Toilet Advice may earn compensation through affiliate links on this page.
A comfort height toilet bowl has several advantages over standard height bowls. The most important of which is greater accessibility due to there being less stress on the knees, back, and joints in general. This makes them popular additions to senior citizens and disabled peoples bathrooms.
If these advantages sound like a good fit for you, then look out for manufacturers using labels like universal, chair, or right height. These will usually indicate a bowl height measuring seventeen inches and above with the inclusion of a seat.
We explore some of the best rated toilets from this category below, paying attention to the important details such as the trap, flushing performance, water surface, brand and many more.
The CST454CUFG#11 is an option we believe is well rounded in terms of handling day to day bathroom usage for the modern home. It's highly efficient, utilizing just 1.0 gallons per flush, and has CEFIONTECT gloss, within the bowl to fight of bacteria. Couple this with a strong, 800g flush, and you can expect it to handle bulk waste very well, whilst leaving the bowl pristine.
From trip lever to dimensions, mounting to water efficiency, we dive deep into the specifications of several leading products below. This will enable readers to make effective comparisons between units.
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
|
| TOTO Drake II | KOHLER Memoirs | American Standard Champion 4 |
TOTO Promenade | KOHLER Tresham | WoodBridge | |
| Model number | CST454CUFG#11 | K-6669-0 | 2034314.020 | CST423SF#01 | K-3950-95 | T-0001 |
| Rough in | 12" | 12" | 12" | 12" | 12" | 12" |
| Flush type | Tornado | AquaPiston | Siphonic | G-Max | AquaPiston | Dual |
| Touchless | ||||||
| Trip lever | . | |||||
| Button | ||||||
| GPF | 1.0 | 1.28 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.28 | 1.0 /1.6 GPF |
| WaterSense | ||||||
| CalGreen | N/A | |||||
| MaP | 800g | 1000g | 1000g | N/A | 1000g | N/A |
| ADA | . | |||||
Rim height
Height without seat
|
16-1/8" | 16-1/2" | 16-1/2" | 16-1/8" | 16-1/2" | 16-1/2" |
| Elongated | ||||||
| Round | ||||||
| Square | ||||||
WSA
Water surface area
|
6-7/8 x 8-7/8" | 11-1/8 x 8-1/2" | N/A | 8-7/8 x 6-3/8" | 11-1/2 x 9" | N/A |
Water level
Rim to surface |
5-1/2" | 5-3/8" | N/A | 5-7/8" | 5-3/8" | N/A |
| Dimensions | 28.5 x 15 x 30" | 31.4 x 28.2 x 20.1" | 17.8 x 29.8 x 29.5" | 26.1 x 18.5 x 33.4" | 31 x 30 x 17" | 28.5 x 14.5 x 27.5" |
| Weight | 75 lbs | 101 lbs | 118 lbs | 86 lbs | 93.6 lbs | 119 lbs |
| Trap size | 2-1/8" | 2-1/8" | 2-3/8" | 2-1/8" | 2-1/8" | N/A |
| Flush valve | 3" | 2" | 4" | 3" | 3" | N/A |
| Concealed trap | ||||||
| Skirted | ||||||
| One piece | ||||||
| Two piece | ||||||
| Intelligent | ||||||
| Floor mount | . | |||||
| Wall mounted | ||||||
| Colors | Colonial, Cotton, Bone | White, Biscuit, Almond | White, Linen, Bone | Cotton white, Bone | White, Ice Grey, Dune | Pure white |
| Seat | ||||||
| Soft close | ||||||
| Bidet | ||||||
| Supply | ||||||
| Rating | 86% | 86% | 85% | 85% | 85% | 84% |
A comfort height toilet is a taller type of bowl that meets the Americans with Disabilities Act criteria for accessible design. So just how high is a handicapped toilet? Bowls that fall into this category measure between 17" and 19" from base to top of seat. Comparitively, standard bowls measure around 14 1/2" to 15 1/2". These extra inches make them a popular choice with seniors, tall people, and the physically challenged.
