Be it for the guest bathroom, a smallish restroom in your basement or simply a space-saving hack for a bathroom pursuing a minimalist’s aesthetic, a good compact toilet won’t just give you more room to move about. Despite taking up less space, the right choice can still give you the heavy-duty performance of its larger counterparts, if not clocking in benefits a couple of notches above them, be it efficient water usage, ease of cleaning or faster and quieter flush mechanisms than an option you may have had around before. It’s important to note here, too, that ‘compact’ doesn’t have to mean the unit is cramped, too low or too narrow to be used comfortably by anyone other than kids or shorter individuals.The best compact toilets make clever design choices to reduce their footprint – like opting for ‘tank-less’ installation, or smaller water-efficient one-piece toilets without clunky space-eating tanks – without detracting from features like seat heights and shapes that can accommodate most people. We’ve looked around for the best small compact toilet for your washroom that’ll not only save space but look great doing it – here are our top picks.
The best compact toilets make clever design choices to reduce their footprint – like opting for ‘tank-less’ installation, or smaller water-efficient one-piece toilets without clunky space-eating tanks – without detracting from features like seat heights and shapes that can accommodate most people. We’ve looked around for the best small compact toilet for your washroom that’ll not only save space but look great doing it – here are our top picks.
KEN’S PICK
Luxury Modern Home Galba Small Toilet
The seamlessly smooth surfaces and clean edges of this unit make this an instant favorite, not just aesthetically but practically as well. Sans the nooks and crannies of a traditional two-piece unit that often make cleaning an unpalatable chore, this sleek unit with its straight lines will fit any classic or contemporary bathroom décor, saving you a ton of space in the process. The integrated tank is not bulky, and can be fitted into narrower spaces – for instance between the sink and a wall – with still enough clearance to move around comfortably. The elongated seat does not leave too large a footprint, while the seat height is about 17 inches, relatively standard for toilet seats and neither too high or too low for comfortable use by the whole family.
Apart from its compact and space-saving features, though, this unit also packs other great functionalities. A dual-flush system gives you control over the volume of water you use per cycle (0.8 gallons per flush for a half flush and 1.6 gallons per flush for a full cycle), the unit WaterSense certified for efficient water usage. A 3-inch valve and gravity-flow flushing makes for quick and thorough removal of waste, with glaze-coated surfaces that resist accumulation of dirt, grime, staining or discoloration and self-clean with every flush cycle.
KEN’S BUDGET PICK
KOHLER 3810-0 Santa Rosa Comfort Height Elongated Toilet
A one-piece unit eliminating all the bits and bobs you’d have been stuck assembling and cleaning, this toilet features a smooth and seamless design with sleek sides and surfaces that are not only easy to clean, but also make for a streamlined and space-saving unit. The elongated seat and comfort height of about 17 to 19 inches makes settling into this unit as normal and comfortable as sitting in a chair, a great option for those who may have difficulty getting out of lower seats – for instance because of a flare-up of backpain or a touch of arthritis – as well as for taller individuals who might otherwise find themselves scrunched uncomfortably on smaller toilets. A 1.28 gallon per flush capacity means you get the same, if not more efficient, thorough-cleaning function of higher water volume units, the smaller tank also contributing toward the unit’s clean and space-saving design. And don’t worry – the water-efficiency doesn’t skimp on effectiveness. Patented AquaPiston 360-degree water flow technology and the 3:2 ratio flush valve finetune gravity-flow flushing and powerful siphon action to quickly and thoroughly remove waste, without staining or accumulating in the bowl. WaterSense-certified, the flushing mechanism is activated by a lever located at the side of the tank.
RUNNER-UP
TOTO CT418F#01 Aquia Wall-Hung Dual-Flush Toilet Bowl
If you’re renovating your bathroom completely, or are up for some remodelling to get just the right compact toilet in your bathroom, this is a wonderful option to consider. For starters, wall-mounted toilets are arguably the most space-saving of the bunch, with the tank built into the wall rather than attached externally to the toilet seat. This unit not only saves all that space, but looks great too with its clutter-free and smooth-edged appearance, much easier to clean down without the additional surfaces and crevices an external tank would include. The dual flush system, operated via wall-mounted push plate, gives you better control over water usage – you can opt for low volume usage (at about 0.9 gallons per flush) or a more thorough and full flush cycle (at 1.6 gallons per flush). Even at the maximum flush capacity, the unit still uses far less water per flush cycle than several other options out there, earning its WaterSense and CALGreen certifications. The elongated bowl and universal height also give you the functionality of a standard-sized toilet without eating up too much space.
Because installing this unit will involve scoping out your plumbing, taking out and then re-doing your drywall and perhaps re-doing your plumbing as well, it’s highly recommended you call in a contractor to help get the job done professionally. Though it may cost you more than an easy-to-install one- or two-piece toilet, it does pay for itself through water-saving and the time and effort you’ll be saving up cleaning in the long run. The unit can be used in conjunction with the brand’s DuoFit In-Wall Tank System, though this is optional, and can be upgraded with an elongated SoftClose seat (not included with this unit).
RUNNER-UP
Kohler K-3811-47 Santa Rosa Comfort Height Toilet
Another unit with the patented high-efficiency AquaPiston flush technology of our budget pick, this unit comes with a slightly higher gallons per flush capacity of 1.6, which is nonetheless still within the efficiency boundaries to qualify it for WaterSense endorsement. The unit is a one-piece toilet, with a seamless design connecting tank to toilet seat without any exposed elements giving you trouble when it’s time to clean. Like its predecessor on this list, this unit also features an elongated seat (with the same footprint as a round design alternative) and comfort height, an inch or two higher than standard toilet seat height to emulate sitting in a chair rather than scrunching over too small a unit.