After 25 Years of Testing, These Are the Best Toilets for Every Bathroom
From bargain buys to high-tech smart toilets, these are my top picks.
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A new toilet is not the kind of purchase you make often. In fact, a top-quality commode can have an almost unlimited lifespan, based on my decades of testing, along with this study by the National Association of Home Builders. Sure, some components might need replacing after thousands of flushes, but the bottom-line is this: the next toilet you buy could be your last — so make sure you really love it!
In recent years, our team in the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute has tested more than 20 toilets from all the top brands, including Glacier Bay, Kohler and Toto. In the Lab, we put toilets through a torture test that includes flushing golf balls and sponges. We also send toilets into the homes of consumer testers, who share real-world experience around flushing power, noise, maintenance and more.
Read on for our top picks — including the model that’s been delivering flawless flushing in my home for years.
Toto Drake
Pros
- Exceptional flushing performance
- Comfort-height design
- Easy-clean rimless bowl
Cons
- Seat not included
Style: Two-Piece| Flush mechanism: Single | Bowl shape: Elongated | Seat height: 17” | Tank height: 30” | Gallons per flush: 6| Weight: 94 lbs
Why we love it: A clean, elegant design and consistent flushing combine to make the Toto Drake our top overall toilet pick. When I renovated my home about five years ago, my architect and contractor both recommended the Drake, and it has lived up to expectations. The two-piece design has a traditional look, compared with more contemporary one-piecers or high-tech smart toilets. If that matches the style of your bathroom, give the Drake serious consideration.
Flushing power: The Toto features cyclonic flushing technology, which our tests have found to be extremely effective at sending solid and liquid waste on its way. The trade-off with this model is that it uses a bit more water — 1.6 gallons per flush. But Toto sells another version of the Drake that meets the EPA’s WaterSense label requirement of 1.28 gallons per flush. Take note, however, that the seat is sold separately with both models.
Comfort: The Drake’s comfort-height design (with the seat measuring 17 inches above the floor, instead of the usual 15 inches) makes it an excellent choice for homeowners with more limited mobility. The elongated bowl creates a comfortable perch for all users, though it takes up a few more inches, which could be an issue in small bathrooms.
Maintenance: Our cleaning experts like the rimless toilet bowl design, which facilitates cleaning by eliminating the build-up of hidden waste. The two-piece design creates a seam between the bowl and tank for grime to hide.
Tester notes: The pair of Toto Drakes that I installed in my home have combined for more than 30,000 flushes over five years, without a single clog. We also upgraded to a Toto Washlet bidet seat in the kids’ bathroom (it’s an easy retrofit project) for even higher satisfaction. More details on that below.
Pros
- Great price
- Dual-flush technology
- Soft-close lid
Cons
- Only available in basic white
- More prone to staining
Style: One-Piece| Flush mechanism: Dual | Bowl shape: Elongated | Seat height: 16.5” | Tank height: 28.8” | Gallons per flush: 1.1 and 1.6 | Weight: 80.7 lbs
Why we love it: Glacier Bay is one of the Home Depot's exclusive toilet brands, so it's a solid option for value and convenience, especially if there’s a location nearby. And you won't have to compromise much on performance. This well-priced model has a bunch of innovative features, including dual-flush technology, nice for keeping your water bill in check. The soft-close lid is a luxury touch you might not expect in a bargain buy.
Flushing power: The one-piece toilet was one of the best in our tests at flushing away solid and liquid waste. It has also held up well in extended home testing. The dual-flush technology lets you save water by choosing a partial flush for liquid waste or a full flush for solid waste. Both modes were effective in our tests.
Comfort: The seat on the comfort-height commode measures 16.5 inches off the ground and the elongated seat offers maximum comfort.
Maintenance: A seamless one piece-design cuts down on cracks and crevices, though you'll have to be diligent about cleaning the bowl itself, since it doesn't have any of the surface treatments that help prevent stains and water scale.
Tester notes: "I installed the toilet in a rental unit more than a year ago," reported a GH staffer. "Renters can be forgiven for not being hyper-vigilant with use and care, but the Glacier Bay hasn't had any maintenance or performance issues."
