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Whilst researching into the top toilets, you may have noticed manufacturers using the term rough in frequently. In laymans terms, this is simply the measurement from your wall to the middle of your waste outlet. Whilst twelve inch products are the most common, fourteen inch, and ten inch rough in toilets are also in demand. There are several advatages and reasons to own one, including them being better suited for compact bathroom layouts.
This guide will focus on several 10" toilets, paying attention to specific details about the materials used, flushing system, MaP rating, brand quality, bowl shape, and many more. Overall, the reviewing criteria doesn't change much from those we typically use in our guides, and will still provide users with a comparison table of important individual specifications, measurements, and features.
The Eco Drake combines a powerful, 1000g MaP rating, with an economically and environmentally friendly flush. It measures 29 x 15 x 17.2 inches and has a bowl height that meets ADA requirements for accessibility.
This is an affordable model that has favorable consumer feedback across the web.
Looking closely at the specifications of individual products can be a excellent way to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each toilet. We've compiled an extensive list of features to help you in your research below. Keep in mind, some of these models from Toto can use a UniFit adapter which allows you to be more versatile in making your decision.
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| TOTO Eco Drake | American Standard Colony |
KOHLER Cimarron | KOHLER Highline | American Standard Cadet 3 |
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| Model number | CST744EF | 221CB.104.222 | K-3851-U-96 | K-3889-RA-0 | 270DB001.222 |
| Rough in | 10" | 10" | 10" | 10" | 10" |
| Flush type | E-Max | HET | AquaPiston | HET | Siphon action |
| Touchless | |||||
| Trip lever | . | ||||
| Button | |||||
| GPF | 1.28 | 1.28 | 1.28 | 1.28 | 1.6 |
| WaterSense | |||||
| CalGreen | |||||
| MaP | 1000g | 600g | 1000g | 1000g | 1000g |
| ADA | |||||
Rim height
Height without seat
|
16-1/8" | 15" | 16-1/2" | 16-1/2" | 15" |
| Elongated | |||||
| Round | |||||
| Square | |||||
WSA
Water surface area
|
7-7/8 x 10-5/16" | 9 x 8" | 11 x 8-3/4" | 11-3/8 x 8" | 9 x 8" |
Water level
Rim to surface |
6" | N/A | 5-1/4" | 5-3/8" | N/A |
| Dimensions | 29 x 15 x 17.2" | 27.8 x 18.7 x 29.5" | 27.2 x 17.6 x 30.5" | 29.5 x 18 x 31.2" | 26.2 x 17 x 29.1" |
| Weight | 80 lbs | N/A | 87.5 lbs | 93 lbs | 55 lbs |
| Trap size | 2-1/8" | 2" | 2-1/8" | 2-1/8" | 2-1/8" |
| Flush valve | 3" | 2" | 2" | 3" | 3" |
| Concealed trap | |||||
| Skirted | |||||
| One piece | |||||
| Two piece | . | ||||
| Intelligent | |||||
| Floor mount | . | ||||
| Wall mounted | |||||
| Colors | Cotton | Linen, Bone, White | Biscuit | White | Linen |
| Seat | |||||
| Soft close | |||||
| Bidet | |||||
| Supply | |||||
| Rating | 80% | 79% | 79% | 79% | 79% |
Compact - If you have a small bathroom, the closer the rough in is to the wall the better. You can save a fair amount of floor space this way.
Not as much choice - As they aren't the most common size, there is not as much choice on the market as standard 12 inch sizes. One example of this is that the majority you do find will provide round front bowls rather than elongated.
Comfort - Whilst not always the case, low profile models are often attributed to 10 inch units. They don't always provide the same amount of leg room, and as a result, can be less comfortable than the traditional sizes.
Analyzing the inner workings of individual products is very important. Identifying flaws before you purchase should be high on your list of priorities. So to help you avchieve that, we've looked into a few below, which will enable you to separate the great choices from the average.
The Eco Drake is a highly rated TOTO toilet for a number of reasons. If eco friendliness and efficiency is high on your list of criteria, this could certainly be worth taking into consideration.
It operates on a E-Max 1.28 gallon, WaterSense certified flush that will enable users to save thousands of gallons per year, per person. Not only that, but in a world where resources are becoming more scarce, doing your bit for the environment is important.
The bowl is elongated, and despite not being the largest of toilets, it also meets ADA standards, with what's known as Universal height seating. However, it's important to note that the seat will need to be purchased separately. The SS114, or SS154 would be a good match. Or if you want something more advanced, why not choose a bidet? The SW2044 washlet from TOTO seems to be a popular choice.
