The 11 Best Compact Toilets for Small Bathrooms
Last Updated on May 18, 2022 by toilethaven
What is the smallest size toilet available?
For people with a small bathroom, the size of a toilet definitely matters. Of importance is the toilet’s depth and width and sometimes even height.
If you want to buy a good but small toilet for your bathroom, you will have to consider between a round toilet and a compact elongated toilet.
A round toilet’s depth is about 2 inches smaller than that of an elongated toilet. Compact elongated toilets on the other hand take up the same bathroom space as around toilet but have the same comfort as a regular elongated toilet.
Apart from the toilet dimensions, I also factored in a toilet’s flushing power while ranking the 11 toilets below. They are therefore small and powerful flushing toilets.
The 11 Best Small Toilets for Small Bathrooms
So what is a good compact toilet? The following are the 11 best compact toilets for people with a small bathroom:
Toilet | Depth | Width | Height |
---|---|---|---|
1. Saniflo Sanicompact | 21.5 inches | 14.5 inches | 18.5 inches |
2. Toto Eco Ultramax | 26.5 inches | 16.5 inches | 27.5 inches |
3. Horow Small Toilet | 25 inches | 13.4 inches | 28.4 inches |
4. Galba Small Toilet | 24.5 inches | 14 inches | 27 inches |
5. Kohler San Souci | 25.63 inches | 16.75 inches | 24.25 inches |
6. Kohler Veil | 26.1 inches | 17.2 inches | 21 inches |
7. Kohler Santa Rosa | 27.75 inches | 18.75 inches | 28.8 inches |
8. American Standard H2Option | 27.5 inches | 27.5 inches | 30 inches |
9. Toto Entrada Toilet | 26.625 inches | 15.25 inches | 30 inches |
10. Signature Hardware Braeburn | 30.5 inches | 18.25 inches | 19.5 inches |
11. Swiss Madison St. Tropez | 26.5 inches | 15 inches | 31 inches |
1. Saniflo 023 Sanicompact Self-Contained toilet

Features and Specifications
- Elongated toilet
- Tankless toilet
- Pressure-assisted flushing
- 1/1.28 gallon per flush
- Soft close toilet seat included
- 1-piece toilet
- 12-inch rough-in
- Floor mounted
- Mounting bolts included
- Wax ring not included
- Vitreous china material
- 62.2 pounds
- Toilet dimensions: 21.5 x 14.5 x 18.5 inches
- 2-year warranty
Review
The Saniflo Sanicompact self-contained toilet is in my opinion the best compact toilet for small bathrooms for the following reasons:
- It is a tankless toilet
- Rear discharge/back outlet toilet
- Upflush/macerating toilet
It can be installed up to 9 feet below the sewer line and 120 feet away from a soil stack. If you therefore have a small bathroom in the basement which needs a compact toilet then this is the one to go for. Its depth is 21.5 inches, width 14.5 inches and a height 18.5 inches.
The distance from the floor to the top of the toilet bowl is 18.25 inches. This is therefore a comfort height toilet which is so easy to sit and stand from especially for the tall and elderly. An elongated bowl ensures that although this is a small toilet your comfort is guaranteed.
If you, like most people hate the sound of a slamming toilet seat then this toilet solves that problem for you. It comes with a soft close toilet seat and lid which closes slowly and quietly.
To evacuate waste from the toilet bowl the Saniflo Sanicompact toilet has a discharge outlet elbow which can be adjusted at 360 degrees to suit any installation requirement.
This toilet also has a one way valve that comes preinstalled in the discharge elbow. The valve prevents backflow of waste back to the toilet bowl.
Due to its tankless design, this toilet uses water under high pressure to flush the toilet. It is electronically timed in such a way that by the press of a button 1 gallon of water will automatically flush the toilet. Read more on tankless toilets here.
This toilet being a rear discharge toilet can be installed anywhere. You do not need to have a floor drainage system unlike in regular toilets. The toilet’s waste exit from the back and through the bathroom wall. More on rear outlet toilets here.
I like the fact that you can add a sink while installing this toilet. The sinks gray water is channeled to the toilet where it is pumped out immediately.
The only down side to this toilet is that it is dependent on electricity and will therefore not function if there is an outage. It also costs a little more than most toilets.
The Sanicompact does not need to be vented. It weighs 62.2 pounds and a 2-year warranty is given on every purchase.
