A urinal in an apartment is rare in Israel, but demand is growing: big bathrooms, male households, families with boys. In offices and commercial spaces — standard. Installation costs ILS 600–1,500 plus ILS 800–3,500 for the urinal itself. The key is proper drain and water hookup BEFORE laying tile. Installing "after the fact" is twice as expensive.
Why have a urinal at home
- Water savings. A urinal uses 1–3 L per flush vs. 3–6 L for a toilet. At four daily uses, that's 10–15 m³ per year (ILS 100–180).
- Hygiene. Less splashing, no seat lifting, the toilet stays cleaner.
- Speed. Bathroom queue clears faster.
- Status. In premium apartments — a sign of thoughtful design.
Downsides — needs space (at least 40×60 cm of wall), looks "commercial," and not every guest gets why it's there.
Urinal types
By flush method
- With flush valve (top or side) — manual, electronic, or sensor. Office standard.
- With gravity tank flush — rare, older models.
- Waterless — with a cartridge/valve trap holding back odor. Saves all water, but the cartridge needs replacement every 3–6 months.
- With sensor flush — infrared sensor activates the flush. Needs power (batteries or mains).
By mounting
- Wall-mounted — fixed to the wall, outlet into the wall or down. Most common.
- Floor-mounted — outdated, for institutions.
- With carrier frame — behind the wall, flush button on the wall. Premium.
By material
- Porcelain — classic, 95% of the market.
- Stainless steel — vandal-resistant, public spaces.
- Composites — modern design, premium.
What's required for installation
Water supply
- 1/2" pipe, outlet at 100–120 cm from the floor (for wall-mounted with top flush).
- Angle valve on the pipe — for shutoff.
- For a sensor unit — also a 220 V socket nearby or a battery compartment location.
Drain
- 50 mm stub (for most models) or 40 mm (household urinals).
- Outlet height — model-dependent, usually 50–60 cm from the floor.
- Pipe slope to the stack — 3%.
- Trap — mandatory, otherwise sewer odor.
Mounting
- Anchors into concrete or brick (standard urinals weigh 8–12 kg).
- Metal bracket into drywall.
- Carrier frame behind the wall — for fully concealed mounting.
Installation steps
- Marking. Urinal center at 60 cm from the floor (standard for average-height men).
- Hookup check. For an existing bathroom — often needs rework.
- Dry-fit. Hold against the wall, mark fastener holes, drain outlet, water inlet.
- Drill anchor holes in the wall (if wall-mounted).
- Install anchors and studs.
- Install the trap (usually integrated or via flex adapter).
- Mount the urinal on the studs, level check.
- Connect the drain (gasketed sleeve).
- Connect water. Top or side valve, flex supply to the angle valve.
- Mount the button or sensor flush unit.
- Test — 10 flushes, check every joint.
- Seal the urinal-to-wall perimeter with sanitary silicone.
Waterless urinal — pros and cons
A waterless urinal uses a special trap with a hydrophobic gel/oil creating an odor barrier. No water is supplied at all.
Pros
- Savings: 40–60 thousand liters per year per unit.
- No water needed — installable where no plumbing exists.
- Quieter (no flush).
Cons
- Cartridge needs replacement every 3–6 months (ILS 40–120 each).
- Without regular service — odor.
- Doesn't clean the bowl walls — requires regular manual cleaning.
- Higher upfront cost (cartridge + urinal).
In Israel waterless urinals are popular in corporate offices; in apartments — rare.
How much it costs in Israel
- Budget urinal (Cersanit, Jika) — ILS 400–800
- Mid-range (Chromagen, Kleopatra) — ILS 800–1,500
- Premium (Villeroy, Duravit) — ILS 1,800–4,500
- With sensor flush — +ILS 500–1,500
- Waterless — ILS 1,200–3,500
- Installation labor (with existing hookups) — ILS 500–900
- With water and drain runs (from scratch) — ILS 1,200–2,500
- With chasing and tile — ILS 2,500–5,000
- With concealed carrier frame — +ILS 1,500–3,000
Commercial vs residential install
Commercial (office, club, mall)
- Banks of urinals (3–10 units) along the wall.
- Shared main drain line.
- Sensor or timer flush mandatory (hygiene).
- Vandal-resistant fittings (or stainless models).
- Cost: ILS 400–800 labor per urinal (bulk install).
Residential
- Single urinal next to the toilet.
- Design matters — porcelain matching the toilet.
- Manual or sensor flush by preference.
- Often with a separate inlet tap (aesthetics).
Typical mistakes
- Wrong install height. 60 cm is standard, but if users are tall/children — adapt. Fixing later = remove and chase tile.
- Skimping on the trap. "Why bother, it's a small urinal?" — in three months, 24/7 sewer odor in the bathroom.
- Wrong flush side chosen. Top valve with a low ceiling = awkward. Measure beforehand.
- Urinal without splash guard. Cheap models splash back. Pick high-rim, U-shape.
- Forgot the drain. In an apartment with a floor toilet outlet you need a separate drain run for the urinal. Don't tap into the toilet line.
Frequently asked
Is a urinal worth installing in an apartment?
If the household has 2+ men and there's room — yes, it pays back in hygiene and toilet cleanliness. For a single male — more of a design whim. Kids adapt quickly, women don't mind. The key is space: at least 1 m² of free wall next to the toilet.
Can a urinal go where a cabinet or niche is now?
Yes, if a drain (5 cm pipe) and water (1/2") can be routed. If the bathroom is fully tiled, add chasing + tile = +ILS 1,500–3,000. Plan this during a major renovation.
Does a urinal need flushing after every use?
Standard — yes, otherwise ammonia smell. Sensor — automatic. Waterless — never flushed (that's the point), but needs weekly manual cleaning. Public sites often use timer flush every 15 min.
Whats the smallest bathroom that fits a urinal?
From 4 m². A urinal needs 60–70 cm of wall width, plus a 50 cm approach in front. A 3 m² bathroom — better not, it gets cramped. A 2 m² guest WC — impossible.