Toilet Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Toilet

At Bath4All, our selection includes hundreds of toilet models. They're all great, but at the end of the day, you need to pick ONE, preferably the perfect one. We've put together this guide to help you narrow down your choices. It will also help us avoid having to return a toilet that doesn't work with your space or lifestyle.

Choosing a toilet starts with a few measurements and the features that matter most to you. This guide was intentionally kept short, digestible, and to the point. Read on.

1. Measure the Rough-in 

12" is the standard, and most toilets are made for a 12" rough-in (distance from the finished wall to the center of the drainpipe). Some older homes and smaller bathrooms however, require a special 10" rough-in toilet bowl. The rough-in distance also determines how close the toilet tank will be to the wall behind your toilet.

For a floor-mounted toilet, measure from the finished wall (not the baseboard) to the center of the floor drain. If the toilet is still installed, measure to the center of a mounting bolt. 

Many 12" rough-in toilets (such as Toto Aquia, Redington, Glaston, and Aurora) can be adapted to work with a 10" or 14" rough-in with the help of a separately sold adapter. But not all - for example, Toto Drake toilets cannot use an adapter, but they do come in native 10" rough-in versions.

2. Construction: One Piece vs Two Piece

One-piece toilets have an integrated tank and bowl, while two-piece models have separate tank and bowl. Both are great. One-piece models don't have the crevice where the tank meets the bowl, so there's one less place to clean.

Another practical consideration is delivery and installation: with two-piece toilets, the typical bowl weighs about 65 lb, while the tank weighs about 35 lb. Getting it up the stairs is no walk in the park, but we all know someone who can lift 65 lb. One-piece toilets, on the other hand, contain more ceramic and weigh up to 120 lb. You will need a team.

Another consideration is the skirt. 

Skirted toilets tend to look more modern and may fit better in contemporary bathroom interiors. Non-skirted, or exposed-trapway, toilets better complement classic and transitional spaces. Neither is inherently better; it's a matter of preference. However, if you've ever had to crawl behind your toilet to clean all the nooks and crannies of its trapway, the illustration above clearly shows which is easier to clean.

3. Choose a bowl shape and check the space

Bowl shape can be elongated (most popular) or rounded (for smaller spaces). It's a matter of preference, but if you're matching it to an existing bidet seat or vice versa - those should be the same shape. 

Elongated bowls provide a longer seating area, while round bowls generally project less into the room. Check the toilet’s overall dimensions and the clearance in front of it, especially near doors and vanities. 

4. Pick a comfortable height

Universal height, also known as comfort height or chair height, is about 16" from the floor to the bowl rim, or 17-18" to the top of the seat. Regular height toilets are about 15" to the bowl rim, or 16-17" from the floor to the top of the seat. Many people, including children, prefer regular height, while taller people and ADA standards require universal height.

Compare the floor-to-seat height with what feels comfortable for the people using it.

5. Compare flushing and installation options

Flush volume is measured in gallons per flush (GPF). Many toilets use 1.28 GPF or less. With 21st-century flushing technologies, such as Toto's Tornado Flush, 1.28 GPF is enough for most households. If you live in an area where water is scarce, or simply wish to save on your water bill and conserve resources, even modern 1.0 GPF flushing mechanisms have been engineered and re-engineered to perform admirably well.

1.6 GPF toilets offer the strongest flushing performance and use the most water. They are best for high-traffic spaces where people may flush paper towels and other non-flushable items. It's wrong, but it happens. There are also local regulations.

A dual-flush toilet offers separate flush options for liquid and solid waste. Best of both worlds, so to speak.

6. Will You Ever Want a Bidet Seat?

While most toilets will work with most bidet seats (as long as the shape matches), Toto's Washlet+ toilets are designed to conceal the seat’s connections for a cleaner look. However, if you're not planning to add a bidet seat, a Washlet+ toilet may not be right because the hole in the bowl, pre-drilled for the seat's water supply line and electrical cord, will be an eyesore. 

Browse toilets, or email Bath4All with questions and/or models you’re considering. We are real experts eager to help, even if you're not planning on buying anything.