TOTO Drake vs UltraMax II: Which to Buy

The TOTO Drake and the TOTO UltraMax II are two of the most recommended toilets the brand makes, and they show up constantly on shortlists for the best flushing toilets you can buy. They share the same maker, the same perfect 1,000 gram MaP flush score, and a lot of the same internal engineering. Yet they are built for different buyers. The Drake is a two-piece workhorse aimed at people who want the lowest price without giving up flush power. The UltraMax II is a one-piece designed for a cleaner look, easier cleaning and a more refined experience. Picking between them is less about which flushes harder, since neither does, and more about which fits what you value in design, water use and price.

This comparison does not rely on marketing. It lines up published TOTO specifications, MaP (Maximum Performance) flush-test gram scores, EPA WaterSense listings, trapway and flush-valve dimensions, bowl heights and the patterns in aggregated owner reviews. Both toilets top out at the same 1,000 gram MaP score, so the real separation comes from the details: water use, shape, cleaning, seat and price. For the broadest cross-brand ranking of flush power, the pillar guide to the best flushing toilets places both TOTO models alongside Kohler, American Standard, Woodbridge and Gerber. This page stays focused on the Drake versus UltraMax II decision.

The table shows where these two TOTO models genuinely diverge, and flush power is not one of them. The Drake in its 1.6 GPF form posts a perfect 1,000 gram MaP score, the highest in the test, which is why it is a fixture on best-flushing lists. The UltraMax II runs at 1.28 GPF and matches that same 1,000 gram MaP score, reaching the maximum rating while using noticeably less water per flush. What actually separates them is everything around the flush: the UltraMax II hides its trapway behind a skirted one-piece body that is far easier to wipe down, and ships with a SoftClose seat and TOTO's CeFiONtect glaze as standard, while the Drake is a two-piece with an exposed trapway and a lower price. Both share the same fully glazed 2.125 inch trapway and the same comfort-height elongated bowl, so the everyday feel of sitting and clearing waste is very close. The decision is essentially value and raw water use versus one-piece design, cleaning and included features.

You want the strongest flush without paying extra for it

The Drake's headline is its flush. The 1.6 GPF version uses TOTO's G-Max siphon system with a large 3 inch flush valve and a wide siphon jet, and it earns a perfect 1,000 gram MaP score, the maximum the test awards. That means it reliably clears a large solid load in one flush, which is exactly why plumbers and high-traffic households favor it. The UltraMax II matches that same 1,000 gram ceiling on 1.28 GPF, so the Drake's real advantage is not raw flush power, it is that you get the identical top-tier score while costing noticeably less than the one-piece. If maximum flush performance for the lowest price is your top priority, the Drake wins this matchup on value, not on grams.

You want a proven, easy-to-service two-piece

Because the Drake is a two-piece, the tank and bowl ship and install separately, which makes it lighter to carry, easier to maneuver up stairs and simpler to service. Its G-Max flush valve and fill valve are among the most common TOTO parts in circulation, so flappers, seals and internals are easy to source years down the line. Owner reviews consistently praise the Drake's longevity and trouble-free operation, and the model has been in production long enough that its reliability is well documented. For a rental, a busy family bathroom or anyone who wants the least fussy long-term ownership, the Drake is the practical choice.

You want the easiest toilet to keep clean

The UltraMax II is a one-piece with a skirted, concealed trapway, which removes the two biggest dirt traps on a conventional toilet: the seam where the tank meets the bowl, and the contoured ridges of an exposed trapway. The smooth sides wipe down in seconds. On top of that, TOTO's CeFiONtect glaze comes standard, an ultra-smooth ceramic finish that gives waste and minerals less to cling to, so the bowl stays cleaner between scrubs. The Drake can be ordered with CeFiONtect on select models, but on the UltraMax II it is part of the package. For anyone who hates cleaning toilets, this model is built to minimize it.

You want better water efficiency and a finished look

At 1.28 GPF, the UltraMax II uses 20 percent less water than the standard 1.6 GPF Drake, and it carries the EPA WaterSense label for that efficiency. Over years of use that adds up on a water bill, and it qualifies for rebates in regions that offer them. The UltraMax II also uses TOTO's Double Cyclone flush, which sends water through two nozzles rather than a rim of holes to create a strong, efficient swirl with less water. Visually, the seamless one-piece body sits lower and looks more deliberate in a finished bathroom. For a powder room, a master bath or a remodel where appearance counts, the UltraMax II is the more elegant choice.