Pros
- Very good value
- Sleek, low-maintenance design
- Strong, efficient flushing
Cons
- Bowl requires regular cleaning to prevent stains
Style: One-Piece| Flush mechanism: Single | Bowl shape: Elongated | Seat height: 17 3/8” | Tank height: 28.5” | Gallons per flush: 1.28 | Weight: 92 lbs
Why we love it: The Kohler Prosa is another excellent value pick. Like the Glacier Bay, it offers a one-piece design that’s streamlined and easy to clean. Plus, Kohler has a track record for performance and reliability with our testers across all price points.
Flushing power: Though it uses just 1.28 gallons per flush, good enough for the EPA’s WaterSense certification, highlighting the most water-efficient fixtures on the market, the Prosa does a superb job flushing solid and liquid waste. Testers found the lever-style flusher especially easy to operate.
Comfort: With an elongated seat that measures nearly 18 inches off the ground, testers said sitting down and standing up is extremely easy with the Prosa.
Maintenance: The one-piece design facilitates cleaning. The entry-level Prosa lacks some of the cleaning features found on more expensive Kohler toilets, like the surface treatment on its Santa Rosa one-piece that the brand says will inhibit the growth of water scale and mineral stains.
Tester notes: “The competitive price caught my eye first, but I was also drawn to the sleek design and abundant features, including the soft-close lid,” said a GH staffer who installed and tested a pair of Prosas as part of a large home remodel. “It hasn’t clogged once despite getting plenty of use in our busy home. And my young daughter has no trouble with the lever, which isn’t the case with all toilets.”
Kohler Innate Smart Toilet
Pros
- Versatile personal cleansing
- Sleek, easy-to-clean design
- Heated seat and warm air-drying
Cons
- Expensive
- Uses more energy than traditional toilet
Style: One-Piece | Flush mechanism: Dual | Bowl shape: Elongated | Seat height: 16” | Tank height: 25” | Gallons per flush: 0 or 1.28| Weight: Not listed
Why we love it: Smart toilets, like the Kohler Innate, represent the latest and greatest in toilet design (though you pay a lot more for the innovation). The distinguishing feature is the built-in cleansing bidet. Most people who try it become quick converts. That was the case with our home testers who evaluated Kohler's Innate Smart Toilet, which adds a long list of enhancements, including precision water pressure and temperature control.
Flushing power: Our testers gave the Innate top marks for solid and liquid flushing. Some also liked that it can be programmed to flush on its own and lift and lower its seat automatically for start-to-finish hands-free control. Other testers found these auto features jarring, especially those with smaller bathrooms, where the lid seemed to open and close every time they entered the space.
Comfort: Its comfort-height design makes sitting down and getting up easier, another "aging in place" benefit of smart toilets, along with the hands-free cleaning.
Maintenance. The electrolyzed pre-rinsing of the bowl before use helped minimize stains in our tests. It's worth noting that smart toilets have more electronics and moving parts, plus they've only been around for about a decade. So they haven't stood the test of time in the same way as traditional toilets.
Tester notes: “Nice to look at and much easier to clean than a regular toilet," said one tester. Another was more effusive: “The Kohler Innate toilet has me truly spoiled,” she said. “Everything from the heated toilet seat, which is the greatest luxury ever and something I never knew I needed, to the night light which helps lead the way straight to the bathroom on even the darkest of nights!”
Duravit Sensowash Starck F Shower Toilet Seat
Pros
- Space-saving design
- Can be controlled via smartphone app
- Automatic open-and-close lid
Cons
- Complicated installation
Style: One-Piece| Flush mechanism: Single | Bowl shape: Elongated | Seat height: 17” | Tank height: N/A | Gallons per flush: 1.28 | Weight: 55.1 lbs
Why we love it: Wall-hung toilets are particularly well-suited to urban dwellers or others who have small bathrooms. That's because the tank is hidden behind the wall, giving back about six inches of floor space. Duravit's Sensowash Starck F was designed by renowned industrial and interior designer Philippe Starck, adding to the fixture's conceptual flair.
Flushing power: During two years of field tests of two separate Sensowash toilets, the flushing performance of solid and liquid waste has been excellent. Keep in mind that, as with all wall mounts, installation is more complicated because it requires opening the wall, rerouting the waste pipe and possibly reconfiguring the wall studs. That said, our testers were highly satisfied with Duravit's customer support service, which answered all installation questions promptly and precisely.