2. Toto Eco Ultramax

Features and Specifications
- One-piece toilet
- Round-front bowl
- Sleek high-profile design
- E-max Flushing system
- 3-inch wide flush valve
- Soft-close toilet seat included
- Toilet bought height: 14.5 inches
- 1.28 gallons per flush
- Gravity flush
- 65 pounds
- 12-inch rough-in
- Floor mounted
- EPA WaterSense
- One year warranty
- Toilet dimensions: 26.5 x 16.5 x 27.5 inches
Review
Toto Eco Ultramax measures 26.5 inches in depth, 16.5 inches in width and 27.5 inches in height. It is a perfect toilet small bathrooms as well as ordinary bathrooms.
The sleek one-piece design is very attractive especially coupled with the round toilet bowl. Although it is a compact toilet, it looks so stylish and modern and for a Toto toilet, it is reasonably priced.
This particular model uses the Toto E-max flushing technology. It therefore saves water by using a 3-inch wide flush valve instead of the normal 2-inch, incorporated with an extra-large siphon jet. The result is a very powerful flush using only 1.28 gallons of water per each flush.
The Toto Eco Ultramax is also a standard height toilet. The distance from the floor to the bowl is 14.5 inches. If you are therefore not a very tall person you this would be an ideal toilet for you.
A soft-close toilet seat is included when your buy this toilet. Apart from preventing the seat from slamming on the toilet bowl, the slow-close feature prevents seat from breaking and therefore lasts longer.
There are people who prefer elongated toilet bowls to round bowls. If that’s the case for you then it is unfortunate because this toilet has a front-round bowl. A round bowl saves about 2 inches in depth and therefore a good choice for small bathrooms/powder rooms/half bathrooms.
You will however be needed to buy mounting bolts and wax ring separately for the toilet installation as they are not supplied with this toilet. A one year warranty is offered upon the purchase of this toilet.
Another good and best flushing Toto small toilet is the Toto Drake II round-front toilet. It has a depth of 26.5 inches, a width of 17.25 inches and a height of 30 inches. Check it out here on Amazon.
3. Horow Small Toilet

Features and Specifications
- Compact 1-piece toilet
- Ideal for small spaces
- 16.5-inch toilet seat height
- Quiet and strong siphon flushing system
- 1.6/1.1 gallons per flush
- 12-inch rough-in
- Toilet dimensions: 25 x 13.4 x 28.4 inches
- 96 pounds
- Contemporary style
- Concealed trapway
- Glazed surface (easy to clean and maintain)
- Round toilet
- Dual flush
- Easy installation
- Floor Mounted
- Soft closing toilet seat included
- Mounting bolts, bolt caps and wax ring included
- 5 year warranty against staining or fading of porcelain glaze
- 3 year warranty on flushing mechanism and soft closing seat lid
Review
The Horow small toilet is a compact one-piece round toilet that is among the smallest toilets, making it a great option for small bathrooms. It has a depth 25 inches, width of 13.4 inches and a height of 28.4 inches.
The toilet comes with a soft close toilet seat which therefore cancels toilet slamming. With the seat installed, the distance between the floor and top of the seat is 16.5 inch.
A dual-flush functionality allows you to either use 1.1 gallons of water to flush liquids or 1.6 gallons to flush solids with a powerful flush. The flush buttons are chrome plated. In case you would like to learn more about dual flush toilets check out this post.
Cleaning this toilet and maintaining it that way is super easy. The skirted-toilet designed combined with a glazed surface makes it hard for dirt to adhere and hence cleaning is fast and stress-free.
If you have your own tools (wrench, putty knife, screwdriver and sometimes level) then the installation of this toilet is a piece of cake. Mounting bolts, bolts caps and wax ring are included in the package when you buy the Horow small toilet.
A 5-year warranty against fading of porcelain glaze is given, and a 3-year warranty on flushing mechanism and soft close toilet seat.
4. Galba Small Toilet

Features and Specifications
- One-piece toilet
- Elongated toilet
- 1.6/0.8 gallons per flush
- Plastic material
- 12 inch rough-in
- 90 pounds
- White color
- Slow close toilet included
- 16.5 inch toilet seat high
- MaP score of 300
- Toilet Dimensions: 24.5 x 14 x 27 inches
- Concealed trapway
- Self-cleaning glazed surface
- 3-inch flush valve diameter
- One year warranty
Review
Galba small toilet is considered to be one of the best compact toilet for small bathrooms by virtue of its size. It is 24.5-inch deep, 14-inch wide and 28.5-inch high.
