Toilets aren’t the most exciting products to buy, however, they are an essential part of everyday life. If you’re in the market for a toilet, chances are you want to know which brands you can trust and which brands to avoid.
A quick search for toilets and you’ll find that there aren’t a lot of companies making them. Market-share is overwhelmingly 3 main brands, Toto, American Standard, and Kohler, but there are other options too that offer great looking modern toilets.
It doesn’t matter if you’re building a new house, remodeling an out-of-date bathroom, or need to replace an ancient toilet. A quality toilet should be considered because it will last 20-30 years. Yes, toilets last a really long time!
The 7 Best Toilet Brands
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Toto
Toto is a company at the forefront of toilet technology. They’re one of the companies that popularized the porcelain toilet in the West in the early 1900s. Porcelain toilets actually got their start in East Asia and their popularity grew as people in Europe and North America learned about them.
As a Japanese company, Toto is known for its attention to detail and fascination with blending electronics into their toilets. You won’t find electronics in their more popular, basic models, but you’ll see plenty of it in their premium toilets.
What I like about Toto is they manufacture all their American sold toilets in America. The Toto brand is proud to support American jobs and have a massive facility in Morrow, Georgia.
Toto offers a range of products, including traditional 2-piece toilets, 1-piece toilets, dual flush toilets, hand-free toilets, and bidet toilet seats. Their price range is meant to accommodate all kinds of consumers who want something basic, or a toilet that goes above and beyond the norm. Check out this video of a Neorest and you’ll be amazed at what a toilet can do (read more about Toto toilets and if they are good).
Another great thing about Toto toilets is their commitment to conservation. Buy any of their toilets and you can rest assured that they use a minimal amount of water and meet WaterSense and State guidelines. For these reasons, Toto is the best toilet brand on the market.
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American Standard
American Standard is synonymous with American plumbing and chances are you’ve used American Standard a lot. The company has been around for over 140 years and is based out of Piscataway, NJ.
They make a bunch of plumbing supplies but are most well-known for their toilets and they’ve done a great job with them. But here’s a secret that most people don’t know: American Standard is now operating under the Lixil Group (from Japan). So although it’s still a long-standing American brand, it’s owned by a foreign corporation.
American Standard toilets focus on durable and quality products, however, they don’t offer the same technological options that Toto offers. American Standard provides the basic toilets that consumers need and they come at a great price with a good warranty (check out my article on the best toilets on a budget).
Most people don’t need a fancy toilet and if you want something that blends into your bathroom without being noticed, then an American Standard is right for you.
I like these toilets because you know what you’re getting and they won’t break the bank. There are fewer options than the Toto or Kohler brands, however, American Standard also has a great warranty that will keep budget mined buyers happy.
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Kohler
Kohler stands out on this list of brands because it remains a family-owned company. Yes, a company this big can still be family owned.
John Kohler created the company in 1873 and began by making cast-iron implements for farmers and factories. Who knew the company would balloon into a bathroom behemoth. bathtubs, toilets, sinks, and faucets (among many others).
Born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, John’s company still remains in the place it was created as a pillar of the region’s economy.
As far as toilets go, Kohler is giving Toto a run for its money with modern design and electronic technology. One of my favorite toilets, the Numi (around $6,000), is a beast of a toilet, offering music, a foot heater, bidet, automatic open and close, and multi-person auto controls (my article on the best luxury toilets on the market).
But Kohler isn’t just about modern design and luxury. Their primary focus is aimed at nice looking toilets for a reasonable price. Whether you want a sleek looking 1-piece or a traditional 2-piece toilet, Kohler has plenty of models to suit your style. And they do it without breaking the bank.
They have a number of options in the $200 range that offer everything you need when it comes to functionality – dual flush, low-flow water, elongated and round, comfort height.
Take a look at their modern toilets for a great looking toilet at a reasonable price.
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Woodbridge
Woodbridge may not be a company you’ve heard of, however, they are making inroads in a competitive industry. They’ve grown by using their competitive advantage of selling directly to the consumer and skipping the middleman.
It’s unlikely you’ll see Woodbridge toilets in your local home improvement store, but you will definitely see them on websites like Amazon that allow the company to reach consumers directly. This business approach has worked well for the company as Internet sales have grown exponentially in recent years.
Selling directly to the consumer allows Woodbridge to keep their prices low, which is what most customers want, right?
From their headquarters in Cerritos, California the company takes your online order and delivers it directly to you. In addition to toilets, Woodbridge also makes kitchen and bath products that come with a 1-5 year warranty.
I like Woodbridge’s approach and I like their modern looking toilets that come at a good price (check out the best square toilets – including Woodbridge). Note that many of their products are manufactured in China, so this comes with a much different manufacturing approach than a Toto that makes much of its products in the U.S.