Comfort - The key is in the name. For a more comfortable experience, the extra inches added to the bowl height can go a long way. In this case, you're looking at 17 inch, 18 inch, even 19 inch toilets. This can make a huge difference to some people.
Less stress on body - Because there is less distance between the standing and seated positions, it puts far less stress on key joints and muscles. This in itself makes them a more suitable choice for the elderly and disabled people.
Guest friendly - If you tend to have friends and older family members visit, an extra tall toilet for the elderly will most likely be a more sensible choice for meeting everyones washroom requirements.
Less natural for your body - There is the argument that standard height bowls are better for passing waste through your body. You can read a bit more on that here. The same effect can still be achieved with a universal height bowl, but may require a stall at the foot of the bowl.
Listed out below are some of the leading chair height toilets identified through our in depth research. We look at flush performance, tank style, bowl shape, and the need to know details to make your decision making simpler.
The CST454CUFG#11 from the Drake II collection has plenty of positives found within its spec sheet. Accessibility and comfort are always important, which it has covered, but what about the smaller details such as flushing mechanism and water usage?
One would be forgiven thinking that because this unit meets Environmental protection agencies WaterSense standards, that it has a weaker flush. This may of been true in the past, but design innovations have improved over the years to the point where toilets can achieve a strong flush with less water. And that is the case here, with a tornado mechanism that achieves 800g on the MaP scale. This is a high score, and fits into our strongly recommended criteria.
And because your utilizing less water, your also playing a role in protecting the environment and keeping the bathroom economically friendly. Some sources say you could save more than ten thousand gallons per year in the right circumstances. Not a insignificant number by any stretch of the imagination.
The bowl is elongated, which is generally what we recommend to readers who are after comfort. It is also coated with CEFIONTECT glazing which helps prevent particles, germs, and bacteria from building up. Keeping the toilet cleaner for longer.
It's got a chrome trip lever for flush activation, located on the side of its tank, and comes in a number of different finishes including colonial white, cotton, beige, and bone. A nice range of choice for contrasting style tastes.
Moving onto general measurements now. It has a 2-1/8" trapway, 3" flush valve, and a 16-1/8" convenient height from base to rim. With the addition of a seat, this will enable it to meet ADA toilet height criteria.
You should know that the seat will need to be purchased separately as one doesn't come included with this package. There are a number of soft closing seats to choose on that are compatible with this product. SS224, SS214, SS114 are just a few examples of these.
Overall, we believe this could be a smart choice for the residential setting. A reputable brand, plenty of positive feedback and comments available to read online, and also highly efficient.
The Memoirs K-6669 Model is the combination of the K-4434 tank and K-5626 bowl. It has a unique, boxy, or ridged design, which looks great thanks to the concealed trapway.
Looking at the mechanism of its flush, it utilizes AquaPiston technology. This is known for allowing water through the bowls from all angles, hitting, and cleaning difficult spots around the rim, keeping it cleaner for longer.
It meets CalGreen and WaterSense standards, with a 1.28 GPF spec. Excellent for consumers wanting a economically friendly, high toilet. But it's not just that that stands out. It also achieves max marks on the MaP flush performance tests (1000g), proving it handles bulk waste well.
Other features include an elongated bowl, left hand trip lever, and it fitting a twelve inch rough in. It measures 31.4 by 28.2 by 20.1 inches, has a 2 inch flush valve, and a reasonably large water surface area of 11-1/8 x 8-1/2".
Whilst not one of the low budget options, it is comparable to its competition, and has a big brand with plenty of consumer reports to browse through before you make a decision. Your supply line and seat will need to be bought separately however. The K-4636 Cachet, K-5588 Purefresh, and K-4108 C3 are all sensible choices here.
The 2034314.020 from the Champion 4 collection is an ADA compliant toilet that looks great. It has a simple, one piece style, that will look great in modern bathrooms.
And because it's a one piece toilet, there is less time spent on installation, and less areas where a product can become faulty with leaks etc.
