Are you looking for the best toilet upgrade for your RV?
You’re in the right place!
In this LearningRV.com guide, you’ll learn:
- What to look for
- The general types of RV toilets
- Our top picks for the best RV toilet on the market
- And more!
Getting an RV toilet is a sound decision to ensure a comfortable camping experience. While RVs usually come with toilets by default, you may want to choose one unique to your needs or preferences.
Not all toilets were created equal. Toilets come in different types and builds. With the abundance of options, you may experience the paradox of choice. All will look equally worthy of a place in your camper’s bathroom and you’ll be plagued with indecision.
Luckily, I’m here to help!
I’ve narrowed your choices down to 10. By the end of this article, not only will you have a narrower list of choices but you will also have likely picked the one that’s right for you and your family.
So, tilt your recliner back, and read our top 10 list of the best RV toilets!
Table of Contents
Things To Consider When Buying an RV Toilet
For something so mundane, you’d think that buying an RV toilet is simple. However, you’re reading this article. So, you must have recognized that buying an RV toilet isn’t as straightforward as it seems.
Buying an RV toilet can be one of the most important decisions you make for your RV. After all, it’s one of the amenities of your RV that can improve your camping experience. An RV toilet is as important an investment as your fridge or television.
So, what should you consider when you’re shopping around for an RV toilet? It comes down to the person. Nonetheless, we’ve narrowed it down to the following:
- Budget
- The location of your black tank
- How much you want to “rough it”
- Who will camp with you
- The size of your RV’s bathroom
- The length of your camping trip
Let’s get into each in greater detail, shall we?
Budget
As with any purchase, how much you spend should be high on your list of considerations. RV toilets come in different styles and builds. There are also several brands on the market today. In addition, the type of RV toilet can determine how much you’ll have to pay.
For example, if you were to buy a macerator RV toilet, know that it will cost more. In particular, it will be a pricier option than a regular gravity flush type or a portable RV toilet. Hence, when considering what RV toilet to get, think about how much you are willing to spend.
Be aware that you get what you pay for. The more “techy” your preferred RV toilet is, the more expensive it will likely be.
The Location of the Black Tank
A black tank is a storage area for sewage and wastewater. In other words, whenever you flush something down your RV toilet, the black tank is where it will end up.
Your black tank should also be a consideration when choosing an RV toilet. Not all RVs have one. And, not all RVs have one located directly underneath the already-existing toilet. If you don’t wish to reinvent the wheel with your black-tank-to-toilet setup, you can go with a standard gravity flush toilet.
On the other hand, you can opt for something like a macerator toilet if you plan on relocating your RV’s restroom. Macerator toilets do not require that the black tank be underneath.
How Much You Want to “Rough It”
Indeed, an RV toilet is intended to add comfort to your camping trip. However, some of us simply want to experience lesser creature comforts.
It is why we embark on camping trips in the first place. If you want to extend this philosophy to how you “do your dirty business,” you may not be happy with:
- Macerator RV toilets
- Gravity flush RV toilets
- Cassette RV toilets
Instead, you may want to go with “less comfortable options” like:
- A compost RV toilet
- A portable RV toilet
Who Will Camp With You
When considering who will camp with you, you need to take stock of:
- Any existing disabilities of the members of your camping party
- How many will join you on your trip
Accidents can occur to elderly people on your camping trip. One area where this is possible is in the bathroom. Senior citizens can encounter accidents whenever they use your RV toilet. In most cases, they can encounter difficulties whenever they try to sit or stand.
For the elderly people in your group, getting a high RV toilet isn’t a bad idea. Automatically, this removes compost and portable RV toilets from your list of options.
Another thing to consider is how many people will be on your trip. If you’re lone-wolfing your camping trip, you can go with any toilet you want. However, for groups of up to 10 people, a cassette toilet may just be your best bet.
The Size of Your RV’s Bathroom
Of course, it’s a bad idea to invest in an RV toilet that takes up most of your bathroom’s legroom. For this reason, you may want to take your RV bathroom’s measurements when shopping for a toilet.
Once you’ve measured the area of your RV’s bathroom, you will now have a guide for your RV toilet’s size. Indeed, you can go with an RV toilet that is the same size as the one you have.
However, there’s nothing wrong with getting one of a different size. Of course, make sure you still have room to move once it’s installed.
The Length of Your Camping Trip
The length of your camping trip can determine the type of toilet you will need. It can also dictate the ideal capacity of your black tank.
