Toilet Advice may earn compensation through affiliate links on this page.
If you've read our toilet buying guides in the past, you will know how important it is to get the correct rough in measurement before you start shopping. Chances are, if you've come to this page, you already know that your current plumbing set up requires a toilet with a 14 inch rough in. So, to help our readers find a suitable match for their bathroom, we've hand picked some of our favorites and analyzed the pros and cons of each. Alternatively, we have a guide for 10" rough in sizes, and 12", that may come in handy.
Along with Toto and American Standard, Kohler are one of our favorite brands. And with good reason. Time and time again we come across toilets made by them that have powerful flush mechanisms but also conserve water. The K-3949-RA-0 is an example of this.
It has Class Five flush performance, which can be better described as handling bulk waste with ease. It does this by using a gravity fed system, with a large flush valve to send water rapidly through the bowl and trapway, rinsing it clean.
It includes many of the features we seek to identify the better toilets in the industry, and could be a solid upgrade for your home.
  |
  |
  |
|
| Kohler Highline | American Standard Cadet PRO |
TOTO Legato | |
| Model number | K-3949-RA-0 | 215FC.104.020 | MS624214CEFG#03 |
| Rough in | 14" | 14" | UniFit |
| Flush type | HET | HET | Tornado |
| Touchless | |||
| Trip lever | . | ||
| Button | |||
| GPF | 1.28 | 1.28 | 1.28 |
| WaterSense | . | ||
| CalGreen | . | ||
| MaP | 1000g | 1000g | N/A |
| ADA | . | ||
Rim height
Height without seat
|
16-1/2" | 16-1/2" | 16-1/8" |
| Elongated | . | ||
| Round | |||
| Square | |||
WSA
Water surface area
|
11-3/8" x 8" | 9" x 8" | 7-3/4" x 9-3/8" |
Water level
Rim to surface |
5-3/8" | N/A | 6-1/4" |
| Dimensions | 31.6 x 30.8 x 18.2" | 30.4 x 17.4 x 30.1" | 28.5 x 17.2 x 28" |
| Weight | 96.5 lbs | 59 lbs | 119 lbs |
| Trap size | 2-1/8" | 2-1/8" | 2-1/8" |
| Flush valve | 3" | 3" | 3" |
| Concealed trap | |||
| Skirted | |||
| One piece | |||
| Two piece | |||
| Intelligent | |||
| Floor mount | . | ||
| Wall mounted | |||
| Colors | White | White | Bone |
| Seat | |||
| Soft close | |||
| Bidet | |||
| Supply | |||
| Rating | 84% | 83% | 83% |
The K-3949-RA-0 from the Highline collection is one of our top picks for a reason. It combines efficiency, power, and comfort in one package.
As mentioned previously, this has Class Five flush performance, which is Kohlers way of saying it can handle lots of waste in one single, gravity fed flush, with very little chance of blockages occurring.
A common mistake consumers make when researching is assuming that good flush power equals more a higher level of water consumption. With new innovations, this couldn't be further than the truth. The K-3949-RA-0 is a great example of a toilet that combines eco friendly properties with performance. It uses just 1.28 gallons per flush, allowing it to meet the strict criteria the EPA put out to be categorized as a WaterSense model. It also meets CALGreen standards.
Moving on to the external design aspects, it has a elongated shape bowl, and is a two piece tank / bowl combo that will need to be attached together while installing it. This can sometimes be time consuming, but the inclusion of three pre installed tank bolts make things simpler. It also has comfort height seating with a rim height of sixteen and a half inches. With the addition of a seats extra inch or two on top of this, this ensures it meets ADA criteria too.
It's floor mounted, finished in a beautifully bright white, has a right hand trip lever, and is made from a ceramic china. Unfortunately though, its trapway isnt hidden, we prefer skirted trapway designs.
Overall, we believe the Highline has some terrific features that could make it a great upgrade or replacement for your bathroom.
The Cadet Pro has plenty of great features going for it. It's an efficient and compact toilet complete with an ADA bowl, whilst remaining suitable for consumers working with a smaller budget.
We always look at flushing power in our analysis, and there is no better way to gauge this than by using the tests and scores offered by MaP rating. Out of a possible one thousand, the 215FC.104.020 scores a maximum one thousand, demonstrating a strong flush that can handle day to day bathroom usage in a family household with ease.
It also utilizes up to twenty percent less water than standard models. Its 1.28 GPF rate ensures water is not wasted. It achieves such efficiency through its Cadet mechanism which has a three inch flush valve, and a 2-1/8" trapway, ensuring the movement of waste through the outlet is effective and less likely to get clogged. This also means it meets CALGreen and WaterSense standard.
The bowl may not be much to look at. It isn't skirted, and there isn't anything in particular that stands out. But what it does have is an elongated rim, which is ADA height. Two thing we place high importance on when researching new products.
It's made from Vitreous china, which is coated in American Standards EverClean glazing. Innovative tech to protect the ceramic, and ensure odors and waste don't linger for long.
We chose this as one of our picks because it has all the basics we look for, and isn't particularly expensive when you compare it to the competition.
