Contrary to what you might think, not all toilets are the same. If you’re looking for toilets made in the USA, your choices may be more limited, but with a bit of research, you will be able to find quality USA-made toilets that you can install in your bathroom. Beyond providing a list of toilet brands made in the USA, we’ll also give you the tools and knowledge needed to do your own research down the line.
Complete List of Toilet Manufacturers Made in the USA
Established in 1873, Kohler is a leading name in bathroom products and bathroom ware. Most of their products are made with cast iron, and they are committed to using at least 80% recycled materials. A large percentage of Kohler toilets are made in the USA, but it’s worth noting that the company also has manufacturing facilities in Mexico and China. All Kohler products come with a limited lifetime warranty. I’m going through some bathroom renovations right now, and Kohler is the brand that I went with for new toilets.
TOTO is known for its high-tech toilets that come with various features, and you might find their toilets in high-end restaurants around the country. Although owned by a Japanese company, TOTO toilets are entirely made in the USA, specifically in Georgia and California, thanks to its commitment to sustainability.
As you might be able to guess from the company name, Nature’s Head manufactures a self-contained composting toilet. This toilet is for areas where plumbing and electricity are hard to come by, such as tiny homes, RVs, survival shelters, and more. Nature’s Head proudly produces all of its toilets in the USA. In fact, all of the toilet’s components, minus the fan, are manufactured and assembled in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
How to Find Toilets Made in the USA
While knowing what toilet brands are made in the USA is a great place to get started, it’s always worth knowing how to do your own research. Here’s how to find toilets made in the USA.
What Does “Made in the USA” Mean?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of finding toilets made in the USA, let’s define what it really means for a product to be “made in the USA.”
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) defines this term as something that is “all or virtually all” made in the United States. That means every part of the manufacturing process must take place in the USA, with US-sourced materials. For more details, check our how to find “made in the USA” products guide.
Materials
If you’re looking for USA-made toilets, understanding where the materials come from is the first step. Here is a breakdown of the key materials used in toilet manufacturing and where these materials come from.
Ceramic
Ceramic, or, more specifically, porcelain, is the primary material used for toilet bowls and tanks around the world. It might not come as a big surprise to you that a large percentage (nearly half!) of the world’s ceramics comes from China. In fact, the USA is one of the world’s largest importers of ceramic products. But, not to worry. Surprisingly, it is still possible to find porcelain made in the United States, as the USA has an abundance of kaolin clay, feldspar, quartz, and silica deposits, which are used to make porcelain.
Toilet Seats
Toilet seats can be made of various materials, including plastic or wood. As with most other raw materials, plastic largely comes from China, with the country producing a whopping 20% of the world’s plastic. That said, the USA doesn’t fall too far behind in terms of plastic production, so finding American-made plastic toilet seats shouldn’t be too difficult.
Wood is another material that can be relatively easy to find in the USA, so finding a wooden toilet seat should be easier than other toilet seat materials.
Internal Mechanisms
Toilets are surprisingly complex devices. If you look inside a toilet, you’ll find that there are a lot of different components and moving parts. The internal mechanisms of a toilet are made of a variety of materials, including rubber, plastic (which we’ve already discussed in the toilet seat section), and metal (typically stainless steel).
In terms of rubber, the USA produces around 35 million tons of rubber every year, most of which is synthetic. On the other hand, natural rubber is incredibly hard to source from the USA, so synthetic rubber parts are the way to go.
The internal mechanisms of a toilet also require some metal, typically stainless steel. Finding USA-made steel is not too difficult, as the country is one of the largest steel manufacturers worldwide. In fact, US steel is around three times stronger than Chinese steel, only solidifying the fact that it’s all the more important to find a toilet that is “all or virtually all” USA-made.
Labeling
The good news is that when you’re looking for toilets made in the USA, researching becomes a lot easier with the help of labels. According to Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 of the US Code, all imported products must be labeled according to their country of origin. This, in addition to the fact that the FTC polices the usage of the coveted “made in the USA” label, makes it easier to find true American-made toilets.
However, things are not always as simple as they seem, as there are a few things to look out for.
First, the FTC has no pre-approval process for the “made in the USA” label, meaning that any company can place that label on their product. So, if you ever come across a toilet that claims to be made in the USA but is not truly “all or virtually all” made domestically, make sure to report them!
Second, there are other labels companies may use that may sound similar to “made in the USA” but do not mean the same thing. So, watch out for labels like “made in America,” “manufactured in the USA,” or “designed in the USA,” as these are not synonymous.
Third, watch out for the American flag sticker. Since there is no regulation regarding the use of the American flag on labels, just because you see the flag does not automatically mean the product is truly USA-made.
And finally, companies are not required to label their products with their country of origin on their online or promotional materials. So, if you plan on shopping online, this can make things a bit difficult.
Other Tips
So that’s a lot of things to look out for, but don’t worry; here are our top tips for finding toilets made in the USA.
Go to the Company’s Website
As mentioned, companies do not need to label their toilets with the country of origin on their website. However, “Made in the USA” is a huge selling point, so if this is the case, you should be able to see this fact advertised somewhere on their site, such as their Home page, About Us page, or product page.
You could also check their social media accounts for information on the company’s manufacturing process.
Go Online Shopping
While not always the case, some online retailers state the country of origin of the products they list. For example, on Amazon, you can scroll down to the Product Description section to find the country of origin of the toilet you’re interested in. Alternatively, you could check the FAQ section to see if someone may have already asked a question regarding the toilet’s country of origin.
Call the Company
Still unsure if a particular toilet is made in the USA? Just call the company and ask! A customer service rep will be more than equipped to answer your questions about the product.
Toilet Brands Not Made in the USA
To help you with your research, we’ve also compiled a list of popular toilet brands not made in the USA. We will continuously add to this list as we go, so feel free to let us know if there are any major brands we’ve missed!
- Saniflo – Made in France
- American Standard – Made in Mexico and China
- Gerber – Made in Mexico and China
- GROHE – Made in Germany and Thailand
- Duravit – Made in Germany, China, India, Egypt, Tunisia, and Canada
- Glacier Bay – Made in China
- Swiss Madison – Made in China
