Toilet Buying Guide

Last updated June 29, 2024
Choosing the best toilets to buy for your home requires more than picking a style or color. Different types of toilets offer different practical and aesthetic benefits. Use this toilet buying guide to learn about everything from the toilet bowl types and standard toilet dimensions to flushing systems. Determine which toilet features and functions matter the most to you and how to choose the best toilets for your home.
Table of Contents
Choosing the Best Toilet
Standard Toilet Dimensions
Standard Height Toilet
Types of Toilets and Toilet Profiles
One-Piece Toilets
Wall-Hung Toilets
Choosing the Best Toilet

Aside from style and color, selecting the best toilet for your home comes down to flushing performance, water use and who lives in your home. When selecting a toilet, keep these tips in mind:
- For one or two people with limited space, a dual flush, one-piece or wall-mounted toilet is a great choice. They will save you water plus you can often add pampering choices like heated toilet seats.
- For a family or a group of three or more, choose a two-piece toilet with a pressure-assisted or power-flushing feature.
- If accessibility is a factor, look for a toilet with a more comfortable width and a higher seat. Adding helpful features such as bidet toilet seats can also make a big difference for seniors or the disabled.
Standard Toilet Dimensions

Before you choose a toilet, it’s important to know whether it will fit in your space. Toilet sizes vary depending on its type, shape and brand. Most manufacturers, however, do follow a range of standard toilet dimensions to make the fixture easier to install and use. This range varies by brand and model, but overall:
- Bowls are around 14 inches wide and 14 to 16 inches high.
- Tanks are 28 to 30 inches high and about 18 inches wide.
- Seats are 14 to 16 inches wide and 15 to 18 inches long.
Other important measurements are the toilet’s rough-in and clearance. A rough-in is the distance between the floor drain and the wall. The clearance is the amount of space needed to use it properly.
- For most toilet installations, the rough-in is 12 inches. Sometimes in small baths or older homes it can be 10 to 14 inches.
- Allow a clearance of 15 inches unobstructed space in front and at least 12 inches around the toilet.
Tip: To figure out your bathroom's rough-in, measure from the wall behind the toilet to the middle of the bolts on the base of the toilet.
Standard Height Toilet

Toilet height is measured from the floor to the top of the rim. The best toilets to buy for your bathroom should have a rim height that makes it easy for you to sit down and stand up.
- Standard height toilets have rims that are 14 to 15 inches from the floor and should work well for shorter people.
- If you’re taller, consider chair height toilets that have a toilet seat height of 17 inches or more.
- ADA compliant toilets meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act and have a rim height of 15 to 17 inches.
Types of Toilets and Toilet Profiles

You can choose a two-piece toilet, one-piece toilet, wall-hung toilet or urinal. Most homes have the traditional two-piece toilet which features a separate tank and bowl. Two-piece toilets are generally more budget friendly than other types and have easy-to-find parts.
Two-piece toilets also have different profiles or designs that can affect the look and feel of your bath. These toilet bowl profiles include:
- A visible trap is the most common style found in homes and shows the outline of the curving trap ways on the toilet base.
- Toilets with a concealed trap have a smooth surface at the base that provide a more modern look and can be easier to clean.
- Skirted toilets give a contemporary profile with a sleek design that conceals its traps and eliminates the rounded outline of the bowl.
One-Piece Toilets

One-piece toilets don’t have a tank and bowl. This creates a sleek, stylish design with no crevices to hide dirt, making it easier to clean. Although a one-piece toilet requires a higher upfront investment, it can save space, especially in small bathrooms.
Wall-Hung Toilets

A wall-hung toilet has no base and attaches to the wall. Versatile and space-saving, a wall-hung toilet can be placed at a specific height. They’re ideal for those that use a wheelchair or walker. They do require a wall drain so professional installation is recommended.
Urinals

Usually found in public restrooms, residential urinals are a convenient addition to a game room, garage or workshop. Urinals use less than a gallon of water per flush, making them more energy efficient than most toilets. They’re also easier to clean and don’t require much space.
Smart Toilets

