Best Pressure-Assisted Toilets

There are a variety of ways toilet manufacturers can increase the power of a commode. From larger flush valves to new designs, you’ll find hundreds of toilets labeled as “power flush toilets.”

Most can’t hold a candle to a pressure-assisted system, however.

Only a handful of companies produce these unique toilets, and we believe the Highline Classic Pressure Lite is the best pressure-assist toilets for the average homeowner.

That’s one of five options we found for our roundup – each of which provides something different. We’ve also included several highly efficient flushing systems alongside an intelligent pressurized toilet.

5 Best Pressure Assisted Toilets Reviewed    

If you’ve looked for a pressurized toilet in the past, you may have struck out because of the lack of options.

While the selection has widened in recent years with new innovations, we feel the models in our pressure assisted toilet reviews represent the best available for homeowners today.

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1. KOHLER Highline Classic Pressure Lite Toilet

We’ve often said KOHLER has a toilet for every homeowner, regardless of their needs.

The Highline Classic proves that, especially if you want a pressurized toilet with a bit of style. This toilet has the popular Sloan system and provides the best bargain overall.

The most significant difference between the Highline Classic and the pressurized Wellworth is efficiency and design. T

his commode comes in several different colors, including the stunning black model we chose. While it’s still elongated, it’s taller than many commodes, with a height of 17.1 inches from the floor to the tip of the bowl.

This toilet is comfortable for average to taller homeowners and provides a little more water to work with as well, thanks to a large water spot.

The flush rating for the Highline Classic Pressure Lite is 1.4 gallons per flush. That’s ideal if you’re concerned about streaks in the bowl or simply don’t require an ultra-efficient commode.

The KOHLER Highline Classic is our top pick and an interesting alternative to the Wellworth. Consumers felt the flushing power is comparable overall, but this toilet is taller and can bring a little more color to a bathroom.

The price difference is minimal between these two styles, although some felt this model was a bit louder.

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2. KOHLER Karing 2.0 Intelligent Toilet

One thing you’ll learn quickly when looking for the best pressure-assist toilet is that they provide little in the way of style.

The only toilet that bucks that trend is the Karing 2.0 from KOHLER, which is intelligent and uses compressed air pressure.  

Before we take the time to talk about this toilet’s power, it’s important to discuss the features. This chair height commode automatically opens, so you’ll never have to lift the seat.

You can flush it with a touch-screen remote, or it can handle that automatically as well.

Hygiene is at the forefront with the Karing 2.0. It sports a stainless steel bidet wand with multiple settings and a self-cleaning feature.

The bowl and wand cleanse themselves but get a boost from a built-in UV light and electrolyzed water system.

Flushing power comes from KOHLER’s Power Lite flushing system. A surge of pressure packs a punch but only requires 1.08 gallons per flush.

The toilet has “back-up” flushing options as well. Other noteworthy features include an automatic deodorizer, LED night light, a heated seat, and a warm air dryer.

When you want the best pressure-assisted toilet and money isn’t a concern, the Karing 2.0 is the only choice.

It’s just as comfortable as traditional toilets, twice as smart, and has one of the best bidet systems on the market today. The only drawback is the price tag, which is steep for even the most luxurious models.

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3. American Standard Cadet Pressure-Assisted Toilet

The Cadet line from American Standard provides homeowners with a wealth of options depending on their needs.

That includes pressure-assist toilets like this super-powered Cadet, a two-piece toilet with a traditional style.

This version of the Cadet is a comfort or chair height toilet. The top of the bowl sits 16.5 inches above the ground, so it’s ADA compliant.

American Standard included an elongated bowl with this package as well, so there are two extra inches of room in the front.

While you might expect to find a large flush valve in this toilet, it’s 2 inches which is a little smaller than the glazed trapway.

Despite that, the Cadet has a MaP performance rating of 1,000. The pressure-assist flushing system inside the tank plays a part in that, along with the overall design.

At 1.6 gallons per pressure assisted flush, this toilet isn’t the most efficient, but it is powerful.

We found no complaints in regards to the pressure-assisted flush mechanism and feel it has a reasonable price tag for what it brings to the bathroom.

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4. American Standard Yorkville Two-Piece Toilet

At first glance, you might mistake the American Standard Yorkville for the pressure-assisted version of the Cadet.

While these two commodes share a similar design, this is one of the best options if you’re interested in water consumption.

The Yorkville is a back-outlet toilet with a two-piece design. It’s more compact than other toilets on our list so it won’t take up as much space on the bathroom floor.

It’s also shorter at 15 inches without a seat attached. You can get it up to ADA standards with tall toilet seats, and the elongated bowl provides a bit more room to maneuver.

While solid waste goes out of the back of this toilet instead of the bottom, the pressure-assisted siphon jet tank ensures a powerful flush.

The American Standard Yorkville utilizes the efficient FloWise flushing system at 1.1 gallons per flush, and that elongated bowl leaves a large water spot behind at around 10” x 12”.

Finding a good back-outlet toilet can be challenging, but the Yorkville exceeds consumers’ expectations.

The drawback of this model is the price compared to similar pressurized systems and the fact that it doesn’t come with a toilet seat.

