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5 Best Skirted Toilets (Concealed Trapway Guide & Reviews 2024)

Using our detailed rating criteria, we've analyzed some of the top flushing toilets in the past. However, sometimes we feel that there is too much focus on the overall performance capabilities in our guides, and not enough on what the exterior looks like. The external design can have a big impact on a bathrooms theme. That's why we shall be looking into the best skirted toilets on the market, their benefits, and why they might be a smart choice for use as a replacement or upgrade in your home.

Our picks

  1. TOTO Eco Soiree
  2. KOHLER Memoirs
  3. WoodBridge T-0001
  4. American Standard Cadet 3
  5. American Standard Town Square

TOTO Eco Soiree MS964214CEFG#01

The MS964214CEFG#01 is manufactured by Toto, a household name in the bathroom industry, with a long list of products that both consumers and plumbing professionals have had positive experiences with.

Users can expect solid flushing performance thanks to its 600 grams (MaP), eco friendly, tornado flush system. It's built to handle bigger amounts of waste through its three inch valve, and large trapway, lowering the chances of it clogging up.

If you've got comfort in mind, this has an elongated shape seat that is taller than 17", making it ADA accessible, comfortable, and suitable for senior citizens.

Compare concealed trapway toilets

TOTO Eco Soiree KOHLER Memoirs WoodBridge American Standard
Cadet 3
American Standard
Town Square
Model number MS964214CEFG#01 K-6669 T-0001 2989.101.020 2817.128.020
Rough in 12" 12" 12" 12" 12"
Flush type Tornado AquaPiston Dual HET HET
Touchless
Trip lever
Button
GPF 1.28 1.28 1.0 / 1.6 1.28 1.28
WaterSense .
CalGreen
MaP 600g 1000g N/A 1000g 1000g
ADA .
Rim height Height without seat
16-1/8" 16-1/2" 16-1/2" 16-1/2" 16-1/2"
Elongated .
Round
Square
WSA Water surface area
7-7/8" x 9-13/16" 11-1/8" x 8-1/2" N/A 9" x 8" N/A
Water level Rim to surface
5-7/8" 5-3/8" N/A N/A N/A
Dimensions 28.1 x 14 x 27.8" 31.4 x 28.2 x 20.1" 28.5 x 14.5 x 27.5" 30.2 x 15.8 x 30.2" 29.8 x 15.2 x 31.1"
Weight 90 lbs 101 lbs 119 lbs 110 lbs 89.4 lbs
Trap size 2-3/16" 2" N/A 2-1/8" 2-1/8"
Flush valve 3" 2" 3" 3" 3"
Concealed trap .
Skirted .
One piece
Two piece
Intelligent
Floor mount .
Wall mounted
Colors Cotton, Colonial, Beige White, Sandbar, Black White White White
Seat
Soft close
Bidet
Supply
Rating 85% 84% 85% 84% 84%

Advantages of buying a smooth side toilet

Easy to clean - As the sides have no cracks, crannies, or pipes for dust and dirt to hide in and around, cleaning becomes simpler. The build up of bacteria and bad odors will no longer be as big an issue, and your washroom can become a more hygienic place to visit.

Looks great - We believe they look significantly better than those without skirting. If you're need your bathroom to have a contemporary look, they are the sensible choice.

Disadvantages

Cost - Extra material is used in their construction. This generally means they cost more. If you're working on a tight budget, you may want to consider sacrificing the aesthetics aspect of this style and instead go for a less expensive, exposed trap option, that retains similar functionality and features.

Weight - Something that may be an issue, but only for the installation process is the additional weight involved in lifting it into position.

Open back - Despite the fact that the side and fronts style make it harder for bacteria and dirt to thrive, you'll still have the issue of products that are open at the back, and a bit difficult to access for cleaning purposes. However, several consumers we've found online say this hasn't been a big problem for them. You do get fully encased options, but they're rarer.

Skirted toilet reviews

TOTO Eco Soiree MS964214CEFG#01

Externally, the MS964214CEFG#01 has a beautiful one piece design. It's got a spacious elongated shape bowl, with a chrome trip lever on the tank. You also get a fair amount of choice in color themes. Sedona Beige, cotton white, colonial white, and bone are all options that can add a unique touch to your washroom.

It's covered in a CEFIONTECT glazing, which is all about smoothing over the surface of the ceramic bowl to stop waste and bacteria building up in the pores. This means cleaning tasks don't have to be done as frequently, as the rinse from the flush will keep it cleaner for longer.

You can expect to save a fair amount of water in comparison to 1.6, 3.5, and 5.0 GPF units. This one only requires 1.28 gallons (4.8 LPF) to clear the bowl, meeting WaterSense criteria. This requires toilets to be able to achieve a soybean paste flush score of 350 uncased grams, with a maximum of 1.28 GPF. Third parties like MaP verify this. Their score given is a strong 600g out of 1000g total.

