7 Best Toilet Models to Buy In 2020 
Ultimate Review & Buyer's Guide to Water Closets

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Looking to buy a new toilet but don't know where to start?

Look no further because you have come to the right place!

Hey, I'm Tim - I’m a master in this craft, and I've been in bathroom industry for over 12 years.

I have dedicated my life to the craft of perfecting a quality bathroom, and I believe the toilet is one of the most underrated items in it.

Hence, I have dedicated this website to finding the best of the best, dispelling toilets that are just not up to scratch.

7 Top-Rated Toilets Reviewed

We’ve looked, researched and tested a range of toilets extensively that can be found out in the market, in order for you to find the model that suits you best. No matter what age, height, disability, size or preference, at least one of these toilets will satisfy your needs and requirements.

Product

Features

Details

#1 TOTO Drake II

best-toilet-TOTO-drakeII
  • Great price
  • Powerful quiet flush
  • Water efficient: 1.28 GPF

Two-Piece
Elongated
1.28 GPF

#2 Saniflo Sanicompact

Best-compact-toilet-Sanicompact
  • Compact design
  • Water efficient: 1 GPF
  • Easy installation

One-Piece

Elongated

1.6 GPF

#3 Kohler Santa Rosa

best-one-piece-toilet-kohler-santa-rosa
  • Easy-to-clean design
  • Compact design: ideal for small bathrooms
  • Water efficient toilet: 1.28 GPF

One-Piece

Elongated

1.28 GPF

#4 Kohler Memoirs Stately

best-designed-toilet-kohler-memoirs-toilet
  • Comfort height design
  • Water efficient: 1.28 GPF
  • Powerful flushing capacity

Two-Piece

Elongated

1.28 GPF

#5 TOTO G400

Toto MS920CEMFG#12 G400
  • Great shitting experience
  • Technological features
  • Dual Flush: 0.9 GPF & 1.28 GPF
  • check
    Sleek compact design

One-Piece

Elongated

1.28 GPF

#6 American Standard Champion-4

best-flushing-toilet-champion-4
  • Powerful flushing capacity
  • EverClean surface: minimal cleaning!
  • 10 year warranty

One-Piece

Elongated

1.6 GPF

 #7 American Standard H2option

best-american-toilet-H2Option
  • Dual Flush System: 1 & 1.6 GPF
  • Flushes fast and quiet
  • Refills quickly
  • check
    Speed connect
  • check
    Great Price

Two-Piece

Elongated

1.6 GPF

1. Best Two-Piece Toilet: TOTO Drake II

Throw a retirement party for your plunger as I introduce to you the TOTO Drake II.

A loo with no flashy features. What it does though, is giving you the best experience. So, if you prefer inner beauty, then this will be your best choice.

This model's height is 16.5 inches, which means after installing the toilet seat, it crisply fits into the ADA standard of 17-19" - standing and sitting will be a lot easier.

This model uses 1.28 gallons per flush, which means it is waterSense certified. So, even though Drake II uses a gravity flushing system, it still manages to minimise the water usage per flush.

Nowadays, most toilets have 2-inch flush valves, but not the Drake II, it has a 3-inch valve - your shit will disappear forever.

With a smart SanaGloss glazing, cleaning the toilet is easier than ever. The glazing makes the surface as smooth as a baby's bottom, ensuring those brown stains slide right off and a single wipe is all you need for external cleaning.

What We Like:

  • Great price
  • Powerful quiet flush
  • Water efficient (1.28 GPF)
  • Refills very quickly
  • Quiet flush
  • No clog

What We Don't Like:

  • Not EPA WaterSense certified
  • Seat not included

2. Best Compact Toilet: Saniflo Sanicompact

Add half a bathroom to your basement with the Saniflo 023 one-piece model. The greatest feature of it is its compact design. Without a tank at its back, it takes little space in your bathroom, and it can fit in any corner you want.

With it being half the size of other toilets, it makes it very easy to install in areas such as under the stairway for a half bathroom or an additional half bathroom in a bedroom or garage conversion.

With no external water tank at the back, the flushing mechanism is all electrical. The electric water closet is still a new concept to most people. However, the greatest feature is that it is that it allows 1 GPF - making it a really water efficient loo.

