We Tested Toilets in Our Own Homes, and These 4 Took the Throne

Best Overall

Toto Drake Cotton Elongated Standard Height Toilet

$389 at Amazon


$358 at Wayfair


$359 at Lowe’s

The Toto Drake Cotton Elongated Standard Height 2-Piece Toilet with a 12-inch Rough-In 1.6-GPF CST776CSFG-01 model is our top pick for the best toilet. Although it has a pretty basic and rather plain design, it exceeded our expectations. It offers remarkable efficiency and has user-friendly features, including the side flush that offers a single—albeit very strong—flush. We chose this model for its tornado flush technology, a powerful single flush capability that effectively disposed of waste without ever clogging or the need for a second flush. 

We arranged for the toilet to be professionally installed via Lowe’s, and they hired an expert from Angi (Angi is owned by Dotdash-Meredith parent company IAC). The whole process was completed within an hour. The installers said that the directions were very clear and that it was an easy install. 

The toilet has a sturdy construction that gives us confidence in its long-term durability and reliability. It has a solid tank lid that prevents leaks or any movement. The cyclonic flush mechanism significantly reduced the need for frequent cleaning and the typical scrubbing associated with conventional toilets, as it thoroughly rinsed every inch of the bowl with each flush. 

Despite the minor inconvenience of having to purchase a separate lid, we found the toilet's performance far outweighed this additional expense, given its exceptional efficacy in water usage and maintenance. It’s also quite reasonably priced, so having to buy the lid wasn’t too much of a burden. The comfortable seat height and elongated design were added perks that enhanced our comfort and convenience. We found it to be an excellent value for money.

After six months, this toilet is still going strong. The quality remains excellent, and there are no signs of wear and tear, leaks, cracks, stains, or scratches. The flush is still consistent, and we have practically retired the plunger and cleaning wand. It’s incredibly easy to clean—the cyclonic flush does all of the work. The only part that needs any effort to clean is the bottom of the lid, but this only takes a quick wipedown.

It’s still the best toilet we’ve owned, and it hasn’t clogged or been unable to fully flush once. In fact, since the initial testing, we’ve upgraded every toilet in our home to this one.

Type: Two piece | Bowl Shape: Elongated | Flush Mechanism: Single flush | Gallons per Flush: 1.6 GPF | Seat Height: 16.125 inches | Overall Height: 30.125 inches