A traditional toilet inside a bathroom beside a garbage can, plunger, potted plant, and some toilet paper

Daniel Edelman

Types of Toilets: Your Toilet Buying Guide

Choosing the right toilet for your home is easier said than done given just how many choices are out there—so what factors need to be considered?

How many people will be using the toilet, how much water you want to use, and your home’s aesthetic are just a few to begin with. How you answer these questions will determine what kind of design and flushing mechanism is best suited to your needs.

It’s a lot, but don’t fret because we’re breaking down toilet features, shapes, styles, and more here to help you make your choice. Let’s get into it!

The Basic Components of a Toilet

Toilets are more than the sum of their parts, but knowing a thing or two about those parts is a helpful starting point. Some of the main ones include:

Handle: The lever (or button) you press to flush
Flapper: The part of the toilet that lifts when the handle is triggered to flush
Chain: Metal chains that connect the flapper and handle
Fill valve: Keeps the water inside the tank at an appropriate level
Overflow tube: Prevents water from overflowing out of the toilet tank
Tank: Contains the toilet’s flushing mechanisms
Bowl: The basin into which users do their business

An elongated toilet with an open tank revealing its parts

Image Source: Shutterstock

Comparing Different Toilet Styles and Shapes

	Pros	Cons
One Piece Toilet	✅ Sleek, modern look ✅ Easier to clean	❌ More expensive ❌ Heavy
Two Piece Toilet	✅ Customizable ✅ Lighter and easier to move	❌ Harder to clean
Wall-Mounted Toilet	✅ Minimalist aesthetic ✅ Hidden tank saves space	❌ More expensive ❌ Installation requires construction work

One Piece Toilets

These types of toilets are manufactured using one type of material. Their bowl and toilet tank are molded as a single unit, which helps reduce leaks and makes maintenance easier. They’re also easier to clean and install—at the expense of a higher price tag.

Two Piece Toilets

Affordable and popular, these toilets have the tank and toilet bowl separated. However, despite their familiarity, the one downside to these toilet types is that their various components can be more challenging to clean.

Wall-Mounted Toilets

With wall-hung toilets, the bowl and flush plate are mounted on the wall while the tank is hidden out of sight behind the wall. This creates a modern and stylish look that takes up less space, but their installation requires construction work on the wall.

A modern wall-hung toilet in a sleek bathroom

Image source: Canva

Comparing Different Toilet Flush Systems

It’s not just toilet shapes and styles that differ; they can also be categorized based on their flush system. Let’s now look at the most common types:

Gravity Flush

Gravity flush toilets use the force of gravity to move water from the tank into the bowl, creating a siphon effect that efficiently removes waste when flushed. They’re great at avoiding clogs, but they generally use more water per flush compared to other toilet types.

Dual Flush

Dual-flush toilets have two levels: half-flush and full-flush. The former uses less water to remove waste from the bowl, meaning it’s more intended to flush liquid waste through the toilet’s tramway. The full-flush option uses extra pressure to flush solid waste down the bowl. The main downside of a dual flush toilet is that it usually costs more.

A person pressing down on a toilet tank’s dual flush button

Image source: Canva

Pressure Assisted

A pressure-assisted toilet uses compressed air to enhance the flushing process, creating a forceful jet of water that efficiently removes waste from the bowl. They tend to be louder and may require more frequent maintenance due to their complexity.

What About Bidets?

No toilet buying guide worth its salt would be complete without covering the types of bidets that are available to complete your toilet. You can typically choose between bidet attachments and add-ons that will replace your toilet seat:

Bidet Attachments: these are added to your existing toilet seat to provide clean and effective bidet spraying functionality.
Bidet Toilet Seats: these replace your toilet seat and may also provide heating, automatic temperature adjustments, and spray options.

Shop the Best Toilet Types at NYDirect

Whether you’re replacing an old toilet or completing a new bathroom, knowing more about your options is helpful. Keep this toilet buying guide handy while you shop to make sure you purchase one that‘s perfect for your needs.

NYDirect, a family-owned and operated business, sells everything from one-piece toilets to units with a dual flush system. We make buying stress-free; we’ll ship whatever model you settle on directly to your door in perfect condition.

Contact us today for more assistance or if you still have questions about the different types of toilets in our catalog—we’ll be happy to answer them for you!