Best Toilets for New Home Build: Plumbers Top Picks

The TOTO Drake II delivers a proven 1,000-gram MaP flush score on just 1.28 gallons, comes in both 10-inch and 12-inch rough-in versions to suit your framing, and carries the parts infrastructure of TOTO's most-installed residential platform in North America.

The Drake II is built on TOTO's G-Max and Double Cyclone platform, which uses two nozzles to create a rotational rinse rather than a single gravity waterfall. Published MaP data confirms a 1,000-gram flush rating at 1.28 gallons, a combination that satisfies EPA WaterSense requirements with room to spare. The 3-inch flush valve and 2-1/8-inch fully glazed trapway keep the path from bowl to drain wide enough to resist clogging under normal household use.

For new construction, the ability to order the Drake II in a 10-inch rough-in configuration is genuinely useful. When a plumber centers the drain flange 10 inches from the framed wall, using a 12-inch toilet on an adapter ring is a workaround; using the correct rough-in version is cleaner. Aggregated owner reviews across retailers consistently report the Drake II as a first-flush, every-flush performer with a low service call rate over five or more years.

Kohler's Cimarron earns a 1,000-gram MaP rating at 1.28 GPF, the highest flush score in this guide, and its 17-to-18-inch seat height suits adults who spend significant time in the master bathroom without the feeling of a clinical ADA fixture.

The Cimarron's AquaPiston flush valve is Kohler's answer to the consistency problem of traditional flapper designs. The canister lifts straight up from the center of the flush valve seat, exposing 360 degrees of water flow into the bowl simultaneously rather than peeling open from one side. The result is a flush that MaP testing confirms at the maximum 1,000-gram threshold at just 1.28 gallons of water consumed, a rare combination in a gravity-fed toilet.

For a new-home master bathroom spec, the Cimarron's design flexibility is a genuine advantage. Kohler offers the Cimarron in bisque, white, ice grey and almond, with multiple seat options ranging from basic to slow-close and even WASHLET-compatible configurations. The comfort height rim places the seat between 17 and 18 inches from the floor, matching standard chair height and reducing knee stress for adults over 50.

The UltraMax II delivers a 1,000-gram MaP score on 1.28 GPF in a seamless one-piece profile that eliminates the tank-to-bowl gasket permanently, removing the most common leak point in a long-lived toilet installation.

TOTO's UltraMax II is built on the same Double Cyclone flushing platform as the Drake II but integrates tank and bowl into a single vitreous china unit. The flush uses two nozzles to direct water in a rotational pattern around the bowl rather than a top-down gravity drop, which is why independent MaP testing confirms a 1,000-gram rating at the same 1.28 gallons that the WaterSense program requires. The elimination of the tank-to-bowl connection is not a cosmetic distinction; it removes the spud washer, the tank bolts and the rubber gasket that can all degrade and leak over 10 to 15 years in humid bathroom environments.

For a new-home master bathroom where the owner plans to stay long-term, the UltraMax II is a straightforward step up from the Drake II. The one-piece format is also WASHLET-compatible, meaning a TOTO S350e or S550e bidet seat can be added later without a plumber visit, future-proofing the fixture without pre-installing electrical at the rough-in stage (though an outlet near the toilet is worth including in a new build regardless).

The Champion 4 posts a 1,000-gram MaP score using a 4-inch flush valve and a 2-3/8-inch fully glazed trapway, giving builders a proven clog-resistant toilet at a price point that works when outfitting multiple bathrooms on a single project.

American Standard engineers the Champion 4 around a 4-inch piston-action accelerator flush valve, which is one inch larger than the standard 3-inch valve used in most gravity toilets. The larger opening creates a faster, more forceful water release into the bowl, which is why the Champion 4 achieves a 1,000-gram MaP rating without a dual-cyclone nozzle system or pressure assist. The tradeoff is a 1.6 GPF figure that sits above the WaterSense 1.28 GPF threshold.

For a builder outfitting a budget new home with three or four bathrooms, the Champion 4 is a credible option because American Standard replacement parts, including the flush valve, fill valve, flapper and seat, are sold in virtually every Home Depot and Lowes nationwide. The 2-3/8-inch glazed trapway is among the widest available at this price tier and MaP data confirms it performs at the maximum test rating.

