Beyond stocking your bathroom with high-quality towels, a quick-drying shower mat and an efficient filtered showerhead, one way you can quickly upgrade your bathroom experience — and your health — is by adding a toilet stool to the mix. Popularized by brands like Squatty Potty, toilet stools help people have bowel movements without discomfort or strain, according to Dr. Aditya Ashok, a gastroenterologist at Weill Cornell Medicine. “The way that a toilet stool works is by flexing the hips in a way that actually increases that angle so that you have a more straight path for the stool to go.” They also help relax gastrointestinal tract muscles for a more efficient experience.
I spoke with gastroenterology experts to learn more about how toilet stools improve digestive health and what to look for when shopping for one online.
What is a toilet stool?
A toilet stool is a u-shaped bathroom accessory that props your feet and legs up when sitting on a toilet to help put the body in a natural squat position. Positioning the colon at a more optimal angle will give you a strain-free bowel movement with reduced discomfort, pain and risk for hemorrhoids. “There are a number of factors that influence having a bowel movement and it’s not as simple as it sounds,” says Ashok. “One of them is the anorectal angle (which is essentially the angle formed by the anal canal when it connects to the rectum).” A toilet stool helps to relax the puborectalis muscle, allowing for easy stool passage, according to Ashok.
How I picked the best toilet stools
Here’s what our experts recommended I keep in mind when curating this list:
- Height: Your height, as well as the height of the toilet stool and the toilet seat are all key to know before shopping. Most toilet seats, including standard and comfort height toilets, range between 15 and 19 inches above the floor, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and toilet manufacturer brand Kohler. If you’re taller than average (over 5 feet 9 inches for men or over 5 feet 3 inches for woman) and have a toilet that’s also on the taller side, it’s better to get a shorter toilet stool. The shorter you are, a taller one will be more helpful since your legs won’t have to reach far. We included stools that range in height from 7 to 9 inches.
- Portability: Many toilet stools are available in collapsible versions so you can store them or take them with you on trips. If you travel frequently, keep this in mind, since you won’t always know the height or comfortability of the toilets you’ll use at places other than your own home.
- Material: Toilet stools often come in plastic, wood or bamboo and sometimes acrylic. While it largely comes down to preference, what you choose can influence your experience using it. For example, you may find that a plastic one is too slippery under your feet, compared to a wooden one or vice versa. We included options made of plastic and bamboo.
- Weight capacity: The capacity of your toilet stool is important since you’re putting part of your body weight onto it as you squat. It should be able to hold your body weight or more, this way, you don’t have to worry about potentially breaking it. Every option on our list can support a minimum of 200 pounds.
Top-rated toilet stools of 2024
The recommendations below are based on guidance from our experts and are all highly rated with at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon or at least 100 reviews on their brand site.
Best overall stool: Squatty Potty Plastic Toilet Stool
What we like
- Different heights available
- Sturdy plastic material
- No assembly required
One of the most popular toilet stools from Squatty Potty, this plastic option is compatible with standard toilet heights and easily fits around the base of most toilets because of its “u” shape. The top of the stool has two platforms for your feet to sit comfortably as you squat, helping decrease your body’s usual 90-degree angle. Plus, it has a small downward slope so that your heels are slightly higher than your toes, helping further position your body at a smaller degree. It has a 4.6-star average rating from 55, 470 reviews on Amazon.
Material: plastic | Height: 7 in. | Folding: no | Weight capacity: 250 lbs.
Most stylish stool: Tushy Toilet Ottoman
What we like
- Modern look
- Different heights available
The Tushy Ottoman, which has a 4.8-star average rating from 783 reviews at Tushy, is one of the most stylish options on our list if you plan to leave it out permanently in your bathroom. Available in two heights and materials, it has a curved design around the edges, and foot rests rather than a squared off one, to help make sure your feet are comfortable as you use the bathroom.
Material: plastic base; plastic or bamboo legs | Height: 7.5 in., 9 in. | Folding: no | Weight capacity: 300 lbs.