Unlike some units we've researched above, this isn't a Watersense model. Whilst its 1.6 gallons per flush is far better than old 3.5 gallon units, it still falls short of EPA label standards. So if your aim is to get the best efficiency possible, this may not be the smartest choice. Howeverk, the trade off here is that it achieves a stronger flush, that will effectively push both liquid and solid waste from the bowl.
In addition to the impressive 1000g flush rating given to it by MaP, it also includes a EverClean gloss which prevents mildew, mold, and anything else that causes odors in the washroom from building up. Leaving it a hygienic environment for the next user.
Perhaps the fact that the 2034314 is equipped with a seat is an extra incentive as many don't in this day and age. What's more, it's slow closing which helps prevent the seating from slamming against the rim and damaging it or causing unecessary noise.
Not as water efficient as the competition, but performance wise, it holds its own, and there is plenty of positive feedback found about it around the web.
Like the Champion 4, The CST423SF#01 Promenade isn't quite as efficient as several of its counterparts. When it comes to gallons per flush, it sends 1.6 gallons, or 6.0 litres through the bowl. And whilst this produces an effective flush, one could also argue you could cut back on this and save thousands of gallons of water per year in the process.
However, despite it using a fairly large amount of water, its G-Max system is known to be reasonably quiet. It comes equipped with a large trapway and a large water spot to keep odors down.
If you measure from the base of its bowl to the top of its rim, you get 16-1/8 inches, coupled with a seat will bring it into ADA compliancy. The water level from the rim is 5-7/8", and overall dimensions are 26.1 by 18.5 by 33.4 inches.
It's a two piece toilet, which means the tank and bowl will come detached from one another. On one hand, this makes it easier to lift and move around the house into position. However, the downside of this means there are more joints / material exposed that can cause problems in the future.
It's not particularly expensive looking at the options available in the industry as a whole, and has plenty of solid reviews to read through to further understand its qualities and potential flaws.
The Tresham collection made by Kohler has a number of aesthetically pleasing styles available. Ridged or boxy tanks and bowls make a nice change to the common rounded or curved surfaces.
Not only does it offer a unique design, it also enables consumers to choose from a wide variety of colors to match their bathroom theme. Ice Grey, Dune, White, Biscuit, and Thunder Grey among them.
Looking at the flush functionality, this is gravity fed and activated via a trip lever on the side of its tank, which sends just 1.28 gallons through the bowl. This ensures it meets EPA Watersense standards in efficiency and could end up saving you money on your bills over the 3.5 GPF and 1.6 GPF toilets.
You may be thinking that because it uses a lot less water, the flush power suffers as a result. This isn't true. In fact, on the MaP scale, this gets a high rating of 1000g, meaning it holds its own against models that send through more water.
The chair height seating is a given, but coupled with an elongated bowl, this is built for user comfort, and makes getting into the seated position far easier on the joints.
Again, supply line and seat are not included, so be wary of any extra costs this may incur and how it may effect your budget if you have one.
Overall, this is made by a reputable manufacturer, and we have found the amount of positive feedback found by far outweighs the negative, and that is generally a good sign.
The T-0001 from Woodbridge is also one of those higher toilets for seniors. It has a beautifully crafted external design. It's skirted and hides the trapway effectively. The smooth surfaces surrounding the bowl and tank also help speed up cleaning tasks, thanks to there being fewer places for dirt and germs to hide.
Moving away from the overall aesthetics and its clean feeling, it also comes with a soft closing seat which stops people from slamming it shut and potentially chipping or cracking the ceramic.
Another handy feature is the inclusion of a dual flushing mechanism, which enables users to choose between a heavy and light flush dependent on the type of waste you'll be disposing of. To go into specific numbers, you can choose between 1.6 gallons, and 1.0 gallons. The beauty of this is it averages out at 1.28 gallons, ensuring it helps meet water conservation guidelines set out by the environmental protection agencency.
Something that sets it apart from its main competitors is that it's a all in one package that is ready to go out of the box. The seat is installed, and its a one piece bowl / tank combo which means less installation work, and less time consumed.
