10 Best Modern Toilets in 2023: Complete Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

While some people might be strongly opposed to the idea of something as basic and indispensable to our homes as a toilet being “modern”, it’s true that plumbing technology has evolved greatly over the past years.

Environmental concerns have brought about efficient, water-saving flushing. Apart from that, today’s toilets boast a wide range of comfort features, from reduced flushing noise (remember how gross it can get?) to clever heated seats and well as everything in between.

To tell the best modern toilets from premium-priced mediocre pieces can be a challenge, so here are 10 options you can’t go wrong with.

10 Best Modern Toilets Reviewed

1. Toto MW4463056CUMG#01 – Top Pick
2. WoodBridge T-0020 –  Budget Option
3. Kohler K-5401-PA-0 – Premium Choice
4. Swiss Madison SM-WT450
5. WoodBridge B0970S
6. Saniflo 023 Sanicompact
7. WoodBridge T-0032
8. Kohler K-6299-0
9. American Standard 2403128.020
10. Toto MS920CEMFG#01

This section contains ten modern toilet reviews telling what’s good about the market’s most promising models and who is likely to love them.

1. Toto MW4463056CUMG#01: Top Pick

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This two-piece unit boasts a sleek design measuring 27.56 x 15.56 x 29.56 inches and weighs 130 pounds.

Even with only one color option available, it blends in easily with most modern interiors due to the timeless look provided by vitreous china with the CEFIONTECT® coating preventing debris and dirt build-up.

The toilet comes with a comfortable elongated bowl with a seat height of 17 inches that makes it usable for people with disabilities. It has the standard rough-in of 12 inches and a water surface area of 5-5/8″ x 4-1/8″.

Behind the latter number is a siphon jet flushing technology for quiet yet efficient flushing with just 0.8 or 1.0 depending on the situation, enabled by Toto’s dual flush system.

The model comes with the manufacturer’s iconic WASHLET+ bidet for warm-water cleansing as well as a hands-free drying option. EWATER+ is another proprietary technology used to keep the system clean.

The heated seat’s lid opens and closes automatically, and there’s built-in lighting for night-time use. Quite naturally, the luxuries come with a weighty price tag well above 1,500 USD. Toto offers a year’s limited warranty.

2. WoodBridge T-0020: Modern-Looking Toilets Budget Option

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The first thing you’re likely to notice about this affordable toilet by WoodBridge is its edgy design. Measuring roughly 29 x 15 x 28 inches, it weighs in at 138 pounds. The material is vitreous china with only a classic white color option available.

This is a one-piece unit with an elongated bowl and a seating height of 15 ¾ inches. The model comes with the standard 12-inch rough-in. The soft-close seat sits on a durable steel hinge.

This model uses the siphon jet technology for quiet and clog-free performance at 1.0 to 1.6 gallons per flush.

3. Kohler K-5401-PA-0: Premium Choice Sleek Toilet

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This one-piece white toilet combines a sleek design with extensive functionality.

It is made of vitreous china, with a seat of durable plastic included with the purchase. The 26.13 x 17.25 x 21-inch unit only weighs 89 pounds. The elongated bowl provides for a water area of 7-15/16″ x 5-5/8″ and meets the standard for comfortable height.

This intelligent toilet shows strong flushing performance at 0.8 or 1.28 GPF powered by a pump, with an emergency capacity of up to 100 flushes. On the downside, it’s not the quietest option on the market.

The seating that comes included has a full range of comfort features, from electric heating to hands-free, quiet lid closing/opening to LED illumination to bidet and warm-air drying. The system is sanitized automatically with UV light.

Given the premium price of nearly 4,000 USD, I think it’s natural that Kohler offers a limited warranty as long as 3 years.

4. Swiss Madison SM-WT450: A Budget-Friendly Modern Bathroom Toilet

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This budget-friendly toiled by Swiss Madison offers the benefits of a wall-hung design, allowing for adjustable seat height of 15 to 19 inches, depending on how tall you are. It comes in two color options, namely white and black.

The porcelain unit has a classic glossy coating. It uses a traditional gravity dual flush at 0.8/1.28 gallons per flush, which is quiet and more effective than average but might require a second flush every once in a while.