Digging a little deeper into specific measurements, the water surface area is 7-7/8" x 10-5/16", trap diameter 2-1/8", and trap seal 2-3/8". Overall dimensions are 29 x 15 x 17.2 inches.
This is an affordable option from a top tier brand name. For those on a tight budget, this could be ideal.
Featuring a two inch flush valve and trapway, this model from the Colony range packs some decent flush performance for the price, with a MaP rating of 600g. This may not be top of the scale, but it's above average and will provide a strong enough flush for family households. All of this whilst saving up to twenty percent more water.
A nice addition is the power wash rim that will really help wash the bowl thoroughly after each use. The nooks and crannies around the rim is typically a breeding ground for bacteria, so any way to combat this is welcome.
This is another toilet that meets the Environmental protection agencies Watersense stadards. With a 1.28 gallon flush, the savings you could make on your water bills over the long term is yet another reason to think about the 221CB.104.222.
It's floor mounted, includes an elongated shape bowl, and has a two piece design. Dimensions are as follows: 27.8 x 18.7 x 29.5 inches.
It's competitively priced, has a well known brand behind it, and efficient. Certainly three things we look for whilst determining the quality of a product.
This model comes from the Cimarron range of Kohler, and has a pretty standard design, two piece, with a round front bowl. It combines the 4829 bowl and 4166-U tank.
Operating on a 1.28 gallon flush does make it sound less powerful performance wise. However, the AquaPiston, siphonic jet flush action is very effective at moving waste through the bowl. Such a system lets water pour through the bowl from all angles, providing a thorough a clean rinse that leaves the ceramic surface clean. In fact, MaP rating is listed as an impressive 1000g. Top marks.
In addition to this, the seating is designed to be at a height more suitable and inclusive for people with disabilities or mobility problems. This simply means the bowl height is a bit taller. This is known as a comfort height toilet, and will help reduce stress on your joints and muscles when sitting and standing.
It measures 27.2 by 17.6 by 30.5 inches, weighs more than 80 pounds, and has a 2 inch flush valve.
Not the cheapest option available from what we've gathered, but in line with much of the competition in the bathroom industry.
Similarly to the Cimarron, the Highline is also equipped with a toilet bowl which is slightly taller than average, making it easier for the elderly and disabled to sit and stand. The extra height can really help with this.
It features a elongated shape bowl, a good choice for consumers looking for comfort, and has a two piece design that comes with a trip lever located on the right of its tank.
If you're looking for a loo with a strong flush, the K-3889-RA could fit your criteria. It has what's known as a Class five flush performance alongside a 1000g MaP score. Both excellent indicators, used by manufacturers across the globe, to gauge flushing performance.
And despite the performance, it still manages to keep low flowing water properties that meet WaterSense standards. Thousands of gallons of water per year can be saved by those chosing this over traditional, 1.6 gallon units.
The design itself, whilst not skirted, looks great and it comes in a nice and bright white finish that blends in with most modern bathrooms. It's a good mid tier option, but people will need to purchase the seat and supply separately if required. The K-4636, K-5588, K-4108 C3, are decent, compatible seats.
The Cadet 3 falls in line with many of its competitors in its category, but also comes with several differences in the spec sheet. Most notable of which is its round front bowl which is designed to save space. Those with compact bathrooms can certainly appreciate this.
However, unlike many other toilets we analyzed, the 270DB001.222 utilizes 1.6 gallons of water with every flush. This is less conservative than the WaterSense counterparts, but still better than the old 3.5 gallon styles. What's more, with the help of this added water, alongside it's syphonic jet flushing system, it achieves an impressive 1000g flush rating.
And whilst many consumers have been choosing comfort height bowls, there are still plenty of people out there who want standard height bowls. This has such a design, with a fifteen inch rim height.
The surface inside the bowl is known as Ever Clean antimicrobial surface, which works well in preventing waste from sticking to the bowl, and getting rid of bacteria. Couple this with a powerwash rim and you have a potent formula for hygiene.
It's not particularly expensive, but users should take into account that supply and seat will need to be purchased separately, which can drive the price up a fair amount. So if you're on a tight budget, keep tabs on whether or not a product comes with the accessories and extras. It can all add up quickly.
Bowl shape - Do you require an elongated shape bowl or a round bowl? It's a question that gets asked a lot. What's important to remmeber here is one is built for user comfort, whilst the other does a fantastic job in saving space in your bathroom. We're of the opinion you should stick with round styles if you have limited room. Combined with the fact that a 10 inch rough allows the toilet to sit closer to the wall, and you have an effective, compact result.