1

Best Flush Power

TOTO Drake

4.7 Power and value

The Drake's 1.6 GPF version posts a perfect 1,000 gram MaP score, matching the UltraMax II's ceiling, and costs less, making it the value flush-power champion of the TOTO line.

Flush TypeG-Max siphon jet, 3 in valve

GPF1.6 (1.28 option)

MaP Score1,000 g (1.6 GPF)

Bowl HeightUniversal (chair) height

Warranty1-year limited

Best For

• Maximum flush power at the lowest TOTO price
• High-traffic and family bathrooms
• Rentals and easy long-term parts service

Not Ideal For

• Buyers who want a seamless, easy-clean one-piece look
• Anyone who wants the seat included in the box

The Drake uses TOTO's long-proven G-Max flush, a gravity siphon system with a large flush valve and a wide jet that pulls waste through the fully glazed 2.125 inch trapway with real force. Aggregated owner reviews lean strongly positive, repeatedly citing few or no clogs and years of trouble-free use.

The trade-offs are cosmetic and minor. The two-piece body has an exposed trapway and a tank-to-bowl seam that take more effort to clean, and on most configurations the seat is sold separately. If you can live with that, you are getting one of the strongest flushes available for the money.

Expert Take

For a main bathroom that has to handle heavy daily use without callbacks, the 1.6 GPF Drake is the safe, smart buy. If your area restricts you to 1.28 GPF or you want the water savings, order the 1.28 GPF Drake instead and you keep most of the flush power with less water.

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Bottom Line: The Drake delivers the highest MaP flush in the TOTO catalog for the least money, which makes it the default pick for buyers who care most about clearing waste.

2

Best One-Piece

TOTO UltraMax II

4.7 Style and cleaning

The UltraMax II is a skirted one-piece that hides its trapway, ships with a SoftClose seat and CeFiONtect glaze, and uses just 1.28 GPF while still posting a perfect 1,000 gram MaP flush.

Flush TypeDouble Cyclone, 1.28 GPF

GPF1.28

MaP Score1,000 g

Bowl HeightUniversal (chair) height

Warranty1-year limited

Best For

• A sleek, seamless one-piece in a finished bathroom
• Owners who want the easiest toilet to keep clean
• Buyers who value water savings and a quiet flush

Not Ideal For

• Buyers who need the lightest, easiest-to-carry install
• Anyone on the tightest budget

The UltraMax II uses TOTO's Double Cyclone flush, which routes water through two powerful nozzles instead of a ring of rim holes, creating a tight, efficient swirl that cleans the bowl well on only 1.28 gallons. CeFiONtect glaze and the skirted body make it one of the lowest-maintenance toilets to keep spotless, a point owner reviews mention often.

The catch is that a one-piece is heavier to install and harder to maneuver, and it costs more than the Drake. What it does not give up is flush power: at 1,000 grams its MaP score matches the Drake's ceiling exactly, so heavy-load households do not need to compromise on clog resistance to get the one-piece look.

Expert Take

The UltraMax II is the toilet to buy when the bathroom is part of the design. The seamless body, included soft-close seat and easy-clean glaze make it feel like a more finished, premium fixture than the Drake, and it does this without sacrificing a single gram of flush power versus the Drake's 1.6 GPF version. Pay the premium for the look and the lower cleaning effort, since flush strength is not the trade-off it used to be.

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Bottom Line: The UltraMax II matches the Drake's flush power gram for gram while adding a sleeker one-piece body, easier cleaning, lower water use and an included seat, which makes it the better pick for design-led bathrooms.

Which Toilet Has the Strongest Flush?

Flush strength is measured by MaP, the Maximum Performance test that records how many grams of solid waste a toilet clears in a single flush. The Drake's G-Max siphon and large 3 inch flush valve earn the maximum 1,000 gram rating, and the UltraMax II's Double Cyclone system matches that same 1,000 gram ceiling. Since the scores are identical, there is no headroom advantage either way; the practical difference is that the UltraMax II hits the same number using less water per flush.

Which TOTO Toilet Offers the Best Value?

