The 6 Best Toilets

Nobody gets excited about buying a new toilet. But when your old one starts clogging every other week or running constantly, you know it’s time. I’ve replaced three toilets in my house over the last decade, and I’ve learned a ton about what actually matters.

You want something that flushes everything down on the first try, doesn’t use a ton of water, and isn’t a nightmare to clean. It sounds simple, but a lot of toilets just don’t get it right. After a lot of research and some hands-on experience, these are the ones I’d recommend to any friend or neighbor.

 

 

Our Top Toilet Picks for 2026

Toto Drake Two-Piece Elongated Toilet

The Toto Drake costs around $404, and it’s the one I put in our master bathroom two years ago. It’s just an absolute workhorse. Plumbers recommend these for a reason, and it’s all about the flush. It has this powerful cyclonic action that clears the bowl completely every single time, and we’ve yet to have a single clog.

The height is great, too. It’s what they call “comfort height,” so it’s a little taller and easier to sit down on and stand up from. The bowl has a special glaze that helps keep it clean, which I definitely appreciate. It just works, and I never have to think about it.

The Downside: You have to buy the toilet seat separately, which is a bit of an annoyance. Be sure to factor that into your total cost.

 

 

Glacier Bay One-Piece Toilet in White

For our basement bathroom, I just needed something cheap and effective, and this Glacier Bay model at $179 was perfect. It’s a one-piece toilet, which I love because there are no nooks and crannies between the tank and bowl for dust and gunk to collect. It makes cleaning so much faster.

Honestly, the flush is surprisingly strong for the price. It’s also WaterSense certified, so it’s not wasting water with every flush. It gets the job done without any fuss, which is exactly what you want from a budget-friendly toilet.

The Downside: It’s a very basic-looking toilet. There’s nothing stylish about it, but it blends in and does its job.

 

 

Gerber Viper Edge Toilet

This Gerber Viper Edge is priced at $189, and I picked it for our guest bathroom specifically because the box said it was easy to install. And it really was. I did it myself in about an hour, and it came with the wax ring and bolts, so I didn’t have to make a second trip to the store.

The 1.28 GPF flush is solid and surprisingly quiet, which is nice since that bathroom is right next to a bedroom. It handles waste just fine and has been a reliable, no-drama toilet since I put it in last spring.

The Downside: I’ve noticed you sometimes have to hold the handle down for a full second to get the most powerful flush.

 

 

Kohler Innate Smart Toilet

Alright, at $2550 this is a serious splurge, but if you want all the bells and whistles, this is it. The Kohler Innate is more of an experience than a toilet. The built-in bidet is fantastic, and you can adjust everything—water temperature, pressure, you name it. My wife absolutely loves it.

It also has a heated seat, a night light, and it opens and closes automatically. The flush is powerful and efficient, so it’s not just about the fancy features. It’s a genuinely great toilet that also happens to pamper you.

The Downside: The price is obviously very high, and it does use electricity, so your utility bill will see a small bump.

 

 

American Standard H2Option Dual Flush Toilet

I’m always looking for ways to save a little water, and this American Standard model for $253 does a great job. I like that the dual-flush system is really effective. The light flush (0.92 gallons) is perfect for liquids, and the full flush (1.28 gallons) has plenty of power for solid waste.

Some dual-flush toilets I’ve seen feel weak, but this one is really well-designed. The bowl surface also has an antimicrobial finish, which seems to help keep stains from setting in between cleanings. It’s a great value for a water-saving model.

The Downside: It’s a standard height toilet, which might be a little low for taller people or anyone with bad knees.

 

 

Kohler Prosa One-Piece Elongated Toilet

This Kohler Prosa costs about $400 and it’s a great fit for smaller spaces like a powder room. The one-piece design is compact and looks very sleek and modern. Plus, the seamless design makes it a breeze to wipe down and keep clean.

Even though it’s compact, it has a strong 1.28 GPF flush that has handled everything our busy family has thrown at it. It comes with a soft-close lid, which is a small feature that you really start to appreciate. No more slamming toilet seats!

The Downside: If you don’t clean it regularly, I’ve found the bowl can be prone to staining more than some other models.

 

 

What To Look For When Buying a Toilet

The biggest thing for me is always flushing power. Look at the MaP score if you can find it—that’s an independent test that measures how much waste a toilet can flush. A score over 500 is good, and anything near 1,000 is incredible. All the toilets on this list perform really well.

Think about who will be using it. Comfort height, or chair height, toilets are about two inches taller than standard ones. They make a huge difference for older folks or anyone with mobility issues. For a kid’s bathroom, a standard height might actually be better.

Finally, decide between a one-piece or two-piece model. Two-piece toilets are usually cheaper and what most people have. One-piece toilets cost more, but they are so much easier to clean and have a cleaner, more modern look. For me, the extra cost for a one-piece is usually worth it in a high-traffic bathroom.