TOTO toilets are among the best options available today, with products ranging from traditional two-piece models to sleek, modern one-piece units.
Key Points:
- TOTO is a well-known brand for high-quality bathroom products, particularly toilets.
- The brand has a global reach and offers a wide range of bathroom products, including bathtubs, bidets, and bathroom accessories.
- While TOTO products are widely available through various retailers, the brand is shifting its manufacturing strategy toward building factories in or near the regions where its products are sold.
But given the steep prices of TOTO’s products, particularly its toilets, you might be wondering if it’s actually a good brand.
This article explores the specifics of TOTO’s offerings to help you decide if its products are a good fit for your home, so continue reading to learn more!
About TOTO
To examine TOTO’s origins, we need to rewind the clock to 1912. It was well before the concept of public sewage systems was a commonality in Japan, and TOTO’s founder, Kazuchika Okura, had a vision of the impact of these systems.
Okura saw more advanced systems overseas, and at this point, he began taking steps to develop healthier and cleaner living spaces through public sewage control.
This brings us to 1917, when Okura founded Toyo Toki K.K., which would later become TOTO. Over the following century, the brand evolved into the familiar brand we know today. Today, the brand has a global reach, with locations in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Product Lineup
While TOTO is known for its toilets, the porcelain thrones aren’t the only products TOTO offers. Its product lineup includes an array of bathroom products, including the following:
- Bathtubs
- Tub fillers
- Showerheads
- Toilets
- Bidets
- Bathroom sinks
- Bathroom faucets
- Bathroom accessories
- Bathroom hardware and parts
Where Can You Buy TOTO Products?
TOTO’s products are widely available through numerous retailers. You can find these products in-store and online at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Build.com, Wayfair, Walmart, and Amazon. While availability might vary based on location for in-store purchases, TOTO products are widely available through online retailers.
Here are some best sellers on Amazon:
Where Are TOTO Toilets Made?
TOTO proudly boasts its products are made and sold in America. However, while the company is making shifts to bring manufacturing processes to the Americas, it still ships a few straggler products from overseas.
In years past, TOTO’s manufacturing process took place primarily overseas. Its toilets come from various countries, including Thailand, China, and Vietnam. While there are still several models that come from TOTO’s manufacturing facilities in these locations, an increasing number of its products are being produced in the U.S.
TOTO announced that it would reexamine its strategies for the production, procurement, and global distribution of its products. In this process, TOTO decided to shift its entire manufacturing strategy toward building factories in or near the regions where its products are sold.
So, while a handful or so of TOTO toilets are still manufactured overseas, an increasing number of products are being made domestically. TOTO has a factory in Morrow, Georgia, which produces its one-piece porcelain toilets. The brand states that this factory in Georgia is actually producing toilets at a lower cost than its best factory in China, so they’re working toward switching to North American-made products.
It’s important to note that this switch to North American-made products doesn’t necessarily mean the company will manufacture all its products here in the U.S. The brand states that U.S. and Latin America offer lower manufacturing prices due to a combination of factors, so while the products will be manufactured closer to home, they might not come straight from the U.S.
Who Makes Them?
TOTO’s toilets are made by the brand’s manufacturing facilities, which are scattered worldwide. The company has several facilities in Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Fewer and fewer of its products are coming from these facilities, though, as the company is shifting toward producing its products closer to home.
In addition to its overseas facilities, TOTO has a manufacturing facility in Georgia. Given the brand’s proclaimed trajectory, it will likely begin developing additional plants throughout the Americas.
Are TOTO Toilets Any Good?
While TOTO toilets have a good reputation, they’re pretty pricey. So, before investing in one for your home, you might question whether these toilets are any good. Here’s our take on TOTO’s toilets.
Quality
TOTO’s toilets are some of the most popular options in the United States and are known for their quality. The brand uses high-quality materials to ensure the result is functional, durable, and reliable.
While it’s tricky to evaluate the quality of a product without hands-on testing, we can offer insight based on customer feedback. Numerous satisfied reviews mention the product’s overall quality, but a couple of dissatisfied reviews are sprinkled throughout. Given the variation in customer feedback from product to product, we recommend sifting through reviews on the model you like before purchasing it.
Design
TOTO’s toilet designs encompass an extensive array of options, from traditional styles to sleek, modern toilets. There are a few of the conventional models, like the two-piece toilets with separate tanks.
