Gain a Precious Few Inches of Space in Your Bathroom with a 10 Inch Rough-in Toilet! Do you have a shower door that opens toward your toilet or another situation with your toilet where every inch of room counts? Then you may want to consider relocating your main drain slightly and switch to a toilet with a 10-inch rough-in. In this article, we will do a series of 10-inch rough-in toilet reviews and give you some information that will help you when trying to decide which of the best 10-inch rough-in toilets is right for your needs.
The problem with bathrooms is they are often designed into blueprints last using leftover space. That is one of the main reasons why some bathrooms seem cluttered and sadly lacking open space. You can’t work a miracle in a bathroom in most cases so a 10-inch rough-in toilet is your next best bet. It will help move your toilet closer to the wall in most instances and free up a few extra inches in a room in front of it.
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What Exactly Is a 10-Inch Rough-In Toilet?
A toilet’s rough-in is important because it helps a plumber install a master drain pipe for a toilet before it even arrives on sight. It is something you definitely want to do right the first time because it is hard to change once it’s been done. Therefore, you need to plan it ahead while you are deciding on your bathroom layout and its requirements.
Most toilets come with a rough-in that is 10”, 12” or 14” with 12 inches being the most common one. The rough-in distance is measured from the flat part of a wall where the toilet is going out toward the center of the room. The rough-in is important because if you don’t measure it properly you may not have enough room to install the toilet over the drain pipe correctly. Thus, you should make the key measurements to make the most of your bathroom meticulously.
In our toilets here they have a 10” rough-in which is not the most popular size rough-in. It’s a rough-in size that is found mostly in older homes or used in new construction to save a little space. A 10 inch rough in means that the center of the main drain pipe is located 10 inches out from the flattest spot on the wall where the toilet is being placed.
Main Reasons to Buy a 10-Inch Rough-In Toilet
- Even saving just a few inches of space will improve the bathroom. Such as allowing a shower door or a cabinet door to open fully.
- You have an older house and you need to replace a toilet that has a ten-inch rough-in.
If you don’t need to meet any of these requirements then you are much better off shopping for a 12-inch rough-in toilet because you will have so many more buying choices.
Once you have established that it is truly a 10-inch rough-in toilet that you require, then you will proceed to shop for a 10-inch rough-in toilet in the same manner as you would any other toilet.
Things to Consider When Buying a 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet
- Does it have any water-saving features (dual flush, 1.6 GPF, or less)?
- How powerful is the flush?
- What colors is it available in?
- Is there a specific type of décor it must match?
- Do you want a one-piece or two-piece model?
- Is the installation of it straightforward?
- What is the warranty period on it?
When you consider all of the things on this list it should get you into a 10-inch rough-in toilet model that will suit your needs just fine.
Best 10-Inch Rough-In Toilets Comparison Chart
| PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Toto CST412MF.10No.01 Aquia 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet |
| View On Amazon |
 | KOHLER K-3851-0 Cimarron 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet |
| View On Amazon |
 | Toto CST744SF.10No.01 Drake 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet |
| View On Amazon |
 | American Standard Cadet 3 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet |
| View On Amazon |
 | Kohler K-3889-0 Highline 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet |
| View On Amazon |
 | American Standard 270AB001.020 Cadet 3 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet |
| View On Amazon |
Best 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet Reviews (Newest Models)
Here are some reviews on some very highly rated 10-Inch Rough-in Toilets:
1. Toto CST412MF.10No.01 Aquia 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet
Here is a 10-inch rough-in toilet from Toto who is one of the most reputable manufacturers in the toilet supply business. This model toilet from them can gain you the precious few inches of space you need in your bathroom. It can do a lot more than just that for you too.
Despite this toilets’ shorter profile it still manages to incorporate a semi-elongated bowl style into its design. It also boasts a comfortable seat height too and it’s made using durable vitreous china.
We think the chrome button activated dual flush system on this toilet is outstanding. Not only will this toilet save a little space thanks to its 10-Inch rough-in but it will save a lot of water too. It uses only 1.6 gallons of water on its most powerful flush setting and only 0.8 gallons of water on its light flush setting.
One thing we did not like about this toilet is it’s a bit to the tall side. The installation is also a little difficult for anyone who has never done one on a 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet before. You especially need nimble fingers to install the seat.
2. KOHLER K-3851-0 Cimarron 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet
Of course, you would expect one of the world’s biggest toilet manufacturers to have a 10-Inch rough-in model toilet available. This Cimarron model 10-Inch rough-in toilet is a very good toilet, to say the least. It saves on space and will save you some on your water bill too.