Comfort: Dubbed a “shower toilet,” the Sensowash brims with added comforts. Its built-in bidet uses fresh water to deliver the highest possible cleansing performance and it also delivers such luxuries as a heated seat and an automatic opening and closing lid.
Maintenance: In addition to being space-efficient, the Sensowash wall-mounted toilet is easy to clean since the tank is hidden behind the wall. Elevated off the ground, it also facilitates cleaning the bathroom floor.
Tester notes: “The bidet for back and front really delivers a sense of clean that you might find surprising at first, but then really love," said one GH staffer. "The night-light feature is cool, and the powerful heated seat is next-level awesome.” Added another tester: “The sleek design will elevate any bathroom.”
Toto Washlet
Pros
- Adjustable water and pressure controls
- Sleek profile
- Self-cleaning features
Cons
- Steep upfront cost
- Increase in energy and water usage
Style: N/A | Flush mechanism: N/A | Bowl shape: Elongated | Seat height: N/A| Tank height: N/A | Gallons per flush: N/A | Weight: N/A
Why we love it: Bidet seats replace your existing seat, turning any standard toilet into a smart one. Toto invented the bidet-style toilet seat in 1980, and it remains the market leader. In recent years, we've tested several iterations of the brand’s flagship model, the Washlet. Easy installation and feature-rich performance make it our favorite in the fast-growing category.
Flushing power: Since bidet seats attach to an existing toilet, they don’t impact flushing performance. I installed Toto’s S7A Washlet on my Toto Drake, which continued to deliver the same superb flushing power. There’s an optional auto flush kit available with most Washlets.
Comfort: The Washlet has a streamlined profile compared with other bidets we’ve tested. Besides looking better, we found it easier to sit on since your body isn't pitched forward, which was the case with bulkier bidets that we reviewed. Testers also praised the Washlet's heated seat, night-light and water temperature controls, though one said there was a learning curve with working the remote control.
Maintenance: We like that the Washlet’s seamless seat design minimizes gaps and crevices for dirt and grime to collect. The pre-mist feature also helped keep waste from sticking to the bowl. Testers loved how easy the seat is to remove for a deep clean.
Tester notes: Installing the Washlet has been life changing (one of my kids won't use any other toilet, at least if he can help it!). Besides the superior cleansing experience, the Washlet has reduced our toilet paper needs, which is better for the planet and has translated into real money savings over time.
Another tester retrofitted the Washlet to a non-Toto-brand toilet and said, "It fits perfectly and looks sleek and modern." She added that "the seat always stays at a comfortable temperature — warm but never too hot. All in all, it’s been a fantastic upgrade that’s made our bathroom experience noticeably nicer."
How we test toilets
Our market experts keep constant tabs on the toilet market to identify the models you’re most likely to find at home centers, bath showrooms, plumbing supply stores and online. Hands-on testing took place in the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute as well as in the homes of expert testers. We evaluated toilets on the following criteria:
✔️ Flushing performance: In the Lab, our engineers put the toilets through a battery of tough tests. This includes clog tests involving colored powder, wads of toilet paper, sponges and even golf balls. Our top toilets were able to handle more than 12 golf balls in a single flush (some more than 20!). Home testing measured the efficacy of liquid and solid waste removal.
✔️ Comfort: Testers assessed the overall comfort of each toilet. In general, they found that comfort-height toilets were easier to get on and off, while elongated bowls provided a more comfortable seat.
✔️ Water Efficiency: This mainly amounted to a spec check since toilets must meet the federal limit of 1.6 gallons per flush. The EPA's WaterSense label recognizes toilets that use 1.28 gallons per flush. Some dual-flush models in our tests do even better by using a single gallon for their liquid-waste flush.
✔️ Cleanability. In the Lab and in our homes, experts checked the efficacy of surface treatments that claim to reduce staining. They also evaluated how easy each toilet was to keep clean, for example, awarding higher scores to one-piece toilets that have fewer grime-catching seams and crevices.
Experts use this rig to elevate toilets during testing. A bucket underneath catches the flushed water — along with sponges, golf balls and other items used to simulate waste.
What to look for when shopping for the best toilet
Improvements in design, efficiency and technology have improved toilet performance. But that also means more options to sort through. Here's what to think about to find the right model for you.
