Best Upflush Toilet for a Basement Bathroom (2026)

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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: If the basement drain is too far up or too far away for a gravity line, an upflush unit avoids cutting the slab. For a full bath with a shower, the Saniflo Sanibest Pro kit is rated for 25 feet of lift and comes with the bowl and tank, though at 63 dBA it is the louder unit, per Saniflo. For a toilet and sink only, the Saniflo Sanicompact needs no vent pipe. Liberty’s Ascent II adds a built-in alarm, but the only Ascent II listing we could link is the macerating unit alone. On 10/3/2026 no Saniflo unit on Amazon was sold by Amazon or Saniflo, so none is linked; the Liberty Ascent II unit we link is sold by a third-party retailer, not by Amazon or Liberty. If you can open the slab, the Liberty LE41A pump is sold by Amazon.

Our pick for most full basement bathrooms: the Saniflo Sanibest Pro, rated for 25 feet of lift, as a kit with the bowl and tank. Not linked: on 10/3/2026 the Amazon listing was sold by a third-party seller, not by Amazon or Saniflo.

A macerating toilet, also called an upflush toilet, grinds waste in a unit next to the toilet and pumps it up through a small pipe to your drain, so nobody has to cut the basement slab. The right one depends on four things: how far and how high the waste has to go, which other fixtures you want on the same unit, whether you can reach a vent, and what your household will actually flush. These are the units we would price, with the numbers straight from each maker’s papers. If you can open the floor, there is a second route at the end.

Upflush Toilets Compared

Unit	Fixtures	Lift (maker)	Discharge pipe	Vent	Noise (maker)	Warranty
Liberty Ascent II (unit only)	1 toilet + sink, shower, tub or urinal	25 ft	1 in. (reducible to 3/4)	1-1/2 in., required	Not stated	3 years (manual)
Saniflo Sanicompact	1 toilet + 1 sink	9 ft	1 in.	No vent pipe needed	53 dBA at 3 ft	2 years (manual)
Saniflo Saniplus	1 toilet + sink, shower, tub or urinal	15 ft	3/4 or 1 in.	1-1/2 in., required	53 dBA at 3 ft	2 years (manual)
Saniflo Sanibest Pro	1 toilet + sink, shower, tub; washer via utility sink	25 ft	3/4 or 1 in.	1-1/2 in., required	63 dBA at 3 ft	2 years (manual)
Zoeller Qwik Jon Premier	1 toilet + tub, shower, sink or other fixtures via side inlets	29.5 ft max head (not a working lift; compare the Ascent II’s 36 ft shut-off)	1 in. (reducible to 3/4)	1-1/2 in. vent on tank	Not stated	2 years, per Zoeller

Figures come from the Saniflo spec sheets and manuals, Liberty’s Ascent II brochure and manual, and Zoeller’s Qwik Jon Premier data sheet and brochure. On September 29, 2026, Amazon’s Saniflo and Liberty macerating listings were sold by third-party retailers, not by Amazon or the makers. We link only listings where Amazon’s data confirms the maker’s brand and model and shows them in stock, and we found no Zoeller Qwik Jon system in stock to link. Zoeller’s installation manual is an image-only PDF we could not read, so we did not use it. The Zoeller row gives only what its data sheet, brochure and product page state, including the 1-1/2-inch vent connection on the tank and a 2-year warranty; we have no Zoeller flush rules. Zoeller lists a tub, shower or sink on its side inlets, a GFCI-protected receptacle among the items the installer needs, and a Where To Buy page on its site. Saniflo’s manuals say 2 years; several Saniflo Amazon listings say 2 more years are added with registration, so ask the seller for Saniflo’s current terms.

Best Overall

Saniflo Sanibest Pro Grinder System

Grinder unit for a rear-outlet toilet (sold as a kit with bowl and tank) · 1 HP · 120 V, 9 A · up to 25 ft of lift or 150 ft horizontal, per Saniflo · 3/4- or 1-inch discharge · 1-1/2-inch vent · two 2-inch side inlets · 63 dBA at 3 ft, per Saniflo · CSA and IAPMO (UPC) · 2-year limited warranty

The Sanibest Pro is Saniflo’s heavier unit. It is a 1 HP grinder rated for 25 feet of lift, where the Saniplus is rated for 15. Saniflo says it is made for heavier residential or commercial use and can occasionally accept sanitary items such as tampons and pads. It is also the only unit here whose manual allows a washing machine, through an indirect connection to a utility sink. It still takes just one toilet, and Saniflo says not to connect kitchen waste or a dishwasher.

The trade-offs are plain in the numbers. The spec sheet lists 63 dBA at 3 feet, against 53 for the Saniplus. It draws up to 9 amps, on the same 15-amp GFCI-protected supply. A shower or tub platform must be at least 8 inches high. The lift should start within 18 inches of the discharge elbow, and Saniflo suggests an anti-siphon valve at the highest point if the pipe ends below the pump. It must be vented like the Saniplus. Where to buy: the Amazon listings for the kit with an elongated bowl and the pump alone were sold by third-party retailers, not by Amazon or Saniflo, on 10/3/2026, so neither is linked. Listing text mentions a 4-year warranty with registration, while the manual we read says 2 years, so ask the seller for Saniflo’s terms.

