Finding the right toilet sounds simple until you're knee-deep in flush ratings, rough-in measurements, and finish codes at 11 p.m. The TOTO Drake CST744SL has been one of the most consistently recommended toilets in its class for good reason — it balances serious flushing power with everyday reliability at a price that doesn't require a second mortgage. This guide breaks down everything you need to know before you buy.
TL;DR
The TOTO Drake CST744SL#01 is a two-piece, elongated, 1.6 GPF toilet with TOTO's proven G-Max flushing system. It fits a standard 12-inch rough-in, ships in Cotton White (#01), and suits most residential bathrooms where dependable, clog-resistant performance matters more than designer aesthetics. If you want a no-nonsense workhorse toilet, this is it.
Our Top Pick: TOTO Drake CST744SL#01
A near-flawless balance of powerful G-Max flushing, ADA-compliant comfort height, wide commercial availability, and long-term durability — all at a mid-range price point that makes it one of the best-value toilets on the market today. Score: 9.2 / 10
TOTO Drake CST744SL#01: Full Review
Design and Dimensions
The Drake CST744SL is a two-piece toilet, meaning the tank and bowl ship and install separately. This classic construction makes it easier to maneuver through tight hallways and doorways during installation, and it simplifies future repairs since individual components can be replaced without swapping the entire unit. The toilet features an elongated bowl — roughly 2 inches longer front-to-back than a round bowl — which most adults find noticeably more comfortable for extended use. At a rim height of approximately 17.25 inches (before seat), it meets ADA and Universal Design comfort-height standards, reducing strain on knees and hips when sitting or standing.
Footprint-wise, the Drake is a well-proportioned unit. The rough-in — the distance from the finished wall to the center of the floor drain — is 12 inches, matching the overwhelming majority of North American residential bathrooms. The overall depth from wall to the front of the bowl runs about 28.5 inches, the width at the tank is roughly 19.5 inches, and the total height to the top of the tank lid sits near 30 inches. These numbers make it compatible with most standard bathroom layouts without requiring special clearance accommodations.
The finish code #01 designates Cotton White, TOTO's standard bright-white glaze. TOTO also offers the Drake platform in Bone (#03) and Sedona Beige (#12) for matching legacy bathroom palettes, though the CST744SL SKU specifically is most widely stocked in Cotton White. The vitreous china construction means the porcelain is dense, non-porous, and highly resistant to staining and scratching — important if you're evaluating long-term appearance retention.
One noteworthy design choice is that the CST744SL does not include a seat in the box. This is standard practice for TOTO Drake configurations at this price tier; you'll need to purchase a compatible elongated seat separately. TOTO's own SoftClose seats (such as the SS114 series) are dimensionally matched and widely recommended, but any standard elongated seat with mounting holes spaced at the industry-standard 5.5-inch centers will work.
The G-Max Flushing System
The heart of the Drake's reputation is TOTO's G-Max flush technology, which powers the CST744SL's 1.6 gallons-per-flush (GPF) performance. G-Max uses a large 3-inch flush valve — significantly wider than the 2-inch valves found in many budget toilets — paired with a wide 2-1/8-inch trapway to move bulk waste with a powerful, low-pitched rush of water rather than a high-pitched swirling action. The result is a single flush that clears the bowl consistently and thoroughly, with minimal double-flush incidents under normal residential use.
Independent testing has consistently placed G-Max-equipped toilets at the top of bulk waste removal charts. The Maximum Performance (MaP) testing protocol — the industry benchmark for toilet flushing capability — rates toilets based on how many grams of simulated waste they can clear in a single flush. The TOTO Drake routinely scores 800–1,000 grams or higher in MaP testing, well above the 350-gram minimum that qualifies a toilet as a "high-performance" model. For households with heavy use, children, or older plumbing with partial blockage history, this performance margin is meaningful.
At 1.6 GPF, the Drake is not a high-efficiency toilet (HET) by today's WaterSense standards (which require 1.28 GPF or less). However, for contexts where flushing reliability is the priority — multi-person households, rental properties, or replacement of older 3.5 GPF toilets — the 1.6 GPF rating still represents a substantial water savings over what it's replacing while delivering dependable clears. If water conservation is your primary driver, TOTO does offer HET versions of the Drake platform, but those are distinct SKUs.
Installation Considerations
Installation follows standard two-piece toilet procedure: set the wax ring, lower the bowl onto the floor bolts, secure with nuts, install the tank onto the bowl, connect the water supply, and attach the seat. TOTO includes a pre-installed tank bolt assembly and a flush valve, though most installers recommend purchasing a quality wax ring (or wax-free alternative) separately to ensure a fresh seal. The tank-to-bowl connection uses a cushioned gasket that creates a watertight seal without requiring excessive torque — important for avoiding hairline cracks in the porcelain during tightening.
The supply line connection is a standard 7/8-inch ballcock shank, compatible with virtually all residential braided supply lines. The tank fill valve and flush valve that come installed are functional, but many experienced plumbers replace them at installation with aftermarket Fluidmaster or TOTO-branded valves for longer service intervals. Replacement parts for the Drake platform — fill valves, flappers, flush handles, trip levers — are widely stocked at hardware stores, which is a significant long-term advantage over niche or proprietary toilet designs.
Who Is the TOTO Drake CST744SL For?
