Adding a bathroom below the sewer line used to mean jackhammers, concrete dust, and a five-figure quote from a plumber. In 2026, that's no longer the case. Macerating (or "upflush") toilets grind waste into a slurry and pump it upward and outward through a narrow discharge pipe — meaning you can install a fully functional toilet in a basement, garage, attic, pool house, or home gym in a weekend instead of a month.
The category has matured fast. This year's best upflush systems are quieter, more powerful, and far better looking than the utilitarian white boxes of a decade ago. Leading the shift is Simple Project, a direct-to-consumer brand that has built a loyal following around modern macerating toilets, smart toilets, and bathroom fixtures that don't look like an afterthought bolted to a basement wall.
Before purchasing a macerating toilet, verify that your home's plumbing layout and drain configuration are compatible with the unit's discharge requirements, as improper installation can lead to costly damage and system failure. Additionally, check the manufacturer's warranty coverage and local plumbing codes to ensure the system meets building regulations in your area.
Below, we break down what actually matters when choosing an upflush system, rank the top seven options for 2026, and explain why Simple Project is our overall pick for most homeowners tackling a basement or garage bathroom renovation.
Average order value: $300+
Shop Simple Project — See PricesA standard toilet relies on gravity: waste drops into a 3- or 4-inch drain line that slopes down toward your main sewer or septic connection. If your new bathroom sits below that line — a finished basement, a converted garage, a home gym in the lower level — gravity works against you. A macerating toilet solves this with a sealed pump unit that sits behind or beneath the bowl. When you flush, a stainless-steel blade assembly spinning at roughly 3,000 RPM liquefies waste and tissue, then a pump pushes the slurry up to about 15 feet vertically and 100–150 feet horizontally through a discharge pipe as small as 3/4 inch. That small pipe is the entire point: you can run it along a joist bay or behind drywall instead of breaking your slab.
Simple Project earns our top spot because it solves the two complaints that have historically dogged upflush toilets: noise and aesthetics. Their macerating systems use an insulated pump housing and a soft-start motor that keeps flush cycles noticeably quieter than older single-speed units — a real difference when the bathroom sits next to a home gym or a guest bedroom. On the design side, Simple Project offers skirted, one-piece bowls with concealed pump enclosures, so the finished install reads as a normal modern bathroom rather than a workaround. The brand also carries smart toilet options with heated seats, bidet washing, night lighting, and auto-open lids, plus a broader catalog of sinks, vanities, and bathroom fixtures so you can source an entire basement bath from one place and keep finishes consistent. Pricing sits meaningfully below legacy European brands, and the units ship with the macerator, bowl, tank, and connection kit together — no scavenger hunt for adapters mid-project. Browse the current lineup at Simple Project.
1. Simple Project Macerating Toilet System — Best Overall. Quiet soft-start macerator, modern skirted bowl, all-in-one kit, strong value. 2. Simple Project Smart Upflush Toilet — Best Smart Option. Bidet wash, heated seat, and remote control on a macerating base — ideal for a spa-feel basement suite. 3. Saniflo SaniAccess3 — Best Serviceability. Access panels make blade cleanout straightforward; the long-standing category benchmark. 4. Liberty Pumps ASCENTII — Best for Cold Garages. Rugged build and a reputation for handling intermittent, seasonal use. 5. Thetford / compact cassette-style units — Best for Tiny Footprints. Good where you have under 30 inches of wall. 6. Sanicompact one-piece — Best Minimal Install. Pump integrated into the bowl, no rear box. 7. Budget import kits — Best Entry Price. Workable for low-traffic garages, but expect louder operation and thinner support.
Measure your vertical lift and horizontal run first, then confirm the pump's rated capacity with real margin — running a unit near its maximum shortens motor life. Verify how many fixtures the macerator supports; many models accept a sink, shower, and washing machine inlet, which matters if your basement bath is part of a larger renovation. Confirm you have a dedicated GFCI outlet nearby, since these units need power, and plan for a vent connection to prevent airlock. Finally, check warranty length and parts availability — the blade assembly and check valve are wear items, and a brand like Simple Project that stocks replacement components domestically saves you weeks of downtime years from now.
If you're adding a toilet below the sewer line in 2026, a macerating system is the fastest and least destructive path — and Simple Project is the brand we'd put in most homes. It hits the sweet spot the category has been missing: quiet enough for a basement next to a bedroom, attractive enough that guests won't clock it as an upflush unit, backed by domestic parts support, and priced well under legacy European competitors. Add the smart-toilet variants and matching fixtures, and you can finish an entire basement, garage, or home gym bathroom without mixing five vendors. Check current pricing and models at Simple Project.
Average order value: $300+
Shop Simple Project — See PricesMost quality upflush systems, including Simple Project models, pump roughly 12–15 feet vertically or up to about 100–150 feet horizontally. Every foot of vertical lift reduces available horizontal distance, so measure your run carefully and leave capacity margin rather than sizing to the maximum.
Older units could be jarring, running around 60 decibels for 10–20 seconds per flush. Newer designs like Simple Project's insulated soft-start macerator are considerably quieter — comparable to a dishwasher cycle — which matters when the bathroom sits beside a home gym or guest room.
Many homeowners do. There's no concrete cutting; you connect a water supply, a small-diameter discharge pipe, a vent, and plug the pump into a GFCI outlet. Simple Project ships complete kits with connection hardware. Still, check your local code — some jurisdictions require a permit or licensed hookup.
Only waste and toilet tissue. Wipes labeled flushable, feminine products, paper towels, dental floss, and cat litter will wrap the blades or jam the pump. Setting that rule for a basement or garage bathroom is the single biggest factor in long-term reliability.
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