The 7 Best Kohler Toilets – For a Strong Flush

Last Updated on September 6, 2023 by toilethaven

Kohler toilets are manufactured by Kohler, which is headquartered in Wisconsin, United States. It is one of the largest toilet manufacturers in the world.

Kohler was founded in 1873 by John Michael Kohler. Although it did not start off as a plumbing fixture company, it has grown to become one of the top 3 largest bathroom and kitchen fixture manufacturers in the United States.

Most Kohler toilets are made in their plants in Wisconsin, Texas, and South Carolina. They also have a big plant in Mexico. Some Kohler toilet parts are, however, made in China and India.

While Kohler makes lots of great toilets, there are some that stand out more than others. It is however not easy to pick the best toilet for your bathroom, especially if you do not have a lot of experience testing toilets or just don’t know what to look out for.

I spent a couple of days testing out and comparing the different Kohler toilet models on offer today in a bid to determine the best ones. I narrowed my search to 7 models, which I am going to review in this post.

The factors that I considered the most in this research are:

• Flushing performance
• Design/physical appearance
• Cost
• Comfort
• Luxury Features
• Ease of cleaning
• Water efficiency
• External bodies certifications
• Ease of installation

If you are, therefore, looking to buy a Kohler toilet but just can’t decide on the specific one to buy, this article will help you narrow down your search to a few models. I will try as much as possible to give the good side as well as the bad side of each toilet that I am going to review.

I will also include sentiments from other users/buyers of the same toilets. Now let us look at the list.

The 7 Best Kohler Toilets are:

1. Kohler Cimarron

Kohler Cimarron is a single flush two-piece toilet available for both elongated and round toilet bowls. The colors available are white, black, ice gray, dune, almond, and sandbar.

There are several models of the Kohler Cimarron toilet, but I will only focus on 3. These are the latest and best-performing models.

Kohler K-3589-0 Cimarron and Kohler K-3609-0 Cimarron are, in my opinion, the best flushing Kohler toilets. Even when compared to toilets outside the Kohler brand, these toilets are still some of the best in the industry.

The difference between these 2 models is only in their water consumption. Kohler K-3589-0 Cimarron uses 1.6 gallons of water per flush, while Kohler K-3609-0 uses 1.28 gallons per flush.

Due to its higher water consumption, the K-3589-0 cannot be sold in states like California and Texas. The K-3609-0 is, however, compliant with the EPA’s WaterSense and CalGreen requirements and can, therefore, be sold all over the United States.

Kohler Cimarron uses its patented AquaPiston flushing technology. In this technology, instead of using the ordinary flapper-type flush valve, Kohler uses a canister flush valve.

The difference is that while the flapper is hinged to one side, the canister lifts up wholly during flushing, allowing water to flow from the tank to the bowl from a 360-degree angle. The effect this has on the flushing is that water flows to the bowl faster, which means more force and, as a result, a stronger flush.

The canister flush valve is also designed in a way that its inlet is wider than the outlet in a ratio of 3:2. The narrower exit helps the water to build up pressure as it enters the bowl, which also results in a powerful flush.

Comfort-wise, Kohler Cimarron combines an elongated bowl with a comfortable height. Its bowl rim height is 16.5 inches. When you add the extra height from the seat, you will be sitting at a height of 17.5 inches, which is compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Kohler Cimarron’s black toilet is also, in my opinion, the best black toilet. Kohler makes more black toilets than any other brand.

Unfortunately, the Kohler Cimarron does not come with a seat. You will therefore need to buy one separately. You will also need to buy the mounting hardware separately.

The dimensions of the Kohler Cimarron are:

• Depth: 29.5 inches
• Width: 17.625 inches
• Height: 30.75 inches
• Rough-in: 12 inches

Kohler Cimarron is a powerful flushing toilet that looks great and is very competitively priced. It is simply my favorite Kohler toilet.