With a MaP score of 300, its flushing is powerful and surprisingly quiet. Unlike the normal 2-inch flush valve, this toilet has a 3-inch flush valve diameter which allows water to enter the bowl faster and forcefully. It consumes either 0.8 or 1.6 gallons of water per flush depending on the type of waste you have in the bowl, and the button you push.
Cleaning the inside and outside of this toilet is simplified by its self-cleaning glazing surface. This surface also does not scratch, rust, fade, or discolor. You are therefore assured that your toilet will last for a long time while still looking new.
One would not expect to find and elongated bowl in a small toilet like this one. The Galba small toilet not only has an elongated toilet seat but comes with a soft close toilet seat.
Its toilet seat is 16.5 inches from the floor. Although this does not comply with the minimum 17 inches seat height required by ADA, it is still very easy to sit and stand from it.
Galba small toilet is however a bit pricey compared to other toilets with similar or close to similar features and specifications. Apart from the pricing issue this is a great product especially for those looking for a toilet under 25 inches in depth.
5. Kohler San Souci

Features and Specifications
- One-piece toilet
- Round-front bowl
- Low profile design
- Quiet-close lid and seat included
- 92 pounds
- Vitreous china material
- 1.28 gallons of flush
- Floor mounted
- Toilet dimensions: 25.63 x 16.75 x 24.25 inches
- Gravity flush
- 15.25 inch bowl height
- 12-inch rough-in
- AquaPiston flushing system
Review
The Kohler K-4007-0 San Souci is one of the most beautiful compact toilets. Although the aim is to get the best compact toilet for small bathrooms, I believe that aesthetics matters too. This is a small and aesthetically appealing toilet.
The low-profile design of this toilet is ideal for small bathrooms. It has a depth of 25.63 inches, 16.75 inches wide and 24.25 inches high.
Flushing-wise this toilet will not disappoint you. The AquaPiston canister allows water to enter the toilet bowl from all directions and thereby increasing the power and effectiveness of the flush. It uses only 1.28 gallons per flush.
Due to its low water water consumption, Kohler San Souci has been certified by the EPA’s WaterSense as well as CalGreen. It can therefore be sold in California as well as Texas and Colorado.
The integrated one-piece design makes it easy to clean and maintain good hygiene with this toilet. It has no crevices where dirt can get trapped in and where you cannot reach during cleaning.
The distance between the floor and top of the toilet bowl is 15.25 inches. If you are therefore looking to buy a standard height toilet with a round bowl, this would be the one. For a comfort height toilet with an elongated both you should check out the KOHLER K-5172-0 San Souci Comfort Height Compact Elongated Toilet.
A quiet-close toilet seat and lid is included when you purchase this toilet. The quality of the toilet seat is something we feel Kohler should improve on however.
6. Kohler Veil Intelligent Toilet

Features and Specifications
- 0.8/1.28 GPF
- Heated toilet seat
- Elongated toilet
- 86 pounds
- Seat height: 17.5 inches
- White
- Floor mounted
- Nightlight
- Hands free opening and closing
- Comfort height toilet
- Integrated bidet
- Stainless steel wand
- Adjustable water pressure and temperature
- Automatic flush
- Touchscreen remote
- Supplied with seat, supply stop valve, braided inlet hose
- Toilet dimensions: 26.1 x 17.2 x 21 inches
Review
The reason this toilet has been ranked lower than the others in this review is only because of its cost. If you are going to buy a high-end compact toilet for a small bathroom, then this should be it. It is one of the best tankless toilet.
The Kohler Veil is a beautifully curved toilet that uses pressurized water to flush, unlike the normal gravity-flush type toilets. It is also what is known as a bidet toilet combo.
This toilet is completely hands-free. Once you enter the bathroom the toilet seat lid will automatically open and after you are done with your business it will close also automatically. You will also not need to pull a lever to flush the toilet. It will flush automatically.
The Veil comes with an integrated bidet seat. To cleanse yourself after using the toilet, 78 fine nozzles will wash you thoroughly with air-infused hot water water. You will be thereafter be dried with warm air, whose temperature can be adjusted through 5 levels.
