Best High-Flow/No-Clog Toilet Brands

Updated on April 12, 2019
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Jason has been an online writer for over 12 years. His articles focus on everything from philosophy to product reviews.


Do you have a toilet that clogs so often that its best friend is a plunger? It's annoying and gross to have to hammer away at your toilet with a plunger every time you have a bowel movement, splashing God-knows-what all around your bathroom, just because you used more than two squares of toilet paper or ate a particularly high-fiber meal.

Fortunately, some ingenious toilet engineers (yes, they exist, although they might not call themselves that on their resumes) have designed models that are almost impossible to clog. And, no, I'm not talking about those water-saving ones that suck loudly like a rocket (like those scary ones in airplanes).

Best High-Flow Toilet Brands

  1. The American Standard Champion Series
  2. The Drake Toto G-Max Toilet
  3. The Promenade Toto G-Max Toilet

The cheapest (and homeliest) version of the Champion 4. We paid about $140 for it at Home Depot. You can get sleeker-looking versions, too.

1. The American Standard Champion Series

Cost: $140-$500 (Depending on the features you choose)

Tank Capacity: 1.6-gallons

We have the American Standard Champion 4 at our home, and my parents have the Toto Drake, so I can vouch for these two models. They're both widely available. The name is partially misleading: my AS Champion was, in fact, made in Mexico. But it is certainly a champion. In fact, in the two years we've been using it, we've had the thing clog up once, and that was only after a particularly overzealous use of toilet paper, the quantity of which could have probably choked a Tyrannosaurus rex.

Installation Note: It was fairly straightforward to install, although getting it to line up flush with the floor required some wooden shims before we could caulk it into place.

Toilet Features and Benefits

  • The company boasts the largest flush valve and trapway in the industry: 4" and 2 3/8", respectively. They say that it will move a "mass" (wonder what they mean by that?) that's 70 percent larger than the industrial average. That's a lot of fiber!
  • Because this toilet is also virtually uncloggable, you end up using a lot less water. Instead of multiple flushes for each "sitting," you end up only having to flush once after it's all said and done.
  • Another unrelated (but nice) benefit is that the inside of the bowl is coated with something called EverClean, which slows down the accumulation of a biofilm (most obvious as a ring at the waterline). I would say, based on our experience, it does work somewhat, but you won't be throwing away your toilet brush anytime soon.

The Drake is a rounder, smoother, and more modern-looking toilet than many others on the market.

2. The Drake Toto G-Max Toilet

Cost: $350 upward (Depending on features)

Tank Capacity: 1.6 gallons

Toto of Japan makes a wide range of sleek-looking toilets (so nice-looking, you almost forget what they're really for), and those with the "G-Max" capability are the high-flow units that are almost impossible to clog.

My parents have a G-Max toilet at their place and tell me they've never experienced any clogging problems with it.

Installation Note: This toilet is fairly easy to install. Depending on which features you choose, additional items may be needed for installation and use, these may include a wax ring, toilet mounting bolts, water supply lines, and a toilet seat.

Toilet Features and Benefits

  • Although these toilets prevent clogs in much the same way as the AS toilets, American Standard can still lay claim to the largest flush valve and trapway. Toto's G-Max toilets' are just a touch smaller: a 3" flush valve and 2 1/8" trapway.
  • However, Toto's variant pairs the valve with a powerful siphon jet that does give it a bit of a gurgly FWOOP! sound reminiscent of airplane toilets but not nearly as violent-sounding.
  • The Drakes retail from $350 upward, and the Promenades begin at around $525. You might be able to get them cheaper from a discounter.

While I've used the Drake a few times at my folks' place, my parents are the ones with lots of day-to-day experience with it. When I asked them how they are, my dad said: "They're great." Any problems? "None."

The Promenade is considerably more classic-looking than the Drake model.
The Promenade is considerably more classic-looking than the Drake model. | Source

3. The Promenade Toto G-Max Toilet

Cost: $350 upward (Depends on model and features)

Tank Capacity: 1.6 gallons

There are two lines of toilets under the Toto brand that feature the G-Max capability. The aforementioned Drake toilet is a bit wider and smoother-looking than the Promenade, but the the Promenade is narrower and classier/old-fashioned looking.

Installation Note: Lastly, this toilet is also easy to install. Again, depending on which features you choose, additional items may be needed for installation and use, these include a wax ring, toilet mounting bolts, water supply lines, and a toilet seat.

Toilet Features and Benefits

  • A couple of Promenade models offer what Toto calls "Sanagloss," a coating for the interior of the bowl that prevents the buildup of bacterial biofilms, mold, and other stuff. This is similar to American Standard's EverClean surface.
  • Includes a G-Max Flushing System.
  • It has a round front bowl.
  • It has a chrome trip lever.
  • Includes a computer designed, fully glazed trapway.

