What Is a Rimless Toilet? Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy

9th Oct 2025

Whether your current toilet's showing its age or you're looking to upgrade your bathroom, you've probably wondered about the various toilet options available. With so many different styles and features to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to know which model will work best for your space.

One option that you might've come across is the rimless toilet. These modern designs promise easier cleaning, better hygiene, and savings on your water bill. But what exactly are rimless toilets, and are they a good fit for your bathroom?

We'll walk you through everything you need to know – from pros and cons to the different types – with expert insights from Brian Toward, CEO here at Wholesale Domestic.

What is a rimless toilet?

A rimless toilet is exactly what it sounds like – a model that removes the traditional rim usually found inside regular toilet bowls. Instead, these modern fixtures have a rim-free bowl with a direct flush system to distribute water around the pan.

Without this rim, there are fewer places for grime, limescale, and bacteria to build up, which makes general day-to-day maintenance much easier. Plus, the flush system is designed to provide very effective cleaning across the entire bowl surface, making it more hygienic than a standard toilet.

Rimless toilets vs normal toilets: What’s the difference?

While there are certainly a lot of similarities between rimless toilets and regular models, understanding the key differences can help you decide which option is right for your bathroom:

Feature	Rimless toilets	Regular toilets
Bowl design	No rim inside the bowl.	Traditional rim around the bowl edge.
Water distribution	Direct flush system with pressure jets to clean the entire bowl.	Water flows down from the rim.
Cleaning	Easy to wipe clean with direct access.	Trickier to clean under the rim.
Hygiene	Fewer places for bacteria to hide.	The rim area can harbour germs and limescale if not cleaned regularly.
Water usage	Generally more efficient as water can travel throughout the bowl more easily.	Can use more water when flushing.
Maintenance	Easier to maintain as fewer places to clean.	Regular deep cleaning is needed under the rim.
Aesthetics	Modern, streamlined appearance.	Traditional toilet look.
Price	Typically has a higher initial cost.	Generally more affordable.

What are the benefits of rimless toilets?

You might be wondering, are rimless toilets any good? The answer is a resounding yes – they offer a wide range of benefits that can not only help improve the look of your bathroom but also save you money on wasted water and cleaning products.

Here are some of the main benefits of fitting a rimless toilet:

1. Easy to clean

"Cleaning a rimless toilet is like night and day compared to other toilet models," Brian explains. "These models have fewer hidden crevices where limescale and grime can build up over time, with no awkward gaps that your toilet brush can’t reach."

"To clean the bowl, you can simply spray it with an antibacterial solution and then wipe it using a cloth. You'll know you've covered every surface – there's no guesswork involved. Plus, for day-to-day sprucing, you only need to throw some toilet cleaner in the bowl, run your toilet brush across the bowl's surface, and leave it to sit for a few minutes. Give it a flush, and your toilet is clean and ready to go."

2. Better hygiene

"Some regular toilets can become breeding grounds for unwanted bacteria, particularly around the rim area where it’s difficult to clean properly, and you can accidentally miss a spot. With a rimless design, there simply aren't those hidden spaces where germs can accumulate and multiply," says Brian. "Rimless toilets offer fewer places for bacteria and germs to hide, which means you’ll enjoy a clean bathroom environment for you and your family."

3. More efficient flushing

Rimless toilets use an innovative direct flush system that's quite different from other models. Instead of water flowing downwards from the rim, pressure jets shoot water around the pan in a circular motion that covers the entire bowl surface.

This creates a more even, thorough, and often more powerful flush that uses less water overall. And while the average cost of tap water in the UK is only 0.3p per litre, modern cisterns use around 5 litres per flush, which is about 1.5p each time. It might not sound like much, but those pennies soon add up. A rimless toilet helps keep costs down while giving you a cleaner, fresher bowl in one efficient flush.

4. Eco-friendly

Despite having a more powerful flush, rimless toilets actually use less water than standard models. The targeted water distribution system is more efficient, directing the water exactly where it's needed rather than relying on gravity to distribute it around the rim, which can mean you need to flush multiple times to clear all the waste.

5. Aesthetically pleasing

"There's something about the clean lines of a rimless toilet that just elevates the whole look of a bathroom," says Brian. "Even if someone doesn't know exactly what's different about it, they can immediately see that it looks more premium and well-designed. These toilets have a modern look that makes them easy to coordinate with your bathroom furniture. Plus, since it's much easier to keep clean with a more powerful flush, you'll never have to worry about a guest opening the toilet lid to an unwanted surprise."