Best collapsible stool: AmazerBath Bamboo Toilet Stool
What we like
Something to note
- Nothing to note at this time
This bamboo stool is collapsible, making it easy to store in a closet, under a bed, or in a storage box. You can also pack it away in a suitcase or large weekender bag when traveling. The bottom of the legs have nonslip pads, the foot rests have grooves to steady your feet and the buttons on the sides make it easy to collapse and stow.
Material: bamboo | Height: 7 in., 8.5 in. | Folding: yes | Weight capacity: 220 lbs.
Best bamboo stool: Squatty Potty Oslo Bamboo Folding Toilet Stool
Something to note
- Nothing to note at this time
The Oslo bamboo toilet stool from Squatty Potty is another stylish option for someone who cares about the design aesthetic of their bathroom. The foot rests have grooves on each side so your feet feel stable, while the height keeps your legs positioned in the right angle with little effort. You can get the stool, which has a 4.7-star average rating from 3,365 reviews on Amazon, made entirely of bamboo or one with a bamboo footrest and white plastic legs.
Material: bamboo | Height: 7 in. | Folding: yes | Weight capacity: 250 lbs
Highest weight capacity stool: Gligam Toilet Stool
What we like
- Can support up to 500 pounds
- Modern look
Something to note
- Foot rests somewhat small
This toilet stool has a contemporary curved design with subtle nonslip ridges on the foot rests and small nonslip pads on the bottoms, so you don’t have to worry about slipping while using it. This option, which has a 4.6-star average rating from 598 reviews on Amazon, also has the highest weight capacity of all the stools on this list — it can support up to 550 pounds.
Material: plastic | Height: 7 in. | Folding: no | Weight capacity: 550 lbs.
Most portable stool: Squatty Potty Travel Porta Squatty Toilet Stool
What we like
- Portable
- Collapsible
- Affordable
This stool is specifically designed for travel. It folds into a small 15-inch long rectangle and should fit in most carry-on suitcases (which typically measure 22 inches in length for most commercial airlines) and even large backpacks, according to the brand. If you don’t want to take it with you, you can store it flat under a sink or even on a small shelf in your bathroom. It has a 4.8-star average rating from 140 reviews at Squatty Potty.
Material: plastic | Height: 7.5 in. | Folding: yes | Weight capacity: 350 lbs.
How to shop for a toilet stool
In addition to height and weight capacity, here’s what else you should keep in mind when shopping:
Measure your toilet height
It’s important to take a couple minutes to measure the height of your toilet seat before shopping, so you can be sure you’re choosing the one that’s most comfortable for you. If you have an average-height toilet seat and get a toilet stool that’s 9 inches tall, for example, it may end up being too tall and uncomfortable. If you get one that’s too short, it may not provide enough support to prop your legs at high enough of an angle.
Nonslip design
Many toilet stools, including the models on this list, have foot rests with textured surfaces. This helps create friction between your foot and the toilet stool to prevent slippage. This is especially important if you have limited or strained mobility in your feet, knees, legs or hips, because it will help prevent potential injury when using the toilet stool.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do toilet stools affect your bowel movement if at all?
Though your digestive health is largely dependent on your diet, a toilet stool can not only put less stress on your bowel movement, it also makes it more efficient, according to Dr. Gaurav Ghosh, assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine . “While constipation can be improved with adequate hydration and a fiber-rich diet, this mostly helps with moving bowel movements to your bottom,” says Ghosh. Additionally, toilet stools help support pelvic floor muscles, he says.
Who should use a toilet stool?
While anyone can try using one, they’re best for people who suffer from constipation, according to Ghosh. Additionally, sitting on the toilet for long periods of time isn’t healthy because it can lead to hemmorhoids. Since a toilet stool helps straighten the colon, it makes it easier to empty, which then decreases the time you spend on the toilet.
Are toilet stools safe for children to use?
The toilet stools on our list are meant for adults, though there are some meant for children, according to Ghosh. Squatty Potty, for example, has toilet stools for children, which look more like a step stool and have an additional seat component.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I regularly cover wellness-related topics, such as the best mattresses for back pain, the best cervical traction devices and the best lumbar support pillows for lower back pain. I also write about home and kitchen appliances.
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