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10 Best Kohler Toilets in 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

Toilet-bowl-in-modern-bathroom-interior

Toilet bowl in modern bathroom interior_New Africa_shutterstockFrom one-piece to two-piece, round to oval, and tankless to wall-hung, there are many kinds of toilets to choose from. And then there are well-known manufacturers including American Standard, Toto, and, of course, Kohler.

Having invented the bathtub in 1883, Kohler has expanded its line to include additional plumbing ranges for the kitchen as well as the bathroom. You will also find tiles, flooring, and other decorative items to finish the rooms.

Chief among the company’s popular range is their selection of toilets. A toilet is a basic amenity, but it doesn’t need to be basic. Look for features like double flushes, elongated bowls, and taller seat-height toilets that make sitting and standing up more comfortable. To help you pick the best Kohler toilet, we have written reviews of 10 of the most popular models. Use our Kohler toilet reviews to find your next Kohler toilet by feature, budget, and quality.


A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Kohler Santa Rosa Toilet Kohler Santa Rosa Toilet
  • Compact
  • elongated design
  • Comfortable height for all ages
  • Seat and lid included
  • Best Value
    Second place
    KOHLER Wellworth Dual-Flush Toilet KOHLER Wellworth Dual-Flush Toilet
  • Cheap
  • Round bowl
  • Good dual flush at 1.6 and 1.1 GPM
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    KOHLER Memoirs Stately Toilet KOHLER Memoirs Stately Toilet
  • Easy to clean
  • Good looking design
  • Water-efficient flush
  • Kohler Highline Classic Toilet Kohler Highline Classic Toilet
  • Elongated bowl
  • Chair-height toilet seat
  • Powerful 1.6 GPF flush
  • KOHLER Memoirs Stately Elongated Toilet KOHLER Memoirs Stately Elongated Toilet
  • Easier to clean
  • Hardware is hidden behind the base
  • Canister flush
  • The 10 Best Kohler Toilets

    1. Kohler Santa Rosa Toilet– Best Overall

    1Kohler 3810-0 Santa Rosa Comfort Height Elongated

    The Kohler 3810-0 Santa Rosa Toilet is a moderately powered and moderately priced toilet. It is an elongated toilet, which offers more bowl space and a larger opening than a round toilet. Despite this extra space, the toilet has the same footprint as a round bowl, which means that it is suitable for use in restricted spaces.

    Although it doesn’t have a dual-flush button, if you depress the flush button halfway, the Kohler Santa Rosa delivers half a flush. A full flush uses 1.28 gallons per flush (GPF) and the partial flush replaces 0.5 GPF. The Kohler 3810-0 is WaterSense certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

    This toilet includes almost everything you need, from the toilet seat to the lid, although there is no wax ring included, so you will have to buy one of these separately. Although this is a comfortable and water-efficient toilet, using canisters to minimize clogging and reduce the need for cleaning, the full flush is quite loud and the partial flush is lacking in power. Even so, we still believe this is the best Kohler toilet overall.

    Pros
    • Water-efficient flush at 0.5/1.28 GPF
    • Compact, elongated design
    • Seat and lid included as part of the price
    • Comfortable height for all ages
    Cons
    • Partial flush is a bit weak
    • No wax ring included

    2. KOHLER Wellworth Dual-Flush Toilet– Best Value

    2KOHLER K-3987-0 Wellworth Two-Piece

    This is the standard version of the Kohler K-3987-0 Wellworth Dual-Flush Toilet. This system includes a dual flush that offers 1.6 GPM at full power and 1.1 GPM at partial flush.

    The round bowl is better suited to small bathrooms and washrooms. The set does not include a seat, although this does mean that you can enjoy your own choice of soft closing or automatic closing lid. The Class-5 flush system and the ability to buy your own seat helps to keep the cost of this toilet down. All in all, we think the Kohler K-3987-0 Wellworth Dual-Flush Toilet is the best Kohler toilet for the money.

