Toilets Buying Checklist

Research Phase

Research the 5 types of toilets available
Round Bowl Toilets (25-27 Inches From Wall)
One-Piece Compact Toilets
Wall-Hung Toilets (Maximum Space Savings)
Under $150: The Basics That Work
$150-$250: The Sweet Spot
$250-$300: Near-Premium Performance
Compare prices across at least 3 brands
Read warranty terms before purchasing
Check compatibility with your existing plumbing

Shopping Tips

Measure your available space before shopping: from the finished wall to the nearest obstruction in front of the toilet. If you have less than 28 inches, round or compact elongated is the move.
Check the rough-in. Small bathrooms in older homes often have 10-inch rough-ins instead of the standard 12. This limits your options further -- verify before buying.
One-piece toilets are harder to maneuver through tight doorways. Measure your bathroom door width. A 24-inch door may require removing the door to get a one-piece toilet in.
The TOTO Drake at $200-$250 is the most recommended toilet by plumbers across every price range. If you can only remember one model name, that is it.
MaP scores are published at map-testing.com. Look up any toilet before buying to verify actual flush performance -- do not rely on marketing claims.
Buy the toilet and the seat separately if the included seat is not soft-close. A Bemis or Church soft-close seat ($15-$30) is a big comfort upgrade.
If your household has both adults and young children, comfort height with a step stool is the best compromise. Kids adapt to the stool quickly.
Test both heights in a showroom before buying. Sit on each for 30 seconds. The difference is immediately obvious.
Comfort height is now the default in most product lines. If a listing does not specify height, it is probably comfort height. Always check the spec sheet.
MaP 800g+ is the most important spec.
WaterSense at 1.28 GPF saves thousands of gallons per year.
TOTO Drake is the benchmark: 800-1000g MaP at 1.28 GPF.
Measure from WALL, not baseboard.
12-inch rough-in is standard and nearly universal.
Elongated is more comfortable but verify front clearance.
If cleaning is your top priority, one-piece is worth the premium. The smooth surface genuinely takes less time to keep clean.
If budget is the priority, two-piece gives you the same flush performance for $100-$200 less.
Measure your bathroom doorway before buying one-piece. An 80-120 lb ceramic unit may not fit through a 24-inch door without removing the door first.
Comfort height + slow-close + elongated = the three features that matter most.
Skirted trapway is the best cleaning upgrade.
Buy bidet seats separately -- same function at 1/5 the price.
Gravity-fed two-piece is best value for most homes.
One-piece upgrade is worth it for cleaning ease.
Pressure-assisted only for persistent clogging problems.

Research Phase

Shopping Tips

Mistakes to Avoid

Installation Prep

Helpful Resources

See Also