What Is A Rimless Toilet - And Are They Worth It?

Modern, quiet and hygienic - rimless toilets are a must-have in contemporary bathrooms. But what sets them apart from typical toilets? We’ll go through the differences and all of the benefits you’ll see if you make the switch.

Key Takeaways:

• Rimless toilets don’t have a rim at the top of the bowl; water sprays out of holes in the bowl.
• They’re much easier to clean than conventional toilets, as the rim is where dirt and mould tend to build up.
• You can get rimless toilets in a variety of designs, including wall-hung, back-to-wall, close-coupled and comfort height.

Looking for a modern toilet upgrade for your bathroom? It might be time to consider a rimless toilet for your home, especially if you lean towards a minimalist interior design style.

Before you make the switch, read through our deep-dive guide on rimless toilets, including their benefits and the different types available. We’ll help you figure out if going rimless is the right choice for your bathroom before you browse the full range!

What is a Rimless Toilet?

Rimless toilets are exactly what they sound like: toilets without the traditional rim inside the bowl. They have a sleeker look than conventional toilets, while not losing out on flushing power or effectiveness.

Unlike conventional toilets, which flush water down from a hollow rim into the bowl, a rimless toilet’s flush comes from a targeted shoot that pushes water horizontally around the edge of the bowl.

The exact design differs between products. For example, some rimless toilets have water-saving vortex flushes, where jets spray water around the bowl in an efficient cleaning spiral. Most commonly, rimless toilets will have a direct flush system where water sprays out of one or two holes towards the back of the bowl.

The Benefits of Rimless Toilets

Easier Cleaning

The main advantage of rimless toilets is that they’re much more hygienic than conventional toilets.

Toilet rims can hide build-ups of dirt and mould, so even if you’re regularly cleaning your toilet, you might not realise you’re missing the problem areas. 

The gap between a conventional toilet rim and the bowl is usually quite small as well, which can make cleaning physically difficult.

However, with a rimless design, there’s nowhere for the dirt to hide. All you have to do is clean the bowl, without trying to reach behind a rim or guessing which spot to scrub next.

Quieter Flush

Rimless toilets tend to have a quieter flush than conventional toilets, although this can depend on the individual design.

Typically, since the water is moving around the bowl rather than directly downwards, the flush is fairly quiet. It’s a small detail that can add a subtle sense of luxury to modern bathrooms.

Water Efficiency

Rimless toilets generally use less water per flush compared to a rimmed toilet, making them a more eco-friendly option and also saving you a bit of money if you have a water meter.

The direct flush is stronger than a normal flush, so it doesn’t need as much water to clean the bowl effectively. You’ll also rarely need a double flush thanks to the strong vortex, which is another effortless way to save water!

Comparison Table: Are Rimless Toilets Better Than Conventional Toilets?

Types Of Rimless Toilets

1. Wall-Hung

A wall-hung rimless toilet works perfectly in modern style bathrooms. It’s a great way to save on space in your bathroom and achieve a minimalist, sleek look.

Combining a rimless toilet with a concealed cistern will make the flush even quieter, too.

Wall-hung toilets also double down on rimless toilets’ improved hygiene. Just like the rimless bowl removes places for dirt to build up, the sleek design of a wall-hung toilet means fewer places for dust to accumulate. There’s also much less area to clean, making it a quicker job.

2. Close-Coupled

If you want the modern convenience with a more classic look, a close-coupled rimless toilet is what you need.

Close-coupled toilets are ‘standard’ toilets, with a cistern behind the seat, connected to the base of the toilet. It’s a good way to keep some traditional style in your bathroom, or simply to give your toilet a little more presence, which you might want in an en-suite or cloakroom without other major design features.

3. Back-To-Wall

If you want to save some space in your bathroom, a back-to-wall rimless toilet is a great option. The back of a BTW toilet is flush with your wall, and you can choose from close-coupled or concealed cistern options to suit your bathroom.

They remove the need to clean behind your toilet entirely, which can be a massive time-saver, and they can free up a little more floor space, which can be a massive benefit in smaller bathrooms.

4. Comfort Height

Comfort height rimless toilets have seats that are around 6cm higher than a typical toilet. As the name suggests, they can be more comfortable as there’s less pressure on your joints, and it takes less effort to sit down and get up.

Many people could benefit from a comfort height toilet, including tall people who find typical toilets too short. However, elderly people and those with limited mobility could find a comfort height toilet much more accessible - especially when combined with how easy it is to clean a rimless toilet bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you replace a rimmed toilet with a rimless toilet?

Yes, especially if you’re replacing a conventional toilet with the same type of rimless toilet. Rimless toilets use the same plumbing as rimmed toilets, so replacing one with the other is a fairly straightforward job.

It’ll be a little more complicated if you want to move the location of the toilet at the same time as upgrading, since you might have to change the plumbing to suit the new location.

Equally, switching from a close-coupled toilet to a rimless toilet with a concealed cistern will take a little more time and effort, and could be more expensive. 

However, upgrading to a rimless toilet shouldn’t have a huge impact on the installation complexity. Some models need the flush specially calibrated, and some could require precise alignment and sealing, but otherwise should be installed the same way as a rimmed toilet.

How do you clean a rimless toilet?

To clean the inside of a rimless toilet, all you have to do is clean the bowl. Unlike a conventional toilet, there’s no rim hiding dirt and mould build-ups, so simply clean what you see.

Cleaning the outside of the toilet can differ depending on the design. Wall-hung and back-to-wall toilets are easier to clean as there are fewer corners and nooks for dust to accumulate in. Close-coupled toilets that aren’t completely back-to-wall can take longer due to having to clean around the base and behind the toilet.

Are rimless toilets more expensive than toilets with rims?

No, rimless toilets are not always more expensive than conventional toilets with rims.

There’s a rimless toilet for every bathroom project, whether you need an affordable budget option or a luxurious, high-end product.

One thing to consider is future maintenance. Due to specialist parts, it may end up being slightly more expensive than a typical toilet repair.

Upgrade Your Bathroom With A Rimless Toilet

Ready to add some modern luxury to your bathroom? Rimless toilets might not be the flashiest improvement, but they can reduce the time you spend cleaning, make your bathroom more hygienic, and give your toilet a contemporary edge.

If you’re looking for some bathroom design inspiration to go along with a sleek rimless toilet, check out some of our modern bathroom ideas and popular bathroom trends!