For longer trips, you’ll need to invest in an RV toilet that has a large black tank. This will eliminate the likelihood of you stopping for emergency “drainings” as this is illegal in most states like Oregon.
On the other hand, you can choose cheaper options like a smaller gravity flush toilet for shorter trips. Budget-friendly options like portable RV toilets or compost toilets may not even be bad ideas.
Related >> How Does an RV Toilet Work?
The General Types of RV Toilets
In my experience, I’ve found that common RV toilets come in five different types:
- Gravity flush toilets
- Macerator toilets
- Cassette toilets
- Compost toilets
- Portable toilets
Gravity Flush RV Toilets
Look into every RV’s bathroom, and chances are high that you’ll find one type of toilet — a gravity flush toilet. The traditional gravity flush toilet is the most common type of RV toilet on the market today. Part of the reason for this is that most RVs come equipped with these types of toilet by default.
A gravity flush toilet remains popular for many campers due to how similar it is to a home toilet. A foot pedal allows you to flush the contents of your toilet. The contents drain into the black tank that is located directly beneath the toilet.
Another reason behind their popularity is their cost-effectiveness. Compared to a macerator toilet, a gravity flush toilet is cheaper. In addition, due to its similarity with home toilets, there is no learning curve.
However, like home toilets, clogging can be an issue. Nonetheless, the risk of this occurring can be reduced with the right frequency of flushing and toilet paper.
Maintenance can also present some challenges. Also, emptying the black tank underneath can be a humbling experience if you’re new to the game.
Macerator RV Toilets
A macerator RV toilet is on the higher-end of the RV spectrum. It is in the sense that it is the “techier” version of a gravity flush RV toilet.
A macerator toilet resembles a gravity flush and cassette toilet in several ways. A macerator toilet operates with a flushing system that drains contents into a black tank. Being electrical, this type of toilet can generate enough water pressure. This means that the black tank does not need to be directly underneath.
The biggest ceiling point of a macerator toilet is what it does to waste. Once flushed, the waste passes through a sort of “grinder” that mulches and grinds contents into a “slush”. This ensures that everything in the black tank is semi-liquid. As a result, clogging is virtually impossible.
A macerator toilet addresses the common pain points associated with a traditional gravity flush toilet. While this sounds good, be aware that the pros of a macerator toilet make it expensive.
In fact, macerator RV toilets are some of the most expensive on the market. So, only consider having one if budget is not a problem for you.
This type of RV toilet also requires more frequent maintenance. For most macerator toilet owners, maintenance is best done annually.
If maintenance isn’t your thing, you may be better off with a gravity flush toilet. However, a macerator toilet might just trump other RV toilets when it comes to comfort.
Cassette RV Toilets
At a glance, a cassette RV toilet doesn’t seem too different from its ubiquitous cousin, the gravity flush toilet. Like its more commonplace relative, the cassette RV toilet has a flushing system that drains contents. This can be activated using a foot pedal near the lavatory. It is fixed and cannot be relocated or moved.
It differs from the traditional gravity flush toilet in two ways:
First, a cassette RV toilet often comes with a detachable black tank. The black tank for a cassette toilet can be found somewhere outside the RV. You can remove the tank whenever you need to drain or clean it.
Second, cassette RV toilets often come with large capacity tanks. The average capacity of a cassette toilet’s black tank is about 20 liters. The average gravity flush toilet can hold anywhere from nine to 15 liters.
The large-capacity tank can make a cassette RV toilet a more attractive option for:
- Camping in large groups
- Camping for longer durations
Indeed, this all sounds great. The only bothersome part would be emptying or draining a full cassette toilet tank. Filled to capacity, it can be too heavy to dislodge. Also, if you drop it and the hatch opens, you can expect a tough time cleaning up.
For this reason, it helps to have a companion with you as you remove the tank. Doing this minimizes any possible mishap that may occur from carrying a heavy cassette toilet tank.
Also, as you would with a gravity flush toilet, take stock of the laws in your area for proper disposal.
Compost Toilet
Do you want the ultimate outdoor experience? Sure, you may not be able to get it by spending the night in a fully-stocked camper or RV. Be that as it may, you can come close. And, you can approximate “roughing it” with a compost toilet.
Composting toilets are exactly as they sound. The toilet consists of a main lavatory area where composting material can be found. Composting material can be anything from sphagnum peat moss to coconut coir. The composting material is for ensuring that waste does not leave a foul smell. Sure, you’ll still get a whiff of something earthy. Nonetheless, the smell will not be nearly as bad as when you lack the composting material.