If you measure value as flush performance for the price, the Drake wins clearly. It delivers TOTO's top flush, tied with the UltraMax II, at the lowest price in the lineup. The UltraMax II is not overpriced, but its premium pays for design, easier cleaning, water efficiency and the included seat rather than for more flushing power, since the flush power is already equal. Decide which of those benefits you actually want before paying the difference.

Is a One-Piece or Two-Piece Toilet Better?

One-piece toilets have no seam between tank and bowl, so there are fewer crevices to trap grime, and the UltraMax II's skirted body makes it even easier to wipe down. Two-piece toilets ship in separate, lighter boxes, install more easily in tight spaces and up stairs, and cost less. For a deeper look at this trade-off across brands, the dedicated breakdown of one-piece versus two-piece designs covers it, but between these two specific models the choice is the Drake for value and the UltraMax II for cleaning and style.

What Is a Good MaP Score for a Toilet?

MaP testing measures grams of waste cleared in one flush, and experts generally consider 350 grams the minimum for acceptable performance, 500 to 600 grams good, and 800 grams and up excellent. A 1,000 gram score means a toilet clears essentially any realistic household load in one flush. By that standard both the Drake and the UltraMax II sit at the top of the scale, so flushing will not be a weak point with either.

Do the Drake and UltraMax II Fit the Same Plumbing?

The rough-in is the distance from the finished wall to the center of the drain, and 12 inches is standard. Both the Drake and the UltraMax II are built for that dimension, use a 12-inch rough-in, and share the same comfort-height elongated bowl, so swapping one for the other in an existing layout is straightforward. Measure your rough-in before ordering, since a mismatch is the most common reason a new toilet does not fit.

TOTO is widely regarded as the benchmark for flush engineering, and both the Drake and the UltraMax II are reasons why. Against Kohler, the design and finish leader, TOTO tends to win on flush data while Kohler competes on styling, and the TOTO vs Kohler comparison breaks that matchup down in full. Kohler's own popular models face off in the Kohler Highline vs Cimarron comparison. On the value side, American Standard and Gerber post strong MaP scores for less money, and the Kohler vs American Standard comparison and the American Standard Champion 4 vs Cadet 3 comparison show how those mainstream options stack up. Brands like Woodbridge, Swiss Madison and Gerber round out the budget and value tiers. Among all of them, TOTO's Drake and UltraMax II remain two of the most consistently recommended single-flush performers.

Choose the Drake if

Pick the Drake if value is your top priority, if the toilet goes in a busy main or family bathroom, if you want the easiest model to service and find parts for, or if you are buying for a rental or a build where price matters. The 1.6 GPF version gives you the maximum 1,000 gram MaP flush for the lowest price, and the 1.28 GPF version keeps that same score while meeting water-efficiency rules. You give up the seamless look and usually buy the seat separately, but you are not giving up any flush power to save money.

Choose the UltraMax II if

Pick the UltraMax II if the bathroom is part of the design, if you want the easiest toilet to keep clean, if water efficiency and a quiet, refined flush matter, or if you want a soft-close seat and premium glaze included without buying extras. The skirted one-piece body and CeFiONtect glaze cut down cleaning time, and the 1.28 GPF Double Cyclone flush matches the Drake's full 1,000 gram MaP score while using less water. You pay more for the design and included features, not to make up for weaker flushing.

Things both share

Whichever you choose, you get the same comfort-height elongated bowl, the same fully glazed 2.125 inch trapway that resists clogs, the same TOTO build quality and reliability, and the same strong owner ratings. Both are easy single-flush toilets that clear waste well and last for years. There is no bad outcome here, only the one that fits your bathroom.

Both are among the best toilets TOTO makes, and you cannot go wrong with either. Both post a perfect 1,000 gram MaP score, so the split is not about flush power at all: the Drake is the value champion, reaching that same maximum score in its 1.6 GPF form for the lowest price in the comparison, ideal for high-traffic bathrooms, rentals and anyone who wants top-tier performance per dollar. The UltraMax II is the design, cleaning and efficiency pick, a skirted one-piece with CeFiONtect glaze, a Double Cyclone flush that matches the Drake's flush score on less water, an included SoftClose seat and 1.28 GPF water use, ideal for finished bathrooms where looks and low maintenance matter. Decide whether you are buying value or buying refinement, and the choice makes itself. Whichever you pick, you get the same top-tier flush, a fully glazed 2.125 inch trapway, comfort-height elongated bowl and TOTO reliability.