Bottoms Up: The Pros Picks for Top Toilets

updated May 5, 2019

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Picking the best toilet seems like it should be straighforward — but it isn’t. Trouble is, there are many variables to consider. But at the end of the day, certain toilets tend to rise to the occasion. Terry Love, who is a plumber and plumbing blogger, loves his Toto toilets. Consumer Reports and Consumer Search, which is a meta-analysis of a whole host of reviews, also give props to some American Standard, Kohler and Gerber toilets. For the lowdown on the latest toilets, read on…

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Some notes:

• Most of these toilets are low-flow or low-consumption (1.6 gallons per flush or less)
• Most work by gravity not by pressure, like the older toilets. Gravity mechanisms are easier to repair and more effective but are not a great choice for homes with poor plumbing systems.
• Many of these are available in either standard height or “comfort height”/ADA height, which means they sit higher off the ground.
• Most come with an elongated shape or a round shape (better for smaller spaces but I find less comfortable)
• Many have a special coating on the bowl itself to help prevent staining
• You can choose between two-piece toilets and one-piece. The latter are generally more expensive but easier to clean and may look more sleek.

Terry Love‘s choices: Five star toilets:
Images 1-6
1. Toto Ultramax toilet MS854114S (also available in the ADA model, which sits higher up)
2. TOTO Ultramax II (MS604114CEFG; Watersense 1.28 GPF) (Commercial Grade Quiet. Powerful flush, Consumer friendly, 3″ flush valve. A homeowner favorite!)
3. Toto Soiree
4. Toto Guinevere
5. TOTO Drake II (CST454CEFG; Watersense 1.28 GPF)
6. Toto Carlyle (MS874114SG with Sanagloss, Commercial Grade. Quiet. Powerful flush, Consumer friendly)

Consumer Reports
Images 7-11
7. American Standard Champion 4 2002.014 highest rated (only 3 starts from Terry love)
8. Gerber Avalanche 21-818
9. Toto Drake CST744S (4 stars from Terry Love, who prefers the Drake II)
10. Kohler Highline Classic K-3493
11. American Standard Clean 2514.101

Consumer Search: Images 12-14
12. Toto <a href="<a%20href=" http: www.amazon.com ms854114s-01-ultramax-elongated-toilet-cotton dp b0018lesty ref="sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1337297667&sr=1-1">Toto Ultramax toilet MS854114S”>UltraMax
13. Kohler Cimarron Comfort Height Amazon.
14. Gerber Avalanche Ergo Height from Chicago Faucet Shoppe.

Images: As cited above except Toto toilets are from Toto