Overall, toilets are one of the most trouble-free appliances in your home.
The porcelain fixture can remain in good, physical condition for years – decades – as long as a crack doesn’t appear. Occasionally, it might need new water supply valves, flush valves, or even a wax ring to seal it to the floor. But outside of that, your toilet will keep running indefinitely. 
Nevertheless, there are many reasons you may want to upgrade your toilet. A remodel may have you switching out sizes or colors. To be more energy efficient, you may switch one out for a newer, more water-friendly appliance.
The good news is that with all of the options available to you today, your toilet no longer has to be a white, boring appliance that fades into the woodwork.
Unless you have a large, wide-open space in your bathroom, size may matter. The last thing you want to have happen is to start the project, have everything torn apart, only to discover you’ve purchased a toilet that’s too big for your area. Measure carefully to ensure your new design will fit into the same location as the old one.
Be sure to measure several ways.
Measure from the wall behind the toilet to the middle of the base. If your toilet has four bolts, measure the placement from the center to the back bolts. This is known in the industry as a rough-in measurement, and should be between 10 to 13 inches. You’ll need this when shopping for a replacement.
Toilets also come with different size bowl shapes. Some are round, some are elongated. In a small bathroom space, an inch or two here and there can be the difference between making it fit and bumping up against a wall or a vanity.
New toilets come in both one piece and two piece models. One piece toilets are designed with the tank and bowl all as one unit. They have a lower profile, but are a little higher cost and can be slightly more difficult to install. Sticking with a two piece unit similar to the one already installed in your home is the most economical way to go.
You can also upgrade to more intelligent toilets that offer things like:
- Seat height adjustments
- Temperature controlled seats
- Dual flush design
- Touchless flush
New toilets vary widely in price. And while many toilets today come with easy-to-install instruction, remember to take care when connecting to your water supply. Even a tiny leak can have disastrous results; biological growth can impact both your environment and your health.
Need help installing your new toilet?