The pump and grinder are concealed under the pedestal. It comes with the upflush system, so when you flush, it pumps water up the discharge line - which means it has plenty of power so you never have to worry if you think that you’re in for the long haul!

The price is a bit higher than most other toilets, but trust me, this model is worth every penny.

It comes with a 2 year warranty, and if you register with Saniflo, you can increase it to 3 years.

What We Like:

  • Compact design - perfect for small bathrooms
  • Water efficient - 1 GPF
  • Easy installation

What We Don't Like:

  • Price

3. Best One-Piece Toilet: Kohler 3810 Santa Rosa

If you are looking for a toilet that is unique in style but small in size, then the Kohler 3810 Santa Rosa is your boy.

You can easily recognise the seam between the tank and bowl is wider. What this usually means is that with fewer seams, it is easier to clean.

The seat height is designed at a “comfort height” of 16.5 inches - so as long as you are not Kobe Bryant, you can sit comfortably on it like a king on his throne.

Water efficiency - uses only 1.28 GPF. Even though it has a single flush system, it can also be used as a dual-flush by pushing down the lever half way and letting it go - this uses about 0.5 GPF.

A powerful flushing capacity is not a problem, even with low water usage. The innovative AquaPiston flush engine, allows water to flow into the bowl from all sides (360 degrees), delivering a fast, powerful low flow flush.

Coming with basic Kohler seat and bolt cover, some say the seat feels uncomfortable because it sticks to their thighs. The solution to that is easy though- replace it with a new seat.

What We Like:

  • Easy-to-clean design
  • Compact design - ideal for small bathrooms
  • Water efficiency - 1.28 GPF

What We Don't Like:

  • Wax ring not included
  • Narrow tank lid - not much room to put things on top, e.g. toilet paper

4. Best Designed Toilet - Kohler 3817 Memoirs Stately

Introducing the K-3817-0 Memoirs Stately, a modern and stylish, sleek, cotton white two-piece design.

The only drawback is that it takes up quite a bit of space in the bathroom. Don’t let the bigger size fool you. What makes this model stand out from the rest is that it incorporates a design that has as few parts as possible, giving you one fully functioning masterpiece.

The Kohler Memoirs Stately's comfortable height makes standing and sitting easier - ideal for most adults and elderly with weak knees or who may have trouble sitting down in general.

Without sacrificing flushing power, water consumption amounts to an incredible 1.28 gallons of water per flush, making it one of the lowest water consuming toilets out there.

The innovative AquaPiston flush engine, allows water to flow into the bowl from all sides (360 degrees), delivering a fast, powerful flush. This coupled with the larger 31/4" flush pipe and larger trap-way down to the outlet, takes care of bathroom ‘situations’ of all shapes and sizes!.

It makes less noise when flushing due to it being the gravity flush type, giving you a smoother quieter flushing experience.

What We Like:

  • Comfort height - Ideal for most adults and elderly with weak knees
  • Water efficiency - 1.28 GPF
  • Powerful flushing capacity

What We Don't Like:

  • Seat and wax ring/seal not included
  • Pricey - depends on the color

5. Best Fancy Toilet: TOTO G500 Washlet

The best water closet from the future!.

The super technology and the ridiculous amount of features within this piece of plastic makes the terminator look like an useless junk.

It is an integrated TOTO model - a complete package that has combined the one piece design and a bidet seat. The result: the perfect fit.

Just imagine having this android warm your butt in the freezing winter with super technology along with heated water to rinse your derriere after you’re done.

The Dual Max Cyclone system allows for less water consumption - 0.9 or 1.28 GPF. With such low water consumption it makes it WaterSense certified, saving you a decent amount on water bill cost.

This model automatically opens and closes the lid whenever you are in need - meaning you don’t have to push the flush button because of the power of technology!

The design is super sleek, and with a tank-less back, it saves you lots of space in the bathroom. It is at universal height, which gives you a better pooping experience.

What We Like:

  • Lots of technological features
  • Sleek compact design
  • Low water consumption - 0.9 GPF and 1.28 GPF

What We Don't Like:

  • Pricey - but worth the money
  • Being in love with a object
  • Hard to install

6. Best Flushing Toilet: American Standard 2004.014 Champion-4

The Champion-4 - renowned for its powerful flushing, it will take care of any shit you throw at it (or those disgraceful memory).

