4 American Standard Cadet 3 Toilet Reviews & Comparison

American Standard Cadet 3 toilets are one of the most popular toilet models that seems to be selling really well. One of the main reason is they are readily available with big discounts in many big box stores.

Many people are interested in this toilet because it is a branded toilet that come from a very famous manufacturer with a long and successful history in the toilet market. And also the American Standard Cadet toilet has a very competitive price (often with big discounts in stores) compared to similar entry level toilets from other top brands like Toto.

American Standard Cadet 3 Toilets Comparison

Below comparison chart shows some of the popular and top selling Cadet 3 models which are selected and features here from a dozen or so Cadet 3 models currently available in the market.

American Standard Cadet 3 Toilet Reviews

The American Standard Cadet 3 is not just one toilet model. The American Standard Cadet 3 is a toilet line or series of models that belongs to the American Standard Cadet Suite. The AM Cadet Cuite is a comprehensive collection of bathroom fixtures including toilets, bidets, sinks, tubs and whirlpools.

In the Cadet toilet line there is a whole range of models from one-piece to two-piece toilets that come in many designs, flush rates, sizes and other feature configurations. So producing this American Standard Cadet 3 review was much harder and time consuming than the other toilet reviews here.

However there is lot more to Cadet 3 than meets the eye. If you are interested in Cadet 3 toilets I highly recommend you read all details and become aware of the pros and cons of buying a discount model like this from stores. Because while the Cadet 3 toilet is well designed, flushes well and is cheap, there are also many complains about its quality and finish.

It’s also not as nice as the Toto Drake toilets and many have found defects in the Cadet 3 toilets they bought at stores at discount prices. After all, a toilet is a long term investment and you want to buy a good toilet that not only looks good and perform well but also does not have any defects.

Below American Standard Cadet toilet reviews will give you a brief idea about each of the the most popular Cadet 3 models mentioned in the comparison table above.

American Standard Concealed Trapway Cadet 3 Toilet

The Concealed Trapway Cadet 3 has got the traditional look of a round front toilet combined with the sleek and easy to clean design that gives the look of a pricy skirted toilet.

Its simple yet able to add elegance to any bathroom setting. Elongated bowl design makes seating comfortable and save on space better. 1.28 gallons per flush (GPF) water consumption rate makes it a environmentally friendly model that is also EPA WaterSense certified.

Right Height comfort height seating level of 16-1/2 inches makes its more comfortable for tall and elderly people to use. Comes with a top mount slow-close seat and cover with easy lift off feature.

Dimension: 30.2 x 15.8 x 30.2 inches

American Standard Compact Cadet 3 One-Piece Toilet

American Standard 2403.128.020 Cadet-3 One-Piece Toilet comes with the benefit of a single piece toilet that looks that is more expensive looking and easier to clean. It also combined the efficient and comfortable elongated bowl shape of other Cadet toilets into a little more compact unit which will save space and fit in smaller bathrooms.

Feature include a taller Right height ADA compliant seat level and EPA WaterSense certified 1.28GPF low water consumption flushing system.

Dimensions: 28.5 x 15.5 x 28.5 inches

American Standard Cadet 3 Elongated Two-Piece Toilet

This is a the normal, standard version of the American Standard Cadet 3 toilet. The two piece model with a uniquely shaped tank design looks good and works well. This version is perhaps the most sold Cadet 3 model due to its wide availability in stores for discount prices.

The shape of the model is sleek and easy to clean, though it would have looked nicer if the trapway had been concealed with a skirted design. Flowise technology gives this model a 1.28 GPF high efficiency water rate which is WaterSense rated, without sacrificing performance. There is an oversized 3 inch flush valve which allows water to gush out faster and more forcefully.

It also comes with the taller right height seating level and elongated bowl shape which allows for a comfortable toilet experience. The EverClean antimicrobial surface helps keep it clean and gives it a nice finished look.

Dimensions: 28.5 x 17 x 29 inches

American Standard Cadet 3 Triangle Toilet

American Standard 270AD001.020 Cadet 3 corner toilet is a space saving toilet that makes use of those neglected bathroom corners. It is currently one of the best corner toilets in the market.

The tringular tank makes it a little different in shape to other Cadet 3 models. Yet its similar in construction material, finish, technology and flushing performance to the others. This still uses slightly more water with its 1.6 gallons of water per flush which is the federal standard. Other Cadet 3 models mentioned here used to have 1.6 GPF rates earlier but later on they introduced the current improved versions with 1.28 GPF water efficiency.

Other features in the American Standard Cadet 3 corner toilet include a ADA complaint right height seat level and an oversized 3 inch flush valve which allows a faster more powerful flush and prevents clogs.
Dimensions: 34 x 19.2 x 31.5 inches

Pros of American Standard Cadet 3

Apart from discount price and wide availability in local stores mentioned above, the two other main good things I see in the Cadet 3 toilets are its nice classical designs and reasonably good flushing performance.

The Cadet toilets are designed in classic styling with an eye toward simplicity. So they feel effortless and looks polished. They can be installed in any old or modern bathroom and complement other fixtures just great.

The Cadet 3 also flushes great as any other popular branded toilet model. They feature a powerful siphon flush system that completely cleans the bowl.

The large sized trapway and the smooth ‘EverClean’ surface glaze on them helps towards making them good flushing toilets and keeping them clean.

Cons of American Standard Cadet 3

However many professional plumbers and toilet experts have some reservations about Cadet 3 models. Many of them consider the Cadet line of toilets to be cheap ‘builder grade’ toilets, meaning they are installed by building contractors for their discount price and to save money.

The biggest problem with Cadet 3 toilets is they seem to be lacking in quality control. Many of these toilets sold cheap at big box stores have been found to have defects in finish and quality control like an unglazed spot inside the bowl or a mark or chip somewhere. So as a alternative if you wanted something better, then I would look at the TOTO Drake toilets instead.

Cadets are generally not as nice as the Toto’s entry level toilet line which is the Drake. But then they are not widely available every store and with Cadets you are paying less too.

If you are buying a Cadet 3 toilet I highly recommend you go to a store, check the product and make sure it doesn’t have any defects or shortcomings. The Cadet maybe not be the best but if there’s no defects in the product you checked, it’s a reasonably good bargain toilet.

Our Verdict

As we saw in the above American Standard Cadet 3 review, overall the Cadet 3 is a good low to mid budget range toilet.

It is designed well and gives a reasonably good flushing performance comparable with other good toilet models in the market. Its also got many good features like high water efficiency, right height seating, wide availability of replacement parts, discount price at stores and use of many innovative, advanced toilet technologies.

However the main drawback against our recommending it is poor quality control of products. Many customers and professional plumbers have reported finding defects in the Cadet 3 models they found or bought in stores which should have been checked and removed before leaving the factory. The other main negative in the Cadet 3 model is while its good, it’s not as good compared to some other top toilet brands entry level toilets.