Short answer
Measure the lid first: most are about 17 to 20 inches wide and 7 to 9 inches deep. Choose a rectangular tray shorter than the lid and no deeper than it, with a flat base or small feet so it does not rock. Woven trays and baskets suit towels and spare rolls; ceramic, acrylic or metal suit a candle and toiletries. Keep it light enough to lift off with one hand.
Measure the lid, not the tank
The lid is the surface the tray sits on. Lift it off, turn it upside down, and measure the widest point side to side and front to back, as Frank Webb recommends. Lids on common toilets run about 17 to 20 inches wide and 7 to 9 inches deep, and Hunker notes tanks are rarely more than 20 inches side to side, with most 18 inches or less.
Then pick a tray a few inches shorter than the lid and no deeper. A tray that overhangs gets knocked every time someone reaches for the flush. The size calculator turns your lid width into a tray length range.
Tank tray types
-
No. 01Most popular
Woven tank basket or tray
Best for: spare rolls and rolled hand towels
- Fits
- Check length and depth
- Weight
- Light
- Damp
- Keep dry, air it
- Low sides hold rolls and towels upright
- Light enough to lift off with one hand
- mDesign and others sell seagrass versions made for the tank (listing)
-
No. 02Warm
Rectangular wood or bamboo tray
Best for: a candle, a diffuser and a small plant
- Fits
- Most lids, if short enough
- Weight
- Light to medium
- Damp
- Wipe drips
- Flat base sits well on a flat lid
- A sealed finish copes with damp better than raw wood
- Handles make lifting it off easier
-
No. 03Wipe clean
Ceramic, metal or acrylic tray
Best for: toiletries and anything that might drip
- Fits
- Check length and depth
- Weight
- Light to medium
- Damp
- Handles it
- Wipes clean with mild soap
- Clear acrylic disappears against a white tank
- Avoid heavy stone: a dropped tray can crack porcelain
What to put on it
- One practical thing: a spare roll or two, or rolled hand towels for guests.
- One scent: a candle, a reed diffuser or a spray, kept back from the flush handle.
- One living thing: a small plant that likes low light, or a faux sprig.
Three items is plenty on a lid that is only 7 to 9 inches deep. More ideas are in bathroom tray ideas.
Keep it liftable
You need the lid off to adjust a fill valve or replace a flapper. A light tray with a few items comes off in one move; a heavy marble slab and six glass jars do not. If you want the stone look on the tank, choose a faux marble resin tray or a small marble tray with very little on it.
Over-the-tank shelves are the other route when you need real storage. A tray is for the handful of things you want within reach and on show.
Questions people ask
What size tray fits on top of a toilet tank?
One shorter than your lid and no deeper. Frank Webb, a plumbing parts retailer, says common lid widths are 17 to 20 inches and most depths are 7 to 9 inches. Flip your lid and measure the widest points, since lids vary in small steps.
Is it OK to put things on top of a toilet tank?
Light things, yes, as long as you can lift them off easily: you need the lid off to fix a running toilet or a flapper. Keep heavy stone or glass off the lid, since a dropped lid or tray can crack porcelain, and keep anything absorbent away from the flush handle if it drips.
What do you put on a toilet tank tray?
Practical first: a spare roll or two, rolled hand towels, a box of matches or a candle, and an air freshener or reed diffuser. Add one living or faux plant for color. Keep it to three or four items so the lid still reads as a surface, not storage.
My tank lid is curved. Will a tray work?
A rigid tray can rock on a curved or sloped lid. Look for a basket or a tray with small feet, or put clear bumper pads under the corners. Shallow woven baskets often sit better than flat trays on shaped lids.
Sources
Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Sizes, finishes and listings change; check the product details and measurements before you buy, and follow the maker’s care instructions.