Alternatively, if you're after a more relaxed, comfortable experience that's more accommodating to males biologically, then elongated bowls could be exactly what you need. However, be wary that these aren't particularly low profile in most cases.
Bowl height - More recently, big toilet brands have been rolling out ADA friendly bowl designs. This means they are taller than your standard toilets, measuring between seventeen and nineteen inches from the base to seated position. This is all about accessibility and ease of use. Manufacturers label this feature differently, but it all boils down to the same thing. Comfort height, Right height, Universal height, are examples from TOTO, American Standard, and KOHLER.
You could make the argument that these are not as family friendly as it may not be suitable for shorter people to sit on. There is also evidence that sitting on a taller bowl can play a role in causing constipation as the seated posture is not as effective. If this is a concern, you should stick with products that are shorter than seventeen inches.
Water surface area - The surface area of the water spot within the bowl plays an important role in keeping bad odors to a minimum. The wider surface area the spot covers, the better it does in that task. However, there is a fine line between the size of the surface and performance. Go to large and the flush power suffers as a result.
Gallons per flush - The purpose of GPF is to let consumers know about a toilets efficiency via the water flow rate from the tank through the bowl. Most products you see online will offer a 1.6 GPF or 1.28 GPF. The latter are known as highly efficient toilets and they also meet the EPA's WaterSense criteria, ensuring products are environmentally and economically friendly. They are designed in a way that helps them save as much as twenty percent per year on water utility bills. In a household with numerous occupants, the amount of gallons saved can add up quickly.
Flush activation - There are two main style of flush activation. Those are trip levers and buttons. Which you choose will come down to individual preferences, but extra consideration should be given to the location of said lever or button. They can be built on the left, right, front, or even on top of the tank.
Aside from the popular choices, there are also hands free toilet flushing systems that utilize sensors to flush automatically when you pass your hand through the sensors range. Such options can be very hygienic, but you could argue they are not as reliable as standard toilets because they have a motor and require batteries to operate.
One piece vs two piece - You should have a basic understanding of one and two piece products and how they differ from one another. One piece toilets are carved from a single piece of ceramic, meaning both the bowl and tank are already joint together upon purchase. Two piece toilets are separated and require a little extra work upon installation. We go into the advantages of both in more detail on our home page.
MaP ratings - MaP has long been the go to company for manufacturers looking to get reliable and accurate flush ratings on their products. They give each toilet a score on a scale of 0-1000 grams. The higher up this scale the the results are, the more effective the flushing mechanism is. We recommend sticking with units that offer strong performance in this department. 500g and above is a good starting point when it comes to reliability in handling waste in bulk and ensuring the bowl is clear.
Brand - The brand name you choose is very important. Yes, you may find several smaller manufacturers that sell products that are inexpensive like EAGO, Swiss Madison, Mirabelle, Duravit, and WoodBridge, but you have to think about the overall quality and how durable they are. More often then not, the big brands are tried and tested and have thousands of comments from consumers providing feedback telling us whether they are happy or sad with their purchase.
Some of the biggest names in the bathroom industry include Kohler, TOTO, Sterling, Mansfield Plumbing, Delta, American Standard, and Gerber. Each of these have built up a solid reputation over the years, which is why we generally recommend sticking to them. But there can certainly be exceptions to this rule.
Gloss / Finish - The type of gloss within the bowl goes a long way in preventing the build up of mold, mildew, and general bacteria. Different manufacturers use different names, but the idea is similar for each. Look out for Ever Clean, Cleancoat, SanaGloss within the big brands.
Standard or concealed trapway - If you're a fan of minimalistic designs, skirted toilets could be exactly what you've been looking for. They hide the trap effectively, giving the products a smoother, cleaner looking surface. In addition to this, they are easier to wash because their is far fewer gaps for germs to hide in.
However, because there is more material required to produce such designs, they tend to be more expensive on average.
Installation costs - We understand that not everyone is going to have the skills or plumbing knowledge to install a toilet themselves. That's why you should be including in your budget any service costs for plumbers.
Consumer feedback - An obvious, but essential part of research should involve looking at what customers are saying about specific toilet models. You can usually gauge general hapiness by doing so, and any common flaws will be exposed.
Toilets with a ten inch rough in are most notably found in older homes where the plumbing tends to be different to their modern counterparts. It's of great importance that you know your required measurements before you begin shopping. A badly fitted loo can cause all kinds of issues.
The same standards apply to these products as others, meaning you need to be aware of any potential flaws through consumer feedback and feature scrutiny. Use the points we've listed above to your advantage and ensure you've covered all the bases before you make a decision to buy.