Toilet Buying Checklist: 20 Things to Check Before You Order

Pre-purchase checklist

Walk through these 20 items before committing to a toilet purchase. Missing any one of them creates a return/exchange headache or, worse, a forced-fit installation problem.

Section 1: Fit and physical install (6 items)

1. Rough-in measured. Distance from finished wall behind toilet to closet-bolt center. 90% are 12"; older homes 10" or 14". Wrong rough-in = won\'t fit.
2. Bowl shape decided. Elongated (longer, more comfortable) vs round-front (saves 2" projection). Verify your bathroom has clearance.
3. Door swing checked. Bathroom door swing must not contact the new toilet. Measure clearance with door fully open.
4. Trim/cabinet clearance verified. Side-to-side: 15" minimum from toilet centerline to any wall or fixture per ADA.
5. Front clearance verified. 21" minimum walking space in front of bowl (24" for ADA).
6. Toilet height confirmed. Comfort height (16-17") for adults; standard (14-15") for kids; ADA (17-19") for accessible bath.

Section 2: Performance (4 items)

7. GPF chosen. 1.28 (WaterSense) is the modern default; 0.8 (UHE) for water-priority; 1.6 only for old code requirements.
8. Flush mechanism chosen. Gravity (default), Tornado/VorMax (rimless gravity), pressure-assist (max clog clearance), vacuum-assist (max efficiency).
9. MaP score verified. 1,000g is best in class. Anything under 600g may struggle with normal household waste loads.
10. Bowl glaze (CeFiONtect, EverClean, Reveal). Reduces cleaning labor in hard-water areas. Worth $30-100 premium.

Section 3: Aesthetics (3 items)

11. Color matched to other bathroom fixtures. White is safe; Biscuit, Bone, Almond vary between brands.
12. Form factor (one-piece vs two-piece). One-piece is cleaner-looking and easier to clean; two-piece is lighter and cheaper.
13. Skirted or non-skirted base. Skirted bases wipe flat; non-skirted show traditional trapway curves.

Section 4: Cost and warranty (4 items)

14. Total cost calculated. Toilet + supply line + new wax ring + new closet bolts + plumber labor (if not DIY) = real cost. Add $100-300 to the toilet sticker price.
15. Local utility rebate checked. Many cities offer $50-200 for WaterSense replacements.
16. Warranty terms read. Porcelain lifetime, parts 1-5 years. Verify yours.
17. Return policy verified. Most retailers don\'t accept returns of installed toilets, and some don\'t accept returns of any opened toilet box. Buy from a retailer with a 30-day open-box return policy if you\'re uncertain.

Section 5: Install logistics (3 items)

18. Delivery scheduled. Toilets weigh 70-120 lbs; most require curbside or threshold delivery, not in-bathroom. Plan how you\'ll get it inside.
19. Old toilet disposal arranged. Municipal trash usually won\'t pick up old toilets; you may need a bulk-pickup, junk-removal, or plumber-included disposal.
20. Install date scheduled with at least 48 hours toilet-free at the bathroom. Allows wax ring to fully seat without disturbance after install.