Study: The Cities with the Worst Toilet Legs

An illustration of a person using their phone while sitting on the toilet

Have you ever sat on the toilet a little too long? Well, you’re not alone. And that feeling when you try to stand, but your legs have gone numb? That’s common, too. Toilet legs, as we like to call it, is often the result of a visit to the bathroom running longer than needed because our phones keep us occupied.

At Sudoku Online, we understand how a fascinating video on social media or a captivating game could keep you glued to the seat. We know, as a matter of fact, that some of our players multitask and play sudoku. That’s why we set out to learn where people experience toilet legs most frequently. In addition, we also learned which apps are most commonly used on the toilet. Read on to learn more about our findings.

Key Takeaways

  • Virginia Beach, VA, and San Antonio, TX, residents experience toilet legs the most often.
  • Detroit, MI, and Atlanta, GA, residents experience toilet legs the least often.
  • 1 in 5 Americans spend more than 5 minutes on the toilet on their phone after finishing their business.
  • 72% of Americans frequently bring their phone with them to use the bathroom.
  • 1 in 3 Americans experience toilet legs at least once a week.
  • Nearly 1 in 2 Americans spend extra time on the toilet just to get some alone time.

Where People Experience Toilet Legs Most Often

U.S. map plotting the cities where people experience toilet legs most often

It is common for people to want something to occupy their mind and pass the time while on the toilet, but gone are the days of magazines as Americans opt for their smartphones instead. The only problem is that our smartphones offer endless entertainment that can leave us lingering longer on the throne than we’d like.

In Virginia Beach, VA, residents are all too familiar with this struggle as the city ranks first for the worst toilet legs. Overall, 1 in 2 Virginia Beach residents say they have experienced toilet legs, and more than a third of people in the city spend more than 5 minutes on the toilet after finishing their business.

San Antonio, TX, is up next ranking second as 47% of the city’s residents say they have experienced toilet legs. Sometimes the extra time in the bathroom is used to get out of certain responsibilities like work at your job, which 2 in 5 San Antonio residents admit to. In third place is Dallas, TX, where more than two-thirds of the residents say they spend extra time on the toilet just to get some alone time.

Not everyone gets sucked into their phone while in the restroom, however, as Detroit, MI, residents are the least likely to experience toilet legs. Overall, 1 in 10 Detroit residents say they either rarely or never bring their phone with them to the bathroom. Similarly, Atlanta, GA, residents are the second least likely to get toilet legs.

In Jersey City, NJ, and New Orleans, LA, residents are the most likely to bring their phone to the bathroom with them all the time. Spending extra time on the toilet is common across the U.S. though as 1 in 5 Americans spend more than 5 minutes still seated after finishing their business.

A table showing the cities around the world that experience toilet legs

In addition to the U.S., we wanted to gain insight into the habits of people around the world, and we discovered that Americans are not alone in the toilet legs experience. Up first is Paris where more than a third of the city’s residents say they have felt difficulty standing up after a prolonged trip to the bathroom. Overall 1 in 5 Paris residents stay on the toilet for more than 5 minutes after relieving themselves.

For second place, we remain in Europe as London claims the number two spot for the worst toilet legs. Residents of England’s capital are the most likely to say they spend extra time on the toilet on their phone to get out of work around the house. For third place we travel to Canada, where 1 in 4 Toronto residents say they have experienced toilet legs. Toronto residents are the most likely among cities around the world to listen to music while on the toilet.

The Most Popular Apps Americans Use While on the Toilet

A bar chart showing the apps most commonly used while on the toilet

After learning where Americans are getting toilet legs from being on their phones too long in the bathroom, we wanted to uncover what apps are capturing their attention. Up first is Instagram, with 56% of people saying they use it while on the toilet. YouTube follows closely behind in second, followed by Facebook in third place.

Overall, more than two-fifths of Americans find themselves scrolling on TikTok while in the restroom, and 1 in 3 spend their alone time on X (formerly known as Twitter). On average, nearly 1 in 2 people say they spend extra time on the toilet just to get some alone time. Similarly, 1 in 4 Americans admit to using this time to get out of work around the house.

In addition to social media, 82% of people say they text others while on the toilet. Additionally, 60% use this time to play games on their phone. While some Americans use their time in the bathroom to get out of work, others use it to catch up, as nearly 1 in 4 people complete work for their job while on the toilet.

Although it may seem harmless to spend a few extra minutes sitting on the toilet after finishing your business, experts warn it could harm your health. While it is acceptable to use your phone while in the bathroom, experts recommend keeping time on the toilet to an average of 5 to 10 minutes. So keep this in mind next time you’re on the toilet, and end your phone activities as soon as you finish relieving yourself.

Add Sudoku to Your List of Games

Sometimes a visit to the restroom is quick and to the point, but other times you may be in there a while. While it is important to keep time on the toilet to a minimum for health purposes, we understand at Sudoku Online that keeping your mind occupied in the moment can help the process.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans play games on their phone while taking care of business in the bathroom. If you are among those porcelain throne gamers, try your hand at a game of Sudoku. These logic-based puzzles are sure to keep you entertained, while also exercising your brain. Whether you are a beginner seeking an easy puzzle or a Sudoku expert looking for a tough challenge, we have you covered.

Methodology

In this study, we set out to learn where people experience difficulty standing after sitting on the toilet for too long, described as "toilet legs." To do this, we surveyed Americans in several of the largest cities across the country in addition to a handful of cities around the world.

We asked a variety of questions from how often respondents take their phone with them to use the toilet, how long they stay seated after finishing their business, the apps they use while on the toilet, and more. To determine where people experience "toilet legs" most often, we calculated the total number of people who report difficulty standing after sitting for too long, and then ranked cities from the highest to lowest percentage.