How to Choose the Right Toilet — Buying Guide

There are three main types of toilet, each with distinct advantages:

Close-coupled toilets — The cistern sits directly on top of the pan. The most common type in UK homes, they're easy to install, maintain, and replace. Modern close-coupled toilets are far sleeker than older designs.

Wall-hung toilets — The pan is mounted to the wall with the cistern concealed behind a wall panel or inside a furniture unit. This creates a beautiful, floating look and makes floor cleaning effortless. They require a concealed cistern frame for installation.

Back-to-wall toilets — The pan sits on the floor but pushes back against a furniture unit or wall panel that conceals the cistern. A good middle ground between close-coupled and wall-hung — easier to install than wall-hung but with a cleaner look than close-coupled.

Rimless toilets are one of the most significant innovations in bathroom hygiene. Traditional toilets have an inner rim with holes that direct the flush — but this rim is a breeding ground for bacteria and limescale that's almost impossible to clean properly.

Rimless toilets eliminate this rim entirely. Water flows around an open, smooth bowl using a direct-flush technique. The result:

• More hygienic — no hidden areas where bacteria can accumulate
• Much easier to clean — a quick wipe keeps the bowl spotless
• More efficient flush — water distribution is optimised

We recommend rimless toilets for all new installations. The small premium over standard rimmed toilets is well worth the hygiene and cleaning benefits.

Wall-hung and back-to-wall toilets use concealed cisterns — the water tank is hidden inside the wall or furniture, with only the flush plate visible.

Concealed cistern frames are metal frames that mount inside a stud wall or behind a furniture panel. They support the weight of a wall-hung toilet and hold the cistern. Top brands like Geberit and Roper Rhodes make reliable frames.

Flush plates are the visible buttons you press to flush. They come in a wide range of finishes — chrome, matt black, brushed brass, white — to match your bathroom style. Some offer dual-flush buttons (large/small flush), others are push-plate or even touchless. Browse flush plates.

Soft-close toilet seats lower gently and silently instead of slamming down. Benefits include:

• No more slamming — quieter bathrooms, especially at night
• Safer for children — eliminates trapped fingers
• Longer lifespan — no impact damage to the seat or pan
• Quick-release hinges — most soft-close seats lift off for easy cleaning

Nearly all our toilets include a soft-close seat. If your existing toilet doesn't have one, we sell universal and brand-specific replacement soft-close seats.

Toilet projection (how far the pan sticks out from the wall) is crucial in smaller bathrooms:

Standard projection: 500-520mm — comfortable for most users and spaces.

Short projection: 430-480mm — ideal for cloakrooms, en-suites, and compact bathrooms. Short-projection toilets save 50-70mm of floor space without compromising comfort for most people.

Always check the projection measurement on the product page and ensure there's comfortable legroom (at least 600mm from the front of the pan to the nearest wall or fixture).