2. Kohler Veil Intelligent Toilet

If you need to install a state-of-the-art Kohler toilet, The Kohler Veil intelligent toilet is the toilet for you. It is a dual flush one-piece elongated toilet with an integrated bidet toilet seat. It is one of the best bidet toilet combos in and out of Kohler.

The Kohler Veil gives you a complete, hands-free experience. Right from the moment you enter the bathroom to the moment you leave, you will not need to use your hands. As you approach the toilet, a sensor on the bidet seat will prompt the lid to automatically lift off and also automatically close after you have left.

As soon as you are done doing your business, you will not need to use toilet paper to wipe yourself. A stainless steel nozzle will appear from the back of the seat, which will clean your posterior as well as feminine parts with warm water.

Apart from the rear and front washes, the Veil also offers oscillating and pulsating washes. An oscillating wash is when the nozzle moves back and forth in quick succession to clean over a wider area. The pulsating wash involves the use of alternating strong and weak water streams, which creates a massage sensation.

The warm water is infused with air bubbles through a process known as aeration. This helps to achieve a soft but thorough wash. The water temperature and pressure can be adjusted to suit each user’s preferences.

To maintain top hygiene, the nozzle is disinfected using sterilized water as it retreats back. In addition to that, an automatic UV light sanitizes the nozzle after every 24 hours.

A warm air dryer whose temperature is also adjustable will then blow warm air all over your rear to completely dry you. To make sure no bad odors are left lingering in the room, an air deodorizer will automatically kick in; hence, the room always smells fresh.

You also don’t need to worry about sitting on a cold toilet seat, especially during winter, as this toilet also features a heated toilet seat. While visiting the bathroom during the night, a blue LED nightlight illuminating the bowl will help you navigate your way to the toilet. You, therefore, don’t need to turn on the bright bathroom lights.

Aesthetically speaking, the Kohler Veil is the most beautiful toilet there is. Its curvaceous tankless design will stand out in any bathroom.

The Veil’s design negates the need for having a toilet tank. Water for flushing the toilet is delivered to the bowl at a very high pressure sufficient to flush the toilet in only one flush. Being a dual flush toilet, the Veil only uses 0.8 or 1 gallon of water per flush.

If you like wall-mounted toilets, check out the Kohler Veil wall-hung toilet. It works the same way and has the same features as the Kohler Veil floor-mounted toilet.

The Kohler Veil intelligent toilet’s dimensions are:

• Depth: 26.13 inches
• Width: 17.25 inches
• Height: 21 inches
• Bowl rim height: 16.125 inches
• Rough-in: 12 inches

There are 2 things that I would say are the cons of installing the Kohler Veil intelligent toilet. The first one is that it is quite pricey and the second one is that it needs an electrical outlet in the bathroom to power up all its functions.

Other than that, the Kohler Veil is a fantastic toilet that I would highly recommend to everyone who can afford it. It comes with a wireless remote control for ease of use.

3. Kohler Santa Rosa

Kohler 3810-0 Santa Rosa is a single flush, one-piece elongated, and comfortable height toilet. It is the latest and best model of the Santa Rosa collection by Kohler. The colors available are white, sandbar, dune, almond, biscuit, black, and ice gray.

The first thing you will notice about the Kohler Santa Rosa is that it is a beautifully designed and attractive toilet. The one-piece design means that there is no the usual gap between the tank and the bowl, which gives it a seamless look devoid of nooks and crannies. As such, cleaning the Santa Rosa is so easy and fast.

Kohler Santa Rosa uses Kohler’s AquaPiston flushing technology, which is designed for bulk flushing. Although it uses only 1.28 gallons of water per flush, it produces a powerful flush sufficient to move the waste in just a single flush.

If you would like to flush with more water, check out the Kohler 3811-0 Santa Rosa. This model flushes using 1.6 gallons of water per flush for an extra oomph. California and Texas residents can, however, not buy this model since their states demand that toilets use 1.28 gallons per flush or less.

Kohler Santa Rosa is what is referred to as a compact elongated toilet. As we know, toilets with an elongated bowl are more comfortable than those with a round while. On the other hand, toilets take less bathroom space than elongated toilets.