    However, the 5 flush system is not as effective at getting rid of stains and solids from the bowl. The exclusion of a toilet seat is only beneficial if you already have one to hand, otherwise it is inconvenient to buy one separately.

    Pros
    • Good dual flush at 1.6 and 1.1 GPM
    • Cheap
    • Round bowl means compact size
    Cons
    • No seat
    • Not great at removing solids

    3. KOHLER Memoirs Stately Toilet– Premium Choice

    3KOHLER K-6669-0 Memoirs Stately Comfort

    The Kohler K-6669-0 Memoirs Stately Toilet is more expensive than most of the other Kohler toilets on this list. However, it has a host of premium features. For a start, the toilet is raised higher off the ground so that it is chair height. This ensures that it is more comfortable for users to get on and off. It has an elongated bowl, which not only means a larger opening but also further enhances user comfort when sat upon.

    The concealed trap way and hardware offer a better-looking design because fewer bolts are showing. It also makes the toilet easier to clean because there are fewer nooks to get to. In terms of functionality, the Kohler K-6669-0 Memoirs Stately Toilet is only a single-flush toilet. The 3.5-gallon tank flushes at a rate of 1.28 GPF. It is a canister flush design, which means that it is powerful and will prevent clogging in the pipes without the need for multiple flushes.

    This is an expensive toilet, does not include a seat, and only has a single flush system. However, it looks attractive, is easy to clean, and its flush is highly effective, making it our pick for the best kohler toilet on the high end of their offerings.

    Pros
    • Good looking design
    • Easy to clean
    • Canister flush prevents blockages
    • Water-efficient flush
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Single flush
    • No seat

    4. Kohler Highline Classic Toilet

    4Kohler K-3493-0 Highline Classic Pressure Lite

    The Kohler K-3493-0 Highline Classic Toilet is a two-piece toilet with an elongated bowl design that provides a larger opening and more comfortable seating. As a Highline design, it also has a chair-height seating position, so it is more comfortable for most adult toilet users. Chair-height toilets require less effort when sitting down and standing up.

    The flush is a Class-5 flush, enhanced with a Pressure Assist flushing system. Rather than relying on gravity-fed water, this type of system uses compressed air to force the water through at a greater pace. This does help to prevent blockages, which can be prevalent in a Class-5 flush, but it means that the flush is louder and makes more of a splash than others.

    The Kohler K-3493-0 Highline Classic Toilet is moderately priced but it is a Highline toilet with a chair-height seat. That being said, it only has a single 1.6 GPF flush that is noisy and wet. The toilet does not include a seat.

    Pros
    • Elongated bowl
    • Chair-height toilet seat
    • Powerful 1.6 GPF flush
    Cons
    • Single flush
    • Class-5 flush is loud
    • Flush splashes water

    5. KOHLER Memoirs Stately Elongated Toilet

    5KOHLER K-3817-7 Memoirs Stately Comfort Height

    The Kohler K-3817-7 Memoirs Stately Elongated Toilet is another from the Memoirs collection. Therefore, it is luxuriously designed and attractive, but it is also expensive and somewhat lacking in features.

    This model has an elongated bowl, which provides more room for sitting and a larger space for aiming compared to round bowls. It is a chair-height toilet, which means less effort is required to stand up and sit down, and it uses a single flush AquaPiston canister flush. The AquaPiston design pushes the water out around the edges of the bowl, from all sides, which reduces clogging without using more water pressure.

    The toilet is expensive, and while the flushing system is effective at washing right around the bowl, it can be noisy and cause more of a splash than other standard flushes according to users. It has a great design, with metal bolts and other hardware hidden behind the attractive base. Not only does this look better, but it makes it easier to clean, too.