Besides the composting material, the other secret of a composting toilet is the separation of wet and dry waste. Urine and solid waste are stored separately, with the solid waste being decomposed thanks to the composting mate
Indeed, composting toilets are about as bare-bones as you can get. And, for this reason, you won’t have to worry about the maintenance that goes with other types of toilets.
You do, however, need to empty a composting toilet more often.
Portable RV Toilets
Here is another type of toilet that needs no instruction manual. When it comes to roughing it, nothing beats the simplicity of a portable RV toilet.
A portable RV toilet consists of no more than a commode covered by a lid. Like a composting toilet, there is no need for maintenance work other than emptying it whenever you get the chance.
Because of this, a portable RV toilet may not be a good option when you are traveling with a large group. Also, things can get uncomfortable really quickly if you are camping for a long time.
Of course, comfort is a relative term. It comes down to how “rustic” you want your camping experience to be.
The Top 10 Best Toilets for RVs
There are so many RV toilets on the market today. With each one looking similar to the last one you may have looked at, choosing can be tough. However, we have decided to make things easy for you by making a list of 10 from which you can choose.
In no particular order, here are our top picks:
- Dometic 320 Series RV Toilet
- Nature’s Head Self-Contained Composting Toilet
- Dometic 300 Series RV Toilet
- Dometic 301097506 Portable Toilet
- Thetford 42058 Aqua Magic Style 2 RV Toilet
- Yitahome RV Toilet
- Yitahome Portable Toilet
- Alpcour Portable Toilet
- Thetford Aqua Magic V RV Toilet
- Dometic 310 Series RV Toilet
#1. Dometic 320 Series RV Toilet
Dometic has had a well-established reputation for creating durable and ergonomic gravity flush toilets. All you need to do is experience the Dometic 320 Series RV Toilet to find out.
The Dometic 320 Series RV Toilet has garnered rave reviews for its close resemblance to a residential toilet. It has a foot pedal on the lower left side that allows for easy flushing. A spray faucet allows you to clean spots that may have been missed. A mount that comes with the spray allows you to attach it to any part of your wall after use.
One of the best things about the Dometic 320 is its tall seat for safety. It is easy to install, so don’t worry if you’re new to the RV game.
#2. Nature’s Head Self-Contained Composting Toilet
Composting toilets have always caught a bad rep for unsanitariness. If you need a counterexample, look no further than the Nature’s Head Self-Contained Composting Toilet.
This composting toilet by Nature’s Head features an airtight closure system that prevents odor from escaping the commode. In addition, a closable side inlet gives you the option of hooking it to your freshwater tank.
If you feel like roughing it without the odor, this is one composting toilet you cannot go wrong with.
#3. Dometic 300 Series RV Toilet
Here is another gravity flush toilet from Dometic. The Dometic 300 Series RV Toilet resembles others in the 300 line.
Like other Dometic models, the Dometic 300 Series RV Toilet boasts a flushing foot pedal on the left side for hands-free flushing. A triple jet flushing system ensures that the contents are thoroughly flushed into the black tank with no residue.
The seat is set at a perfect height for most users. The Dometic 300 Series RV Toilet also comes with easy-to-follow instructions for installation. So, there is no learning curve to this RV toilet.
#4. Dometic 301097506 Portable Toilet
Easy in every way possible, the Dometic 301097506 Portable Toilet features a compact and durable exterior. You can bet on having this portable toilet for a long time.
You can use the Dometic 301097506 Portable Toilet with a fresh water supply for cleaning or flushing. Or, you can use it on its own and empty it frequently. The choice is yours. Its structure and ergonomic seat make it one of the most child-friendly portable toilets on the market today.
#5. Thetford 42058 Aqua Magic Style 2 RV Toilet
Thetford has been one of the main players in the RV toilet business for many years. With its release of the Thetford 42058 Aqua Magic Style 2 RV Toilet, it has added to its long line of crowd-pleasing RV toilets.
The Thetford 42058 Aqua Magic Style 2 RV Toilet has a tall seat. So, if you are traveling with anyone with knee issues, this toilet will not give them any problems. The powerful flush ensures full bowl coverage, minimizing the cleaning you have to do yourself.
Its antimicrobial seat is the star of the show. The Thetford 42058 Aqua Magic Style 2 RV Toilet is one of few RV toilets with this feature.