The stainless steel wand can be adjusted either forwards or backwards to clean over a bigger area as well as clean people of different sizes. By the press of a button, you can also choose to have the oscillating or pulsating wash functions. You could also choose to have both of them running at the same time.
The toilet seat is at a comfort height, which is also heated and has an LED nightlight feature. You will therefore enjoy your bathroom trips whether it is freezing or not. The nightlight illuminates the toilet bowl with a blue light hence you don’t need to put on your bathrooms lights during the night.
The one thing that may stand between you and this toilet is its cost. If you however would not mind investing a little more money on your small bathroom then by all means go for it. You won’t regret it.
7. Kohler Santa Rosa

Features and Specifications
- Elongated toilet
- 1-piece toilet
- 1.28 gallons per flush
- Brevia quiet close toilet seat included
- Single flush gravity toilet
- 16.5 in. bowl height
- 12 in. rough-in measurement
- 109 pounds
- WaterSense certified
- Floor mounted
- Vitreous china material
- Mounting bolts included
- Wax ring and supply line not included
Review
The Kohler Santa Rosa is a one-piece elongated toilet that takes the same space as a round toilet without compromising on the comfort of an elongated toilet.
It is also one of the best Kohler toilets. It measures 27.75 inches in depth, 18.75 inches in width and 28.8 inches in height. It is clearly not the most compact toilet but if you need to save a few inches it will do the trick.
Just like most Kohler toilets, the Santa Rosa is a very powerful flushing toilet. For its effectiveness, Kohler used computer software to map out the flushing water speed and strength as it moves from the tank to the bowl to ensure a no-clogging experience. Its consumption is only 1.28 gallons per flush.
The elderly and tall people will especially fall in love with this toilet. Its comfort height (16.5 inch toilet bowl height) is easier to sit and stand from than a normal standard height toilet.
The irritating sound of toilet seats slamming on the bowl after each use will be a thing of the past once you buy this toilet. It comes with a soft-close toilet seat which matches the shape of the toilet bowl.
If you would like to make things a little more interesting you can buy the Kohler Santa Rosa Black Toilet. It’s a magnificent product which will of course make a bold statement in your bathroom
The toilet does not come with a wax ring and a water supply line hence you will need to purchase those separately. All in all this is a great compact toilet.
8. American Standard H2Option

Features and Specifications
- Round-front bowl
- Two-piece toilet
- Standard height
- EverClean surface
- Siphon jet flushing
- Seat not included
- Gravity flush
- 12-inch rough-in
- Color-matched bolt caps
- Vitreous china material
- Floor mounted
- 0.92/1.28 gallons per flush
- 5 year warranty
- Toilet dimensions: 27.5 X 27.5 X 30 inches
Review
American Standard is among the big 3 toilet manufactures in the world. They have therefore perfected the art of making great toilets and this particular one is no exception.
The H2Option uses American Standard’s PowerWash rims technology. The water entering the toilet bowl traps in air in the rim chamber and thereby pressurizing the rim chamber.
Pressurized water then forcefully enters the toilet bowl which initiates the siphoning action. Due to the high pressure of the water entering the bowl, the bowl’s contents are evacuated in one flush. For a full flush this toilet uses 1.28 gallons of water but you can also opt to use the 0.8 gallons for light waste like liquids.
For someone looking for a compact toilet especially for a narrow bathroom this one would be a great choice. It is 15 inches wide, 27.8 inches deep and 30 inches high.
The toilet bowl rim is at a standard height and is round in shape. An elongated toilet bowl of this same toilet model with a comfort height exists but it would not be the best for small bathrooms due to its depth.
For easier cleaning, the surface of the H2Option toilet is coated with American Standard’s EverClean surface additive. This additive inhibits the growth of stains and odor-causing bacteria. The mirror-like surface is also easy to clean and stays looking new for many years.
This toilet unfortunately is not sold with a toilet seat. You will need to buy the seat separately together with the installation gear. Two color-matched toilet bolt caps are however included in your purchase.
9. Toto Entrada Toilet

Features and Specifications
- Two-piece toilet
- Round-front bowl
- 16.25 inch toilet bowl height
- 12 inch rough-in
- EPA WaterSense certified
- 1.28 gallons per flush
- E-max Flushing system
- 76 pounds
- Toilet seat not included
- Floor mounted
- Vitreous china material
- Gravity flush
- Toilet dimensions: 26.625 x 15.25 x 30 inches
- One year warranty
Review
Toto toilets are some of the top rated and best flushing toilets in the world. You can therefore be sure that the Toto Entrada compact toilet will be a good choice for your small bathroom.
