Best Toilets for New Construction: Rough-In 12-Inch Picks

The TOTO Drake II earns its position at the top of this roundup by combining a verified 1,000-gram MaP score, a 1.28 GPF EPA WaterSense rating, and TOTO's proprietary Double Cyclone flushing system into a package that plumbers routinely specify for new residential builds.

The Drake II uses two nozzles to create a centrifugal rinse that covers the entire bowl interior on each flush. Published MaP test results place it at the maximum 1,000-gram rating, meaning independent lab testing confirmed it clears the heaviest simulated load the protocol uses. Owner feedback collected across major retail platforms consistently highlights the absence of double-flushing events even with regular household use.

At 1.28 GPF, the Drake II qualifies for rebate programs offered by many municipal water utilities. The comfort height seating position at 17.25 inches also aligns with ADA accessible specifications, which matters if the new build will be occupied by anyone with mobility considerations. The toilet ships in a range of finish colors including Cotton White, Colonial White, and Bone to match builder-grade and custom trim packages.

The UltraMax II delivers the same Double Cyclone flush system and 1,000-gram MaP rating as the Drake II in a seamless one-piece body that eliminates the tank-to-bowl connection point and simplifies long-term cleaning.

One-piece toilets are a popular upgrade in primary and master bathrooms because the fused tank-and-bowl construction has no exposed seam where bacteria can accumulate. The UltraMax II makes this easier by using CeFiONtect glaze on the bowl surface, a coating that TOTO describes as an ultra-smooth ion-barrier layer that reduces the adhesion of waste and hard-water deposits. Published owner ratings across retail platforms average above 4.7 stars with frequent mentions of the flush being noticeably quieter than competing models.

Because it uses the same internal flush valve components as the Drake II, the UltraMax II is easy to service. Parts availability is high through TOTO authorized service centers and general plumbing supply houses. If your new build has a design emphasis on clean lines and minimal visual clutter in bathrooms, this is the logical step up from a standard two-piece.

The Aquia IV offers a dual-flush button giving users 1.28 GPF for solid waste and 0.8 GPF for liquid waste, with a MaP score of 1,000 grams on the full flush, making it the most water-efficient option in this roundup without compromising flushing power.

TOTO's DYNAMAX Tornado Flush system uses two angled rim jets rather than rim holes, directing water into a cyclonic spiral that cleans the entire bowl with less water per cycle. Because the Aquia IV runs a skirted trapway design on many of its configurations, there is no exposed porcelain trapway curve on the exterior, which makes cleaning the side and base of the toilet faster. This is a meaningful detail in bathrooms where tile grout lines intersect with the fixture base.

In states with active water conservation rebate programs, the Aquia IV's 0.8 GPF partial flush frequently qualifies for higher rebate tiers than standard 1.28 GPF WaterSense toilets. If your new construction is in California, Colorado, Nevada, or Arizona, the payback period on the higher fixture cost can be substantially shorter than on a single-flush model.

The Kohler Cimarron uses Kohler's Class Five flushing technology and achieves a 1,000-gram MaP rating at 1.28 GPF, making it a legitimate competitor to the TOTO Drake II for builders and homeowners who prefer Kohler's wider availability at home improvement retailers.

Kohler's Class Five technology uses a larger-than-average 3.25-inch flush valve paired with a direct-fed water path to achieve strong bowl clearing with 1.28 GPF. The Cimarron has been in Kohler's lineup for long enough to accumulate tens of thousands of verified owner reviews, most of which cite consistent flush performance and easy installation as standout attributes.

For builders running multiple units in a development, the Cimarron's retail availability is a meaningful practical advantage. Unlike some specialty models that require ordering through plumbing supply houses, the Cimarron can be sourced from local home improvement chains, which simplifies project logistics and reduces lead time risk on new construction schedules.

The American Standard Champion 4 is one of the most recognized high-performance gravity-flush toilets on the market, named for its industry-leading 4-inch flush valve and 2 3/8-inch fully glazed trapway, which together give it a 1,000-gram MaP score and a reputation for clearing oversized loads without plunger intervention.

