5 Types of Toilets: Which Is Best for Your Bathroom?
This article has been published as part of an advertising collaboration.
This article has been published as part of an advertising collaboration.
Choosing between the different types of toilets is about more than which one looks best in a showroom. The position of your existing pipework, the size of the room and how much installation work you are prepared to pay for can all change which design makes sense.
That matters if you’re trying to keep a bathroom renovation budget under control. A toilet that works with your existing layout may be cheaper and easier to install than one requiring a concealed cistern, supporting frame or alterations behind the wall, so it pays to understand the differences before ordering anything.
What Should You Check Before Choosing a New Toilet?
Start with the room rather than the toilet. Measure the available width and the distance from the back wall into the room, then establish where the existing waste connection sits and whether you are planning a simple replacement or a more substantial bathroom renovation.
That is particularly important if you are renovating your home on a budget. Moving plumbing or building a new wall structure can add labour and materials to a job that might otherwise have been a relatively simple replacement.
You should also look carefully at what is included in the advertised price. With concealed systems, components such as the cistern, supporting frame, flush plate or access panel may be separate purchases, so compare the complete cost rather than the price of the pan alone.
What Are the Main Types of Toilets?
The main designs you are likely to come across are close-coupled, back-to-wall, wall-hung and compact or cloakroom toilets. Rimless toilets are slightly different because “rimless” describes the inside of the bowl rather than how the toilet is installed, which means a toilet can be both rimless and close-coupled, back-to-wall or wall-hung.
Here is the basic comparison:
Toilet design | Cistern | Floor mounted? | Installation | Often suits |
Close-coupled | Visible | Yes | Usually simpler | Family bathrooms, replacements |
Back-to-wall | Concealed | Yes | More involved | Modern bathrooms, fitted furniture |
Wall-hung | Concealed | No | Supporting frame required | Contemporary bathrooms |
Cloakroom/short projection | Varies | Varies | Depends on design | Small bathrooms and downstairs WCs |
Rimless | Varies | Varies | Depends on toilet type | Bathrooms where easier bowl cleaning is a priority |
Is a Close-Coupled Toilet a Good Choice for a Family Bathroom?
A close-coupled toilet remains a practical choice for many bathrooms because the cistern sits directly behind the pan and the internal components can normally be accessed by removing the cistern lid. That can make maintenance less disruptive than a concealed system where access has to be planned into the wall or furniture.
They are available in traditional and modern styles, as well as compact versions for smaller rooms. If you are replacing an existing close-coupled toilet and the plumbing position works with the new model, it can also avoid some of the extra work associated with changing to a concealed system.
From a budgeting point of view, that is worth considering before paying more for a different design simply because it looks neater in a brochure. Compare the complete supply and fitting cost and decide whether the visual difference is worth the extra work in your particular bathroom.
When Does a Back-to-Wall Toilet Make Sense?
A back-to-wall toilet has its cistern hidden either inside furniture or behind a wall, leaving the pan visible in front. It can give a bathroom a cleaner appearance and removes the exposed cistern from the room, but the concealed components still need to remain accessible for future servicing.
This type of toilet can work particularly well when you are already fitting bathroom furniture. For example, BTW toilet units combine a concealed cistern area with a furniture unit, allowing the toilet to sit more naturally within the rest of the scheme.
The extra installation work is the main consideration. If you are replacing a conventional toilet with a back-to-wall model, factor the cistern, unit or wall construction and future access into the project before comparing prices.
Does a Wall-Hung Toilet Save Space?
A wall-hung toilet can make the visible floor area feel more open because the pan is suspended above the floor, but it does not physically make the bathroom larger. The cistern and supporting frame still need somewhere to sit, normally within a wall or boxed-out section.
One practical benefit is cleaning. With no pedestal meeting the floor, you can clean underneath the pan more easily, which may be useful in a bathroom that gets a lot of daily use.
Wall-hung systems normally make more sense when you are already carrying out substantial bathroom work. If you are only replacing a toilet, the cost and disruption of installing the necessary frame may outweigh the visual benefit, so get a complete fitting quote before deciding.
Which Toilet Works Best in a Small Bathroom or Cloakroom?
In a small bathroom, the projection of the toilet can matter more than the overall style. Short-projection models extend less distance into the room and can leave more usable clearance in front of the pan, which is particularly useful in a downstairs WC or compact en-suite.