#6. Yitahome RV Toilet
The Yitahome RV Toilet proves to be one of the most water-efficient RV toilets on the market. Even with half a liter of water, the flushing system of the Yitahome RV Toilet cleans the bowl completely. To flush, all you need to do is step on the foot pedal located on the left side of the toilet.
The Yitahome RV Toilet resembles many home toilets, adding a sense of familiarity to usage. Built with premium material, the Yitahome RV Toilet boasts premium aesthetics and durability while you’re on the road.
#7. Yitahome Portable Toilet
The Yitahome Portable Toilet may be branded as a portable toilet. And, it is. However, don’t let the label fool you. The Yitahome Portable Toilet allows for freshwater integration with its T-type water outlets. It can also be mounted to the floor if you don’t fancy moving it around.
Made of high-density polyethylene and polypropylene, the Yitahome Portable Toilet is as functional as it is tough. The seat can withstand a weight of up to 440 pounds, making the Yitahome Portable Toilet one of the most durable on the market today.
Equipped with a 17-liter fresh water tank, you can use this portable toilet several times. Also, it comes with a 24-liter wastewater tank so that you don’t need to empty it too often.
#8. Alpcour Portable Toilet
How many portable toilet models can claim a 50-flush capacity? The Alpcour Portable Toilet can! This RV toilet pushes the boundaries of portable toilets with its flushing system and a 5.3-gallon wastewater tank.
The Alpcour Portable Toilet features a 360-degree sprayer for cleaning and comes with a camping bag. Its material not only makes it durable but helps minimize odor.
The Alpcour Portable Toilet is also easy to clean. This eliminates the need for expensive disinfectant pills or liners that can cost you as time passes.
#9. Thetford Aqua Magic V RV Toilet
The Thetford Aqua Magic V RV Toilet is about as classic as toilets come. The Thetford Aqua Magic V RV Toilet is similar to most residential toilets in many respects — including comfort.
The textured lid makes it resistant to scruff. Flushing is not a problem with its easy access broad foot pedal located at the bottom of the toilet.
At 17 inches above the floor, the seat height is average. Being lightweight, the Thetford Aqua Magic V RV Toilet is easy to install and remove if you wish to change it.
If you are looking for an RV toilet that makes you forget you’re not home, try the Thetford Aqua Magic V RV Toilet!
#10. Dometic 310 Series RV Toilet
Standard in height but extraordinary in value, the Dometic 301 Series RV Toilet can give you the most bang for your buck.
A robust ceramic structure dominates the entire toilet’s exterior. The ceramic material gives it a classic look and allows it to last for years. An easy-to-access foot pedal on the left lower side of the toilet allows hands-free flushing.
At 18 inches above the ground, the seat height is standard. The compact circumference of the seat makes the Dometic 301 Series RV Toilet ideal for RVs with smaller bathrooms.
If you’re looking for a toilet that’s easy on your wallet and bathroom space, look no further!
Final Thoughts
You have just read our buyer’s guide on the top 10 best toilets for RVs. In reality, there is no perfect RV toilet. It comes right down to your budget, preferences, plans, and, of course, your RV.
Overall, the right RV toilet is always an investment worth making and “sitting down” over.
Learn More About RVing
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2 thoughts on “10 Best Toilets for RVs (2022 Review)”
Which is the best??? Thetford or Dometic RV Toilet:
Thetford RV Toilets are some of the world’s best, with the company’s ergonomic design ensuring maximum comfort whenever you use the toilet. Aqua-Magic V RV and Aqua-Magic Style II are two of Thetford’s most popular RV toilets. Aqua-Magic V RV is a breeze to install. It is sufficiently compact to fit into your RV restroom’s cramped space. The Aqua-Magic Style II has a more contemporary look and is taller, making it effortless for people with leg and back problems to sit and stand effortlessly. In addition, Dometic also designs its RV toilets with exceptional durability and contemporary styling in mind. Dometic’s 310 Series of RV toilets are some of the world’s most stylish, While its bowl is ceramic, its base is heavy-duty plastic, giving it a lightweight characteristic for hassle-free installation. The Dometic 320 RV toilet is one of the most comfortable one can ever install in a motorhome. It has a deep bowl that minimizes, if not eliminates, sprays and splashes.
I replaced an older unit with a Thetford toilet and enjoyed the foot flush feature along with the easy quiet operation and full flush function. Leaving a small amount of water in the container will eliminate unwanted odors.