25 ft of lift, per the spec sheet
Saniflo says it can occasionally take sanitary items
Manual allows a washing machine via a utility sink
Listed to CSA and IAPMO (UPC), per the spec sheet

63 dBA at 3 ft, ten more than the Saniplus, per Saniflo
Draws up to 9 amps on a 15-amp supply
Must be vented; shower or tub platform at least 8 in.
Not linked: on 10/3/2026 its Amazon listings were third-party sellers only

Verdict: The pick for most full basement bathrooms: a complete kit with a 25-foot lift rating, and the choice when the lift is over 15 feet or the bathroom will see heavy use. It is the louder unit, at 63 dBA per Saniflo.

Not linked: Saniflo Sanibest Pro kit (with elongated bowl) — on 10/3/2026 the Amazon listing was sold by a third-party seller, not by Amazon or the maker. We re-check listings every week.

Not linked: Saniflo Sanibest Pro pump only — on 10/3/2026 the Amazon listing was sold by a third-party seller, not by Amazon or the maker. We re-check listings every week.

Best Built-In Alarm and Service Access

Liberty Pumps Ascent II Macerating Toilet System

Complete system (ESW elongated or RSW round-front) through plumbing suppliers; the Amazon link is the macerating unit only · 1/2 HP · 115 V, 7.9 A · up to 25 ft of lift and 150 ft horizontal, per Liberty · 1-inch discharge (reducible to 3/4 inch) · 1-1/2-inch vent · two side inlets · built-in alarm with 9-volt battery backup · macerator CSA certified to ASME A112.3.4 and CSA B45.9 · 3-year limited warranty

The Ascent II is Liberty’s macerating toilet system, and on paper it has a lot going for it: the same 25-foot lift rating as the Sanibest Pro, a 3-year warranty, and an alarm built in. Liberty rates it to pump up to 25 feet high and 150 feet horizontally through 1-inch pipe, with a footnote that the horizontal distance varies with the vertical head. Its manual gives the working rule: 3 feet of lift counts the same as 30 feet of horizontal run, and each 90-degree bend costs about 3 feet of lift. Read the two big numbers as limits you reach one at a time, not together. Liberty also lists a 36-foot shut-off head.

The details are where it stands out. There is a built-in alarm with a battery backup; in a power cut Liberty says the unit takes two flushes before the alarm sounds, and then should not be used until power returns. A removable access panel reaches the cutters without unplugging the toilet or breaking the plumbing, and a safety switch cuts power when the covers come off. Liberty says the fixtures must all be on the same floor as the unit, a sink goes into a side inlet and never onto the discharge line, and a shower or tub sits on a platform of at least 6 to 8 inches. It takes one toilet plus a sink, shower, bathtub or urinal, and up to two shower heads. Liberty says it is not for kitchen waste, dishwashers or clothes washers, and is for indoor dry locations only. Do not frame it fully into a wall, because it has to stay reachable. Where to buy: Liberty sells through plumbing wholesalers. On Amazon, the only Ascent II listing we could confirm with enough stock is the macerating unit alone (ASCENTII-MUW), sold by a third-party retailer, not by Amazon or Liberty. The toilet bowl and tank are separate parts (EW or RW, and TW), and we found no listing with enough stock to link, so plan to get them from a supplier.

Lifts up to 25 ft, per Liberty
Built-in alarm with 9-volt battery backup
Service panel reaches the cutters without disconnecting the plumbing
3-year limited warranty, per Liberty

Not for kitchens, dishwashers or clothes washers
Must stay accessible: do not frame it fully into a wall
The linked Amazon listing is the macerating unit only, from a third-party retailer; bowl and tank are separate

Verdict: Worth pricing through a plumbing supplier if you want the built-in alarm and service panel; on Amazon we could link only the macerating unit.

Check the Liberty Ascent II macerating unit (ASCENTII-MUW) on Amazon

Best for a Half Bath

Saniflo Sanicompact Macerating Toilet

Self-contained toilet with the macerator in the base (Sanicompact, 4C and Comfort versions) · 1/2 HP · 120 V, 7.2 A · 9 ft of lift, per Saniflo · 1-inch discharge · sink connection only (1-1/4-inch) · internal one-way vent, no vent pipe · 53 dBA at 3 ft, per Saniflo · CSA (IPC, NSPC) · 2-year limited warranty

The Sanicompact is the whole toilet and macerator in one piece of china, made for a half bath: one toilet and one sink. Saniflo’s manual says it is for residential use and can drain a sink through a 1-1/4-inch hose; there is no shower or tub connection. Saniflo says this unit does not need to be vented, because it has an internal one-way vent. That removes the vent pipe that trips up many basement plans, though your inspector has the final say.

