With each new home purchase, many people are looking for ways to make their bathrooms more compact. The smaller the space, the more difficult it is to find a toilet that doesn’t take up too much space. Luckily, there are toilets that are specifically made with smaller bathrooms in mind! These toilets will work great in your bathroom, helping you save time and money by not having to install separate commodes or bidets. Keep reading for some of the best small toilets on the market.
Contents
- 1 Summary of the Best Small Toilets Available
- 2 What Are Small Toilet Dimensions?
- 3 Small Toilet Space Requirements
- 4 Buyers Guide: Factors to Consider When Buying a Toilet for Small Bathroom
- 5 Detailed Analysis: Best Small Toilets Available
- 6 Woodbridge One Piece Dual Flush Toilet
- 7 Saniflo Sanicompact Self-Contained Toilet
- 8 GALBA Small Toilet
- 9 HOROW One Piece Short Small Toilet
- 10 Kohler Compact Toilet
- 11 Frequently Asked Questions
- 12 What is the smallest size toilet?
- 13 What are short toilets called?
Summary of the Best Small Toilets Available
Here’s a quick preview of the best small toilets for compact bathrooms:
- It features dual flush options of 1.0 gallons per flush and 1.6 GPF, which makes it a WaterSense certified toilet. It is also a comfort height toilet, as it measures two-inch taller compared to standard toilet seating. It features everything you'll need to install it, and also sports a quick release, slow close toilet seat at a very reasonable price.
- Overall, if you're searching for a great value, contemporary, and high-quality toilet, then you won't go wrong with this small toilet for compact bathrooms.
- It is a small model that boasts dual flush buttons while featuring low water consumption. Unlike other big toilet brands out there, the Saniflo Sanicompact toilet utilizes significantly less water per flush. So if you're tired of costly water bills from less-efficient toilets, then you'll love this unit because of its water efficiency.
- Aside from water-saving ability, the manufacturer also added in some chrome elements to make this unit more attractive. The seat is already included, and as a package, this is an excellently designed toilet from top to bottom.
- To sum it up, if you're looking for a macerating unit for a closet convert or half bath, then this tiny compact toilet is an ideal option.
- With 24.5-inch x 14-inch x 27-inch and a weight of 90 pounds, this model makes one of the shortest designed toilets for adults.
- Its compact one-piece design makes it very easy to install, even when your bathroom space is limited.
- This toilet utilizes a dual-flush mechanism, so it won't use too much water for cleaning human waste. Just take note that the water level in the bowl is low, which means you'll need to clean it much more often. But don't worry, cleaning is simple and fast.
- Its durability is also top-notch as it is well-built.
- Its self-cleaning glazed surface also contributed to its durability while giving it a modern look.
- This small compact toilet features a siphonic dual flush system for an efficient 1.28 gallons per flush for liquid waste and 1.6 GPF for solid waste. Both of these options are actuated on top of the toilet's tank via chrome plated buttons. Its front and sides are skirted, concealing the trapway from view, and it is a one piece toilet adding to the contemporary design.
- It is floor-installed and comes with a seating height of 16.5-inches from the base. So, it didn't quite meet the ADA standards for this reason. Also, because of this toilet's glazing, maintaining the bowl's surface is much easier.
- The glazing also acts as a protective barrier that stops waste from blocking tiny pores.
- For homeowners who want some budget-friendly loo, this toilet could be the best option you can have. It is a residential model that fits a 12-inch space and is incorporated with features that make it more accessible for individuals with mobility issues as well as for elderlies.
- Kohler lists this toilet as another class five flush performance, and its installation process is designed in a way to be less time-consuming, all thanks to its 3 pre-installed tank bolts. All in all, this is relatively cheap, unlike the other small toilets on this list.
What Are Small Toilet Dimensions?
The dimensions of a small toilet are usually around 24.5-inch (L) x 13.5-inch (W) x 28.5-inch (H). These numbers are the average dimensions for the smallest toilets for compact bathrooms.
Tip: If you compare these dimensions to a standard size toilet of 27 to 30-inch (L) by 20-inch (W) by 31-inch (H), you’ll see the difference.
Searching for a toilet bowl that fits into a small bathroom can be quite hard. Even toilets described as small may be a bit too big for your space. If you have a tiny space, you should look for toilets that are 25-inch in-depth (depth is defined as how far out the unit extends from the wall.)
Small Toilet Space Requirements
The distance from the centerline of a small compact toilet bowl to any wall, bath fixture, or other obstacles must be at least 18 inches.
Meanwhile, the size for a separate toilet compartment must be at least 30×60 inches with a pocket or swing-out bathroom door.