    Pros
    • Hardware is hidden behind the base
    • Easier to clean
    • Canister flush does a good job of cleaning bowl
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Louder than others, according to users
    • No seat or wax ring

    6. Kohler K-3999-0 Highline Elongated Toilet

    6Kohler K-3999-0 Highline Comfort Height Two-piece Elongated

    The Kohler K-3999-0 Highline Elongated Toilet is an affordable two-piece toilet with an elongated bowl design. It has a class-5 flush, left-hand lever flush, and a single 1.28 GPF flush. It is also a Highline toilet, which means that it has chair-height seating, with a seat that is 17 inches off the floor and makes it easier and more comfortable to sit and stand.

    The Kohler K-3999-0 Highline Elongated Toilet uses a canister flush. The canister ensures full coverage of the bowl, which helps ensure that water flushes marks and solid off the whole bowl. This helps protect the toilet bowl from long-term damage, leaves the toilet looking and smelling fresher, and it helps eradicate clogs without using more water.

    Like most Kohler toilets, this model does not include a seat or wax ring, so you will need to buy these separately before you can fit the toilet.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Chair-height toilet
    • Canister flush
    Cons
    • Single flush

    7. Kohler K-3819-0 Toilet

    7Kohler K-3819-0 Memoirs Toilet

    The Kohler K-3819-0 Toilet is a two-piece toilet. It incorporates a Class-5 flush toilet with a large canister flush valve. The canister flush is meant to ensure that water washes around the entire bowl and removes all debris before it has the chance to clog and make a mess. They use a larger valve that allows more water to pass through when open.

    The system also has a directional jet that ensures water is delivered to the entire bowl. While this does mean a greater amount of water hits the bowl in a shorter time, there are some drawbacks to this flushing technology. For a start, the flush ends sooner, which may make it less efficient at removing dirt from the bowl. It is also louder and more prone to splashing around the toilet and potentially even onto the seat and floor surrounding the toilet.

    This toilet does not include a seat or wax ring, and there have been some reports of it filling so high with water that it comes into contact with male toilet users.

    Pros
    • Chair-height seat
    • Water-efficient 1.28 GPF flush
    • Good looking and easy to clean Memoirs range
    Cons
    • Reports that the water height is too high
    • Expensive
    • Seat not included

    8. KOHLER Tresham Toilet

    8KOHLER K-3950-0 Tresham Comfort Height

    The Kohler K-3950-0 Tresham Toilet is a two-piece toilet from Kohler. It is an expensive model but features an elongated bowl for extra space and comfort. It also has chair-height seating, so it is easier and more convenient to sit down and stand up.

    The 1.28 GPF flush is a canister design, which some people will love, but others will dislike the noise and splash that can occur. Available in 10 colors, the Kohler K-3950-0 Tresham Toilet is well designed with an architectural trim that looks good and is easier to clean and maintain.

    The toilet is moderately priced, not as expensive as some Kohler models, but more expensive than a lot of other toilets. This is especially true considering the price does not include a toilet seat.

    Pros
    • Energy efficient 1.28 GPF flush
    • Chair-height seat
    • Great range of colors
    Cons
    • Not everybody likes the canister flush system
    • Quite pricey

    9. Kohler Wellworth Round-Front Toilet

    9Kohler K-3577-47 Wellworth Classic

    The Kohler K-3577-47 Wellworth Round-Front Toilet is an inexpensive toilet with a round fronted bowl. It is a small bowl and this shape, combined with the fact that the top of the seat will stand 15 inches off the floor, means that it is an uncomfortable purchase.

    The toilet does not include a seat, or the wax fitting ring either, so these will need to be purchased separately. The Wellworth includes Kohler’s Class-5 flush technology. This technology ensures that water is delivered right around the bowl and is designed to reduce clogging and eliminate soiling around the inside of the bowl.

    It is a water-conserving 1.28 GPF flush, although many owners have reported having to flush two or more times to get it clean.