5. WOODBRIDGE B0970S: An Emblem of Modern-Style Toilets

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The one-piece classic tankless toilet offers the seamless look associated with luxury brands at a moderate price.

Made of vitreous china, the 24.37 x 16.2 x 18.7-inch, 140-pound toilet boasts a comfort-height elongated bowl for optimum comfort and the easy-to-fit rough-in of 12 inches. Its flushing efficiency is excellent, with a choice between 1.0 and 1.6 GPF available. The unit falls on the noisy side of things.

The smart features of this bidet toilet include an extended-reach spray rod, automatic flushing, multiple cleansing options, powerful air purification, seat heating, and warm air drying. Unfortunately, the water tends to come out cold, which can be annoying. A LED light is also included.

6. Saniflo 023 Sanicompact: An Unfussy Contemporary Toilet

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This self-contained macerating toilet with a dual flush system, made of classic white vitreous china, is great for tight half-bathrooms. It’s a tankless 18.25 x 14.5 x 15.75-inch unit with a weight of just 62.2 pounds and a compact bowl, the seat resting at 18.5 inches from the floor.

At about a thousand dollars, the Saniflo model offers reasonable comfort and saves a lot of space and water. 2 years’ warranty applies. The installation hardware is not included, but the process is very straightforward otherwise.

7. WOODBRIDGE, T-0032: A Simple Modern Toilet Bowl for Ultimate Comfort

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The affordable one-piece toilet measuring 30 x 18 x 26 inches is made of white porcelain and a skirted trap for ease of cleaning. It features an elongated bowl and a siphon-jet dual flush system using 1.0 to 1.6 gallons per flush with excellent results. It is a quiet model suitable for light sleepers.

This model has a durable steel seat hinge to hold its soft-closing seat with quick adjustment access.

8. KOHLER K-6299-0: Stylish Toilets That Blend In with the Surroundings

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This wall-mounted toilet from Kohler comes with a hidden tank that ensures powerful gravity flushing at 0.8/1.6 gallons per flush. The ceramic bowl has a comfortable elongated shape and can be adjusted to the comfort height standards due to the mounting type.

Four color options are available, including black. The biggest complaint is that the side panels are held by sticky tape that appears weak.

9. American Standard 2403128.020: Innovative Toilets with a Classic Look

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This American Standard’s one-piece 30 x 30 x 46-inch, 12-inch rough-in toilet only weighs 92 pounds, which makes it simple to install. You’ll appreciate the timeless design and the classic white/bone/linen colors if you don’t want your bathroom to look “too modern”.

Its vitreous china body boasts the EverClean coating to prevent mildew and bacterial growth. The same technology is featured in the slow-closing seat.

As a bonus, as many as 5 years of limited warranty for this product.

10. Toto MS920CEMFG#01: A Stylish Toilet That Has It All

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Toto’s compact, 28.62 x 15.37 x 26.93-inch 102-pound integrated ceramic toilet features the common 12-inch rough-in and a comfort-height seat on its elongated bowl. It comes in white and beige and blends in easily with most bathroom designs.

This is a premium product that uses the company’s improved, relatively quiet siphon jet system to get the most out of 0.9 to 1.28 gallons per flush. It’s also easy to keep clean due to the CEFIONTECT glazing, combined with a pre-mist function.

The seat is heated and offers adjustable bidet and deodorizer functions with automatic opening and closing, as well as a warm-air dryer that works at a controllable temperature.

Modern Toilet Buyer’s Guide

“Modern toilet” is a somewhat fuzzy term that applies to a wide range of functional features as well as bells and whistles and, importantly, aesthetics. Here’s a brief guide on how modern toilets differ from each other.

Material

This parameter has been largely unchanged since days long gone. Porcelain, or, more specifically, vitreous china, is still the most popular toilet material. However, many clever coatings and finishing technologies have been invented to prevent dirt build-up and mildew and make the surface even glossier.

