If there is Batman vs Superman, there’s also one piece vs two piece toilet. Experts and non-experts have been arguing for decades about which type of toilet truly reigns supreme.
Some plumbers argue that the innovative design of one-piece toilets is unmatched, but homeowners often say that the proven and tested qualities of two-piece toilets remain top-notch.
If you’re tired of getting caught in the crossfire, it’s time to put the battle to rest.
Let’s end the debate once and for all so you can have the best toilet type in your bathroom.
One Piece vs Two Piece Toilet: The Basics
First, we need to identify the different parts of a toilet, as these will be vital in understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each toilet type.
Basically, a toilet has three major components:
- Bowl: The part that catches waste to deliver it into the sewer.
- Pedestal: The part that holds the toilet bowl and lifts the entire toilet from the ground.
- Tank: The part located at the back of the toilet that holds all the water for flushing. The tank also provides the bowl with enough pressure to flush the waste in the bowl.
The One-Piece Toilet
It’s relatively easy to differentiate a one-piece toilet from a two-piece toilet.
As the name suggests, a one-piece toilet comes in a single piece, which means the tank is fused with the rest of the toilet.
Advantages of One-Piece Toilets
One of the major advantages of one-piece toilets is that they come in a more sophisticated design.
They look sleeker than most of the other toilet types in the market.
Additionally, one-piece toilets are relatively easier to clean since there aren’t tight spaces where dirt and grime can get stuck onto.
One-piece toilets also tend to be more compact, making installation relatively faster and allowing you to save relatively more space in your bathroom.
With their compact design, the best one-piece toilets are also commonly more durable than two-piece toilets.
On top of that, one-piece toilets are less prone to leaking. They’ve also gained a reputation for providing a more comfortable sitting height.
Lastly, most one-piece toilets include flushing and water-saving features, which means you might get to save more money in the long run.
The Disadvantages of One-Piece Toilets
It is no surprise that the attractive benefits we’ve listed above come with a relatively high price tag.
One-piece units generally have higher price tags than two-piece toilets.
So much so that a high-end two-piece toilet's price is almost the same as a low-end one-piece toilet.
Additionally, because it’s compact, one-piece toilets tend to be heavier than two-piece toilets, making them extremely harder to ship or transport.
The Two-Piece Toilet
If the toilet’s tank is separated from the bowl and the pedestal, then it’s a two-piece toilet.
It utilizes various fittings to connect the tank to the rest of the toilet, which earned it the alternative name “coupled toilet.”
Advantages of Two-Piece Toilets
One of the main reasons homeowners choose two-piece toilets is that they’re more affordable. In fact, the cost of a single one-piece toilet is equivalent to two two-piece toilets.
This is a significant factor if you’re planning to install multiple toilets in different parts of your home.
Additionally, two-piece toilets provide more diverse options when it comes to style and height, whereas one-piece toilets often look the same.
Some homeowners often mix and match their tanks and toilets to better fit their aesthetics or personal preferences.
Since they come in two separate pieces, a two-piece toilet also tends to be easier to move around during installation, and it’s easier to ship.
Just like a one-piece toilet, two-piece toilets also provide different water-saving and flushing options to save you money in the long run.
Disadvantages of Two-Piece Toilets
The separation between the tank and the rest of the toilet may lead to grime buildup right along the juncture, making it relatively harder to clean, especially with a big brush.
Poor installation may also lead to leakage and even damage, not to mention that the installation process usually takes longer with two-piece toilets.
Additionally, because they come in separate parts, two-piece toilets are generally taller and take up more space than one-piece toilets.
One Piece vs Two Piece Toilet: The Faceoff
It’s time we place these two types of toilet side by side and compare their features.
Let’s determine the factors you need to consider and which one wins in each of them.
Appearance
One-piece toilets are indeed more sophisticated than two-piece toilets. They tend to elevate the overall aesthetics of any bathroom.
However, we also have to give credit where it’s due.
Two-piece toilets do not fall behind because you can pick a bowl and a tank separately, giving you more freedom on the final appearance.
Winner: Tie
Size
When it comes to the size, we’d have to say that a one-piece toilet wins by a mile.
Since the tank and the bowl are molded together, you don’t need much room at the front, back, and even in height.
Winner: One-Piece Toilet
Weight
Despite coming in two separate pieces, a two-piece toilet is generally light.
Two-piece toilets often weigh around 25 kilograms or 55 pounds, whereas one-piece toilets often weigh around 40 kilograms or 88 pounds.
Winner: Two-Piece Toilet
Maintenance
One-piece toilets are significantly easier to maintain than two-piece units because of the absence of gaps between the bowl and the tank.
This design prevents germs and bacteria from growing under the tank, which sometimes leads to damage or poor air quality.
Winner: One-Piece Toilet
Installation
As we’ve mentioned, a two-piece toilet is easier to move around during installation. However, we’d have to say that a one-piece toilet still wins this round.
That’s because once you have the one-piece toilet inside the bathroom, you don’t have to worry about connecting the bowl to the tank since they’re already connected.
Additionally, you’d have to be extremely careful when installing the tank to the bowl in a two-piece toilet, as one small mishap can cause the porcelain to crack.
Winner: One-Piece Toilet
Cost
Lastly, you have to consider the cost of the toilet itself.
The cost of a one-piece toilet ranges from $500 to $1,300, while the cost of a two-piece toilet ranges from $250 to $700.
Nonetheless, it’s important to remember that you can still find a number of excellent toilets for less than $200.
Winner: Two-Piece Toilet
One Piece vs Two Piece Toilet: The Verdict
To recap, here’s our scorecard:
- One-Piece Toilet = 3.5 points
- Two-Piece Toilet = 2.5 points
Even though the one-piece toilet wins by a single point, we still have to consider that the cost should play a major factor in your decision.
A one-piece toilet is an excellent choice if you’re only installing one toilet and have the budget.
On the other hand, if you’re installing multiple toilets and you’re working on a tight budget, two-piece toilets are more practical.
Nonetheless, be sure to consider all the other factors we’ve mentioned here to come up with a wise decision.