Smart toilets have features such as automatic flushing, seat warming and water pressure control. Advances in ceramic technology have allowed some smart toilets to feature easier-to-clean, antibacterial glazing in toilet bowls that repel soil and inhibit the growth of stain- and odor-causing bacteria.
Some models can provide music, lighting or built-in bidet functions. Housed in the toilet seat, these bidets often have multiple options for personal cleaning such as warm water and air dryers. Although they can require a higher investment, smart toilets are generally more energy efficient.
Types of Toilet Flushing Systems and Flush Ratings

The hallmark of a quality toilet is having enough flushing power for waste and toilet paper. A flush performance rating system classifies toilets from low to high based on their ability to remove solid waste and resist clogging. Look for these scores displayed on product packaging and on signs in your local store. Higher ratings mean better waste removal and clog resistance.
Standard single-flush toilets use the force of gravity to create a strong siphon during flushing. They are:
- Easy to repair
- A very common type of toilet
- Often more budget friendly than other models
Dual-flush toilets have separate flushes for solid and liquid waste. They:
- Use a larger diameter trapway design to resist clogging
- Need less water to flush efficiently
- May require more frequent cleaning
Pressure-assisted toilets have a special flushing mechanism that creates a siphon jet action. They:
- Produce more forceful flushes than standard gravity fed toilets
- Have a flushing action boosted by air pressure
- Are less likely to clog
- Use less water per flush
Power-assisted toilets are also called macerating or upflush toilets. They're especially ideal for new bathrooms in basements. They have:
- A pump that permits flushing from below the sewer line
- A macerating pump that liquifies waste during flush
- Less chance of clogging and better flow in lengthy waste lines
Toilet Bowl Types

The toilet bowl type or shape you choose can affect both the look and function of your bathroom. Toilet bowls can be round, elongated or even square. Consider an elongated vs. round toilet:
- The most common toilet bowl shape, round toilet bowls have a diameter of about 16 1/2 inches. Round rims are a space-saving and budget-friendly option. Round toilet bowls extend up to 28 inches from the wall.
- Elongated toilet bowls have an oval-shaped rim. At around 18 1/2 inches wide, these types of toilet rims provide more comfort. From the wall behind the toilet to the front of the bowl, elongated toilet bowls measure up to 31 inches .
Types of Toilet Seats

All toilet bowl seats are designed to match the shape of the bowl. The two most popular toilet seat types are elongated toilet seats and round toilet seats. Choosing a toilet seat depends on what special features you want for your toilet. These features can include:
- Lighted seats have a built-in nightlight so you can find the toilet without turning on your bathroom lights.
- A soft close toilet seat has a controlled, slow close so that the toilet seat never slams shut.
- Easy release allows you to remove the seat for thorough cleaning. Heated toilet seats are warm and comfortable even in the coldest months.
- Children’s seats have a detachable inner seat designed for children who are potty training.
- Bidet toilet bowl seats feature a targeted stream of water that can reduce the need for toilet paper and promote better hygiene. Like a standalone bidet, they may also provide warm water, a heated seat, an air dryer, a massage mode and more.
Toilet Colors

As far as colors go, white is by far the top choice for toilets found in residential bathrooms. However, the best toilets for your home don’t have to be white toilets. They
should match your personal style. Almond toilets can bring a subtle variation from the typical bright white porcelain. Black toilets have a dramatic and contemporary design that fits in with chic, modern decor.
Consider Water-Saving Toilets

Installing a more efficient toilet can greatly reduce your home's water consumption and water bills. Toilets account for nearly 30 percent of an average home's indoor water use.
As part of our in-house Eco Options program to encourage earth-friendly living, we partner with the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program. Older toilets are often inefficient and may use as much as 6 gallons of water per flush. WaterSense labeled toilets use about 1.28 gallons per flush. High-performing, water-efficient options, they can reduce the average home’s toilet water use by 20 to 60 percent and are available in a wide variety of styles
Tip: It’s recommended to replace any toilets installed before 1994.
The best toilet for you will be comfortable, easy to clean and water efficient. You can choose from a variety of toilet sizes, shapes and profiles. Plus, special features like advanced flushing can make you appreciate your toilets even more. Ready to find the right type
of toilet for you? Use The Home Depot Mobile App to locate products and check inventory. Once you’ve found the perfect fixture, we offer professional toilet installation services to get it into your bathroom quickly and easily.