It fits the standard twelve inch rough, and comes with a nice rectangular shaped bowl. However, the jury is out on the comfort of such a shape vs round or elongated options.
Rough in - Perhaps the most important thing buyers should know about, is their rough in size. Measuring from the wall (no skirting, finished), to the center of the waste outlet hole, you will get a accurate idea of what size your bathroom requires.
In most modern households, a twelve inch rough in will be sufficient. However, some consumers will need a more custom fit, and that's where a fourteen and ten inch rough in toilets come into the equation. If you're still unsure after reading this, you can have a look at your previous models spec sheet, or contact a plumbing professional to come and measure it for you.
Failing to do this can result in poorly fitting bowls, which can lead to ugly gaps behind the tank. Most people will want the tank installed as close to the wall as possible.
Brand name - The manufacturer you choose should usually be one with a longstanding reputation in the industry. That may be different for more niche designs such as upflushing toilets, but for the most part, sticking with the big brands is a sensible choice. So who do we consider to be in this worthy group? There are quite a few in our opinion. The best rated TOTO toilets will always be up there, but you can't overlook other names such as Kohler, American Standard, Sterling, WoodBridge, Icera, Delta, Mansfield, Mirabelle, Ove, Swiss Madison, Niagara, Duravit, and Gerber either. Each brings something different to the table, be it through unique designs or flushing mechanisms. Choose wisely.
Bowl shape - A high rise toilet bowl is generally one of two shapes. Elongated, or rounded. Although you do get a mix of both sometimes too (see elongated round front options). The shape you pick will determine how comfortable you are whilst seated, and how much space is consumed. If you want a more comfortable bathroom experience, we suggest picking an elongated bowl, as it gives plenty of leg room through a more natural seated position. However, if the goal is to save space in a more compact environment, then round bowls are your friend.
Mounting - Whilst the majority of toilets you come across will be floor mounted, those with a more unique style taste may appreciate what wall hung toilets have to offer. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but depending on your unit, you get more freedom with how it's installed. You shouldn't rush this decision though. wall mounted options tend to require some DIY work, especially if you need some form of in wall carrier system to hold the tank. Without the required expertise to install this, it can get costly quickly.
Flush activation - When it comes to activating your flushing system, users have a few choices. There is not only the basic options such as trip levers or buttons, but also those who appreciate the convenience and hygienic nature of a touchless flush.
Gallons per flush - The GPF is an important spec we look into to see how much water a toilet saves compared to its competitors. There are WaterSense labelled options, which are known to utilize up to 1.28 gallons, and standard options which use 1.6 gallons. There are advantages over the old 3.5 gallon are quite clear, with thousands of gallons of water potentially being saved each year, protecting not just the environment but your wallet. In fact, by switching to a low flow toilet, you stand to save between twenty and sixty percent, or thirteen thousand gallons per year.
Water surface area - You may of heard that the wider the water spot at the bottom of the bowl, the better for keeping odors down. We agree to a point. But go too large, and it will begin to have an adverse effect on flushing performance. Striking a balance between both is what we look for.
Concealed trapway - Toilets with a concealed trapway look great. There is less exposure to important fixtures and they are easy to clean and keep spotless. However, as we note in most of our guides on the matter, they require more material to build, which drives the price up. If you have a small budget, ask yourself is the extra cost worth the improved aesthetics?
Consumer feedback - We believe an excellent and reliable source of information about product quality is through customer reviews. You can find these on most online stores. For the full picture, check out both the poor and high ratings. This can be a great way to catch any flaws before you part with your money.
Deciding which comfort height toilet is a good match for your home isn't a simple task. There are so many extra specifications within the designs to consider that can actually be quite daunting for the inexperienced buyer. By condensing all the information as we have above, we hope that you have a better understanding of what to keep an eye out for and what features to avoid.
You should also be asking yourself if they are right for you. Sometimes, standard size bowls are a better fit. There are advantages to owning both, especially in a family home.