TOTO Drake vs Drake II: What Is the Difference

The TOTO Drake and the TOTO Drake II are the two toilets buyers cross-shop most often inside TOTO's lineup, and for good reason. They share a name, a flush philosophy and a reputation as some of the most reliable gravity toilets sold in North America. Both use TOTO's well-known siphon-jet flush, both are two-piece designs, and both have earned long-running loyalty from plumbers and homeowners who want a toilet that simply works for a decade or more. If you have narrowed your search to these two, you are not choosing between a strong toilet and a weak one. You are choosing between TOTO's value workhorse and its refined, more efficient, easier-to-clean successor.

The differences are real but specific. The original Drake is the older, lower-cost model, usually sold at 1.6 gallons per flush, with an exposed trapway you can see along the side of the bowl and a 3-inch flush valve on current SKUs. The Drake II is the modern redesign, built around a 1.28-gallon WaterSense flush, a fully concealed skirted trapway that gives the base a smooth, furniture-like look, and TOTO's CeFiONtect glaze as standard. That single design gap ripples into water use, cleaning, looks, price and flush feel. This guide compares the two head to head using published manufacturer specifications, MaP (Maximum Performance) flush-test gram scores, EPA WaterSense listings, flush valve and trapway dimensions, bowl heights and shapes, and aggregated owner ratings. For the broadest cross-brand ranking of flush strength, the pillar guide to the best flushing toilets covers TOTO alongside Kohler, American Standard and the rest. This page stays focused on the choice between these two Drake models.

What is the difference between the TOTO Drake and the Drake II?

At the simplest level, the Drake II is what TOTO built when it modernized the original Drake. The classic Drake has been on the market for years as TOTO's no-nonsense value toilet: a two-piece gravity design with an exposed trapway, usually rated at 1.6 gallons per flush, and a price that undercuts most of the brand's other models. The Drake II keeps the same Drake DNA and the same dependable siphon-jet flush, then adds three meaningful upgrades. It drops the flush volume to 1.28 gallons for WaterSense certification, it hides the trapway behind a fully skirted base for a smooth furniture-like look, and it ships with TOTO's CeFiONtect ceramic glaze as standard to help waste rinse away and slow staining.

Those three changes are the whole story. Everything else about the two toilets is closely matched: both use a 3-inch flush valve on current SKUs, both are two-piece toilets, both are sold in Universal Height (comfort height) configurations, and both carry TOTO's strong reliability reputation and warranty. The honest framing is that the Drake II is the refined, more efficient, easier-to-clean version, and the Drake is the simpler, cheaper, easier-to-service original. Neither is a downgrade. They are tuned for different priorities, which is exactly why so many buyers cross-shop them.

Which TOTO Drake has the stronger flush?

Flushing power is measured most reliably by the independent MaP (Maximum Performance) test, which reports how many grams of solid waste a toilet clears in a single flush. The original Drake, in its 1.6-gallon form, has more water per flush and uses it to reach a 1,000-gram MaP score, the practical ceiling of the test and one of the strongest flushes you can buy at any price. That extra half-gallon of water gives the classic Drake a brute clearing margin that has made it a favorite of plumbers and landlords for years. Even in its 1.28-gallon SKUs the Drake remains a strong flusher, but the headline 1,000-gram figure belongs to the 1.6-gallon version.

The Drake II runs on 1.28 gallons and typically posts an 800-gram MaP score. That is comfortably above the 350-gram WaterSense minimum and well past what an average household produces in one flush, so the Drake II clears a normal load in a single push without complaint. TOTO engineered the Drake II's bowl and siphon jet specifically to make 1.28 gallons clear effectively, and it does. The gap between 1,000 and 800 grams is real, but it lives in the territory above what most homes ever demand. The honest takeaway is that you should choose the original 1.6-gallon Drake for maximum clearing margin and the Drake II for the best balance of strength and water savings.

What is the best TOTO Drake for preventing clogs?

Clog resistance comes down to two things working together: how forcefully water moves through the bowl, and how wide and smooth the trapway is for waste to pass. Both Drakes share TOTO's strong siphon-jet flush and a generously sized, computer-designed trapway, which is a big part of why TOTO toilets in general have such a low clog reputation. The original 1.6-gallon Drake gets an extra edge purely from water volume: more gallons per flush means more force to push a heavy load through, and its 1,000-gram MaP score reflects that. For a household that has fought recurring backups, the 1.6-gallon Drake is the safer bet.