With a 4-inch accelerator flush valve (the BIGGEST in the industry), it produces incredible flushing power compared to the standard 2-inch flush valve. Even if a horse drops its bombs, the Champion-4 can surely make it disappear without leaving any trace of evidence.

This model uses 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Some argue the Champion-4 uses too much water per flush, however 1.6 gallons of water is minimal when you get strong flushing power.

The model is quite heavy. If strength isn’t something you boast about, then I would suggest to get a plumber or a friend to help you through the installation process.

With an elongated seat, some say it takes too much space and they prefer a round seat, but in my opinion, the design with the elongated shape provides the most comfort.

The American Standard Champion-4 has an Everclean surface, which means less and easier cleaning (due to the one-piece design). No more stains and odor causing bacteria. Even after years of use, the toilet will still maintain its clean, sharp look.

What We Like:

  • 4 inch flush valve - Powerful flushing capacity
  • EverClean surface - minimal cleaning!
  • 10 year warranty

What We Don't Like:

  • Seat not included
  • Pricey - well worth it

7. Best American Standard Toilet: AS 2887.216 H2Option

With a H2O to its name, you know this throne will be a water-saving yet powerful product.

It features a dual flush system - 1 GPF “light” flush for liquids and a 1.6 GPF “heavy” flush for solids. The Dual flush system allows 25 percent less water than the conventional toilet per flush. This is why it has earned itself the WaterSense badge.

One customer told me, “It really is amazing how quickly and quietly this thing spirits away. Now if we can only get one large enough to fit Congress into... and see them flushed with pride…”

The seat is of comfort height - 16.5 inches tall, 2 inches higher than normal, make standing and sitting on the bow easier. The natural height is perfect for the average adult and elderly - making it ADA compliant.

Installation is super simple. It features a speed connect system, cutting the installation time by 30%. However, if you still find it difficult, take the easy way out and get your local plumber to do it for you.

With EverClean surface, it inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, and stain and odor causing bacteria, reducing the time spent in the bathroom cleaning.

What We Like:

  • Dual Flush System (1 GPF or 1.6 GPF) - WaterSense certified
  • Flushes fast and quiet
  • Refills quickly
  • Speed connect
  • Great price

What We Don't Like:

  • Seat not included
  • May not be ideal for short people

8 Ways to Choose The Best Toilet For You

What does it mean when there’s a lack of blood circulation in your legs, and you run out of things to read after sitting for hours on end? It means that you have a spanking good toilet throne on your hands! Or should I say, butt?

The best toilet types are supposed to do what it’s meant to do – to give you the best experience possible. But remember, a high-priced model doesn't always guarantee a better performing toilet - or more comfortable, in this case.

Lord of the rings aragorn meme

Let me be your guide as I take you on a vast treacherous journey to find your great throne. Like Aragorn and Frodo from Lord of the Rings, it’s you and me - me being Aragorn of course.

A water closet consists of three main parts. The bowl, pedestal and the tank.

  • The bowl is used to collect waste
  • The pedestal gives the required height.
  • The tank stores the water that is required to flush out the waste.

A loo can be categorized as either:

  • One-piece - has the tank fused within the model making it one whole unit.
  • Two-piece - has the tank separate from the bowl and is joined using fittings.

They both have their pros and cons. Some general differences between the two:

  • Cost - One-piece toilets are generally higher than two-piece toilets due to the difficulties in manufacturing
  • Cleaning - One-piece toilets are easier to clean due to the no gap and no joint design
  • Installation - One-piece toilets are easier to install due to the tank and bowl already being connected. The two-piece toilet is harder as you have to connect the tank and bowl correctly to avoid any leakage. However, one-piece toilets are harder to move due to their weight.

The majority of toilets in the U.S. are two-piece toilets that are mounted on the floor.