    Pros
    • Inexpensive
    • 28 GPF flush conserves water
    Cons
    • Round bowl is small
    • 15” seat height is short
    • Seat and wax ring not included
    • Class-5 flush won’t be popular with all users

    10. KOHLER San Souci Toilet

    10KOHLER K-4007-0 San Souci Toilet

    The Kohler K-4007-0 San Souci Toilet is a one-piece toilet that incorporates both the tank and bowl into a single unit that is easy to clean and takes up less space.

    It has a low-profile design so is especially useful for secondary toilets and washrooms. The gravity flush system is a 1.28-gallon flush system that incorporates Kohler’s canister system and provides water around the whole bowl.

    Although this is a compact toilet, it isn’t cheap, it doesn’t offer a comfortable seating position and, while it does come with a seat, the seat is a cheap-feeling plastic. It may be beneficial as a secondary toilet, but there are better options on the list for a primary toilet.

    Pros
    • Compact, short design
    • Water-saving flush
    Cons
    • Toilet is very small
    • Short
    • Expensive
    • Flush isn’t very effective

    Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Kohler Toilet

    About Kohler

    Kohler was founded in 1873 by John Kohler. Kohler is attributed as having invented the bathtub, which he achieved by adding an enamel coat and four decorative feet to a cast-iron horse trough. Since the 19th century, Kohler has continued to concentrate on plumbing products, offering a wide range of baths, toilets, sinks, and showers, but has also expanded to offer decorative and complementary items.

    Today, you will find a wide selection of products available for the bathroom and kitchen. Chief among these products are their toilets, including one-piece and two-piece, compact and Highline toilets.

    Kohler Toilet Buying Guide

    We spend approximately 90 days, or three months, of our lives on the toilet, and we should be comfortable while we’re doing our business. An incorrect sitting position can prevent us from being able to carry out the task at hand, so the choice of toilet is more than aesthetic. And then there’s the question of cleaning the porcelain. Nobody enjoys bleaching and cleaning the bowl. While some cleaning will always be necessary, ensuring that you buy a good quality toilet with an effective flush will minimize multiple flushes, reduce the water you waste, and postpone bowl scrubbing.

    Below are some of the most important elements to consider when buying your next Kohler toilet.

    One-Piece or Two-Piece Toilets

    There are two basic types of toilet design: one-piece and two-piece:
    • The one-piece toilet incorporates both the tank and the toilet into a seamless design. They usually take up less space because they do not have a gap between the two sections of the unit. They do tend to be 17 inches in height, although this isn’t always the case, and they cost more than two-piece units because it is more expensive to craft the porcelain into a single unit. They tend to be heavy, difficult to remove, and you will need to replace the whole toilet even if a single section becomes broken or damaged.
    • Two-piece toilets have a more visible surface, which means that they take more cleaning. They are not molded, which means that the toilet may become damaged between the two sections, which isn’t possible with a one-piece unit.Generally, the two-piece design is considered traditional, but it is possible to find sleek and modern two-piece designs available for most bathroom styles. The biggest advantage of the two-piece toilet is that this style is cheaper than the one-piece style.

    Toilet Shape

    The shape of the toilet refers to the shape of the bowl itself, although this will need to be matched by the seat that is placed on top to ensure a proper fit and to avoid accidents and more cleaning. There are two options when it comes to toilet shape: round and elongated designs.

    • The round design isn’t usually a perfect circle but is closer than the elongated design. It has the same width as the elongated design, which means that it does not extend as far out.
    • The elongated toilet is more oval-shaped at the front. It stretches further out but tends to be the same width as a round toilet design.

    What Is Better: Round or Elongated Toilet?

    The round toilet does not stretch forward as far as the elongated model. This means that it is better suited to small bathrooms and cramped spaces. In most other situations, the elongated toilet is preferred because it offers a larger hole, which means less risk of accidents and spills, and a more comfortable seating position.

    Seat Height

    The standard, traditional toilet sits between 15 and 17 inches off the ground. This is the total height, including the seat. Taller toilets are easier to get on and off, although not everybody likes the sitting position because it can restrict bowel movements.