Kohler Santa Rosa was designed to take advantage of both of these scenarios. With a depth of 27.75 inches, the Santa Rosa takes up the same space as a round toilet while at the same time offering the comfort of an elongated toilet. If you have a small bathroom, then this is a toilet you might want to consider.

Due to its low water consumption, Kohler 3810-0 Santa Rosa can be sold anywhere within the United States since it falls within the requirements of WaterSense and CalGreen. A bowl rim height of 16.5 inches makes this toilet an ADA-compliant one, too.

The thing about shipping one-piece toilets like the Santa Rosa is that they come in one big box, as opposed to two-piece toilets, which are packed in 2 separate boxes. As a result, one-piece toilets tend to break during shipping more than two-piece toilets, a fate that can befall Santa Rosa.

This toilet, unlike most Kohler toilets, comes with a soft close toilet seat. A soft/slow-close toilet seat will surely give you peace of mind since it will put a rest on the constant toilet seat slamming.

The dimensions of the Kohler 3810-0 Santa Rosa are:

• Depth: 27.75 inches
• Width: 18.75 inches
• Height: 28.18 inches
• Rough-in: 12 inches
• Bowl height: 16.5 inches

There are not many bad things to say about Kohler Santa Rosa. It works as well as advertised, and the price is not bad either.

4. Kohler Highline

The Kohler Highline is a single flush, two-piece elongated, and comfort-height toilet. There are several models of the Kohler Highline toilet, but there are only 2 models I would recommend. These are:

• Kohler K-3999-0 Highline: It is a gravity flush toilet which is also very budget-friendly. This is a decent toilet with a consumption of only 1.28 gallons per flush.
• Kohler K-3493-0 Highline: This is a pressure-assisted toilet that’s a little bit more expensive than the K-3999-0 and also uses more water. It will form the base of this review.

Pressure-assisted toilets are toilets that combine compressed air and water to build up pressure in the tank, which in return results in a powerful flush. Kohler K-3493-0 Highline Classic Pressure Lite is such a toilet.

It has a secondary tank inside the main toilet tank called a pressure vessel. Kohler K-3493-0 Highline uses Sloan’s Flushmate pressure vessel. Sloan is considered the best manufacturer of pressure-assist systems.

As water flows from the supply line to the pressure vessel, it mixes with the air already in the vessel, compressing it further. The water is, therefore, stored in the vessel under pressure.

During flushing, when you push the flushing lever down, the water is forcefully ejected out of the vessel and dumped into the bowl. The high force of the water creates a resultant strong flush. Kohler K-3493-0 Highline will, therefore, hardly ever clog.

If you have been dealing with a constantly clogged toilet that you need to replace, then the Kohler K-3493-0 Highline is a great alternative. It could also be a nice pick for individuals who somehow always tend to clog the toilet, probably due to an existing condition.

Unfortunately, Kohler K-3493-0 Highline Classic Pressure Lite is not compliant with WaterSense and CalGreen water consumption requirements. It cannot, therefore, be sold to folks in California and Texas as it uses 1.6 gallons of water per flush.

The tall, elderly, and people with limited mobility will however love this toilet. It’s 17.125-inch bowl rim height, which increases to 18.125-inch seat height, is very easy to sit and stand from.

Another thing that you will need to contend with after installing the Kohler Highline pressure-assisted toilet is the loud flush. Pressure-assisted toilets tend to have a noisier flush compared to gravity-flush toilets.

The dimensions of the Kohler K-3493-0 Highline toilet are:

• Depth: 30.56 inches.
• Width: 21.25 inches
• Height: 31.25 inches
• Bowl rim height: 17.125 inches
• Rough-in: 12 inches

Please note that the toilet does not come with a seat, and you will therefore need to buy one separately.

Other than that, the Kohler Highline is without a doubt one of the best toilets from Kohler. If you are on a budget, just go with the Kohler K-3999-0 Highline, but if you need more flush power, then the Kohler K-3493-0 Highline is the perfect choice for you.