Why Do High-Flow Toilets Flush Better?

Impossible-to-clog toilets generally do the job by having a larger, wider-diameter flush valve (the stopper in your tank that lifts up to send the water gushing downward) and trapway (the pipe that leads from the bowl to your sewer line), so that a higher volume of water flows through your cistern faster, making it less likely to get stopped up.

More Powerful High-Flow Toilets

Toto MS854114S#01
It has a one-piece configuration which provides a uniform look as well as simplifies installation. It has an elongated bowl gives a modern and comfortable look and feel extending out an extra 1-1/2” compared to a round configuration. This toilet is covered under Toto's 1 year limited warranty. It's made from vitreous china for a clean and modern look Install in a floor mounted configuration G-Max flushing system provides a strong yet water efficient use.
Optum VorMax
It includes a right height elongated siphon action bowl. It has an EverClean Antimicrobial Surface to inhibit the growth of odor causing bacteria, mold, and mildew. It includes EZ-Install tools. It has a CleanCurve rim which eliminates rim area where dirt and build-up hide. It has dual injection flush valves. It includes a 10-year warranty.
$ 354.25
Toto Drake Elongated Two Piece Toilet
It has a computer designed, fully glazed trapway elongated bowl chrome trip lever. It includes a 12" rough-in.
Kohler K-3493-0 Highline Classic Pressure Lite
Its elongated bowl offers added room and comfort. It has a pressure Assist flushing system. Its comfort height feature offers chair-height seating that makes sitting down and standing up easier for most adults.
KOHLER K-3813-0
It includes a Glenbury Quiet-Close seat with quick-release functionality, allowing the seat to close quietly and quickly. WaterSense toilets meet strict EPA flushing guidelines, including using at least 20 percent less water than 1.6-gallon toilets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Increase My Toilet's Flush Pressure?

  • Check your water valve. Toilets are fed water through a small valve located on the wall or floor near the back of your toilet. You'll need to make sure that this valve is in the "on" position for best performance.
  • Adjust the water level: For a proper flush, the water level inside the toilet tank should be set to the proper level. First, you'll need to remove the lid from the back of the toilet tank, then you'll need to check the water level to make sure that it sits around an inch below the overflow tube in the middle of the tank. If the water happens to be lower, then adjust the float inside the tank to raise the water level.
  • Clean out the clogged rims: Water travels into the bowl from the tank through a series of small holes, which are positioned on the underside of the toilet's rim. If these holes get clogged with lime or other kinds of debris, then the water won't enter the bowl with the same amount of force. You should try using a small mirror to view the underside of the toilet bowl rim. You'll want to inspect the holes around the rim for signs of clogging. Then, you'll want to brush the holes forcefully with a nylon brush to clear out any clogs.

Note: The toilet's flushing pressure may not be the problem. You may have a clog due to dirt or mineral deposit buildup. In this case, you'll want to use bleach or another pipe cleaning liquid to break up these deposits.

What Home Toilet Has the Strongest Flush?

There are many toilets that have the same flushing power. However, the Kohler K-4007-0 only uses 1.28 gallons per flush. This means that it has the same flushing power as most 1.6 gallon per flush toilets, but uses 20% less water.

What Is the Best GPF for a Toilet?

Since the early nineties, low-flow toilets (toilets that use 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) or less) have been the federal standard. Manufacturers have tweaked a few things to reduce the amount of water used when flushing. Now, some toilets only use 1.28 gpf to achieve the same results as they once did at 1.6 gpf.

What Causes a Toilet to not Flush Completely?

Sometimes, when you flush a toilet, the water drains slowly or fails to drain everything from the bowl. This is often the result of dirt and mineral deposits that are blocking the flow of water under the rim of the toilet bowl.

Features to Avoid When Buying a New Toilet

Why It's Bad
A noisy flush
Unfortunately, some pressure-assisted toilets sound like they are jet engines when they are flushed. This can get annoying and even keep you up at night.
A sweating tank
A sweating toilet tank is messy and unsightly. You can avoid the problem by purchasing a pressure-assisted toilet.
A wasteful water tank
A water-conserving, low-flow toilet, will help maintain those critical water reserves, especially as droughts become more and more common in certain parts of the world.
Non-standard replacement parts
You may have bought a toilet with a custom seat and unusual innards, but remember to think about the cost of replacing those parts when they wear out.
A seat that's too high
Higher bowls are bad for toddlers, but more comfortable for people with bad knees. Your seat height will undoubtedly vary in accordance with your needs.