In addition to its highly efficient mechanism, the gravity fed, tornado flush system is built to clean the bowl more thoroughly through powerful but effective dual nozzles that send water through a cyclonic rinsing action.

It's universal height, meeting accessibility requirements of the ADA act, with a rim height of 16-1/8 inches. It also hhas a fully glazed, 2-1/8 inch trap, 7-7/8 by 9-13/16 inch water surface area, and fits a standard twelve inch rough in. However, you are able to change this through the TOTO UniFit attachment, for which the Soiree is one of the compatible product ranges.

The seat comes with it and has soft close properties that make usage quieter and less prone to slamming. Some manufacturers don't include this as part of the package, so this comes as a welcome inclusion as you're getting a seat that's compatible with it upon delivery.

This meets a lot of the qualities we look for in our ratings criteria. For someone looking for comfortable seating, with a strong but low flowing flush mechanism, this could be an excellent option.

KOHLER Memoirs K-6669-0

We like the Kohler brand. They have produced first rate products for all types of flush and style. Not only within the Memoirs collection, but also others like Highline and Cimarron. However, the K-6669 Stately comfort made the list thanks to its aesthetics, functions, and hidden trapway.

As it operates on AquaPiston technology, which allows water comes through the valve into the bowl from all angles. This enables it to effectively hit every part of the bowl, even the areas that are known to be difficult to reach through other system. The less places for bacteria to hide like this, the better it is at keeping odors at bay.

The seating is chair height and will ensure consumers find it easier to sit and stand when needed. People with disabilities tend to have difficulty with this as bending down can cause problems and pain in their joints. That's why this extra height is labelled at ADA compliant.

Externally, it has a very unique style, with ridged edges at the base and the tanks lid. It's elongated / oval shape provides added comfort and leg space, and there is plenty of different finishes to choose from including white, sandbar, ice grey, dune, black, biscuit, and almond.

The only real complaints we discovered was related to the trip lever feeling a bit flimsy and that the seat doesn't come with it. We suggest getting the K-4636-96 Cachet quiet close seat for this model. If not, there are some nice alternatives out there.

WoodBridge T-0001

The T-0001 is a model we've covered extensively in our WoodBride toilet reviews, finishing first in our list. It's got an attractive tank and bowl, with a one piece style that seamlessly join together giving it a contemporary and homely theme.

In addition to the smooth finish around the sides of both the tank and bowl, it includes some terrific functionality that enables it to handle day to day usage in a family household with ease. It's dual flush, which is one of our favorite flushing systems due to the users ability to pick between a partial or a full flush. The same applies here, with a 1.0 GPF / 1.6 GPF combo that lets you save water on liquid waste. In fact, averaged out, this also meets the WaterSense guidelines from the EPA. So there are economic and environmental reasons for upgrading to the T-0001.

The flush is activated via buttons located on the tanks lid, and the 3 inch valave ensures users can expects a good quality rinse that cleans the bowl effectively and thoroughly.

It's floor mounted, ADA height, and includes a quiet close seat. The product dimensions are 28.5 by 14.5 by 27.5 inches. Not the most compact unit you'll come across in your research, but one that looks great and has all the functions required for heavy usage each day.

American Standard Cadet 3 2989.101.020

The Cadet 3 collection from American Standard has an elegant style about it. It comes in a bright white finish and is equipped with an elongated style bowl, making it suitable for people who favor comfort over a compact design.

It's coated in the anti microbial, EverClean surface which helps prevent staining, streaking, and germs in general building up. Coupled with its strong 1000g, siphonic action flush, and you have a great formula for removing all waste from the bowl, leaving very few particles behind. This also helps prevent blockages.

The bowl meets Americans With Disabilities Act, ensuring that people of both disabled, and able bodied are able to use the toilet without putting too much stress on their body and joints.

The inclusion of a soft closing seat saves you the additional costs involved with buying one separately. It also stop the seat damaging the china and can be easily removed through the easy lift off feature.

You'll get solid coverage too with a five year warranty policy.

American Standard Town Square 2817.128.020

If you feel the need for a more traditional style, then the 2817.128.020 could be exactly want you've been searching for. This is a two piece unit with a classic bowl and tank combo that's colored in white and has a chrome trip lever as a nice finishing touch.

The clean looking bowl is what's known as right height, and could be a smart addition to your bathroom if you've got seniors or tall people living in your household. It adds a couple of inches on, taking it to the to around seventeen inches in height.

The FloWise flushing mechanism is an innovation by AS, aiming to limit the amount of water used as much as possible. This ensures buyers can save money on their utility bills and meet WaterSense standards. What's interesting however, is its 1000 grams performance on the MaP scale. The ability to achieve the highest level of performance using so low quantities of water is really impressive.

The built in EverClean glazing plays a role in keeping the washroom environment fresher for longer, battling against bad smells and bacteria, and ensuring the rinse is more effective with every flush.