The shape of the bowl can be categorized as either:

  • Round
  • Elongated
  • Square - less common

Again, they all have their pros and cons. You will generally find round and elongated bowls throughout households.  Some general differences between them:

Cartoon drawing of a grandma telling a joke

Round bowls:

  • Small - Measured up to 28″ from the wall and are good at saving space - perfect if you have a small bathroom.
  • Price - Round toilets are cheaper, comparing to elongated ones

Elongated bowls:

  • Comfortable - Measured up to 31″ from the wall. Most people (adults) say they are more comfortable. They only downside issue is you have very limited space in your bathroom
  • Compact elongated toilets are shaped like an elongated bowl to give that added comfort but are in a round-bowl footprint size. They save about 10 percent more space than your standard elongated bowl

The toilet height (not to be confused with bowl height) is the distance from the floor to the top of the seat. The ideal height is different for everyone as it depends on how tall you are and your physical needs. Most sanitary ware experts refer to “comfort height” as any water closet's height from 17’’ or more.

Standard Height

  • Ideal for shorter people (approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall or less). People shorter in stature are unable to rest their feet flat on the floor for taller toilets

Comfort Height

  • Ideal for taller people
  • Higher than your average height
  • Gives more of a natural feel that is neither standing nor sitting
  • Typically compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADA for short). Toilets that are installed and used by the general public need to meet this requirement

If you don’t know what height is right for you, we recommend you just going to your local bathroom shop and trying out the toilet height yourself. It feels silly, but you’ll get what you want. Pull your pants down if you really want to create an exact simulation scenario - Flush Guide takes no responsibility in you getting kicked out or banned from the store or getting fined for indecent exposure!

Best Seat Height For Wheelchair User?

If the person slides sideways when transferring from the wheelchair to the seat, it is best to select a model with a seat height that is close to the height of the wheelchair’s seat. Or, you can consider installing assisted rails around the loo.

When picking a water closet, make sure it fits! If you want to replace an old one, pick a model that matches the existing toilet’s “rough-in” measurement. The rough-in length is the distance from the wall (not the baseboard) to the toilet’s floor bolts that attach to the floor. The most common rough-in is 12’’, however, you can get 10’’ and 14’’.

As the years go by, so has the technology of efficient flushing options. The single goal? To increase the performance of each flush, with enough power to suck up even the size of a horse poo, all while using minimal water consumption.

The results?

Various flushing technology. Some of them most common flushing types include:

  • Single flush
  • Dual flush
  • Tank less
  • Touchless
  • Upflush

Even if you have the most expensive and most advanced model out there; it is nothing without a good seat. Most two-piece toilets are sold without a seat while one-piece toilets generally come with a seat. Although the plastic rim may seem like a basic product, it’s a whole new topic that requires its own website. It’s because they come in wide range of different colors, style, material, cleansing options, and special add-ons.

We recommend you check out our advanced guide to choosing the best seat for you: Click Here

In the sanitary ware industry, water use is measured in gallons per flush, or GPF for short, which we will refer to in all our articles. A toilet results for a third of your household water use. High-efficiency toilets (HET) that use 1.28 GPF or less earn the EPA’s WaterSense label.

These can save 4,000 gallons of water per person annually, and some water utilities offer rebates if you install one (check with yours). However, check independent test results before you buy. Some reviewers report more staining and clogging problems with some high-efficiency models.

Best toilet watersense

When picking a water closet, who you buy it from it matters A LOT. The most popular companies we have seen are the ones that have produced high quality sanitary wares consistently over the years. We've tested some Chinese-made products and it's not pretty... I'm sure you would've had the same experience.

Always choose a reliable company and manufacturer. Luckily for you, we've created a review on the best toilet brands out on the market. You're welcome.

The Best Toilet Is...?

You have to think before you make such an important decision:

  • Clog and overflows
  • Constant running
  • Poor flush (or the dreaded no flush)
  • Leaks
  • Hissing sounds in the tank

This is why I often get asked, “Tim, what is the best of the best?”

Okay, so I am a little biased because I own the toilet myself, but I definitely think the TOTO Drake II is the best loo out there in terms of price and functionality. You will love it. Buy it from the trusted Amazon store - you can never go wrong with these guys.

If you run into any problems or have questions - do not worry! I'll be here to give you one-on-one help by any channel you prefer. Shoot me an email or message me on the Facebook group.

Good luck. Be clean. Stay white.

TOTO Drake II
Our #1 Overall Toilet Choice

  • Reliable - Less clogs, leaks, and repairs
  • Comfortable - Perfect height and shape
  • Powerful - G-Max  & Double-Cyclone technology
  • Low water usage - 1.28 GPF
  • Price Friendly - Amazing price/quality ratio