Back to Wall Toilet Units

What is a back to wall toilet unit?

A back to wall toilet unit is a floor standing furniture unit that houses the toilet cistern inside the cabinet, with the pan fixed flush against the front of the unit. The cistern is fully concealed, leaving only the pan, seat and a flush plate visible. This gives a much cleaner, more streamlined look than a close coupled toilet, where the cistern sits openly on top of the pan.

BTW toilet units differ from wall hung toilets, which are mounted directly to the wall with no floor contact. Back to wall units stand on the floor and conceal the cistern within the unit rather than inside a wall frame.

What is a boxed in toilet?

A boxed in toilet refers to a toilet where the cistern and pipework are enclosed within a built unit, typically made from MDF or wood-effect board. A back to wall toilet unit achieves exactly this, with a purpose-built cabinet that conceals the cistern and creates a flush, furniture-style finish. This is a popular choice for bathrooms where exposed pipework looks out of place or where a more polished, built-in appearance is wanted.

What are the benefits of a back to wall toilet unit?

BTW toilet units offer a number of practical and aesthetic advantages over exposed cistern toilets:

The concealed cistern removes visual clutter, creating a cleaner bathroom appearance without any pipework or cistern on show.
The unit provides additional storage space. Many models include a shelf on top of the cistern compartment for toiletries or decorative items.
Cleaning is easier. With fewer exposed surfaces and gaps, there are fewer areas for dirt and bacteria to accumulate compared to a close coupled toilet.
Rimless pan technology, included across our full range, eliminates the inner rim where bacteria and limescale typically collect, making cleaning faster and more thorough.
Dual flush mechanisms are standard across our range, allowing you to choose between a full or reduced flush depending on need.

For more information on WC unit options, read our WC unit buying guide.

What styles and colours of BTW toilet units are available?

Our back to wall toilet units are available in modern and traditional styles across a broad colour range. Our modern back to wall toilets units offer clean lines with flat fronts and minimal detailing. Available in matt black, matt white, graphite grey, sage green, midnight blue, fluted finishes and more. For a more traditional back to wall toilet unit, the Elmore range features classic shaker-style detailing in matt white, pebble grey, nocturne black, terracotta clay and matt green.

What sizes do back to wall toilet units come in?

Our BTW toilet units are available in three widths to suit different bathroom layouts:

500mm back to wall toilet units: the most compact option, suited to smaller bathrooms and en-suites where space is limited. Available in the Turin, Evora and standard gloss ranges.
540mm back to wall toilet units: mid-range width available in the Orion range, in a choice of colours including mint sage, warm taupe, matt white, obsidian black, natural oak and hale black.
550mm back to wall toilet units: the widest option, available in the Venice, Avenza, Elmore and Livora ranges.

All units are floor standing. Heights range from 800mm to 820mm, with a depth of 200mm to 300mm for the unit and 700mm to 900mm for the overall toilet projection.

Do back to wall toilet units include the toilet pan?

Most of our BTW toilet units are sold with a choice of pan options, letting you select the pan style that best suits your bathroom. Pan options typically include standard height and comfort height configurations. Comfort height pans sit slightly higher than standard, which many people find more comfortable. All pans in our range are rimless and include a soft close seat as standard.

Some units are also available with the option of a concealed cistern included. Read our WC unit installation guide for full fitting guidance.

Are back to wall toilet units easy to install?

Yes, but you should hire a plumber to do this. The process is more involved than fitting a standard close coupled toilet, but follows a logical sequence. The unit is positioned first, the pan is fixed to the floor, the cistern is connected to the water supply inside the cabinet, and a flush plate is fitted to the front or top of the unit. All connections should be made by a qualified plumber.

Read our full WC unit installation guide for step-by-step instructions.