The Drake II uses the same family of trapway engineering with TOTO's CeFiONtect glaze, which gives the ceramic an extra-smooth surface so waste rinses away rather than clinging. That glaze is a genuine clog-and-stain advantage in daily use, even if the 1.28-gallon flush has less raw water behind it than the 1.6-gallon Drake. In a normal home the Drake II clogs no more often than the original. The difference is margin on extreme loads, not basic competence. If clogs have never been a problem for you, either Drake handles ordinary household waste with ease. Our guide to the best toilet for frequent clogs ranks TOTO's siphon-jet Drakes among the top gravity options for exactly this reason.

Which TOTO Drake is easier to clean?

Cleaning is where the Drake II earns much of its premium. Its defining visual feature is the fully skirted base, a smooth ceramic panel that runs from the bowl down to the floor and completely conceals the trapway. There are no exposed bends, no ridges along the side of the bowl and far fewer crevices to trap dust, hair and grime. You can wipe the entire base in a single pass, which is a real and recurring convenience that shows up every time you clean the bathroom. For anyone who values a tidy, low-maintenance toilet, the skirted Drake II is a clear step up.

The original Drake uses a traditional exposed trapway, the visible S-shaped curve along the side of the bowl. It is not hard to clean, but it has more contours to wipe around and more spots where dust collects, especially where the bowl meets the floor. The Drake II also ships with TOTO's CeFiONtect glaze as standard, an extra-smooth ceramic coating that helps waste and mineral deposits rinse away so the bowl stays cleaner between scrubs. The original Drake offers CeFiONtect on some SKUs but not all. If cleaning time and a sleek look are high on your list, the Drake II is the better choice. For more skirted options across brands, see our roundup of the best skirted toilets.

Which TOTO Drake offers the best value?

On pure value, the original Drake is usually the winner. It is one of TOTO's most affordable models, it tends to cost less than a comparable Drake II, and it still delivers TOTO's full reliability and a strong flush. For a rental, a guest bathroom, a basement bath or any situation where you want bulletproof TOTO performance without paying for the skirted base and the extra refinements, the classic Drake is hard to beat on dollars per flush. Its exposed trapway also makes some service tasks simpler, since nothing is hidden behind a skirt panel.

The Drake II costs more, and the premium buys you the 1.28-gallon WaterSense flush, the fully skirted easy-clean base and standard CeFiONtect glaze. For a primary bathroom, a remodel, or any buyer who cares about water bills, rebates, cleaning time and a modern furniture-like look, many feel the step up is worth it. The water savings alone, 1.28 gallons versus 1.6, add up over the life of the toilet and can qualify for local utility rebates that offset part of the higher purchase price. We never quote prices here because they shift constantly, so check the current price on Amazon for the exact model and configuration you are considering.

What is a good MaP score for a toilet?

The MaP test was created to give buyers an objective, repeatable measure of flush strength instead of relying on marketing claims. It loads a toilet with a measured weight of test media and reports the maximum grams cleared in a single flush. WaterSense requires at least 350 grams to certify, which is the floor for an acceptable flush. In practice, anything from 600 grams upward handles a normal household with ease, 800 grams is genuinely strong, and 1,000 grams is the practical ceiling that the very best toilets reach. Higher numbers beyond 1,000 are not published because that is where the test tops out.

Against that scale, both Drakes are strong performers. The Drake II's roughly 800-gram score clears a heavy load with margin to spare on just 1.28 gallons, and the 1.6-gallon Drake's 1,000-gram score sits at the very top. The gap between them is real but lives in the territory above what most households produce in a single flush. The honest takeaway is that you should buy the 1.6-gallon Drake for maximum clearing margin and the Drake II for the best mix of strong flushing and water efficiency, not because the Drake II's 800 grams is somehow inadequate, because it is not.

Are both the Drake and Drake II WaterSense certified?

On water use, the Drake II has the clearer story. The entire Drake II line is built around a 1.28-gallon flush and carries EPA WaterSense certification, which is 20 percent below the old 1.6-gallon federal maximum. WaterSense requires a toilet to use 1.28 gallons or less while clearing at least a 350-gram MaP load, and the Drake II clears roughly 800 grams, far above that minimum, so it earns the efficiency without sacrificing flush strength. That makes the Drake II an easy pick when water savings or a utility rebate is a priority.