Buyers Guide: Factors to Consider When Buying a Toilet for Small Bathroom
All toilets share the same essential features. However, if you have limited space, you may want to be a little more aware of your choice of the best small toilet. The following are some of the factors that you should keep in mind, especially if you’re thinking about some small bathroom ideas:
One Piece vs. Two Piece Toilets
There are two types of small toilets available in the market today: One-piece and two-piece.
The main difference between these two is how their tank is arranged on the toilet bowl. Two-piece toilets are the most common these days. As the name implies, these toilets come in two separate components. The toilet bowl and water tank can be separated for easy installation.
Usually, two-piece loos are more affordable. The only drawback is that they take more space.
Meanwhile, one-piece units are cleverly crafted to save some space. The tank and bowl are constructed into one. While they are not always smaller compared to their two-piece counterparts, prominent toilet brands manufacture compact one-piece fixtures that look contemporary and modern.
There are a few pros and cons to both options. Two-piece toilets usually are much easier to repair and install. On the other hand, one-piece toilets tend to last longer and are much easier to clean.
Shape of Bowl
The shape of a standard loo is a significant factor that affects its overall size. For most houses, round toilets are installed.
Round bowls are around 16 inches long. Characterized by their circular shape, these types of toilets are perfect if you want to save a considerable amount of space.
Meanwhile, elongated toilets are also available. They are usually seen in commercial buildings and public restrooms. Compared to conventional round models, elongated toilets are more oval in shape from above.
Longer toilet bowls, around 18 inches long, are more comfortable and stable for a broad group of users. While two additional inches may not seem like it would make any difference, the tiny change could affect the rough-in measurement as well as the overall length of the toilet bowl.
Size of the Tank
The size of your loo’s water tank is important when it comes to the overall footprint. Traditional toilets can store up to seven gallons of water in the tank, which needs a ton of space behind the bowl.
Fortunately, modern toilets don’t use nearly as much water as their traditional counterparts.
Even still, bigger toilets have a tank that can measure up to 18 inches wide. This does not include the thickness of the lid. Depending on the construction of the toilet bowl, lids can have up to two-inch of overhang.
With fixtures for small bathrooms, you can save a few inches of width. A lot of small units have tanks that correspond with the width of the toilet bowl. That’s why you can easily find toilet tanks that are closer to 15 inches wide.
Flushing Mechanism
If the toilet tank is a problem, you can try going with dual-flush units. These types of toilets use an entirely different flushing mechanism compared to standard models. Rather than needing up to seven gallons of water than traditional models use per flush, dual-flush small toilets can use as little as 1.28 gallons.
It is approximated that dual-flush fixtures can save up to 68% more water compared to an average standard toilet bowl. And most of these toilets meet EPA WaterSense standards.
Dual-flush loos operate by taking advantage of gravity. They feature a bigger trap way, making it effortless for water to push waste down when the flushing mechanism is actuated. The great thing about dual-flush systems is that you can decide how much water to use.
You can use “half flush” to use the minimal amount of water to flush liquid waste. And as for solid waste, you can use the “full flush” option.
Since less water is used every flush, the tank doesn’t need to be as large as conventional models. A lot of manufacturers use dual-flush mechanisms in their small toilets to save even more space and money.
Space Available
You want to get a compact toilet, but how compact do you really need?
Do you have a shallow bathroom where you have to avoid knees pressing against the door while using the toilet bowl? Or are you good with a toilet alongside a bathtub and want a narrow toilet so it will not look cramped?
Remember: Small toilets are not a standard size. So, measure your space to make sure your new toilet will fit.
You might also want to mark out the dimensions of your chosen toilet using tape on the floor. By doing so, it will provide you a better idea of how it will look when the loo is installed.
You don’t just want to mount it in, you want the new toilet to complement your bathroom!
You should also consider the possibility that your bathroom is just awkwardly shaped – if it is, consider corner toilets as your choice. If it’s just a normal small bathroom with a square area, then no problem.
Also, make sure to measure your rough-in as it’s the position of the water pipes. Different small toilets need different lengths of rough-in, so be sure your chosen unit will match your pipework.
Now, if you are searching for a toilet for a location where a gravity drain is not an option, don’t worry. A small macerating toilet such as the Saniflo Sanicompact unit will do just fine, so long as there is a water and electricity supply nearby.
Water Efficiency
Toilet water use can slightly differ. Older toilet models may be using up to 7 gallons of water with each flush. Meanwhile, newer, high-efficiency loos only use up to a max of 1.28 gallons per flush of water.
Fact: Low flow models only use up to 1.6 gallons per flush.
What you want to do is choose a small toilet that has excellent water efficiency but at the same time can flush the waste effectively.
Toilet Design
We use toilets every day, so it just makes sense to get a toilet with great aesthetic appeal.
If you have a traditionally styled bathroom, you should search for a toilet that has a traditional look. Two-piece toilets will be a good fit for a traditionally styled bathroom.