5. Kohler Memoirs Classic

If you fancy an elegant, classic, and bold toilet from Kohler, the Kohler K-6999-0 Memoirs Classic fits the bill. It is a single two-piece comfort height elongated toilet available in 7 colors, my favorite being white and black.

There are many models of the Kohler Memoirs toilet collection, but the K-6999-0 is my favorite. Unlike most toilets, which are designed to feature curves, whether it’s the tank or the bowl, the Kohler Memoirs feature sharp corners and some intricate designs, more so on the lid and at the bottom, which gives it its distinct design.

Another interesting feature about the Kohler Memoirs is that although it has a concealed trapway design, it is not fully skirted, unlike other toilets with the same design. Its toilet bolts are accessible from the outside, unlike the other skirted toilets, whose toilet bolts are normally inside the skirt.

Although skirted toilets look really cool, one of their main disadvantages is that they are normally very hard to install. The skirt does not allow easy access to the toilet bolts. Kohler Memoirs, however, manages to use the same design but still have the toilets on the outside, meaning installing it is a breeze.

Just like other modern Kohler toilets, the Memoirs uses the AquaPiston flushing technology. With a rating of 1.28 gallons per flush, it is able to spend less water and still have a decent flush. It can hence be sold all over the United States as it compliant with all the necessary requirements governing toilet water usage.

Kohler Memoirs uses Kohler’s DryLock installation system to mount the tank on the bowl. Unlike other toilets, the tank installs on the bowl using 3 bolts, which come preinstalled on a bracket underneath the tank. All you have to do is mount the tank on the bowl and tighten it in place.

The distance from the floor to the top of the bowl rim is 16.5 inches. This means that the toilet seat height is 17.5 inches. Kohler Memoirs is a comfortable height toilet, and its users will find it more comfortable and easy to use than a standard height toilet.

Due to its classic design, Kohler Memoirs has several corners and intricate designs, especially at the bottom and on the tank lid. The bowl and the tank joint also leave a crevice. Cleaning this toilet will, therefore, take longer than any other toilet we have looked at since it is very easy for dust to hide in all these areas.

Another thing to remember is that this toilet is not sold with a seat. You will therefore need to buy one separately. This will slightly increase its overall cost.

The dimensions of the Kohler Memoirs Classic are:

• Depth: 29.625inches
• Width: 17.81 inches
• Height: 31.44 inches
• Rough-in: 12 inches

For people who love classic designs, Kohler K-6999-0 Memoirs Classic will be a decent toilet pick for them. If you want to push it a little further, you can go with the black model, which looks really bold.

6. Kohler Adair

Kohler Adair is a single flush, one-piece elongated and comfort-height toilet. It is available in white and biscuit finishes only.

Kohler Adair is not as popular as other Kohler toilet models as it is a new entrant in the market, but I guarantee you this toilet is a good one. It is beautifully designed in one piece with a slim and curvaceous tank, which really stands out.

One thing that makes the Kohler Adair a decent choice, especially for people with small bathrooms, is its compact size. Its one-piece design makes its depth shorter than other two-piece Kohler toilets. Although the difference in depth is not that much, sometimes a difference of 1 inch is what it takes for a toilet to fit or not fit in a certain spot.

This toilet comes with the Kohler Cachet soft close toilet seat, which is among the best toilet seats on the market. Apart from being a slow close seat, it has the quick-release mechanism, which makes it really easy to remove and reattach it back during cleaning.

I also like the beautifully crafted polished chrome toilet handle on the Kohler Adair. Based on your preference, you can opt to choose the model with the handle on the left or the one with the handle on the right-hand side.

Using Kohler’s AquaPiston flushing technology, the Adair consumes only 1.28 gallons of water per flush with decent flushing power. As a result, the Adair is certified by EPA’s WaterSense as well as CalGreen and can, therefore, be sold anywhere within the United States.