✔️ Height: Newer toilets are available in "comfort height," usually between 17 and 19 inches high, compared with the 15 inches of traditional toilets. Older homeowners or those with knee issues may appreciate the extra few inches since it makes the toilet easier to get on and off. You should also think about the overall height of the toilet, tank included; it can vary from model to model by six inches or more, which might make a difference in a powder room or other small bathroom.
✔️ Rough opening: Important for installation, this spec tells you the distance from the finished wall to the center of the toilet's floor drain. Twelve inches is the standard, but some models come with 10-inch and 14-inch openings. It’s important to match the new toilet with the existing one, otherwise, you’ll have to make pricey modifications to the floor and plumbing.
✔️ Weight: No toilets are heavy enough to require additional structural support, but an extra hefty toilet will be harder to install, especially if you're tackling the job on your own. A 75-pound toilet is more DIY-friendly than one weighing 120 pounds or more.
✔️ Flush mechanism: Toilets used to have one flushing option, typically a lever on the tank that you press down. They still exist, but dual-flush toilets are now common. These typically have two buttons on the top of the tank that let you do a partial flush for liquid waste and a full flush for solid waste. Dual-flush toilets can save water, but our tests have found the flushing power to be a little weak with some models, so you end up having to flush twice. The dual-flush models that made our round-up don't have that issue.
✔️ Flush system: There are two main options: gravity-feed and pressure-assisted. Unless you have a large household, our experts say stick with a gravity-feed toilet, which uses a traditional tank and the law of gravity to move waste down the drain. Pressure-assisted toilets use compressed air to force water and waste down the line, making for a very noisy flush. They’re extremely effective and can handle flush after flush without waiting for the tank to refill, which is why they’re more common in commercial buildings.
✔️ Style: The main decision here is between a one-piece and two-piece design. One-piece toilets are fabricated using a single mold, integrating the tank and the bowl. They have a sleeker look with fewer cracks and crevices in their exteriors, which makes for easier cleaning. But they usually cost more than two-piece toilets, which have a separate bowl and tank, for a more traditional look. Two-piece toilets are also lighter, which, along with their simpler mechanics, makes them easier to install.
✔️ Bowl shape: It’s not a huge factor, but if you’re short on space (say in a powder room), you’re better off with a round bowl since those toilets are a bit smaller than elongated models. If space is really tight, you might want to consider a wall-mounted toilet. With this option, the tank is hidden behind the wall, so you gain a good six inches. They tend to be more expensive, and installation is more involved and pricey, but they’re a great fit for tight spaces.
✔️ Water efficiency: All toilets made today must meet the federal limit of 1.6 gallons per flush (compared with the 3 to 5 gallons per flush that used to be the norm). The EPA's WaterSense label recognizes toilets that use 1.28 gallons per flush. Some dual-flush models in our tests do even better by using a single gallon for their liquid-waste flush.
What is a toilet’s MaP score?
Short for “maximum performance,” the MaP score is an industry test that measures the number of grams of soybean paste (used to simulate solid waste) and toilet paper that a toilet can flush away completely in a single flush. While the information is available to plumbing suppliers and contractors, it’s not always easy to find for consumers, which is why we don’t list it alongside other specs. But if you’re working with a pro, you can ask them for the MaP score of any toilet they recommend. A score of 600 or higher is considered high-performing.
What are smart toilets?
The latest innovation in toilet design, smart toilets are loaded with high-tech features, including night-lights, self-opening and closing lids and even built-in digital assistants ("Hey Google, is it going to rain today?"). But the key feature is the built-in bidet that provides a gentle cleaning spray, eliminating, or at least reducing, the need for toilet paper. The market for smart toilets has grown significantly in recent years, so much so that we now have a separate report on them. Check out our top smart toilet picks for all the details.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Dan DiClerico has tested and written about bathroom fixtures, including toilets, for more than 25 years. In that time, he has evaluated every major brand in the category. That has involved visits to showrooms around the country and annual attendance at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, where he is always on the lookout for innovations around performance or water efficiency.
As Director of Home Improvement & Outdoor at the Good Housekeeping Institute, Dan oversaw the latest round of toilet testing in the Lab, as well as the in-home, survey-based consumer testing that allows us to evaluate these devices under real-world conditions. He has also installed several top picks from this roundup in his own homes.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
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