But if you have a modern bathroom, it’s best to go for a single-piece toilet that comes with an unobtrusive flush. Most toilets come in color white only, so your main basis when it comes to toilet’s aesthetics would be its structure, sleek design, or whether it looks contemporary or not.
Detailed Analysis: Best Small Toilets Available
Here is our detailed analysis of the best toilet for small spaces.
Woodbridge One Piece Dual Flush Toilet
This one-piece toilet by Woodbridge is a dual-flush fixture, so you have the option of a one-gallon or a 1.6-gallon flush for your waste. Because of this feature, this toilet complies with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) WaterSense Program.
If you compared the flush levels on this small toilet to a regular toilet 20 years ago, the water savings are very large. It was common for a toilet to flush three or even six gallons of water per flush.
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Even though this is a small toilet, it still complies with the ADA or American Disabilities Act with a comfort height of 16.5-inch. This makes it accessible to those individuals with mobility problems and for the elderly people as well.
Meanwhile, its seat measures 18 inches high. Additionally, you’ll get a soft-close seat, siphon flush action, a sleek skirt that improves this toilet’s modern looks, and a very quiet flush.
Its only drawback is that elongated toilets may not be ideal for everyone. They surely work for the elderly but for small kids and some larger individuals, they might find it slightly uncomfortable. But a wall toilet or a close coupled toilet might be a good option.
Key Features
- Dimensions: 31-inch x 18-inch x 28-inch
- Weight: 197 pounds
- Gallons per flush: 1 and 1.6
- Material: Porcelain
- Type: One-piece
- Dual flush
- ADA compliant
- WaterSense compliant
- Price: $$
PROS
- This one-piece toilet has a luxurious modern design that complements different styles like traditional and craftsman.
- It is very easy to clean, as it comes with a completely smooth and easy to wipe down surface.
- Features concealed trapway, so there are no bends or corners to accumulate dust.
- It has powerful flushing but at the same time super quiet.
- Features a comfort height design that makes sitting down and standing up easier for many adults, especially elderlies.
- Comes with a top-quality seat.
CONS
- Its elongated bowl may not be ideal for everyone.
Saniflo Sanicompact Self-Contained Toilet
Saniflo toilets are unique in the sense that you can fix them almost anywhere. When comparing Saniflo toilets to standard toilets requiring access to the waste pipe and plumbing, a Saniflo toilet is even installed in a loft or basement. The reason is that, with a regular toilet, you need gravity in order to flush away the waste, so you need to install it above your sewer line.
In particular, the Saniflo Sanicompact Self-Contained Toilet pumps waste to a height of nine feet, so if you’re converting your basement for the children, it copes remarkably.
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This small toilet also pushes the waste along narrow pipework up to 100 feet, so if you’re installing an en-suite at the back of your home, and the waste stack is far away, this compact toilet can reach.
It does this by softening the solid matter, breaking it down into easy-to-manage pieces, and pumping away the waste.
So, what you’ll get from this small toilet by Saniflo? You will get a one-gallon flush to comply with the WaterSense program, and the seat stands above 18.5-inches, which conforms to the ADA comfort height recommendations.
You can even connect this compact toilet to a sink and use pre-plumbed pipework in order to deliver water to the flush.
However, there are two things that you must remember when deciding on a Saniflo toilet. First is that they are quite expensive, so if you don’t want to invest in a gravity-defying small toilet, we suggest you get a standard toilet. The second is that the macerator toilets use an impeller to break the wastes down, tending to become clogged easily.
It also obstructs the amount of toilet paper you can use since too much becomes a thick mulch that could cause clogging.
Key Features
- Dimensions: 18.25-inch x 14.5-inch x 15.75-inc
- Weight: 62.2 pounds
- Material: Porcelain
- Type: One Piece
- Gallons per flush: 1
- ADA compliant
- WaterSense compliant
- Price: $$$
PROS
- Only requires minimal plumbing.
- It’s another great way to convert a room into an en-suite.
- It can be installed almost anywhere.
- It can even be attached to the sink plumbing.
CONS
- Quite expensive compared to standard toilets.
GALBA Small Toilet
The GALBA Toilet is the best model for when it comes to slimline toilets. Its slender build minimize wasted space. Also, this small toilet is ADA compliant, comes with a skirted base to make it easier to clean, and has a soft closed toilet seat.
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Its dual flush feature allows you to decide between 0.8 gallons or 1.28 gallons of water, according to your movement type. Additionally, you’ll get a tornado flush with extra nozzles, covering the whole surface of the inside toilet bowl.
This compact toilet by GALBA also features a 16.5-inch comfort height toilet as well as a self-cleaning surface that does not discolor, corrode, scratch, or fade.