What Are the Most Important Things to Consider When Buying a Toilet?

  1. Flush ratings: Make sure to compare test results of the “flushing performance” across manufacturers and specific toilet models online before spending any of your hard earned cash.
  2. Rebates on high-efficiency models. For moost people, a toilet accounts for about a third of your household water use. High-efficiency toilets (HET) are toilets that use 1.28 gallons or less. These toilets can save you 4,000 gallons of water per year. Some water utilities companies offer rebates if you install one. Make sure to check with your utilities provider.
  3. Cleaning: One-piece toilets are the easiest toilets to clean. They have much fewer nooks and crannies to reach into. That said, they are also more expensive than two-piece toilets and they can be harder to install. If you have the money and want a truly easy toilet to clean, consider buying a wall-mounted toilet.
  4. The size of the rough-in: The rough-in is defined as the distance from the center of the toilet flange to the wall. Make sure to buy a toilet that fits the rough-in distance. This will prevent you from having difficultly during installation and you won't have to move the flange.



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    • profile image


      4 months ago

      MaP toilet test protocol is 50gr soybean paste stuffed into a condom, length about 4", a mere bagatelle compared to the extrusion of someone consuming the fiber and roughage recommended in dietary guidelines.

      Toilets should be tested the way I test them: with multiple 2+" x 12+" egesta.

    • profile image


      4 months ago

      18 golf balls in one hole. Either a golfer's pipe dream or a big water trap!

    • livelonger profile imageAUTHOR

      Jason Menayan 

      6 months ago from San Francisco

      Maybe not golf balls, but giant kidney stones?

    • profile image

      James T #2 

      6 months ago

      Yeah because when I pass golf balls I want to know my toilet can handle it!!

    • profile image


      13 months ago

      I am a twice a dayer and I have yet to find a toilet that could withstand my power. No joke, I love eating curried vege and toasted and buttered brown bread.

    • profile image


      13 months ago

      I have a Toto Drake II and it has clogged a few times but better than my old Kohler. I don't recommend the Toto Drake because I am having to change the gasket/flapper annually. The tank hole and gaskets are badly engineered. Also, it is made in Mexico, not Japan or America.

    • profile image

      Toto SUX 

      14 months ago

      I just sent back my Toto Drake 1.6 gpf piece of crap, pun intended. It clogged 3/4 times and the on time it didn't I flushed 5 separate times. It may sound like I'm 500 lbs and just finished a hungry man competition but no, it's just an awful toilet that somehow has incredible reviews. The plunger also doens't fit well into the strangely shaped opening.

      I also have an AS Champion 4. I've needed to plunge 2 or 3 times in several years and the first time was when I threw wads and wads of paper towels in it while cleaning the bathroom. Off to get another one.

    • profile image

      Paul Floyd 

      21 months ago

      I just want to let you know that your toilet might be able to handle the test of flushing 18 golf balls but your toilet could not handle a week of me not Taking a poo , because on a rainy Friday evening I clogged up the big bad American standard champion 4 , I was very disappointed in the way it proformed while in battle. I think it's time to go back to the drawing board. If you would like my assistance I would be glad to help in any way possible . Thank you

    • profile image


      22 months ago

      I would have loved the demo to include a hotdog or sub. If it accomplished that, I'd be 100% sold. 12 inch sub, I would start selling it myself.

    • profile image


      22 months ago

      Had issues for years with a family of 6. We got the As Champion and have never had a problem. Going to get a 2nd for my oldest son. THAT will be the REAL test.

      I know there is always a negative somewhere. I read lower in the comments that some mutant and his offspring clog it all the time. they must use 3 rolls of Charmin per flush.

      We have definitely punished it and no issues. Unless you require a professional grade toilet for mutants or a rhino, this one should make life easier for you.

    • profile image


      2 years ago

      I bought that American stander and with my kids it's not really ass good ass it's made to look . I have 3 healthy kids and they don't shit golf balls , it's more like solid logs and lots of toilet paper . Still have lots of plugs , plunger sets right next to toilet .

    • profile image

      K. W. Bentley 

      2 years ago

      How come the best performing toilets (Champion 4) and the best looking toilets (Toto Promenade) don't come in Standard / Normal heights for those of us with short legs?

      My daughter has a "squatty potty" for hers but being guys, my son and I get tired of kicking that darn thing out of the way when we need to do "number one" !

    • profile image

      Lorin Partain 

      2 years ago

      Hey you know what? Some very smart people invented a toilet a very long time ago that never clogged up too. It's called a, get this, a toilet. Oh but those toilets are now outlawed because they flush the actual amount of water needed to ensure that the toilets work and the sewers flow as intended. Silly me, Congress knows best.