The Legato is a more versatile toilet when it comes to the variety of rough in sizes. This can fit all the standard measurements thanks to the TOTO UniFit adapter, which is really just an extra piece of piping that gets attached to the bowl.
It has the best exterior design out of the ones we've picked in our opinion. This is largely down to the fact that the trapway is fully skirted. It's also one piece, with no ugly cracks between the tank and bowl. There is something about the smoother sides just give it an edge in the aesthetics department.
The bowl itself has a elongated front style, and the glazing included is TOTO's SanaGloss, which helps keep things cleaner, and easier to rinse down.
It operates on the Tornado Flush mechanism, which utilizes a WaterSense compliant 1.28 GPF rate. It also meets the Americans With Disabilities Act in terms of how tall it is too.
Consumers will be pleased to know that the seat (SS214) comes with it, which is soft closing and protects the rim from it slamming shut or potentially damaging it.
It includes a three inch flush valve, 7-3/4" by 9-3/8" water surface, and a trap diameter of 2-1/8". It's finished in a nice bone color and has a trip lever on the tanks side.
Not the cheapest option to go for, but one that has all the specifications we look for in a good bathroom toilet.
Rough in - If you're yet to measure your rough in, now would be a good time. To do this, you should take a measuring tape and measure the distance from the wall behind the toilet, to the middle of the closet bolts. These are the bolts that secure it in place on the ground. You may find you don't have an exact figure. If you find yourself in that situation, simply round down to the nearest inch.
Some of you may have a very old model. These are often found with four bolts holding it down. To get an accurate measurement on these ones, only go to the bolts at the back.
You don't always have to get a product that fits perfectly either. There are certain things you can do to ensure your choice fits, regardless of size. One example of this is by using the Toto UniFit adapter, this allows you to fit a model of your choice regardless of being 10, 12, or 14 inches. However, the choice is quite limited with this as it seems to be exclusive to Toto and only to specific product ranges.
One piece vs two piece - We go into more detail on this in our one piece guide. We look at the pros and cons of both for your benefit. To simplify it, go with one piece units if you're after a contemporary, aesthetic exterior. Or if you're looking to save floor space. Go with two piece units, if you're looking for a cheaper alternative.
Glazing - The glazing has a very clear purpose. It's designed to make the bowls surface and exterior smoother, and easier to clean. This means when the water comes through the flush valve, there is less chance of waste, bacteria, mold, and mildew sticking. Now you know why companies glaze their products, what should you be looking out for whilst shopping online? Many brands utilize glazing to their advantage, and most modern ones even glaze the trapway. Readers should be looking for specific labels such as EverClean, Cefiontect, and Sanagloss.
Accessibility - When we speak of the ability to access the toilet, we are thinking about not just sufficient space, railings, and other similar pieces of hardware, but specific ADA specifications like bowl height. If you're someone who has a disability, or even a senior citizen, a taller, right height model could make a big difference to your bathroom use. It may not seem like much, but getting a product that adds a few inches in height will be easier on your joints and muscles.
Water spot - There are some clear advantages to having a large water surface area over a smaller one. Improved aim, less streaks within the bowl, and the ability to keep odors down long enough for you to use the flushing mechanism.
Trapway - Some of you may require a larger trapway. Others will find standard sizing more than sufficient. What are the advantages of going larger? The idea behind these products is they have the ability to push a larger quantity of waste through. Usually this wouldn't be necessary, as standard measurements do the job fine for more than 90% of people, but in those rarer cases, there is an option for more.
In addition to the size of the passageway, you will also want to make a decision on the style of the exterior. Are you willing to pay a bit extra for a skirted trapway, or are you looking for something cheaper and aren't too bothered about how it looks? This decision can only come down to user preferences.
Elongated or round? - The shape of your bowl largely depends on your current bathroom size and layout. Thin about where it will be installed, and does it need to have space saving attributes? If you're not too worried about the size of your toilet, then an elongated bowl could be the way forward. They are the sensible choice for buyers looking for comfort over compactness.
Mounting style - You may choose not to go through the most commonly used installation route, and instead get a floating toilet fitted. This is a solid alternative that is better suited to people looking for something more unique and aesthetic. However, if you do decide to go this route, you can expect it to be quite an expensive project as most will need to completely change the layout and plumbing of their bathrooms.
Other brands - We've looked at some of the bigger names in this industry. But what about the ones that didn't make the list? We're of the opinion that you shouldn't disregard them. Manufacturers like WoodBridge, Mirabelle, Duravit, Mansfield, Sterling, Delta, Gerber, Swiss Madison, and Duravit have strengths of their own that may compliment your washroom. So be sure that you've spent some time checking out what they can offer you.
Compared to the common 12 inch options on the market, 14 inch toilets can be considerably rarer. This can often mean it's harder to find a higher quality product. This guide aims to resolve this issue by cutting out much of the time consuming tasks typically involved with consumer research. We believe the several we found above are worthy for use in a modern household. But before you decide to buy anything, you should also read through the other considerations section above as the rough in size isn't the only thing you need to watch out for.