacturers push the idea that there is not a difference in performance between round front and elongated toilets, the most recent round of MaP Test would indicate otherwise. In 2004 testing, the round front TOTO Ultimate MS853113 flushed 400 grams of test meso paste while the elongated front TOTO Ultimate MS854114 flushed only 325 grams. All things being equal, it would clearly indicate that in this instance the round front version performed decidedly better than the elongated version. Although it is a stretch to apply this example across all circumstances, this would lead weight to the idea that there is a difference in the finished shape. Although it would help to clear the issue, comprehensive testing of all versions of all models has not been conducted.

Toto Toilet FAQ

Just one more thing to consider.

I am redoing my bathroom and found this thread because I have a small bathroom and trying to decide between round and elongated. I prefer round because I have found that waste sits too far forward on the elongated toilets and does not drain (100% what Kalendraking said). I'm an adult female, 5'5" with shortish legs. My home is a small ranch with two bedrooms and only one bathroom. So this a good starter or finisher home, and therefore could appeal to a couple starting a family or with a young child as well as an older person or older couple. So the debate between standard height round toilet (great for kids) or a comfort height, elongated toilet (probably preferred for older people with limited mobility and ADA compliant) is ongoing...

I also debated shower only vs tub and stuck with the tub because of the 2nd bedroom. I decided I want only a wall mounted showerhead though (instead of a hand shower) because I have never used a hand shower and hate the cable getting in the way of everything.

I like having a hand held to help with spraying down the shower for cleaning purposes. I really like the elongated that I have. Never knew how much Id like it. It is more comfortable to set on. My DH says the elongated prevents splashing when he urinates. He said with the round bowl there is splashing on his legs. Who knew? I don't think he knew life could be better. We are in the house he grew up in and until last year, there have always been round toilets.

Kari - I am 5'5" too and I desperately wanted a round toilet that was not comfort height. 'DH's' bathroom has a comfort height elongated bowl and blech! We have residue issues and seriously my feet don't touch the ground. We also have a small space and couldn't have the elongated bowl protruding into the space.

I found several models after days of searching online, but I was limited by budget somewhat and aesthetics considerably. I ended up with the St. Thomas Richmond. It is still a little on the taller side, but not ADA height.

On an elongated seat (at least every one I've tried), I always seem to have one in the ring and one on the ring. The added pressure my on-the-ring bone is very uncomfortable. If I try to adjust to sit evenly, then the inside edge of the ring (whether rounded or not) creates painful pressure points between bone and toilet seat.

On a round seat, my seat bones rest inside the ring, supported by my thighs and butt. No pressure points and no pain.

We put in 3 new elongated toilets, they aren't low flow, but what we find it that there is such a little bit of water in the bowl, that you don't hit the water unless your bum is way back aganst the tank of the toilet. If your bum is big, the stool falls unto the porcelain and it Won't flush away for two or three flushes. Also kids. With their little bums to the front of the bowl again, the stool has to be helped to be flushed away. Kind of a subject I wouldn't normally elaborate on but I wish I knew this before we bought. I guess it's logic, if it doesn't hit the water, it might stay on the porcelain.

betharena-

That could be a result of the toilets complying with water conservation requirements, rather than the geometry of round versus elongated.

Kudzu9, Yes that's right. But there is not enough water in the bowl!

I have both round and elongated and the water spot is small on both, which meant we simply had to get used to being a little more accurate. I admit it was easier years ago when toilets used four times the amount per flush as they do now. Today it's not possible to design a toilet with a large "target" that meets conservation requirements.

I don't like the elongated because my DH uses the front of the seat to "wipe" his drips after peeing. Yuck! I don't think he even realizes he is doing this and he would be mortified if I pointed it out. I lift up the seat to clean the toilet and there is a build up of dried pee. I have to reach past this build up to wipe myself and have wondered if I have dragged my sleeve through this build up. Yuck again! Guys please...there is toilet paper right next to you. Please dab your drips with that.

I have seen that on toilet seats too and wondered how it got there. I have never observed it in action though. That's what doors are for.

Elongated all the way...More room and comfortable.

tlsmick I'm sorry for dragging this up but I have to correct an error. It's usually women that get urine on the bottom front of the toilet seat. It's not your husband wiping his drips on the seat. When women pee it splashes up and collects there. So, at least it's your own ;)

I guess that’s why split toilet seats were invented!

I think your theory is wrong, Douglas. If women splash, it would be diluted with toilet water and not leave stains. If it did, it would be elsewhere on the toilet seat. And we would feel the splash and I never have. So men have to own this. :P

Some guys just have poor aim....

I've cleaned the exact same toilet when living on my own (lady pee only) and when living with a man, and magically the urine drips are only when a man is in the house. Wipe or no wipe, my man is peeing from a height much higher than I am and his pee splashes way more than mine does. Whenever he is away for a trip my toilet and entire bathroom stay a whole lot cleaner. We went with a round, standard height toilet by the way.

Gentlemen tend to prefer the elongated bowls. When seated, certain parts come into contact with cold porcelain on round bowl toilets. Not so the elongated.

(The stuff you have to know to be a K&B designer.)