This toilet is an EPA-certified water-saving toilet too. It uses only 1.28 gallons of water on a single flush. It is a toilet that also features comfort height seating and is thought by many to be very straightforward as far as the installation process goes.
This toilet uses Kohler’s advanced AquaPiston technology when flushing. Its specially designed valve uses a piston-like mechanism to boost the speed of the water entering the bowl when it’s flushed. This increases the cleaning power of each flush dramatically.
Strangely enough, this model toilet does not come with an included seat. On specialty toilet models like this one that uses non-standard toilet seats they really should be included in the package. We thought the large gap between the top of the toilet and the seat was unsightly too.
Read more on Kohler Cimarron toilet reviews
3. Toto CST744SF.10No.01 Drake 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet
Toto is known for making high-quality toilets and this Drake Series model is a very good one that requires a 10-Inch rough-in to make it fit. It is a sleek looking two-piece toilet that flushes well and has many other quality features built into it too.
This toilet does many things right. It flushes very well thanks to the proprietary G-max flushing technology that is installed inside it. It only uses 1.6 gallons per flush too. That makes it meet the minimum requirements to be classified as a water-saving toilet by the EPA.
We really like the design of this toilet. It is one of the most modern-looking and streamlined two-piece toilets you will find in the marketplace. It includes a slim high profile water tank design and a comfortable 17 ¼ inch seat height too.
One thing that was a little disappointing is no extras came with this model toilet. There was no seat, wax ring or bolts included in the package which is helpful items when dealing with a 10 inch rough in toilet. This model toilet is also available in only a very limited color selection.
4. American Standard Cadet 3 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet
Here is American Standard’s version of a toilet that only requires a 10-Inch rough-in. It will save you a few inches of space in the front part of your toilet which is great for accommodating such things as shower doors, cabinet doors, and bathroom entryway doors. It is a toilet that has many other nice features too that makes it an excellent 10 inch rough in toilet product.
This is a simple but nicely designed two-piece toilet that will look good in a variety of bathroom settings. It is considered a water-saving model because it uses only 1.28 gallons per flush. It also features a nice antimicrobial surface, a comfort height toilet seat and is made from durable and long-lasting vitreous china.
One of the things that impressed us about this toilet is its fairly strong flush for a toilet that is considered a water-saving model. We feel this is most likely due to the fact that it has a 3-inch flapper opening. That allows for a powerful rush of water to enter the toilet bowl in a hurry.
This toilet does not come with a seat so you will have to take the time to order that separately. They are not that easy to find because this is a specialty model toilet. There are a lot of contours on this model toilet where mold and mildew can hide so it is not the easiest toilet to clean.
Read more on American Standard Cadet 3
5. Kohler K-3889-0 Highline 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet
Kohler has two very good 10-inch rough-in toilets in our countdown of the best models available with that rough in size. This one has a little more ultra-modern design to it that takes a little getting used to. It features a two-piece elongated bowl design that makes it comfortable to sit on yet still saves you some space in your bathroom too.
Because of its two-piece construction, this toilet is very easy to install too. That is because you only have to handle half of its weight at one time. Even the bolts for the bottom of it come preinstalled to help make for a smooth installation.
This is an ADA compliant comfort height toilet. That means its 17 ½ inch seat height is great on average to tall persons and those people that experience restricted movement and other disabilities. This is also what Kohler describes as a Class Five Toilet – it is the way of saying the bowl flushes clean most of the time and this product is hard to clog up thanks to its large trapway.
One thing that really jumps out at you with this model toilet is its water tank shape. Some people like its design and many others don’t. It’s also yet another 10-inch rough-in toilet that has many curves and dips where mold and mildew tend to build up if you don’t clean this toilet carefully every time.
6. American Standard 270AB001.020 Cadet 3 10-Inch Rough-in Toilet
Here is another Cadet 3 model toilet from American Standard that uses a 10-inch rough-in. It is a very similar model to the other American standard toilet on our review list with a few exceptions. It is a different color, has a different hardware configuration, and is a few pounds lighter.
The seat on this model toilet is a comfortable height and its elongated bowl shape only adds to its comfort when using it. It’s also a certified water-saving toilet too. This toilet meets the EPA’s standard of using 1.6 gallons per flush or less to be considered a water-saving model. This toilet only uses an ultra-low 1.29 gallons of water per flush.
One of the things we like about this toilet is its construction and surface coating. It is made out of vitreous china so you know it won’t chip easy and will last a long time. It also has American Standards proprietary antimicrobial surface material known as EverClean. Surfaces treated with this material help make it hard for mold and mildew to build up anywhere on the surface of this toilet.