Do not rely solely on the words “compact” or “cloakroom” in a product description. Check the actual dimensions against your room, including door movement, the basin and the space needed to sit comfortably.
A wall-hung or back-to-wall model may make a small room look less crowded, but a short-projection close-coupled toilet can also work well if you want to avoid the additional concealed plumbing. The dimensions matter more than the label.
Is a Rimless Toilet Worth Considering?
A rimless toilet removes the traditional enclosed rim around the upper inside edge of the bowl. That gives you fewer concealed areas to clean and easier access to the bowl surface, although it still needs the same regular cleaning as any other toilet.
It is important to remember that rimless is a feature rather than a separate installation format. You can buy rimless close-coupled, back-to-wall and wall-hung toilets, so you do not have to choose between your preferred fitting style and a rimless bowl.
For a busy family bathroom, that combination can be worth considering. A close-coupled rimless toilet, for example, combines accessible cistern components with a bowl that has fewer difficult-to-reach areas.
Which Type of Toilet Usually Costs More to Install?
The toilet itself is only part of the bathroom budget. Labour can differ considerably depending on whether the new toilet works with the existing plumbing or requires a concealed cistern, supporting frame, new furniture or changes to the wall.
A like-for-like close-coupled replacement will often involve less additional building work than changing to a wall-hung system. Back-to-wall toilets sit somewhere between the two depending on whether the concealed cistern is being fitted into existing bathroom furniture or a new wall structure has to be created.
Before ordering, ask the installer what will need to change and whether the quote includes the complete job. That gives you a much better comparison than choosing a £150 toilet and later discovering that several additional components and extra fitting work are required.
If you are planning a larger project, the Homebuilding & Renovating Show is another place where you can compare products and speak to home-improvement specialists before committing money.
Which Toilet Type Is Best for Different Bathrooms?
For a busy family bathroom, a close-coupled toilet can make sense where ease of servicing and a familiar layout matter. Adding a rimless bowl may make regular cleaning easier without changing the basic installation format.
For a compact en-suite or cloakroom, start with the measurements and look for shorter projection models. A wall-hung or back-to-wall toilet may also help the room feel less crowded if the plumbing and budget allow for the additional fitting work.
For a bathroom using fitted furniture, a back-to-wall toilet can sit neatly within the wider design. If your priority is keeping the floor visually clear, wall-hung toilets achieve that effect, but the supporting frame needs to be included in the plan.
There is no single design that is automatically best for every room. The more useful question is which option works with the bathroom you already have and the amount of work you are prepared to undertake.
What Should You Check Before Ordering?
Measure twice before ordering anything, particularly the projection from the wall and the location of the waste connection. Then check exactly what is supplied with the toilet, because a seat, cistern, frame or flush controls may not always be included in the headline price.
If you are changing toilet type rather than carrying out a like-for-like replacement, show the product specification to your fitter before buying it. Paying for a short site visit or getting confirmation from whoever is doing the installation can be cheaper than returning a bulky toilet or changing pipework after the wrong model has arrived.
You can compare the different toilets at Royal Bathrooms, including close-coupled, back-to-wall, wall-hung, cloakroom and rimless models. As with any larger bathroom purchase, compare the total cost, measurements and included components before deciding which supplier or model offers the best value.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of toilets?
The main toilet types are close-coupled, back-to-wall and wall-hung, alongside compact models designed for smaller rooms. Rimless describes the bowl design and can be found across several of those toilet types.
What type of toilet is easiest to install?
A close-coupled toilet is often one of the simpler options because the cistern sits directly on the pan and does not require a concealed frame. The actual work depends on your existing waste pipe and plumbing, so check with your installer before ordering.
What toilet is best for a small bathroom?
A short-projection toilet can work well in a small bathroom because it extends less distance into the room. Wall-hung and back-to-wall designs can also make the space feel less crowded, although they may require more installation work.
Are wall-hung toilets harder to install?
They normally require more planning because the pan needs a supporting frame and a concealed cistern. They are therefore often easier to incorporate during a full renovation than as a simple toilet replacement.
Are rimless toilets easier to clean?
Rimless toilets have fewer concealed areas around the inside of the bowl, which can make regular cleaning easier. They still need cleaning and maintenance like any other toilet.
Should I buy the toilet before speaking to a plumber?
If you are changing the toilet style, it is worth checking the specification with your fitter first. The waste position, wall construction and components required for installation can affect whether a particular model is suitable.