The Champion 4 sits at 1.6 GPF, which disqualifies it from EPA WaterSense certification. That is a genuine consideration for buyers in water-restricted areas or those seeking utility rebates. However, for households with heavy use demands, teenage children, or frequent large-family gatherings, the extra water per flush buys a margin of clog-resistance that some users find worth the tradeoff.

American Standard backs the Champion 4's flushing mechanism with a 10-year warranty, which is notably longer than most competing models. The 2 3/8-inch glazed trapway is wider and smoother than the trapways on many 1.28 GPF toilets, which directly reduces the surface area where waste can catch and accumulate. If your new build will be a family home rather than a single-occupancy unit, the Champion 4 deserves serious consideration despite its higher GPF.

The American Standard Cadet 3 delivers a 1,000-gram MaP score and EPA WaterSense certification at 1.28 GPF in one of the most accessible price brackets in this category, making it the default specification for budget-conscious builders who still want proven flush performance.

The Cadet 3's 3-inch flush valve and fully glazed trapway give it performance that punches above its price point. In independent MaP testing, it consistently reaches the 1,000-gram ceiling, which places it in the same flush-performance tier as toilets that cost substantially more. For production builders outfitting multiple homes with secondary bathrooms, the Cadet 3 is a reliable default that will not generate service callbacks.

Owner reviews across major platforms average around 4.5 stars with the most common praise centering on easy DIY installation and the absence of repeat clogs after years of use. The Cadet 3 is also available in a round-bowl configuration for powder rooms and smaller bathrooms where an elongated bowl would reduce available floor space.

The Woodbridge T-0001 brings a contemporary skirted trapway aesthetic, dual-flush operation at 1.0/1.6 GPF, and an included soft-close seat to new construction bathrooms where appearance is a priority alongside function, with a published MaP score of 800 grams.

The Woodbridge T-0001 is one of the most searched contemporary-style toilets in the under-$500 price range. Its skirted design, where a flat panel conceals the curved porcelain trapway, gives it a profile more commonly associated with European designer fixtures. For builders working on design-forward residential projects or custom homes where bathroom aesthetics are emphasized in the marketing, the T-0001 offers this look at a production-accessible price.

The 800-gram MaP score is adequate for normal household use and is above the 500-gram threshold we consider the minimum for new construction. However, it does trail the 1,000-gram leaders in this roundup, which means it is a better fit for primary bathrooms with standard use patterns than for high-traffic family bathrooms or guest houses with variable occupancy loads.

Gerber's Viper achieves a verified 1,000-gram MaP score at 1.28 GPF through a bulk-water-delivery flush technology and a 3-inch flush valve, making it a common choice among plumbing contractors who specify from Gerber's professional supply network rather than consumer retail channels.

Gerber is a brand with strong penetration in the contractor and commercial plumbing market, which means their toilets are often specified on commercial new construction and multi-family residential projects. The Viper's internal design prioritizes service simplicity: the tank components are standard-size and easy to replace without proprietary parts, which matters on a project where plumbers need to standardize across dozens of units.

The Viper's standard height seating at 15 inches distinguishes it from the comfort-height models that dominate the rest of this list. For shorter individuals or households where standard-height seating is preferred, this can be an advantage. Builders working on senior living communities or projects with explicit ADA requirements would want to confirm seating height aligns with the applicable accessibility standard for that specific application.

The Kohler Highline Arc pairs a subtly arched tank and bowl silhouette with Kohler's Class Five flush system, achieving a 1,000-gram MaP score and EPA WaterSense certification at 1.28 GPF, offering a slightly more refined aesthetic than the standard Highline while sharing the same flush internals.

The Highline Arc occupies the space between the standard builder-grade Highline and the premium Cimarron in Kohler's lineup. The Class Five flush mechanism is shared across these models, which means the distinction is largely aesthetic. For builders or homeowners who want Kohler's reliability without the full Cimarron price and who prefer the Arc's slightly elongated tank profile over the boxy standard Highline look, this model hits a sensible middle ground.

Kohler's nationwide service and parts distribution network means that regardless of where in the United States a new build is located, replacement fill valves, flappers, and tank lids are accessible through hardware stores, plumbing supply houses, and Kohler-authorized service centers. This is a genuine long-term ownership benefit that brands with smaller distribution networks cannot match.