We think since this is a unique type of toilet that the manufacturer should definitely include a seat with it. We also are not a fan of two-piece constructed toilets because they tend to be more difficult to clean.
How Do You Measure a 10-Inch Rough-In?
You just learned that a toilet’s rough-in is measured from the flat part of the wall it is going near out towards the center of the room. The rough-in distance is the distance from the wall to the center of the master drain pipe that the toilet is bolted in place over. That is a little too simple as far as instructions go through.
You ‘have to’ make sure you are in the flat spot of the wall because if you measure from the decorative molding it can throw your measurement off up to 1 inch. That is enough to move a toilet so close to the wall you can’t possibly install it. So you have to be really careful here.
Pros & Cons of a 10″ Toilet Rough-In Versus a 12″ Toilet Rough-In
Here are the good and bad things about 10-inch and 12-inch rough-in toilets for comparison purposes:
10-Inch Rough-In Toilets
Pros of 10-Inch Rough-In Toilets
- Saves space from the wall to the front of the toilet. Also, allows the toilet to sit closer to the wall.
- Can use the same improved toilet technology that any 12-inch rough-in toilet can
- Other than the rough-in size, they install the same as any other toilet
Cons of 10-Inch Rough-In Toilets
- The installation of these toilets is much more difficult because the amount of working space around them is smaller.
- They are harder to get parts for because they are not as popular as 12 in rough in toilets
- Some people find them less comfortable to sit on because of their smaller size toilet bowls
12-Inch Rough-In Toilets
Pros of 12-Inch Rough-In Toilets
- Considered the standard size in toilets so you have a huge selection of toilet styles and colors
- They are very comfortable to sit on because even the round front bowl models are a generous size to install a seat on.
- Most plumbers find the installation of these very easy because they do them all the time
Cons of 12-Inch Rough-In Toilets
- They sometimes sit far out from the wall so they do not help you save space
- In some situations, the comfort features built into them can make them take up too much space
- They are not ideal to install in bathrooms where space is a big concern
How Do You Install a 10-Inch Rough-In Toilet?
There is nothing different about installing a 10-inch rough-in toilet than there is with installing any floor mounted toilet. But it’s crucial you get the rough -n distance perfect as we mentioned previously. Review how to do that again from the instructions in this article if you are not sure.
Here are the steps involved in installing a 10-inch rough-in toilet:
- If you do not already have a 10-inch drain rough-in you will have to measure for it and first install the drain pipe.
- Next, you will put the wax ring on the main drain opening.
- After that, you will have to attach the toilets bolt holding ring to the floor around the wax ring and then insert the bolts so the threads are sticking up towards the new toilet.
- Gently line up the 10-inch rough-in toilet over the bolts and wax ring as you lower it. Make sure the wax ring stays in place while doing this or you will have a big leak the first time you flush the toilet.
- Once the toilet has been placed perfectly on top of the wax ring and the bolts are coming up through the proper holes then go ahead and use the nuts for the bolts to tighten the toilet down.
- Now finish assembling any parts of the toilet that still are not on it.
- Test the toilet before you go any further to make sure it does not leak and it works properly.
- Now you are ready to finish the rest of the bathroom if everything is ok with the toilet.
10-Inch Rough-in Toilet FAQ’s
Here are some frequently asked questions as far as 10-inch rough-in toilets are concerned.
Any time I need to save space in a bathroom should I choose a toilet with a 10-inch rough-in?
No. The only time you should consider installing a 10-inch rough-in toilet is when saving a few inches towards the front of the toilet will get you the extra space you require or when the existing toilet that you are replacing already has a 10-inch rough-in. In most instances, a compact toilet with a standard 12 inch rough in will actually save you more space than a toilet with a 10-inch rough-in. In order to save space, you may consider a top-rated wall-hung toilet or a top-notch corner toilet, just as well.
Does every plumber know how to install a 10-inch rough-in toilet?
The answer to this question should be yes but unfortunately, it’s not. Ask a plumber if they know how to install a toilet with a 10 inch rough in before you agree to hire them to do the job.
Wrap Up
It’s no secret; 10-inch rough-in toilets are not going to be the next big fad in toilet sales. They do however definitely have their purposes in the plumbing marketplace. They work great when you need to save a few inches on the depth of a toilet and they can save you a bunch of money on a retrofit installation if you need to replace an existing toilet with a 10-inch rough-in.
If you are truly in the market for a 10-inch rough-in toilet than any of the models in our 10-inch rough-in toilet reviews will work well for you. In case you feel none of those suits your needs then make sure you follow the other advice in this article when shopping for one. If you do that then you should have no problem finding one the best 10-inch rough-in toilets to fit your needs.
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