The original Drake is more of a mixed bag because it spans two eras. Its classic configuration is the 1.6-gallon version that posts the 1,000-gram MaP score, and that SKU is not WaterSense certified because it uses more water. TOTO also sells the Drake in 1.28-gallon WaterSense-certified versions, which qualify for rebates and use the same water as the Drake II. If water efficiency or a rebate is your goal, the Drake II is certified by default while the Drake requires you to choose a 1.28-gallon SKU. Always check the GPF figure and the WaterSense label on the exact model number before you buy. For the full list of certified options across all brands, see our roundup of the best EPA WaterSense certified toilets.

How do height, comfort and dimensions compare?

Both toilets are offered in TOTO's Universal Height configuration, which puts the seat at roughly chair height (around 16.5 to 17 inches to the seat). Universal Height bowls are easier to sit down on and stand up from, which is why they are the default recommendation for taller adults, older users and anyone with knee or hip concerns. The original Drake is also widely sold in a standard-height version, which sits lower and can suit households with young children, while the Drake II is primarily a Universal Height design. Because the original Drake offers both heights, it has a slight edge in configuration flexibility.

On bowl shape, the original Drake comes in both round-front (space-saving) and elongated (roomier) bowls, while the Drake II is mainly sold elongated. Both are designed for a standard 12-inch rough-in, with select SKUs available for 10-inch or 14-inch rough-ins in older homes. The clearest physical difference is the base. The Drake II's fully skirted body gives it a smooth, slim, furniture-like profile that many find more attractive in a modern bathroom, while the original Drake's exposed trapway has the traditional contoured look. If you are weighing a sleek concealed base, the Drake II wins; if you need a round bowl or a standard-height option, the original Drake is more flexible.

How do the Drake and Drake II fit the wider TOTO picture?

Neither Drake is the only TOTO worth knowing, and neither is your only option in its price range. Within TOTO, the Drake and Drake II sit in the value-to-mid tier, with the one-piece UltraMax II offering the same 1.28-gallon flush in a seamless single-piece body and models like the Vespin II and Aquia IV serving buyers who want skirted or dual-flush designs. If you are deciding between a two-piece Drake and a one-piece TOTO, our TOTO Drake vs UltraMax II comparison walks through that exact choice, since the UltraMax II shares the Drake II's flush engine in a one-piece shell.

If you are open to looking beyond TOTO entirely, the same money buys you strong Kohler and American Standard options. Our TOTO vs Kohler comparison weighs TOTO's siphon-jet flush and CeFiONtect glaze against Kohler's AquaPiston and Class Five systems, and the Kohler vs American Standard comparison covers two other major brands if you want to widen the field. The pattern across every brand is the same as it is here: decide how much flush margin, water savings and cleaning convenience you actually want, then pay for exactly that and no more. Brands like Woodbridge, Swiss Madison and Gerber also make capable gravity and skirted toilets worth a look if you want more options in the value and mid tiers.

Choose the TOTO Drake if

The original Drake is the right pick when value and flush power sit at the top of your list. Choose the Drake if you want the most affordable reliable TOTO, since it undercuts the Drake II while delivering the same dependable siphon-jet flush. Choose it if you want the strongest flush, because its 1.6-gallon version reaches a 1,000-gram MaP score, the practical ceiling and the best clog insurance available. Choose it for a rental, a guest bath, a basement bathroom or any spot where you want bulletproof TOTO performance without paying for the skirted base, and where an exposed trapway makes service simpler. Choose it too if you need a round bowl or a standard-height option, both of which the Drake offers and the Drake II largely does not. Accept in return a visible trapway with more contours to clean and, in 1.6-gallon trim, higher water use.

Shop it here: check the current price on Amazon for the TOTO Drake.

Choose the TOTO Drake II if

The Drake II is the right pick when water savings, cleaning convenience and a modern look matter most. Choose the Drake II if you want a WaterSense-certified 1.28-gallon flush that cuts water use about 20 percent and can qualify for utility rebates. Choose it if you want the fully skirted base, which hides the trapway behind a smooth panel so you can wipe the entire base in one pass, plus standard CeFiONtect glaze that helps the bowl rinse cleaner between scrubs. Choose it for a primary bathroom, a remodel or any space where a sleek, furniture-like profile and low cleaning effort are priorities. The Drake II's roughly 800-gram MaP flush still clears a heavy normal load in one push, so you give up almost nothing in everyday performance. Accept in return a higher price and slightly less raw flush margin than the 1.6-gallon original Drake.

Shop it here: check the current price on Amazon for the TOTO Drake II.

Ready to shop? Check the current price on Amazon for the refined TOTO Drake II or the value-focused TOTO Drake.