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5. KOHLER Wellworth Pressure Lite Toilet

KOHLER is a brand that shows up on every best toilet list for excellent reasons. They have a range of stylish toilets with innovative features, including pressure-assist toilets like the Wellworth Pressure Lite.

This WaterSense toilet has a traditional design with a flush rate of 1.1 GPF. It also has a 2.5-inch flush valve with an impressive MaP score of 1,000.

KOHLER’s Pressure Lite system from SLOAN inside the tank gives this toilet a significant boost, making it suitable for basement bathrooms as well.

From a design standpoint, the Wellworth doesn’t break any new ground. It has an elongated bowl for comfort, although it’s not a chair height commode. This model is 15.5 inches tall from the floor to the bowl and does not come with a toilet seat.

The engineers at KOHLER had efficiency on their minds with the design of the Wellworth. While it has the same surface area as the Yorkville and is just as efficient, it’s not a back-outlet toilet.

We feel it’s the best pressure-assisted toilet for homeowners that need a standard water-conserving toilet – just keep the height in mind.

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How to Choose the Best Pressure-Assist Toilet

You can use almost any toilet buying guide to choose a standard or traditional commode. Pressure-assisted toilets are a little different, however.

In this guide, we will clear up some common misconceptions about these powerful toilets and tell you what to look for to find the best choice.

Pressure Assisted Toilets Explained

Most homeowners look at price or style when shopping for a toilet, but you’ll want to understand how a pressure-assist toilet works before deciding if it’s the right choice for your home.

Any toilet that’s pressure-assisted typically has a small pressurized tank inside the toilet tank of a commode.

Pressurized air is held inside this vessel and released when the toilet is flushed. That extra energy increases the flow rate into the bowl, which results in a more powerful flush.

The video below shows what these systems look like, and you can see the KOHLER Highline tackle several feet of toilet paper.

Pressure Assisted Toilet Pros and Cons

Installing a toilet that uses extra pressure to clear the bowl may seem like a no-brainer for some homeowners.

Well, it could be depending on your needs, but you should still weigh the pros against the cons of a pressure-assist toilet.

Pressure Assisted Toilet Pros

The most obvious advantage of owning one of the best pressure-assisted toilets is the extra power it brings to a bathroom.

They are more efficient at removing paper and waste than a typical gravity-flow toilet but can also save money on your water bill.

Does it take a few flushes to clear a bowl? That will never be a concern with a pressure-assisted system.

A strong flush can help break up waste, which means less cleaning. That’s a bonus, and they are also better at dealing with condensation than a standard commode.

Pressure Assisted Toilet Cons

While there are more advantages to owning pressure-assist toilets than disadvantages, the price is the first drawback for many consumers.

These systems can cost around $100-200 more than regular gravity feed toilets and are louder. You also aren’t going to find any dual-flush toilet models.

Companies have designed newer models to combat that noise, but there is a noticeable difference in noise when you use a power flush toilet.

You can stroll into any hardware store and pick up parts for a standard toilet. That’s not always the case with pressure-assisted models.

Parts may be harder to acquire locally, and you’ll spend more time and money on repairs if something goes wrong.

Height and Comfort

If you are comfortable with the few disadvantages of pressure-assisted toilets, it’s time to think about height and comfort.

These two specifications are both tied to the bowl and affect not only the comfort but price and sizing.

Toilet height isn’t how tall the toilet is, but the length from the floor to the top of the bowl without a toilet seat. There are two categories for toilet height with standard and chair height commodes.

A standard height toilet is one that has a height below 16 inches. Most commodes fall between 15 to 16 inches without a seat and are ideal for shorter consumers and people of average height.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are comfort or chair height toilets. Pressurized toilets with a height of 17 inches are considered comfort height and ideal for taller individuals. These toilets are also easier for the elderly and many people with mobility issues.

The other factor that impacts comfort is the toilet bowl shape itself. Elongated toilet bowls provide up to two extra inches of room in the front compared to a power flush toilet with a round bowl.

While not the best choice for children or people with small frames, they are widely considered more comfortable.

Chair height toilets with an elongated bowl are the best option when comfort is key, although they are priced at a premium.

Installing a Pressure Assist-Toilet

One misconception about a pressure-assisted toilet is the installation process. Many homeowners believe they are harder to install, so you might be surprised to learn that’s far from the truth.

You install a pressure-assist toilet in the same fashion as a standard gravity toilet.

That means your focus should be on the rough-in size and what’s included in the box. The rough-in is 12 inches on most residential waste systems, although 10 and 14-inch models are also available.

Installing a toilet is something a handy homeowner can tackle, although not a task for everyone.

Whether a toilet comes with a seat depends on the model and brand. The toilet bowl bolts, bolt caps, and wax ring are just as important, however. 

Some companies might not include these parts with these power flush commodes, and the wax ring may be as mediocre as the included seat.

The Verdict

You don’t need a professional to install most pressure-assist toilets, and as you can see, some models have surprising features.

The Highline Classic Pressure Lite toilet may be the best pressure-assist toilet overall, but any pick from our list is guaranteed to produce a powerful flush.

Once you settle on a model, remember to think about your comfort along with the budget in case you’re not comfortable installing a new toilet yourself.

If you’re interested in a gravity feed toilet or a smarter commode, we have that covered as well!

Pressure Assisted Toilet FAQ