The dimensions of the Kohler Adair are:

• Depth: 28.56 inches
• Width: 16.31 inches
• Height: 28.44 inches
• Bowl rim height: 16.5 inches

With a bowl height of 16.5 inches and a resultant seat height of 17.5 inches, Kohler Adair is compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act toilet requirements.

7. Kohler San Souci

Kohler K-4007-0 San Souci is another beautifully designed toilet from Kohler. It is a single flush, one-piece round front toilet with a standard height.

For anyone looking to buy a compact toilet or for those who have small bathrooms/powder rooms, then this is the toilet to buy. Its total assembled depth is only 25.625 inches, meaning it is going to save you valuable bathroom space.

Kohler San Souci’s total height is 24.25 inches. This makes it possible to stack up lots of over-the-toilet storage shelves. Over-the-toilet storage shelves, cabinets, and ladders give you an opportunity to utilize the area above the toilet by storing essential bathroom supplies.

Although Elongated toilets are generally more comfortable than round toilets, some people still prefer round toilets because of their ability to save space. What most adults forget is that round toilets are also more comfortable for young children than elongated ones. And that is where the San Souci comes in.

If you are big on aesthetics, you will love the Kohler San Souci. Its one-piece low profile design with curvaceous exterior makes it really attractive and will definitely complement any bathroom design and décor. The lack of crevices means cleaning it is a cinch!

Apart from its physical appearance, Kohler San Souci has great flushing power, utilizing the Kohler AquaPiston flushing technology. It is also a water-efficient toilet with a consumption rate of 1.28 gallons per flush. It can, therefore, be sold in Texas and California as well as the rest of the US.

Kohler San Souci is, however, not an ADA-compliant toilet. With a standard bowl height of 15.25 inches and 16.25 inches in bowl height, it falls short of the ADA requirement of 17 inches seat height. As good as comfort height toilets are, some people still prefer a standard height toilet. The San Souci is a perfect choice for such people.

You will also receive a soft-close toilet seat after buying this toilet. The seat also incorporates a quick-release mechanism for easier removal and reattachment during cleaning.

Kohler San Souci assembled dimensions are:

• Depth: 25.625 inches
• Width: 16.75 inches
• Height: 24.25 inches
• Bowl height: 15.25 inches
• Rough-in: 12 inches

If you need a beautiful, compact, and round front Kohler toilet, then the Kohler San Souci is what you need. It is available in white, almond, black, dune, thunder gray, cashmere, dune, ice gray, sandbar, and biscuit.

Kohler Toilets Buying Guide

While buying a new toilet, there are several factors that you need to consider to make sure that you end up with the right toilet. Not every good toilet will be good for you. A toilet could look fantastic in someone else’s bathroom, but that does not mean that it will look as such in yours.

Here are some of the things to consider prior to buying a Kohler toilet, or any other toilet for that matter:

1. Toilet Dimensions

The dimensions of the toilet you are going to buy are critical, especially when you have a small bathroom or when you need to install more fixtures in your bathroom. You should ensure that the toilet you are going to buy will perfectly fit in the space you have in your bathroom, so take out the tape and measure.

It is easy to make a mistake I see people making all the time. You search for the toilet model you want to buy online and take the listed dimensions. The problem with this method is that most of those dimensions are approximations or shipping dimensions.

If you need to know the dimensions of any Kohler toilet, search for its model number on the Kohler website. After that, click on the specification sheet to find all its precise dimensions plus other important details.

One way of conserving bathroom space is by choosing to buy a round toilet. A round toilet bowl’s depth is shorter than an elongated one by about 2 inches. If you are not squeezed out for space, you should go with the more comfortable elongated toilet.

Compact elongated toilet like the Kohler Santa Rosa also gives you the opportunity to enjoy the comfort of an elongated toilet while utilizing the same space as a round toilet.

2. One-piece vs. Two-piece Kohler Toilets

One question I often have people ask me is, “Which is better between a one-piece toilet and a two-piece toilet”? The truth is that each of these 2 toilets has its advantages and disadvantages.