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Eago
Eago is another toilet brand that has quality toilets. Don’t expect to see the same variety of options that the big brands on this list have, but they have a few good looking models.
Eago isn’t widely known and that’s because they are a Guangdong, China company that is just entering the American market. In addition to toilets, they also make tubs and sinks.
Their toilets come with features such as dual flush, low-flow water consumption, and bidets. If your top priority is price, give the Eago toilet brand a shot.
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Sterling
You might be wondering why the Sterling brand is lower on this list. After all, the Sterling name is all over toilets in American (it’s even labeled on mine).
Did you know the Sterling brand is actually part of the Kohler brand? The company has been around since the early 1900s and it went through various bankruptcies and sales.
In 1984, the Kohler brand purchased the Sterling Faucet Co. and was able to expand their presence in West Virginia and Arkansas, where Sterling plants were located. Kohler kept the company separate and continued to build and buy related companies like Kinkead Industries and Owens Corning to put them under the Sterling brand.
Eventually, in 1999, Kohler merged with Sterling Plumbing Group making Kohler even larger!
These days you’ll still find Sterling branded toilets. Most models are basic 2-piece toilets that are water efficient and come at a good price. I like the Sterling brand because I trust Kohler. I also like Sterling because the toilets they offer are functional yet still look great.
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Saniflo
The last best toilet brand is the Saniflo and it has a unique angle when it comes to toilets. If you haven’t heard of a Saniflo toilet, maybe you’ve heard of a macerating toilet.
Macerating toilets reduces waste into small particle before the waste is pushed through your pipes (think of a macerating toilet as a blender).
These types of toilets are great for low-pressure environments when a toilet is installed lower than a sewage drain pipe. If you have a basement toilet (without pipes under the basement) you’ll need to pump the waste up to the sewage pipes.
Enter the Saniflo toilet, that is specially designed for low-pressure systems. Saniflo is the best toilet brand for macerating and it’s toilets look like most others. The only difference is the blender and pump connected to the back of the toilet.
If you require a specialized toilet for an unconventional situation, check out the Saniflo brand. They are more expensive toilets than you’ll commonly see, however,
How Much Should I Expect To Pay For The Best Toilet Brand
Here’s some great news: high-quality brands often have the best prices. Toto, American Standard, and Kohler offer toilets for every price range.
They range from 100-200 for simple yet water-efficient models, to 200-400 for more stylish options. There is also a high-end market for toilets that can run up to the 1000’s of dollars (check out the fanciest toilets on the market).
How Long Should I Expect A Quality Brand Toilet To Last
Toilets last a really long time. One reason they endure the test of time is because they’re a natural product. Porcelain is made from fired clay (white clay). It’s a robust material that can withstand bumps and chips.
We install seats on our porcelain thrones so we rarely even touch the porcelain. Occasionally an old toilet will get a crack or the wax seal will need to be replaced on the bottom of the toilet, however, most toilet replacements occur because homeowners was a fresh look.
A decade ago, toilet options were fairly limited, but these days you can opt for a modern, wall hung toilet for not much more than the traditional options. Want the sleek look of a 1-piece toilet rather than the same old 2-piece option? There are reasonably priced toilets 1-piece toilets too.
Which Toilet Brand I Prefer
Of the 7 toilet brands I mentioned, my favorite is far and away the Toto. Toto has plenty of options for budget and luxury shoppers and they continue to innovate with a product that appears to be so simple. One look at the Neorest and you can tell that toilets can be luxury.
American Standard and Kohler are both brands you can trust. Think of American Standard as the go-to brand for simple yet quality toilets, and Kohler as a company chasing Toto for ingenuity and class.
If you’re up for something different I really like the modern look of Woodbridge toilets as well.
Conclusion
Finding the best toilet brand isn’t difficult because there are so few quality brands on the market. A walk down your local home improvement store will turn up only a few brands, yet still plenty of styles.
You’ll likely see Kohler, American Standard, Toto, and Sterling. If you look online you’ll see a few more options like Woodbridge, who sell directly to the consumer. The best brands will have plenty of models to choose from. For example, the Toto and Kohler toilet brands offer luxury toilets that cost over $5000, and they offer economical toilets that sell for $150. Even the more inexpensive toilets can still offer water saving and include features like “dual flush”.
Although a toilet might seem like an expensive purchase, remember that you’re only buying a toilet 1x every 20 to 30 years. Given that we spend so much time on our toilets, it makes sense to buy something because we like the look and feel of it, not because it’s the cheapest. You’ll be using your toilet 4-5 times per day for 20 years – make sure you treat your butt right!
Thanks for reading. Be sure to check out my guides on other toilets and accessories! Leave a comment below if you have a question about a brand, or have an experience you’d like to share.