Everything You Should Consider Before Buying a Toilet
From shapes to dimensions, here's everything you need to know.
When searching for a new toilet, there’s a lot you need to consider. Along with knowing the types and styles of toilets available, you also need to think about dimensions, shape and function. To ensure you get the right fit and flush, take a look at our rundown of available features and discover which is the best toilet to buy.
Type of Toilet
Close Coupled: The most common type of toilet, this affordable commode comes either in two separate pieces - the bowl and the tank, or as a one piece with the tank directly connected to the bowl. One-piece models are generally easier to clean and maintain, however two-piece styles usually come cheaper. Close-coupled toilets are easy to transport as well as install.
Back to Wall: This low-profile toilet mounts directly to the wall, making it an ideal choice for small or narrow bathrooms. A thick wall and intricate installation can be required.
Wall Hung: For this model, the toilet bowl is mounted onto the wall and not on the floor. Similar to back to wall toilets, the cistern is hidden within the wall and is accessible via a flush panel.
Low Level: Operated via a flush lever, low level toilets have their cisterns fitted at a lower point on the wall and are connected to the toilet bowl by a chrome flush pipe.
Toilet Bowl Shape
Squared: Square-shaped in design, this bowl option offers additional comfort and is typically 5 – 8cm longer than a round bowl.
Round: Circular in design, this bowl shape requires less room, making it an ideal choice when space is at a premium.
Seat height can impact your physical needs. Measured from the floor to the top of your toilet seat, there are two types of seat heights: standard and chair.
Standard: Typically 38 - 43cm off the ground, standard-height toilets are common in most households and are an ideal choice for homes with children.
Chair: Typically 43 - 49cm off the ground, chair-height toilets offer additional comfort and are an ideal choice for those with restricted mobility.
Flush Type
When choosing a flushing mechanism, consider the size of your household, as well as which benefits best fit your needs.
Gravity Flush: A gravity-flush system uses the weight of the water to create flushing pressure. It is one of the most common flushing systems available, as well as one of the quietest.
Dual Flush: Dual-flush toilets offer two flushing options: partial and full. Ideal for liquid waste, the partial flush saves water by using as little as 0.6 gallons per flush.
Siphon Jet: Siphonic toilets have a curved trapway that prevents sewer gases from entering the bathroom. When flushed, water from the tank rapidly fills the trapway, producing a siphon effect that sucks out water and waste. Post-flush, an automatic valve refills the emptied tank, readying it for the next flush.
Flush Style
Button: The most common type of flush style, the button is usually located on top of the toilet's tank, with many coming as dual-flush. Button flushes are easier to clean than a lever or pull chain.
Lever: Now a dying trend, before button or motion sensor flushes were introduced, levers were the most popular type of toilet flush style.
Pull Chain: Pull chain style of flush are elegant and old worldly, lending a Victorian-style charm to your bathroom or washroom's décor.
Touchless Flush: Activated by motion sensors that are mounted inside or on top of the tank, touchless-flush toilets minimize the spreading of germs.
Additional Toilet Features
Seat-Included: Not all toilets come with the seats included. If you want an easy way to make sure your seat is compatible with your toilet bowl and tank, choose a seat-included toilet.
Soft-Close Seat: No more loud bangs when someone puts the seat down. This feature allows the seat to gently and slowly close.
Heated Seat: As the name states, the toilet seat is heated.
Toilet Size and Dimensions
Use the sizing filters to understand which size toilet best fits to your home. Here you can adjust and measure width, depth and height.
Adding a Bidet
As well as a toilet, it might be worthy investment to add a bidet to your bath or washroom. Elegant and discreet in style, our bidet models come with all available features.
Tip: Found your next perfect loo? Then the next step is to check out our guide on how to install a toilet. You'll be glad you did.