It has a 2-1/8 inch trap, 3" valve, and its overall dimensions are 29.8 by 15.2 by 31.1 inches.

Going by current customer sentiment on several online stores, we think the average experiences with this model is positive. Some of the negatives we found involved the seat lid breaking and chipping. The first can be replaced easily, and the second could be related to the delivery service rather than the overall durability of the product itself.

Other things to consider

What's your rough in size? - If you already know the size you require, check out our 10 inch, and 14 inch guides. These are written for those with less common measurements. If you don't know how to measure yours, our home page has everything you need to get started.

ADA height or standard? - There are two main bowl categories when is comes to height. Those that are 'right height', like the Soiree above, and those that are 'standard'. Standard sized bowls are the sensible choice for shorter people, and those with a family. However, taller bowls offer some benefits to the elderly, tall people, and infirm. Less pressure on the joints and bones for one.

In rare cases, some consumers may require something taller than the 17-19" range provided by right height models. For this purpose, there are pedestals and seat risers, which can push the seating height above 20".

Glazing - Check to see if your current model has some form of protective glazing on it. If you're considering making an upgrade, you'll want to ensure a ceramic coating like this is included. It helps smooth over the surface and lowers the amount of streaking thanks to its anti sticking attributes. EverClean, Cefiontect, and SanaGloss are just a few examples of this from the big brands.

MaP score - The MaP, or Maximum Performance rating is a third party company that gives each toilet a score based on it ability to remove waste. They have no affiliation with any of the manufacturers, so what you're getting from them is a unbiased test that hints at a products flushing performance.

Companies voluntarily send their products to them to demonstrate how effective they are to consumers and plumbing professionals alike. Once the test has been conducted, they are given a score between 0-1000 grams. 1000 grams being the best, 0 the worst. Most modern tank units should give you at least 400-500 grams. Anything less than this, you should avoid, as they become more likely to clog the lower you go on this scale.

Water efficiency - There a few water standards in this industry terms of conservation. The most common of these is the Environmental Protection Agencies WaterSense. Manufacturers aren't required to meet the 1.28 GPF criteria, but many do as it's good for the environment and for the customers wallet. By upgrading to a WaterSense labelled product, you can bring the annual cost of your utility bills down a fair amount (Source). This is something worth considering, especially if your current installation uses 3.5 gallons or more.

With the new innovations in flushing technology, these low flow models achieve similar waste handling performance, and hold their own against their less efficient counterparts.

Brands - We've had positive experiences with the market leading brands like Kohler and TOTO, but it's important to look into what other brands are offering as an alternative. Names like Mansfield, Sterling, Ove Decors, Delta, Swiss Madison, Niagara, and Gerber shouldn't be overlooked in your research.

Budget - It doesn't matter if you're after something cheap or expensive. It's a smart move to set yourself a budget. Be wary of the fact that not all models will come with the water supply line, seat, bolts, and other hardware needed for installation. You should set yourself a small side budget for that very reason, or you'll find the costs rising quickly.

Within this budget should be a rough estimation of hiring a plumber too. Of course, if you've already got the expertise to do it yourself, you're going to save yourself some money.

Type of seat - We recommend going with a slow closing seat if you're not wanting to spend a lot. The hinges installed on these prevent it from slamming shut onto the ceramic. It's a really nice protective measure that will get rid of those annoyingly loud bangs everytime someone has finished using the washroom.

For those of you who are happy to spend a bit more on the luxury option, you should look into bidets. They often have the same quiet closing features as above, but also come with impressive extras like a spraying wand and dryer that can be used as a replacement to paper.

Space available - If you have a fairly big washroom, with plenty of floor space, you're going to have more freedom in choosing what shape or size your sanitary ware is. It won't matter if you pick a comfort height model, or something with an elongated shape bowl that protrudes far from the wall, you'll never feel cramped.

However, those of you with a smaller space will have to get creative and know what measurements they require for each bit of hardware and where. Some people choose units with a round bowl as they are generally closer to the wall, others will buy a corner toilet as they make the most of unused space by slotting in diagonally.

Whichever route you choose, this highlights the importance of planning ahead and ensuring you buy something that fits the current bathroom layout.

Consumer feedback - Are the reviews online mostly positive or negative? Use what buyers are saying to your advantage. You'll often find you are able to learn about flaws early, and why it performs better (or worse) than others they've had in the past.

Conclusion

These concealed trapway toilets made our list not just for their beauty, but also their features. We've deliberately chosen a variety of different flush types, powers, bowl sizes, and brands to meet the differing household requirements people have.

Whichever model you end up buying, make sure you've read through the considerations above as well as consumer feedback where possible. It's all too easy to make mistakes when it comes to buying sanitary ware, we aim to limit these mistakes through education. With the right knowledge, you stand a chance of finding the perfect match for your bathroom.