The round toilet bowl is at a height of 16.25 inches from the floor. When you add a seat on, it will be a perfect comfort-height which is easy to seat and stand from especially for elderly and tall people.
Although it is not the smallest toilet, the Toto Entrada will still save your bathroom some valuable inches. It has a length of 26.625 inches, 15.25 inches in width and a height of 30 inches.
The flushing system is quite powerful which is really not surprising for a Toto toilet model. If you therefore want to avoid toilet clogs this model would be right for you. It uses only 1.28 gallons per flush.
Even if you are not a very handy person, you should not have a problem installing this toilet. It is actually an easy task that should take you one hour max, assuming you had removed your old toilet.
Unfortunately, this toilet does not come with a toilet seat. You will therefore need to buy a toilet seat or a Toto washlet separately. The installation hardware is also not included so you will also need to buy that.
10. Signature Hardware Braeburn Corner Toilet

Features and Specifications
- Two-piece toilet
- Round-front bowl
- 1.28 gallons per flush
- Bowl height: 16 inches
- Rough-in: 12 inches
- Material: vitreous china
- 95 pounds
- Soft close seat included
- Floor mounted
- Gravity flush
- White
- Toilet dimensions: 30.5 X 18.25 X 19.5 inches
Review
The Signature Hardware 443130 Braeburn is a single flush two-piece round-front and comfort height corner toilet. It is in my opinion the best small corner toiler for a small bathroom.
Corner toilets are great toilet for people with small bathrooms. They have a triangular toilet tank that allows them to be installed in a bathroom corner.
It is however a littler hard to replace a standard toilet with a corner toilet. This is because the toilet drainpipe should also be at the corner and you then need to remodel the entire bathroom.
Corner toilets are great if you are building a new bathroom or want to replace an old one with a new one. The one thing you really need to measure is the rough-in measurement.
A corner toilet’s rough-in is measured different from that of a standard toilet. Just take a measuring tape and measure the distance from the any of the sidewall to the center of the toilet’s drainpipe. Make sure that you measure from the finished wall and not the baseboard.
The Signature Hardware 443130 Braeburn corner toilet is the most compact corner toilet in the market. It is also beautifully design to complement your bathroom style.
As you will notice, corner toilets have a bigger depth that regular toilets. This is usually due to the shape of the tank. The dimensions of the Signature Hardware 443130 Braeburn corner toilet are:
- Depth: 30.5 inches
- Width: 18.25 inches
- Height: 29.5 inches
- Rough-in: 12 inches
If you would like to compare this toilet among other corner toilets check out this post.
11. Swiss Madison St. Tropez

Features and Specifications
- One-piece toilet
- Elongated bowl
- 12-inch rough-in
- 0.8/1.28 gallons per flush
- Sleek design
- Skirted trapway
- Tornado flush
- Soft closing lid included
- 120 pounds
- Floor mounted
- 15.5-inch bowl height
- Wax ring and mounting bolts included
- One year warranty
- Toilet dimensions: 26.5 x 15 x 31 inches
Review
If your primary concern while looking for a compact toilet is width, then this Swiss Madison Well Made Forever toilet should make the cut.
It is 15 inch wide which is pretty decent. This should therefore give you a couple more inches for sideways clearance in your bathroom. Its width is 26.5 inches which although not the shortest, is still small enough to make a difference. The height is 31 inch which is really not different from other toilet sizes.
Swiss Madison St. Tropez is also an aesthetically appealing toilet. Its design is so sleek and modern-looking which will surely spruce up your small bathroom.
You may think that cleaning this toilet is quite some work but it is actually very easy. The skirted one-piece design forms a seamless toilet body without nooks and crannies and therefore simplifying your work.
The tornado flushing system is powerful and effective yet it uses less water. Two nozzles on the toilet bowl rim allows more of the bowl to be cleaned using either 0.8 or 1.28 gallons per flush. The flush buttons are chrome plated.
A soft-close toilet with a quick-release mechanism is included in the purchase of this toilet. Toilet wax ring and mounting bolts are also included.
Due to its skirted design, the installation of this toilet is quite some work. Unlike other toilets where the bolts are clearly visible, the bolts here are inside the skirt. It is therefore difficult for one person to install this toilet, although not impossible.
