The 6 Best Toilets, Tested and Reviewed

How We Tested the Toilets

We recognize that some homeowners and renters may not ever need to buy a new toilet. With this shopping consideration in mind, we kept our list short with categories for the main variations you'll find in toilet designs: toilet type, flush type, bowl shape, and nice-to-have features. We prioritized toilets with highly efficient gallons-per-flush ratings, too, ultimately putting five to the test in our own homes to date.

These five toilets were installed in our homes and used for six months or more. We uninstalled the toilets we were already using and installed the new, tested ones. To evaluate how easy or difficult each toilet was to install, we followed the manufacturer's instructions and set a timer to see how quick or long the installation process took. 

Once installed, we then performed a series of tests to evaluate each toilet's water pressure, flush, and overall quality. We compared the new toilets to ones we've used in the past, considering their ease of cleaning, whether they were prone to clogs, and whether we liked their height.

The toilets we loved (and even purchased additional units of) made it onto this list: the Toto Drake Cotton Elongated Standard Height Toilet, the Swiss Madison St. Tropez Elongated Vortex Toilet, and the Kohler Highline Classic Toilet. We've also taken time to test bidets and bidet attachments, and used those experiences to inform our list, as well.

What Is the Average Cost of a Toilet?

A toilet is an investment piece just like other major fixtures and appliances in your home. Most toilets on our list cost between $159 and $485. Within this range, you can expect to find efficient, one- or two-piece toilets with both elongated and rounded bowl shapes.

Toilets on the higher end of this range may even have bidet attachments, more modern designs, and even smart features. A new, water-efficient toilet should last you for as long as you're in your home.

How to Choose the Best Toilet

Consider Toilet Type

The shape of your new toilet will be determined by bathroom size and plumbing needs. Each type of toilet has distinct installation needs, in addition to other design elements.

• One-Piece Toilets: While attractive and seamless in design, one-piece toilets can be much more challenging to install because they cannot be separated into more manageable pieces, and are therefore heavier. Our pick for a one-piece toilet, the Swiss Madison St. Tropez Elongated Vortex Toilet, has a skirted base that we love the look of and found relatively fuss-free to install, though.
• Two-Piece Toilets: This is likely the style of toilet that comes to mind when you picture one. These toilets are slightly easier to install because you can separate the tank from the bowl during the installation process. However, a poor installation could lead to a loose water tank. 
• Wall-Mounted Toilets: These are more typical of commercial bathrooms and require a specific plumbing hookup, but they work well in bathrooms with limited floor space. At this point, we don't currently recommend any wall-mounted toilets.

Don't Forget About Toilet Finish

Along with toilet type, you'll also want to consider the finish. A toilet's finish determines how effective it is at staying clean (and how easy it'll be to make waste disappear.)

"Choose a toilet with a fully glazed bowl and trapway," says Courtney Harmon, President of bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. "A smooth, glazed surface makes it harder for waste and debris to stick, reducing the likelihood of clogs and making cleaning easier."

All of the toilets in our roundup feature fully glazed trapways, which you'll also see listed as "vitreous china." This simply refers to the type of glaze used to finish the bowls.

Understand Flush Types

While most household toilets are gravity-flush models, you can purchase toilets with pressure-assisted flush technology, which don’t clog as easily thanks to their forceful flushes.

When you press the lever on a gravity-flush model, gravity pulls water from the tank into the bowl and then down the drain. Harmon suggests opting for a gravity-fed flush because they "are simpler and generally have fewer parts that can malfunction compared to more complex pressure-assisted systems."

If you need more flushing power, pressure-assisted toilets use pressurized air from a tank that forces the water down the bowl. The Kohler Highline Classic Toilet is our favorite pressure-assisted model because it reduces the need for double flushing, resulting in fewer clogs. These toilets are louder than gravity-fed toilets, so they aren’t best for every household.

In addition to the technology used to flush the water from your toilet, you should also consider the flushing motion in your toilet bowl. We found that a circular flush of water was more effective at completely rinsing the toilet bowl.

This flushing style may have a different name under each manufacturer, but Swiss Madison and TOTO both describe it as a "Tornado Flush" on the St. Tropez and Drake Cotton models. The TOTO Drake Cotton Washlet has the additional power of a pre-mist setting that sprays the bowl before use to prevent build-up.

Compare Flush Mechanisms

Toilets can also come with a single- or dual-flush mechanism. You'll be able to identify which flush mechanism a toilet has by looking at its handle type.

• Single-flush toilets use the same amount of water every time and typically have one lever on the side of the toilet tank.
• Dual-flush toilets let you use less water for small jobs and more water for bigger ones. These models may have a lever, two levers, or a set of buttons on top of the tank. Our best one-piece pick, the Swiss Madison St. Tropez One-Piece Dual-Flush Toilet, has a dual-flush mechanism that allows you to opt between 1.1 or 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF).

Dual-flush toilets, although more expensive, can reduce your overall water consumption due to their efficient flushing. However, they do have the potential for more complicated part replacements if a major clog or other problem occurs.

Prioritize Efficiency

While you may not think of your toilet as being a source of potential water waste, it’s helpful to look for high-efficiency toilets that use less water with each flush. We also recommend looking for a toilet with a low GPF. Anything with a GPF of around 1.2 gallons is considered highly efficient. 

Additionally, some toilet manufacturers will have models evaluated for a WaterSense certification, which means they meet the EPA's criteria for performance and efficiency. Toilets with this label can save homes nearly 13,000 gallons of water a year, according to the EPA.

On top of the GPF, it can be helpful to look at the MaP score on a toilet, if the manufacturer provides it, as this indicates how much solid waste a toilet can flush in one go. Scores over 600 are generally considered good with 1,000 grams being the highest.

MaP testing is a voluntary certification that tests a toilet up to failure. This means imitation waste (soybean paste and toilet paper) is flushed down the toilet (in increasing weights, measured in grams) until it can no longer handle the amount being flushed. While MaP scores are a great indication of a toilet's engineering, keep in mind that a glazed trapway, water flow and bowl design all play into how well a toilet stays clean.

The Checkout Counter

When you purchase your new toilet, don't forget these other essentials you may need for cleaning and setting up your bathroom space.

1. OXO Good Grips Toilet Plunger: Although most of the toilets on our list have a high-pressure flush, you can never be too safe. The OXO Good Grips Toilet Plunger is a favorite of ours for its built-in water drip tray and ability to work well with various toilet types, including low-flush models.
2. Ikea KROKFJORDEN Toilet Roll Stand: While sprucing up your bathroom with a new toilet, it may be time to upgrade your toilet paper storage, too. This sleekly designed toilet roll stand requires zero screws. 
3. Clorox Disinfecting Toilet Wand Cleaning System: This Spruce-approved toilet cleaning system includes everything you need, including disposable scrubbing pads pre-loaded with cleaning solution, a wand, and a refill caddy. The best part is you don't have to use your hands during cleaning.

Why Trust The Spruce?

Emma Phelps, an associate editor for The Spruce, has been covering bath topics since 2022. She works on various home renovation topics and previously reported on appliances and home fixtures. After living in four different apartments over the past three years, Phelps prefers a toilet with a soft-close lid and round seat to save space in smaller bathroom layouts.

Our Experts:

• Courtney Harmon, President of bluefrog Plumbing + Drain
• Jeremy Laukkonen, updates writer for The Spruce