Key Features
- Dimensions: 24.5-inch x 14-inch x 27-inch
- Weight: 90 pounds
- Type: One-piece
- Gallons per flush: 0.8 and 1.28
- Material: Plastic
- Dual-flush
- ADA compliant
- WaterSense compliant
- Price: $$$
PROS
- Super quality, and I particularly like its sleek sides that don’t accumulate hair and dust.
- This is an outstanding toilet for small spaces, especially it feels like a full-size toilet when you use it.
- The seat is durable and has soft close which is a really nice touch.
- It features a tornado dual flush.
- Comfort height toilet seat.
CONS
- A bit pricey.
HOROW One Piece Short Small Toilet
The HOROW small toilet is another one-piece toilet. However, this one differs from the others we’ve already discussed above since it doesn’t come with an elongated bowl. It is two inches shorter, which takes up less floor space.
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This compact toilet outperforms most as it comes with a highly efficient flush that utilizes just 0.8 gallons for liquid waste and 1.28 gallons for solid waste. Additionally, it more than meets the WaterSense requirements.
Furthermore, it is easy to clean, all thanks to its self-cleaning surface, which put off things from sticking. It also aids in maintaining the glaze of the porcelain, which prevents discoloration.
You’ll get a soft closed toilet seat, which sits just below 17-inches, so it just misses out on the ADA compliance certification. You’ll also get a very quiet flush, so you will not wake up the children in the middle of the night.
The only drawback of this small toilet is it could be a bit too small, which restricts who it would be fit for. Men who sit down to use the toilet might find it slightly uncomfortable. Additionally, its lower seat height is not suitable for those with mobility problems or those elderly.
Key Features
- Dimensions: 25-inch x 13.4-inch x 28.4-inch
- Weight: 90 pounds
- Gallons per flush: 0.8 and 1.28
- Material: Porcelain
- Type: One-piece
- Dual flush
- ADA compliant
- WaterSense compliant
- Price: $$
PROS
- It is a modern compact one-piece toilet.
- It is a highly efficient dual-flush unit that enables you to proactively conserve water by choosing 0.8 or gallon per flush or 1.28 GPF for more arduous chores.
- Easy to clean because of its concealed trap-way design and self-clean glaze surface that makes it smooth to clean.
- Features a soft closing seat as the seat lid descends slowly and quietly.
- It comes with a supply line connector for you to link the toilet and supply line.
- Shorter design compared to elongated toilets for saving space
CONS
- Shorter dimensions which don’t suit for anyone.
Kohler Compact Toilet
The Kohler Compact Toilet is a two-piece toilet. Two-piece toilets are a little more complicated to install compared to their one-piece counterpart since they need extra plumbing skills to attach the tank to the body of the toilet.
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Even though this toilet conforms to the WaterSense program, it features a single-flush action at just 1.28 gallons per flush. It has an elongated bowl, which will aid you if you sit down to go to the toilet, and its comfort height seat makes it better for mobility-challenged individuals.
This Kohler Toilet utilizes a canister flush mechanism rather than a plunger, which makes it more efficient and powerful, reaching every part of the toilet bowl. It also minimizes instances of clogging and sticking. Additionally, it makes it much easier to clean.
Even though this toilet is a compact-space unit, it does lack the sleek lines and curves of one-piece versions, so it would fit a more conventional bathroom scheme. And it might not match other small units for space-saving capabilities.
Key Features
- Dimensions: 29.5-inch x 18-inch x 31.25-inch
- Weight: 93 pounds
- Gallons per flush: 1.28
- ADA compliant
- WaterSense compliant
- Type: Two-piece
- Price: $$
PROS
- It is quite easy to assemble, and the suggested toilet seat fits well.
- I particularly like its three-bolt system of attaching the tank to the base since it makes the toilet extra secure and strong without any rocking.
- I like the fact that it has a large bowl, and it is high enough to make sitting easy. Additionally, it flushes fast and completely!
- Its height is great and makes it easier for elderlies to get up and down
CONS
- Slightly less space saving compared to the other small toilets we’ve already discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the smallest size toilet?
The smallest toilet is the Saniflo, as it only measures just 18.25-inch x 14.5-inch x 15.75-inch. If you compare it to a standard toilet with dimensions of 31-inch x 20-inch x 27-inch, you’ll clearly see how small it is.
What are short toilets called?
Short toilets are also called small compact toilets. They are made to fit in tiny bathrooms. Because of their small compact designs, they are an ideal choice if you don’t have a large bathroom area and just want to save some precious space.
Smaller toilets normally include wall mounted toilets, wall hung toilets, toilets with no tank, or just toilets that are visibly small in size. Small compact toilets are perfect for marine boats, motorhomes, RV, and tiny houses.
Speaking of RV and tiny houses, if you’re living in such houses, you might want to take a look at this article featuring composting toilet.
If you’re looking for “corner toilets”, check out this post!
Last update on 2022-10-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API