How to Buy the Best Small Toilet
How do you pick a toilet for a small bathroom? Although all the above toilets are good compact toilets for small bathrooms, not all of them would work out well for you.
Here are the factors to consider when buying a compact toilet for a small bathroom
1. Toilet Dimensions
Needless to say, all compact toilets are not equal. Some are shorter than others, some are narrower than others while some are lower than others.
While picking a compact toilet, it is critical that you have your bathroom dimensions ready. Apart from the size of the toilet, you will also need to account for the size of the bathroom.
Often, a small bathroom will have a sink very close to the toilet. Before buying a toilet you should be sure that your new toilet will fit the space without touching the sink or any other appliances nearby.
A toilet is supposed to have clearance on each side and also at the front. The building code requires that a toilet should a have a minimum distance of 15 inches between the center of the toilet and any sidewall or obstruction. It also requires at least a 24 inch free space in front of the toilet.
For people with small bathroom, every inch counts. Be careful however when checking for toilet dimensions in different websites because some are erroneously indicated.
The best way to determine a toilet’s dimension is by searching its model number on the manufacturer’s website then download the specification sheet. In there you will find all toilet dimensions.
2. Comfort
“Are compact toilets comfortable?” That’s one of the most common question in as far us compact toilets are concerned.
The real question here should be what makes a toilet comfortable. A comfortable toilet has to have a good toilet bowl height and a good toilet seat.
Toilet bowl heights are either standard height or comfort height. Comfort height toilets are also called chair height/universal height/right height/ADA-compliant toilets
Comfort height toilets are best suited for tall people, the elderly and basically people with limited mobility. Standard height toilets are best for the not-so-tall people and kids.
The shape of the toilet bowl also affects to a large extent the comfortability of a toilet. Elongated toilets are more comfortable than round toilets. Elongated toilets take up more space than round toilets though.
Lately, toilet manufactures have come up with toilets with elongated bowl similar in size with round bowls which offer the same comfort as a normal elongated toilet. Those are some of the best compact toilets for small bathrooms. An example of this is the Kohler Santa Rosa.
A good toilet seats also makes a toilet more comfortable whether compact or not. Padded and heated toilet seats are more comfortable than those that are not. Both of those can be installed on a compact toilet and make it comfortable.
3. Cost
Compact toilets like other toilets vary in prices. The rule here is to buy what you can comfortably afford and that which will serve you well.
It is also not always the case that compact toilet cost less than non-compact toilets. There are many compacts toilet which cost way more than non-compact toilets. The final price of a toilet, compact or not is influenced by its features and specifications.
When buying a compact toilet, it is recommended to not only check the listed price of a price but also what it comes with and what it does not come with
Some toilets are sold with everything included and they might therefore look pricier than others. What you might not know is that the others are either sold without a toilet seat, wax ring or mounting bolts. A toilet which might have looked fairly priced might end up being really expensive.
There is no difference in price of installation between compact and non-compact toilets. Plumbers will charge the same regardless of the toilet type.
Another important factor to consider is the cost of repairs. Some toilet brands’ parts are not compatible with others and therefore are sold at a premium price.
4. Toilet Rough-in
The toilet rough-in is the distance between the rear finished wall of the bathroom and the center of the toilet drainpipe. That is the definition in a standard toilet. A standard toilet in this case refers to a toilet that is installed flush to the bathroom wall.
For a corner toilet, the rough-in is the distance between the center of the drainpipe and any of the two adjacent bathroom walls. Corner toilets are installed at the corner of a small bathroom to economize on space
For a toilet with a rear discharge, the rough-in is the distance between the finished floor and the center of the toilet outlet.
Standard toilets are the most common by far and we will focus on them. The standard rough-in is 12 inches. 10 and 14 rough-ins also exists especially in old houses.
Knowing your toilet rough-in prior to buying a new toilet is one of the most important things you must do. It would be really awful to buy a toilet that cannot fit in your bathroom.
A toilet with a bigger rough-in can be replaced by a toilet with a smaller rough-in but not vice versa. For instance, you can replace a 14-inch rough-in toilet with a 12-inch rough-in but cannot replace a 12 inch with a 14 inch rough-in toilet.
5. Legal requirements
Due to some legal requirements, you cannot buy and install toilets as you please in some jurisdictions. Laws have been put in place to regulate what you can and what you can’t buy.