Additionally, there are a couple of modern styles with high-end features. For example, some of TOTO’s toilets feature integrated bidets, remote control operation, automatic opening and closing lids, and temperature and pressure water controls. Whether you’re looking for a good-quality traditional toilet or a high-tech, high-end toilet, TOTO might have the perfect fit.
Comfort
When sifting through new toilet options to adorn your bathroom, it’s essential to consider the comfort factor. First, consider the height of the toilet. If it’s too short or too tall, it’ll be uncomfortable. Tall folks might be up close and personal with their knees, while shorter folks might dangle their feet.
Fortunately, TOTO offers standard toilets between 15 and 16 inches from the floor to the top of the seat. In addition, it provides comfort-height toilets, which are two to three inches taller and are more comfortable for taller people.
Aside from the height, consider the shape of the toilet seat. Most folks are more comfortable on elongated toilet seats over rounded ones, but the rounder options are better for space conservation. TOTO offers a few toilet shapes, including elongated and round, so you can choose whatever works best for your bathroom.
Flush
TOTO toilets feature an efficient flushing mechanism that escorts the bowl’s contents away easily. Its toilets come with a few different flushing systems, each with a slightly different setup. The G-max flushing system features a fully-glazed trap and only uses around 1.6 gallons of water per flush, as they utilize 3-inch valves.
The E-max flushing system conserves more water than the previous system, as it only uses 1.28 gallons per flush. The Cyclone system uses a strong water nozzle and even less water, consuming between 0.8 and 1.6 gallons in each flush.
The Double Cyclone system uses approximately 1.28 gallons per flush, and the Tornado system uses three jets that efficiently whisk waste away.
Pricing
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly toilet, you’re unlikely to find it in TOTO’s lineup. While the brand offers an array of toilets covering an extensive price range, its models aren’t particularly cheap. Most of its toilets, including the basic, traditional-styled ones, start around $300.
This price is steep compared to budget models from brands like Glacier Bay, which cost around $100. Prices continue to climb from $300, with several modern-styled models exceeding $10,000.
Technology
TOTO’s toilet lineup doesn’t skimp on techy features, as its modern models feature top-of-the-line perks for ultimate comfort and control. Its high-end models are packed with features, including adjustable heated seats and spray position settings. The lids automatically open and close as needed, adding to convenience and encouraging a more hygienic bathroom space.
Several of its models feature an automatic air purifying system to conceal unwanted odors, so you can skip the toilet spray before going. The toilet’s settings are easily accessible via a remote control, so users can adjust the toilet to meet their preferences.
TOTO might have the perfect fit if you’re looking for a high-end, tech-packed toilet.
Warranty
Like many plumbing fixtures on the market today, TOTO’s toilets come with a warranty. While the warranty coverage varies based on the product and part in question, TOTO’s basic toilet warranty extends for one year after the original date of purchase.
The warranty guarantees the product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship under regular residential use when properly installed and serviced. It is solely available to the original purchaser and is non-transferable to a new owner. Additionally, the warranty solely applies to TOTO products purchased and installed in North, Central, and South America.
The length of TOTO’s warranty is pretty standard and comparable to other brands in the industry. While some brands offer lengthier warranties, TOTO’s offerings are fairly typical.
Customer Reviews
As you consider a new toilet for your home, it doesn’t hurt to assess the customer reviews on the product you like. Customer feedback can be insightful, offering a sneak peek into what your experience with the brand and product might be like.
We combed through hundreds of customer reviews across sites like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Amazon in search of trends and themes across the customer feedback. The overwhelming majority of customer reviews on these toilets are positive. Dozens of satisfied reviewers mention the overall quality, ease of installation, ease of cleaning, and abundant features.
Of course, there are a handful of negative reviews scattered throughout TOTO’s toilet feedback. Dissatisfied customers cite issues with damaged shipping boxes, premature failure, and poor-quality components.
Customer Service
Most brands have a dedicated customer service team that aids unhappy customers and offers solutions. Generally, this team responds to negative feedback on the brand’s product listings, and TOTO’s customer service team is no different.
As we sifted through feedback and listings, we noticed TOTO’s customer service team addressed nearly every customer complaint, offering a solution or a contact number for more assistance.
To contact TOTO’s customer service, use the following information:
- By email:custservice@toto.com
- For tech support: techsupport@toto.com
- By phone: 1-888-295-8134
- International inquiries: (001) 770-282-8686
- By mail: TOTO USA, INC. 1155 Southern Road Morrow, Georgia 30260
- Online: Live chat or Customer Contact Form