The TOTO Aquia IV uses a dual-flush system pulling 1.0 GPF on the full flush and 0.8 GPF on the partial flush, earns EPA WaterSense certification, and achieves a perfect 1,000-gram MaP rating on the full cycle, making it the top choice for builders pursuing LEED credits or building in high-cost water markets.

The Aquia IV replaces the outgoing Aquia III with a redesigned rim and tank profile, but the core plumbing spec stays: 1.0 GPF full cycle, 0.8 GPF partial cycle, a fully glazed trapway and WaterSense certification. Independent MaP testing on the full-flush cycle returns a perfect 1,000-gram score, which clears even heavy household waste loads with room to spare. The partial 0.8-gallon cycle is designed for liquid waste only and performs at roughly 500 to 600 grams in MaP, which is sufficient for that function.

For a new build in a municipality with tiered water pricing or a builder pursuing LEED for Homes certification, the Aquia IV is the correct toilet specification. The water savings versus a standard 1.28 GPF toilet are meaningful over a household's annual flush volume; at approximately 5 flushes per person per day in a family of four, the difference between 1.28 and 0.9 average GPF represents tens of thousands of gallons per year. See our dedicated guide on best dual flush toilets for a full comparison of dual-flush options.

Kohler's Highline is the most widely distributed toilet in the United States, earning an 800-gram MaP score at 1.28 GPF with the Class Five flushing technology that has been refined across millions of residential installations.

The Highline's strength in a new-construction context is its ubiquity. Parts, seats, fill valves and flappers for the Highline are sold at hardware stores and plumbing suppliers in virtually every U.S. market. A future owner who needs a fill valve at 9pm on a Sunday can walk into most large hardware retailers and find a compatible replacement without a special order. For a guest bathroom that will see lighter use and should have zero-drama maintenance for years, that supply chain advantage is meaningful.

Kohler's Class Five flushing technology uses a 3.25-inch flush valve and a fully glazed 2-inch trapway. The published MaP score of 800 grams is consistent across the Highline product line and reflects a flush that handles normal residential waste loads without a second flush. For a guest bathroom specification, this performance level combined with the cost advantage makes the Highline the logical pick.

The Woodbridge T-0001 delivers an 800-gram MaP rating, EPA WaterSense certification and a skirted one-piece profile at a price point that undercuts most comparable TOTO and Kohler one-piece models by a meaningful margin.

Woodbridge has grown into a credible design-focused toilet brand by offering skirted one-piece profiles at prices previously only available in the two-piece category. The T-0001 is their most-reviewed model; aggregated owner feedback across major retailers consistently reports satisfaction with flush performance, the included soft-close seat and the ease of cleaning a fully skirted bowl. MaP testing places the T-0001 at 800 grams on the full 1.28-gallon flush, which is consistent with mid-range gravity-flush performance. The dual-flush button actuator on the top of the tank provides a 0.8-gallon option for liquid waste.

For a new build with a contemporary or minimalist design direction, the Woodbridge T-0001 fills the gap between entry-level two-piece toilets and premium TOTO or Kohler one-piece options. The skirted profile means there are no exposed trapway curves or bolt caps on the floor to clean around, which translates directly into less maintenance time for the homeowner. Our dedicated Woodbridge toilet guide covers the full model range if the T-0001 profile needs to be matched across multiple bathrooms.

Gerber built the Viper on a commercial-grade platform with an 800-gram MaP rating, a 3-inch flush valve and a 2-1/8-inch fully glazed trapway, delivering professional-grade durability in a residential profile that suits new construction across multiple bathroom types.

Gerber is a brand that consumers rarely encounter at big-box stores but that plumbers specify regularly because the product is engineered to commercial standards and then priced at residential levels. The Viper uses a PermaFlo flush valve engineered for higher cycle counts than standard residential flappers, and the vitreous china body carries heavier wall construction than many comparably priced residential toilets. The 800-gram MaP score and 1.28 GPF figure are consistent with EPA WaterSense requirements.

For a new home build that will house a large family or be used as a rental property, the Gerber Viper's commercial durability credentials make it a compelling specification. Builders who work in the professional plumbing supply channel rather than retail box stores often find the Viper's combination of price, durability and flush performance competitive with Kohler's Highline at similar price points. For a full comparison of the Gerber lineup, see our best Gerber toilets guide.