The Drake CST744SL hits its sweet spot for homeowners doing a straightforward bathroom renovation or toilet replacement who want proven flushing performance without paying a premium for integrated bidet seats or ultra-low-profile design. It's equally well-suited for landlords and property managers outfitting rental units, where durability and easy parts sourcing matter far more than cutting-edge aesthetics. The ADA comfort height is broadly beneficial — it's not just for accessibility compliance but simply more comfortable for the majority of adult users. If your household has historically battled clogs, the Drake's oversized trapway and flush valve are a direct solution to that problem.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model Number | CST744SL#01 |
| Configuration | Two-Piece |
| Bowl Shape | Elongated |
| Flush System | G-Max (Gravity-Fed) |
| Flush Volume | 1.6 GPF (6.0 LPF) |
| Flush Valve Size | 3 inches |
| Trapway Size | 2-1/8 inches |
| Rough-In | 12 inches |
| Rim Height (without seat) | ~17.25 inches |
| Overall Height (to tank lid) | ~30 inches |
| Overall Depth (wall to front) | ~28.5 inches |
| Overall Width (at tank) | ~19.5 inches |
| Finish / Color | Cotton White (#01) |
| Material | Vitreous China |
| ADA Compliant | Yes (Comfort Height) |
| Seat Included | No |
| Supply Line Included | No |
| MaP Score (typical) | 800–1,000+ grams |
| WaterSense Certified | No (1.6 GPF) |
| Weight | ~88 lbs (combined) |
| Warranty | 1 year limited (parts) |
Flush Performance
G-Max 3-inch valve delivers MaP scores of 800–1,000+ grams — consistently among the top performers at 1.6 GPF.
Comfort Height
17.25-inch rim height (ADA-compliant) reduces joint strain and suits the majority of adult users without adaptation.
Parts Availability
Flapper, fill valve, flush handle, and trip lever are all universally stocked — no proprietary sourcing required.
Bidet Compatibility
Flat tank lid and standard elongated bowl mounting dimensions are compatible with most aftermarket bidet seats including TOTO's own Washlet line.
Pros
- Exceptional G-Max flushing power with very low clog frequency
- ADA comfort height suits most adult users
- Standard 12-inch rough-in fits nearly all residential installations
- Widely available replacement parts at hardware stores
- Dense vitreous china resists staining and surface scratching
- Flat tank lid accommodates bidet seat installation
- Strong long-term reliability reputation across commercial and residential use
- Two-piece design eases transport and installation in tight spaces
Cons
- Seat not included — adds to the total purchase cost
- Supply line not included
- 1.6 GPF does not qualify for WaterSense certification or associated rebates
- Two-piece design has more potential leak points than a one-piece
- Tank-to-bowl seam requires periodic inspection for mineral buildup
- Not available in as wide a color range as some competitors at this price
- Heavier than some expectations at ~88 lbs combined — solo install is challenging
Drake Family Variants: Choosing the Right SKU
The CST744SL#01 is one configuration within a broader TOTO Drake ecosystem. Understanding the SKU structure helps you avoid ordering the wrong toilet — particularly regarding rough-in, bowl height, and flush volume.
CST744SL vs. Other Drake Configurations
The CST744SL is the standard 1.6 GPF, 12-inch rough-in, comfort-height elongated Drake. It is the most widely stocked configuration and the one this guide covers in full. The CST744EF replaces the G-Max flush system with TOTO's E-Max high-efficiency flush at 1.28 GPF — a meaningful reduction if you're in a water-scarce region or want to qualify for utility rebates, with the trade-off that single-flush bulk clearing is slightly less aggressive than G-Max. The CST744ELG and similar ELG-suffix models add TOTO's CEFIONTECT glaze — an ultra-smooth, ion-barrier ceramic finish that prevents waste and mold adhesion, reducing cleaning frequency noticeably.
For non-standard rough-ins, TOTO also produces 10-inch and 14-inch rough-in configurations of the Drake bowl (typically requiring a different tank). If your bathroom has a rough-in other than 12 inches — measured from the finished wall to the floor drain center — do not assume the CST744SL will fit. A 10-inch rough-in toilet can technically be used on a 12-inch rough-in with a gap at the wall, but the reverse (installing a 12-inch toilet on a 10-inch rough-in) will not work at all.
The Drake II platform (CST454CEFG and related SKUs) is a newer evolution with a skirted trapway that creates a cleaner, easier-to-clean outer profile. If aesthetics and cleaning convenience matter alongside flush performance, the Drake II warrants a side-by-side comparison. However, its skirted design makes floor bolt access slightly more involved during installation and can limit bidet seat compatibility depending on the specific seat chosen.
Drake Configuration Comparison
| Model | Flush System | GPF | Trapway | CEFIONTECT | Rough-In | Seat Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CST744SL#01 (this guide) | G-Max | 1.6 | Exposed, 2-1/8" | No | 12" | No |
| CST744EF | E-Max | 1.28 | Exposed, 2-1/8" | No | 12" | No |
| CST744ELG | E-Max | 1.28 | Exposed, 2-1/8" | Yes | 12" | No |
| Drake II CST454CEFG | Double Cyclone | 1.28 | Skirted, 2-1/8" | Yes | 12" | No |
| CST744SG (10" R-I) | G-Max | 1.6 | Exposed, 2-1/8" | No | 10" | No |
How We Evaluated the TOTO Drake CST744SL
Our evaluation framework for the TOTO Drake CST744SL draws on a combination of independent laboratory testing data, long-term user reports, plumber and contractor field feedback, and direct specification analysis. We do not rely on manufacturer claims alone — flushing claims in particular are cross-referenced against Maximum Performance (MaP) Premium testing scores published by the IAPMO Research and Testing group, which uses standardized simulated waste media to produce comparable gram-ratings across toilet models.
Evaluation Criteria
Flush Performance (30%)
MaP test scores, double-flush frequency in real-world use, and trapway/flush valve dim