    What Is A Comfortable Toilet Height?

    Some toilets are described as being a comfort-height toilet or a chair-height toilet. These are 17 inches or taller, often as high as 19 inches off the ground. These are especially suited to those with disabilities and mobility problems because they are easier to sit down on and stand up from.

    Flush System

    There are various types of flush systems available, and these primarily govern how the water is transferred from the mains to the bowl upon flushing.

    The gravity system uses the weight of the water to flush the toilet. The water is delivered to the top of the bowl, where it is allowed to run down the inside of the bowl. These systems tend to be quiet, but the lack of power means that they may not be effective at removing stubborn solids.

    A pressure system uses pressurized air to force water into the bowl. This additional power can help dislodge solids and improve the cleanliness of the inside of the toilet. However, the pressure system is louder and it delivers the total water used in a single flush in one go. While some owners prefer this type of system, others believe it to be less effective.

    White toilet bowl_ben bryant_shutterstock
    Image Credit: ben bryant, Shutterstock

    What Is a Kohler Class-5 Toilet?

    The Kohler Class-5 system is a flush system that aims to improve solid removal and flush power. It has a wider valve, which means that water is delivered with greater force than through a standard gravity-fed flush. Flush water is delivered right around the bowl. Kohler claims that the torrent of water helps remove solids from the toilet bowl, but some do not believe the system to be as effective as a more traditional gravity system, especially when combined with a limited 1.28 GPF system.

    Water Pressure

    Water pressure is the amount of water that is used to flush the system and is measured in gallons per flush, written as GPF. The most common water pressure in modern toilets is 1.28 GPF, replacing the more powerful but more wasteful 1.6 GPF flushes of old. These more powerful flushes do still exist and are usually part of a dual-flush system that has two flush strengths.

    As much as 1.28 GPF is believed to provide enough pressure to clear solids and liquids from the toilet while being environmentally friendly. It is estimated that these flushes use at least 20% less water than 1.6 GPF flush systems.

    Do Kohler Toilets Come with A Wax Ring?

    The wax ring is the most basic of toilet seals and it forms a seal between the bottom of the toilet and the drainpipe. Most new toilets do come with a wax ring, but this isn’t true with all Kohler toilets. While some do include a wax ring, others do not, and you will need to buy the ring separately.

    Do Kohler Toilets Come with Seats?

    Similarly, some Kohler toilets do not include a toilet seat. Check the listing, because it isn’t toilet model dependent, but the display picture of all models includes a seat to show the finished look of the model. Kohler states that they offer toilets without seats because it allows for those that want anything other than standard models. Bidet seats, LED night light seats, and heated seats are some of the options that owners might buy separately.

    Do Kohler Toilets Come in Different Colors?

    Many of the Kohler toilets come in a selection of colors. The most common toilet colors are white, as well as cream and off-white colors like almond and biscuit. An increasingly wide range of toilet models are now also available in black.


    Conclusion – Kohler Toilet Reviews

    Getting a good toilet is important, whether it is your main or a secondary toilet. Kohler, who was responsible for inventing the bathtub in the 19th century, has a large selection of toilets. Choose according to the features you want, the water pressure of the flush, and the style and design of the toilet to ensure you get the right addition to your bathroom.

    While writing our Kohler toilet reviews, we found the Kohler 3810-0 Santa Rosa toilet was the best Kohler toilet. As well as a standard 1.28 GPF flush, it also has a partial flush that saves water and reduces water bills. The elongated toilet is also one of the few that includes a seat. If you’re looking to spend less, or you want a toilet with a true dual-flush system, the Kohler K-3987-0 Wellworth Dual Flush Toilet is not only cheap but has a powerful flush. It has a round bowl, so it is suitable for confined spaces. It doesn’t include a seat, though, so you will need to buy one separately.


    Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

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