Best Toilets for $200 or Less

In the crucial solid waste removal test, our tester uses a 5-gallon bucket filled about a quarter full with simulated waste: 160 solid polyethylene balls, seven sponges with #10 screws pressed in for realistic weight, and nonlubricated latex condoms filled with water.

If that sounds a bit extreme, it’s meant to be: Because very few toilets can remove the simulated waste in just one flush, we’re able to get differentiating data to score each toilet. Our tester notes how many flushes each toilet requires to finish the job. That data, along with results from other tests, allow us to separate the good toilets from, well, the crappy ones. The best in our tests can do it all in one go; the worst clog with the first flush.

All of the top-rated budget toilets reviewed below earn the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense certification. For the single-flush toilets this means they have demonstrated that they flush just 1.28 gallons of water on average, 20 percent less than the current federal standards. For the dual-flush toilets, the full flush meets the federal standard, while the partial flush requires just 1.10 gallons of water.

All of the toilets below also feature taller "comfort height" bowls that comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

CR members can read on for reviews of the top toilets that cost $200 or less, models from Delta and the Home Depot house brand Glacier Bay. Members can also see how all the tested models perform in our toilet ratings. For more information as you shop, see our toilet buying guide.