I bought a new toilet that requires a 12" rough in. The distance from the tile (not the dry wall) is only 10.5-10.75 inches. The tile is about 1" thick. Can this toilet be installed or do I need to purchase a toilet with a shorter rough in requirement?

You will need to buy a 10 inch rough toilet. Take the 12 toilet back, and purchase a 10. Promise, this is the way to go at this point. If anyone tells you that the twelve will work with no problems, they are pulling your leg.

I had a similar situation when they measured the rough in from the wrong side of the wall layout line. We cut the wall behind the toilet and put in an arched setback 3 1/2 inches bach. It's amazing how many people look at it and say, Wow, that's really neat to have the toilet in a small niche.

My statement will contradict MGD 77's advice - but...

You are not telling us if you are on slab or raised foundations. I assume you are on slab...

... depending on the tank and LID of your 12" rough-in toilet ( lid cannot overlap tank in the back ) - you should be able to install it on 10 3/4" rough in. But not ALL toilets are designed that way and not all toilets will fit.

Here is a 2nd scenario: you won't have such a good selection of toilets in 10" rough in. If you REALLY - REALLY - REALLY want this 12" toilet, you could re-drill the two slots in your 4" closet ring and move them forward about 1/2". That should give you 11 1/4" rough-in which should be enough to set 12" rough-in toilet. See the drawing... However, this installation will NOT work on 3" closet ring...

We have done this about dozen of times with success...


There is also off-set closet ring nobody mentioned... but this approach requires some floor cutting.

However, you cannot go wrong with MGD 77 advise...