Rimless toilet disadvantages

While installing rimless toilets offers multiple benefits, they might not necessarily be the perfect choice for every household.

A rimless toilet might not be the best choice for your bathroom if:

You prefer a more traditional bathroom aesthetic – If you're creating a period-style bathroom or prefer classic design elements, a rimless toilet might feel too modern.
You're on a tighter budget – Rimless toilets tend to cost more than standard models, both for the initial purchase and potentially also for installation if you choose a wall-hung or back-to-wall model.
You're concerned about potential splashing when you flush – Some people worry that the direct flush system might cause more splashing, though this is mainly dependent on the quality of the toilet.
You’re looking for a specific design option – These toilets are usually only available in three varieties: close-coupled, wall-hung, and back-to-wall. If you’re looking for something more adaptable, like a comfort height or short-projection toilet, you’ll struggle to find this combination with a rimless bowl.

"Rimless toilets are an excellent way to keep your bathroom clean and hygienic while shaving money off your water bill, but they're not always a perfect fit for every home," says Brian. "If you're doing up a Victorian terrace and want everything to match that aesthetic, a rimless toilet might stick out. Instead, you're best opting for a traditional style toilet design."

He adds: "If money's tight, there's nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned close-coupled toilet – they've been doing the job perfectly well for years. Plus, there are loads of other options on the market that might suit you better, like comfort-height models or short-projection toilets for tight spaces."

Types of rimless toilet

Rimless toilets aren't a one-size-fits-all solution – they come in several styles to suit various bathroom layouts and design preferences.

Here are the three main types you'll find:

Close-coupled rimless toilets

Kingston Rimless Open Back Close Coupled Toilet

A close-coupled rimless toilet takes the familiar design of a standard close-coupled model – where the cistern sits directly above the toilet bowl – and adds rimless technology for easier cleaning. With these toilets, you get the classic look many of us are used to, but with all the added hygiene benefits of a rim-free bowl.

These toilets let you enjoy modern rimless cleaning technology without having to change your bathroom layout or do any major plumbing work. The visible cistern makes these toilets straightforward to install and maintain, with no need to conceal the cistern inside the wall, while the rimless bowl means you can clean the toilet thoroughly without struggling to reach awkward spots under a rim.

For more information about what close-coupled toilets are, see our guide.

Wall-hung rimless toilets

Nuie Freya Rimless Wall Hung Toilet Pan

Wall-hung rimless toilets combine the space-saving benefits of a standard wall-mounted model with a rimless bowl. The toilet pan is fixed to the wall, with the cistern completely hidden behind it. This creates a modern floating toilet appearance while also giving you the easy-clean benefits of a rim-free design.

This combination is great for busy family bathrooms where regular cleaning is essential, because not only can you easily clean around and under the toilet (thanks to it being off the floor), but the bowl itself is much simpler to clean. With the toilet bowl fixed directly onto the wall, this also helps to free up floor space, making these models excellent for compact bathrooms.

For more advice on maximising space, take a look at our small bathroom ideas guide.

Back-to-wall rimless toilets

Kingston Rimless Back to Wall Toilet Pan

Back-to-wall rimless toilets offer the best of both worlds. These toilets have the space-saving, streamlined look of a regular back-to-wall toilet design, complete with a concealed cistern for a more modern look. The toilet sits flush against the wall, with the cistern hidden behind or inside the wall cavity or a vanity unit. Plus, they also offer a hygienic rimless toilet bowl, with fewer places for grime to build up.

The combination of fewer visible surfaces for dust to gather (thanks to the hidden cistern) and easier bowl cleaning (thanks to the rimless design) makes these toilets much less work to maintain.

Explore rimless toilets at Wholesale Domestic

At Wholesale Domestic, we've got a great range of stylish rimless toilet models to suit every space and budget – from space-saving back-to-wall designs to more traditional styles.

If you've decided a rimless toilet isn't quite right for you, there's no need to worry! Explore our full range of toilets, including short-projection models for smaller spaces and classic close-coupled options.

For more bathroom inspiration, check out our blog. Or, if you need help finding the perfect toilet for your space, get in touch.