In the State of California, USA for instance, you cannot buy a toilet with water consumption of more than 1.28 gallons per flush. If you are a California resident you should therefore be careful of this requirement.
If your intention is to buy a compact toilet for a small public bathroom, you will need to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. This act regulates the height of toilets among other factors in public toilets.
ADA-compliant toilets must be of comfort height (17 to 19 inch in height). This is meant to protect the disabled who might not be able to use standard height toilets.
6. Bathroom and Personal Style
A good toilet should complement the overall décor of your bathroom. Again, compact toilet differ in looks. Some are more beautiful/sleeker than others. Although a toilet is a sanitary facility, a good toilets should also accentuate your bathroom style and make it look modern and luxurious
7. Flushing system and power
Nobody like a toilets that clogs often or one which you need to flush twice to clear the mess. In compiling the list of the best compact toilets for small bathrooms flushing efficiency is one of the things we took into special consideration.
There are two type of toilet flushing systems. Gravity and pressure-assisted flushing systems. Pressure-assisted toilets are tankless and depend on pressurized water to evacuate waste from a toilet bowl. An example of a pressure-assisted toilet in our list the Saniflo Sanicompact Self-Contained toilet
Gravity-flush toilets have a water tank strategically located on top of the bowl. The tank provides a large amount water to the bowl in a short period of time to initiate the siphoning of the waste in the trap
Most houses use the gravity flush type because the water lines do not have sufficient pressure for flushing the toilet without a water tank.
8. Water consumption
A good compact toilet just like any other toilet for that matter must be able to bring your water bills down. Unlike old days when toilets could use up to 5 gallons of water per flush, these days a toilet can even use as little as 0.8 gallons and still be effective.
Dual flush toilets are better for water conservation than single flush toilets. They give you an option to use the full flush for heavy loads or a half flush for light loads especially liquids.
A toilet that is prone to leaking will drive your water bill north. Look out for a reputable toilet brand to avoid falling into these problems.
9. Color
Most toilets are white. Cotton white. Few toilet are black. Very few toilet manufacturers make black toilets. Kohler is the one toilet manufacturer that makes and sell the most black toilets.
If you are looking for a compact black toilet, The Kohler Santa Rosa would be an ideal choice for you. Its black toilet model looks really great.
If you want to maintain the tradition of white toilets, compact white toilets are everywhere. In fact almost all black toilets have a model which is white in color.
The thing with black toilets is that you might need to change everything else in the bathroom like the sink and toilet paper hold to create a harmony.
10. Brand Reputation
Your toilet seller should be able to help you even way after you have made your purchase. They need to be accessible by phone or email such that in case of any issues arising you can get the help you need.
Toilets are made of ceramic and sometimes the package is rough-handled and hence the toilet breaks before it reaches your home. In this case they need to replace it for you and do it fast and not take you in circles until you give up.
You should definitely check the seller’s history in regard with good customer care. Some sellers just want to sell a product, get a profit and completely forget about the customer.
Types of Compact Toilet
- Compact elongated toilets
- Compact round toilets
- Corner toilets
- Tankless toilets
- Upflush/macerating toilets
Compact Floor Toilets vs Wall-hung Toilets

Floor mounted toilets are installed on the floor of the bathroom and a toilet tank is place on top of the bowl. The toilets are fixed on the floor using two bolts through the closet/toilet flange which in turn is connected to the drain pipe.
Compact tankless toilets are also mounted on the floor. The only difference is that they have no water tank and instead use water under high pressure to flush.
Wall-hung toilets on the other hand are toilets whose bowl is mounted on the bathroom wall and their tanks concealed in the wall. A frame called a carrier is used to support both the tank and the bowl. More on wall-mounted toilets here.
Wall-hung toilets should not be mistaken for tankless toilets. They are toilets which are mounted on the bathroom wall and have their tanks concealed on the bathroom wall.
While reviewing the best compact toilets for small bathrooms I did not include wall-hung toilets. The reason for this is because we believe they involve a lot of work remodeling the bathroom and we also wanted to concentrate on actual compact toilets that have a bowl and a tank inside the bathroom.
Conclusion
Picking the best toilet for a small bathroom is clearly not an easy job. There are a lot of factors to consider before you make your final decisions. This is however all worth it.
Buying a toilet is a long term investment and it therefore wouldn’t hurt spending a few hours ploughing through the information available in order to make an informed decision.