10 Best Toilets for Your Bathroom (2026)

Choosing the best toilet for your bathroom involves more than picking one that looks good. Flush performance, water efficiency, bowl shape, height, and rough-in size all affect daily comfort and long-term satisfaction. A quality toilet lasts 25 to 50 years, making it one of the most important fixtures in your home.

Part of our Bathroom Remodeling & Flooring guide — explore the full guide →

We’ve evaluated the top-rated toilets available in 2026 based on flush power, water consumption, ease of cleaning, comfort, and price to help you find the perfect model for every bathroom and budget.

Top 10 Toilets Compared (2026)

MaP score (Maximum Performance) measures grams of solid waste a toilet can clear in a single flush. Higher is better: 500g is the minimum standard, 800g+ is considered excellent, and 1,000g is the maximum tested.

Best Overall: TOTO Drake II

The TOTO Drake II has earned its reputation as the best all-around toilet through a combination of powerful Tornado Flush technology, CeFiONtect ceramic glaze (which repels debris and reduces staining), and proven long-term reliability. It clears 800g of waste per flush using just 1.28 gallons, meeting WaterSense requirements while outperforming most 1.6 GPF models.

Why it wins: TOTO’s Tornado Flush creates a centrifugal, cyclone-like action that cleans the entire bowl surface with every flush. The CeFiONtect glaze creates an ultra-smooth, ion-barrier surface that prevents particles from adhering to the ceramic. It delivers premium performance at a mid-range price.

Dimensions: 28.4″ L x 17.6″ W x 30″ H. Standard 12-inch rough-in. Elongated bowl.

Best Budget: Glacier Bay Dual Flush

Available exclusively at Home Depot, the Glacier Bay Dual Flush offers surprising value. The dual-flush mechanism (1.1 GPF for liquids, 1.6 GPF for solids) saves water, and the 600g MaP score handles everyday use adequately. It’s a practical choice for guest bathrooms, rental properties, and budget renovations.

Caveats: The glazing isn’t as advanced as TOTO or Kohler, meaning more frequent cleaning may be needed. The plastic internal components may require replacement sooner than premium brands.

Best One-Piece: Kohler Santa Rosa

The Kohler Santa Rosa offers the seamless aesthetics and easy cleaning of a one-piece design with comfort-height seating (17 inches vs. standard 15 inches). The AquaPiston flush valve delivers a powerful 360-degree flush, scoring 1,000g on MaP testing. The Revolution 360 swirl flush rinses the bowl clean from rim to drain.

One-piece toilets have no gap between the tank and bowl, eliminating the most common area for grime buildup and leaks. They’re heavier to install (60 to 80 lbs vs. 40 to 60 lbs for two-piece) but require less maintenance over their lifetime.

Types of Toilets Explained

Two-Piece Toilets

The tank and bowl are manufactured separately and bolted together during installation. Two-piece toilets are the most common type, easiest to ship and install, and typically the most affordable. The joint between tank and bowl requires a rubber gasket that may need replacing every 10 to 15 years.

One-Piece Toilets

The tank and bowl are fused into a single ceramic unit. One-piece toilets look sleeker, are easier to clean (no crevice at the tank-bowl junction), and have fewer leak points. They’re heavier and more expensive but increasingly popular in modern bathroom designs.

Wall-Hung Toilets

The bowl mounts to the wall with the tank concealed inside the wall cavity. Wall-hung toilets create a floating, minimalist appearance and make floor cleaning effortless. They require a steel carrier frame ($200 to $500) installed inside the wall and professional installation, bringing total costs to $1,000 to $3,000+.

Smart Toilets & Bidet Combos

Smart toilets integrate bidet wash, heated seats, air dryers, automatic lid opening, deodorizers, and even nightlights. The TOTO Washlet+ line and Kohler Veil are leading smart toilet options in 2026.

Toilet Buying Guide

Bowl Shape

• Elongated: 18 to 19 inches long. More comfortable for adults, better flush coverage. Takes up 2 to 3 more inches of floor space. Recommended for master and full bathrooms.
• Round: 16 to 17 inches long. Saves space in small bathrooms. Common in powder rooms and half baths. Less comfortable for extended use.

Seat Height

• Standard height: 14 to 15 inches from floor to seat. Traditional height, fine for children and shorter adults.
• Comfort height (ADA compliant): 16 to 18 inches. Easier to sit down and stand up. Recommended for adults, seniors, and anyone with mobility concerns.

Rough-In Size

The rough-in is the distance from the wall (not the baseboard) to the center of the drain pipe. Standard rough-in is 12 inches. Older homes may have 10-inch or 14-inch rough-ins. Always measure before purchasing: a toilet designed for a 12-inch rough-in won’t fit a 10-inch opening.

Flush Technology

Installation Considerations

Toilet installation is a manageable DIY project for two-piece gravity-flush models. Here are key considerations:

• Verify rough-in: Measure from the wall (not baseboard) to the bolt caps on each side of the existing toilet base. This is your rough-in distance.
• Check the flange: The toilet flange (floor ring) should be flush with or slightly above the finished floor. If you’re installing new vinyl flooring or bathroom tile, the floor height changes may require a flange extender.
• Use a new wax ring: Always install a new wax ring (or wax-free gasket) when setting a toilet. Standard wax rings cost $3 to $5. For situations where the flange is below the floor surface, use an extra-thick wax ring.
• Level the toilet: Shim the base if your bathroom floor is uneven. Plastic toilet shims ($3 to $5 for a pack) prevent rocking that can break the wax seal.
• Don’t over-tighten bolts: Porcelain cracks under excessive torque. Tighten closet bolts until snug, then add a quarter-turn. If the toilet rocks, use shims, not more bolt pressure.

Professional toilet installation costs $150 to $350 including removal of the old unit. Wall-hung and smart toilets require professional installation due to in-wall plumbing and electrical work.

Water Efficiency & Ratings

Toilets are the largest source of water use in most homes, accounting for roughly 30% of indoor water consumption. Choosing a water-efficient model saves both water and money.

*Based on 11 flushes per day per household and $5.00 per 1,000 gallons average water cost.

Replacing a pre-1994 toilet with a WaterSense model saves 9,000 to 23,000 gallons per year, which translates to $45 to $115 annually. Many water utilities offer rebates of $50 to $200 for upgrading to WaterSense toilets; check with your local utility before purchasing.

Toilet Maintenance Tips

• Clean weekly: Use a non-abrasive bowl cleaner and toilet brush weekly. Avoid drop-in tank tablets containing bleach; they corrode internal rubber components.
• Check for leaks annually: Drop food coloring into the tank and wait 15 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the bowl, the flapper valve needs replacing ($5 to $10 part, 10-minute fix).
• Replace the flapper every 3 to 5 years: Flappers degrade over time and cause phantom flushing (the toilet randomly refilling). A worn flapper wastes 200+ gallons of water per day.
• Don’t flush wipes: Even “flushable” wipes don’t break down like toilet paper and cause clogs and sewer line damage.
• Address running toilets immediately: A running toilet wastes up to 4.5 gallons per minute, that’s 6,480 gallons per day and over $30 per day in water costs.

For bathroom organization beyond the toilet itself, check out our guide to over toilet storage solutions that maximize the unused wall space above the tank. And for stylish finishing touches, explore bathroom wall decor ideas.

Last updated: March 2026