If there’s one crucial place in our home (besides the kitchen of course) that we can’t afford to skimp on, it’d have to be the washroom – specifically when it comes to a working and durable toilet. After all, sturdy, durable and properly functioning fittings are absolutely critical necessities to a properly functioning home, and need to last us longer than a couple of months at a stretch before we have to resort to calling in a plumber or a handyman. Fear not, though – higher quality doesn’t always have to come at a high cost. After all, whether we’re redoing our bathrooms, replacing a broken unit or building up from scratch, we’re likely going to be on a budget, and higher prices aren’t always a failsafe guarantor of better quality. We’ve been looking through our options for the best pocket-friendly toilets out there which don’t compromise on quality – here are our picks for the best toilets under $200.
KEN’S PICK
Niagara 77001WHCO1 Stealth 0.8 GPF Toilet
A classic floor-mounted two-piece toilet, the two part assembly makes installation a simple business you can undertake yourself, especially since you won’t be lugging a full sized unit around your home, saving you the cost of hiring a professional. But this is hardly the only plus of this unit. Unlike most toilets, which utilise gravity-flow flushing, this unit works via a pressure-assisted mechanism instead – as the water tank fills up, pressurized air in the trapway creates a vacuum effect when the toilet is flushed, with a much stronger and more efficient siphoning action than gravity-flow models are capable of. Strategically positioned siphon and rim jets use a small amount of water powerfully dispensed for thorough cleaning action, dispatching waste through specially designed rim holes, glazed ceramic resisting dirt accumulation. With the brand’s patented Stealth technology, you won’t have to worry about clogs or stains, the pressure-assisted mechanism eliminating flappers from the design altogether, along with the risk of leaks and (thanks to the inner water tank) sweating. Unlike many pressure-assisted toilets, this unit is much quieter when flushing.
The unit also comes with dual flush technology, with half a flush cycle using 0.5 gallons per flush, while a full flush cycle uses 0.8 gallons per flush – making this hands-down the most efficient WaterSense certified unit on this list. At 17 inches seat height and with an elongated bowl, this is a comfy unit for use by the whole family. Note that the seat and wax rings are not included with this purchase, which installs with a 12 inch rough-in.
KEN’S BUDGET PICK
American Standard Colony HET Right Height Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet
Another compact two-piece unit, the toilet still manages to look sleek and seamless without the clutter we normally tend to associate with such toilets. A great option for a great price, you get impressive value for money – the unit is a HET (High Efficiency Toilet) model, using just 1.28 gallons per flush and meeting WaterSense’s water efficiency criteria easily. A durable unit made out of vitreous china, the PowerWash rim sweeps the toilet boil clean with every flush cycle, a 2 inch flush valve and 2 inch trapway creating a thorough siphoning action to remove waste via gravity-flow flushing, preventing discoloration or staining and making your clean-up job that much easier. With the seat at the trademarked Right Height – so you can settle on to it without needing to scrunch yourself up – and with an elongated toilet bowl, this is a user-friendly unit to include in your home, installing with a 10 inch rough-in.
RUNNER-UP
KOHLER K-3987-0 Wellworth Dual-Flush Round-Fronted Toilet
Sleek and stylish, this two-piece unit features a minimalistic and clean design, space saving with its narrow tank and round bowl, perfect if you’re looking for a compact but high-functioning unit. WaterSense certified, the unit’s trip lever lets you choose between two flush options – a lower volume cycle using 1.1 gallons per flush, and a full cycle using 1.6 gallons per flush, both highly water-saving volumes. A smooth ceramic unit, the 2 and 1/8 inch glazed trapway and powerful gravity-flow flushing mechanism sucks waste out quickly and efficiently, preventing clogs and accumulation of dirt and grime inside the toilet bowl, and installs with a 12 inch rough-in.
With a seat height of a little over 14 inches, this is a great unit for shorter individuals who experience difficulty or discomfort on higher seats, and the perfect height for kids to use comfortably and without help. Note that the toilet seat is not included as part of this purchase.
RUNNER-UP
TOTO CST244EF#01 Entrada Elongated Toilet
Another sleek but space-saving two-piece unit, this toilet comes with a no-fuss minimalistic design both easy to maintain and install, especially thanks to the close coupled assembly of the tank and toilet bowl. Featuring an elongated bowl for comfort seating (note that the seat has to be bought separately), the E-Max technology of this gravity-flow flushing unit uses less water for more thorough flushing action. Using just 1.28 gallons per flush and meeting WaterSense and CALgreen criteria as a high efficiency toilet unit, the unit utilises a wide flush valve and extra-large siphon jet to create a powerful flushing effect, removing waste and cleaning out the toilet bowl with every flush. At universal height, this is a great option to use for the whole family, not too high or low to be uncomfortable, with a 12 inch rough-in installation.
SOURCES
- Niagara Conservation: https://niagaracorp.com/
- American Standard: https://www.americanstandard-us.com/
- Kohler:
- TOTO: https://www.totousa.com/