    • profile image 

      2 years ago

      So is it nessesary to enlarge the sewer line that connects to the bottom of the toilet?

    • profile image


      4 years ago

      Great and helpful article--thanks. A salesman showed a group of hardware shoppers the AS Champion and told us it will flush 18 golf balls. I mumbled that I don't poop golf balls. The crowd broke into laughter. The salesman stumbled verbally for several seconds, then asked, "hotdogs maybe?"

    • profile image


      6 years ago

      There actually is an Australian brand called Caroma (and is available in some places in the US) that has HUGE trapways (either 3" or 4"). There are people like myself, who for unknown reasons (maybe because I am vegan?) are greatly suffering even with a 2 3/8" trapway. I've looked into Caroma, and while it looks good from a size perspective, it has other issues plus bad service when I contacted the company that prevented me from buying. Plus you have to buy from exclusive distributors in the US; although, Amazon seems to have some of their models online.

    • Sharkye11 profile image

      Jayme Kinsey 

      6 years ago from Oklahoma

      Funny and useful. I have two toilets that refuse to flush at all without manual assistance. Inconvenient and gross. Will definitely keep this hub in mind when we go shopping for new toilets next week!

    • TheMagician profile image

      Kay B 

      7 years ago from Tampa, FL

      That American Standard toilet took it like a champ!

      I'll def. be looking into one of those!

    • hemorrhoidremedy profile image


      7 years ago

      I`m thrilled! I guess it`s high time we changed from using pit toilet to this amazing system of answering the call of nature.

      Great info, man

    • Debby Bruck profile image

      Debby Bruck 

      7 years ago

      We all want to "LiveLonger" through better sanitation and efficiency ~ Super Hub and I'm sure those who are renovating, redoing bathroom, or just in time for a replacement must read this newsworthy article. I voted up and helpful. I was wondering if they tested for each item and perhaps that 19th golfball would have put them over the top and the same for each of the other items? The miso simulated the natural product, because in everyone's mind is the thought, "yeah, but what about the real thing?" This was very educational. Have a super day. Debby

    • NormaRuth profile image


      7 years ago from Oregon

      This is certainly something I will remember if and when we need to change out our comode! Thanks for the information.

    • stayingalivemoma profile image

      Valerie Washington 

      7 years ago from Tempe, Arizona

      This was some really good information. I have 3 little boys who are always throwing tissue or small toys in the toilet. I get so tired of using the plunger 2 or 3 times a week. Thanks for the good info! Voted up!

    • livelonger profile imageAUTHOR

      Jason Menayan 

      7 years ago from San Francisco

      Simone: Yeah, although I can think of a few more hilarious names, like "The Aqueduct" or "The Fontana di Trevi."

      AEvans: I admit having a thing for toilet humor. It runs in the family! And, yeah, we get the "it wasn't me" too...even though there are only *2* people living in our household! I guess the mice have a high-fiber diet, too. ;)

    • AEvans profile image


      7 years ago from SomeWhere Out There

      I have not laughed that hard in a long time! lolo! After reading through the tears of laughter, I am going to have to check out the promenade toilet. I can't stand clogs and tonight we had one and it wasn't pretty! lolo! In our house "I don't know, " lives here and "it wasn't me." So if we purchase a knew toilet maybe both of them will go to someone else's house. :D Rated up! :)

    • Simone Smith profile image

      Simone Haruko Smith 

      7 years ago from San Francisco

      Hahaa, looks likeI need one of these, seeing as my current toilet doesn't even tolerate a wad of toilet paper. Gosh though, is there any brand name more hilarious than "The Promenade"?

    • VENZKHVAM profile image



      Dear LIVE LONGER,

      Flushing with golf balls wow.that was a cool amusing flushing video .I think nowadays due to heavy online marketing and door to door marketing many people has shifted to a modern flushing toilet and in INDIA it is known as western toilet and INDIAN toilet separately.

      I am sure the hubbers can take some idea from this and also give their idea after implementing some nice flushing toilets which never gives and problems.

      voted up and useful

      I am following you also.

    • livelonger profile imageAUTHOR

      Jason Menayan 

      7 years ago from San Francisco

      I thought the video was amusing, too. I suppose all of those different materials represented the range of "textures" a toilet bowl could see. ;-)

    • xcubist profile image


      7 years ago

      Wow, quick and efficient, that was a fairly amusing flushing video. The 16 water wigglers had to be the funniest items flushed (as well as most unusual), although the bucket of golf balls was quite impressive. Nice job.


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