In case you are confused, vitreous china technically refers to a specific coating often applied to ceramics, in particular porcelain. However, in the context of toilets, vitreous china means porcelain that’s been given this kind of finish to produce durable, high-gloss, and easy-to-clean toilet material.

Size

Speaking about toilet dimensions, there are two critical parameters to take into account.

First, the rough-in is a vital indicator of whether the model you are considering will fit in your bathroom. It’s best to measure the rough-in with your old toilet still in place. Make sure you get a replacement that matches this parameter strictly, or you’ll likely end up with a toilet that’s simply too big or too much space between the wall and the toilet.

Secondly, I recommend opting for a larger trap if possible as it’s more forgiving when it comes to potential clog factors such as accumulated gunk.

Thirdly, the size of the bowl matters. While how much room you have at your disposal is largely determined by its shape (see below), bigger bowls are generally more comfortable to sit on. They don’t necessarily mean better flushing efficiency, though. This is where flush type comes into play.

Flush Type

There’s always a tradeoff between clogging potential and noise when it comes to flushing. Most toilets nowadays use the good old gravity-feed system, which is relatively quiet but not the most efficient option, with pressure-assist models typically falling on the pricey side and offering superb flushing performance but for the loud whoosh that accompanies the act.

If you feel like wasting water is not a way to live, opt for a dual-flush model that enables partial or full flush depending on the circumstances.

Shape

It’s safe to say that modern toilets come in all shapes and colors, but what is the difference?

Bowl Shape

The majority of people agree that more sitting space translates to greater comfort, which explains why elongated bowls have become so popular. However, you might prefer a compact option if you haven’t been blessed with a roomy bathroom.

One-Piece vs. Two-Piece

One-piece toilets are whole solid units. It makes them heavier and more expensive, but they can also be more space-saving and look sleeker. Installation is generally easier when you only have one piece.

Two-piece models consist of two halves, meaning more time-consuming installation and a potential for breaks and leaks. However, there are more rough-in options associated with the design.

Modern Toilets FAQ

Being a plumber, I often find myself answering similar questions when it comes to modern toilets. I’ve collected the most common ones to answer here just briefly for your reference in case you’ve been thinking about it too.

Do self-cleaning toilets work?

There are many possible meanings behind “self-cleaning”, offering a variable degree of efficiency. For instance, American Standard’s ActiClean line combines a special glaze additive with an auto-clean button, which can spare you a lot of cleaning time and effort. Toto’s even more advanced technology relies on UV light to break down dirt on the surface after it’s been pre-wetted at the push of a button.

Who invented the modern day toilet?

Today’s flushable toilet dates all the way back to the 16th century. The invention is credited to Sir John Harington. One of the first instances was installed in the royal palace of the pioneer’s godmother, Queen Elizabeth of England.

Harington’s book, aptly titled “A New Discourse of a Stale Subject, called The Metamorphosis of Aiax”, describes the technology behind his creation in a humorous manner.

How do I increase the water flow in my modern toilet tank?

Most today’s designs, especially high-end toilets, were made with a view for tampering prevention and will supply enough water for efficient flushing provided that the line is healthy. My recommendation is that you consult your plumber before you try any DIY solutions.

What measurements should I take before buying a modern toilet?

The key measurement to take for replacing your old toilet is the rough-in, or the gap between the finished wall surface and the center of the base bolts used to mount the toilet.

If your bathroom is far from being spacious, try to figure out how much space the toilet will be allowed to take in terms of bowl dimensions.

Time to Say Goodbye to Your Old John!

Let’s admit it: not all toilets are created equal. Your time-tested throne might be reasonably good when it comes to the basics, but the aesthetic appeal of glossy, sleek, ergonomic modern toilets is hard to resist.

With improved flushing efficiency that can save you a lot of money on bills, models such as Toto MW4463056CUMG#01 are more than likely to pay off. There are many more options across a wide price range, so don’t hesitate to upgrade your bathroom!

What do you think is the best thing about contemporary toilets that old models missed? Please comment down below!

Gerald Carpenter

My name is Gerald Carpenter and I am a professional plumber in the third generation. My father was a plumber, my grandfather was a plumber. I wish I had records on my other ancestors.

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