While shipping, two-piece toilets are normally shipped in 2 separate boxes. This increases their chance of being delivered whole (without breaking) since it’s easier to pack them nicely. Please note that the 2 boxes might get to you at different times.

One-piece toilets are, however, shipped in one big box. Due to their odd shape, they break during shipping more often than two-piece toilets. They are, however, more compact than two-piece toilets after installation.

TIP: Never throw away your toilet’s package box until you have carefully inspected it to make sure there are no cracks. Hold on to it until the toilet is installed and working. Just in case you need to return.

When it comes to installation, one-piece toilets are faster to install than two-piece toilets. The good thing about two-piece toilets is that you can install them on your own, while you will need an extra pair of hands to install a one-piece toilet.

To learn more about the pros and cons of one-piece vs. two-piece toilets, check out this post.

3. Comfort height vs. Standard Height Kohler Toilets

Comfort height toilets are the ones compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirement of at least 17 inches of toilet seat height. They are also called chair/right/universal height toilets.

Standard-height toilets are toilets with a seat height of less than 17 inches. While comfort-height toilets are a favorite for most people, there are those who still prefer standard-height toilets.

To read more on the pros and cons of comfort height vs. standard height toilets, check out this post.

4. Toilet Rough-In

The rough-in of a toilet is the distance between the toilet’s rear finished wall and the center of its drainpipe. Always measure the distance from the finished wall and not the baseboard.

The Standard rough-in of modern toilets is 12 inches. It is, however, not uncommon to find toilets with a rough-in of 10 or 14 inches, especially in old houses. Owners of search toilets must be very careful while buying a toilet replacement.

Unfortunately, there are not many toilets with a rough-in of 10 or 14 inches. Although you can replace a toilet with a rough-in of 14 inches with that of 12 inches, a 2-inch gap will be left between the toilet and the wall. A toilet with a rough-in of 10 inches can only be replaced by another of the same specification.

If you need a toilet with a 10-inch rough-in, Kohler K-3889-0 Highline is the perfect choice. It is a comfortable height toilet with a water consumption of only 1.28 gallons per flush.

For those looking to buy a toilet with a rough-in of 14 inches, Kohler K-3947-47 Wellworth is the toilet you should consider.

5. Round vs. Elongated Kohler Toilets

While buying a toilet another thing you will need to determine is whether you need to buy a round or an elongated toilet. Both option has its advantages and disadvantages.

To start with, elongated toilets have an oval-shaped bowl with a length of about 18.5 inches. As a result, they are very comfortable to use, but they require more bathroom space.

Round toilets, on the other hand, have an almost circular bowl with a length of about 16.5 inches. They are, therefore, less comfortable compared to elongated toilets, but their main advantage is that they are a good choice if you have a small bathroom.

Kids have, however, reported that round toilets are more comfortable for them than elongated toilets.

The good thing is you can now enjoy the benefits of an elongated toilet while utilizing the bathroom space usually taken by round toilets if you install a compact elongated toilet.

Kohler Santa Rosa is one of the best compact elongated toilets. If you, however, have a very tiny space in your bathroom, then the Kohler San Souci will be the obvious choice.

If you would like to read an extensive guide on the pros and cons of elongated vs. round toilets, then check out this post.

Wrap-Up

Kohler is not one of the largest toilet manufacturers for nothing. They have gotten there by consistently designing and improving good toilets, which has made consumers trust them even more. The competition from like-minded companies like Toto and American Standard has also contributed to the perfection of their skills.

One thing to remember is that there is no single product that gets 100% approval ratings from all buyers. The best toilet on the planet will, therefore, also have someone saying something negative about it.

All this is not in vain. Some products are defective from the manufacturing stage, and that’s why a warranty is important. Always buy a toilet from a registered vendor in order to have a valid warranty.

Kohler toilets will definitely last for many years. What you might need to change from time to time are the internal parts of the toilet tank, the wax ring, and the closet flange.