Lift is the catch. The spec sheet gives the two extremes: 9 feet of lift, or 120 feet away. The installation manual’s diagram shows the combinations in between: 9 feet up with up to 30 feet of run, 6 feet with 60, and 3 feet with 90. Plan from that diagram. It also asks for at least 3 feet of pipe between the unit and the soil stack, a connection into the top of the stack with an approved fitting, a 3-inch or larger drain, and a water supply of 45 psi or more. Saniflo lists a 24-second cycle (18 in eco mode) and 53 dBA at 3 feet, measured. Where to buy: the Amazon listings for the Sanicompact (part 023) and the Comfort (part 020) were sold by a third-party retailer, not by Amazon or Saniflo, on 10/3/2026, so neither is linked. Saniflo lists the Comfort at 72 lb with the motor against 64 lb for the Sanicompact, with different dimensions on the spec sheets, so check which one fits your space. The 4C listing showed too few in stock to link. Saniflo also has a where-to-buy page.

Toilet and macerator in one piece of china
No vent pipe needed, per Saniflo
Saniflo lists 53 dBA at 3 ft on the spec sheet
Dual flush of 1 or 1.28 gallons, per the manual

One toilet and one sink only: no shower or tub
Only 9 ft of lift, and the manual pairs it with just 30 ft of run
Needs 45 psi water pressure and a 3-inch or larger drain, per the manual
Saniflo bars wipes, tampons, floss, kitchen towels and more

Verdict: The pick for a toilet-and-sink half bath under a stair or in a corner, when the drain is close and the lift is under 9 feet.

Not linked: Saniflo Sanicompact (023) — on 10/3/2026 the Amazon listing was sold by a third-party seller, not by Amazon or the maker. We re-check listings every week.

Not linked: Saniflo Sanicompact Comfort (020) — on 10/3/2026 the Amazon listing was sold by a third-party seller, not by Amazon or the maker. We re-check listings every week.

Quieter Full Bath from Saniflo

Saniflo Saniplus Macerating System

Macerator that connects to a rear-outlet toilet (sold as a kit with bowl and tank) · 1/2 HP · 120 V, 4.5 A · up to 15 ft of lift or 150 ft horizontal, per Saniflo · 3/4- or 1-inch discharge · 1-1/2-inch vent · two 2-inch side inlets · 53 dBA at 3 ft, per Saniflo · CSA and IAPMO (UPC) · 2-year limited warranty

The Saniplus takes one toilet plus a sink, shower, bathtub or urinal, which makes it the Saniflo for a full bath. Saniflo’s manual says it cannot take a dishwasher or clothes washer and is not for kitchen waste. A shower needs its tray raised at least 7 inches so the trap and the fall into the side inlets fit. The cycle runs 10 to 12 seconds, per the spec sheet.

Saniflo lists 15 feet of lift or 150 feet of run and uses the same rule as Liberty: 3 feet of lift equals 30 feet of run, and about 3 feet of lift is lost at each 90-degree bend. It must be vented into your vent system, and Saniflo says never to use an air admittance valve or any spring-loaded vent. It wants a 120-volt, 15-amp supply with GFCI protection, with the outlet 40 inches from a tub or shower. Saniflo describes it as designed for family use and says it cannot take condoms, tampons, sanitary pads or cotton swabs. The installation manual we read is dated 2010, so check the copy in the box. Where to buy: the Amazon listings for the Saniplus bundle (macerator, elongated bowl and tank) and the pump alone were sold by third-party retailers, not by Amazon or Saniflo, on 10/3/2026, so neither is linked. Listing text mentions a 4-year warranty with registration, while the manual we read says 2 years, so ask the seller for Saniflo’s terms.

Toilet plus sink, shower, tub or urinal on one unit, per Saniflo
Up to 15 ft of lift, per the spec sheet
Listed to CSA and IAPMO (UPC), per the spec sheet
Short 10-to-12-second cycle

15 ft of lift, less than the Ascent II or Sanibest Pro
Must be vented; no air admittance valve allowed
Family use only: no sanitary items, per Saniflo
Manual copy on Saniflo’s site is dated 2010

Verdict: A sound full-bath choice when the lift is modest and the vent is easy to reach.

Not linked: Saniflo Saniplus bundle (with elongated bowl and tank) — on 10/3/2026 the Amazon listing was sold by a third-party seller, not by Amazon or the maker. We re-check listings every week.

Not linked: Saniflo Saniplus pump only — on 10/3/2026 the Amazon listing was sold by a third-party seller, not by Amazon or the maker. We re-check listings every week.

If You Can Open the Slab

Liberty Pumps LE41A Sewage Pump

4/10 HP · 115 V, 12 A · 2-inch FNPT discharge · passes 2-inch solids · wide-angle float switch · cast iron volute and motor housing · 21 ft shut-off head and 125 GPM at 5 ft, per Liberty’s engineering spec · sealed, vented basin required (not included)

This is the other way to add a basement bathroom, and it is not an upflush toilet. If you can cut the slab, a pump like the LE41A sits in a sealed, vented basin below the floor, and an ordinary toilet drains into it by gravity. Solids pass through whole, so nothing is ground. Liberty’s manual calls for a basin at least 18 inches across and 24 inches deep, larger where local code or the number of fixtures needs it, and says the basin must be sealed and vented. Our guide to upflush toilet vs sewage ejector pump helps you choose, and our sewage ejector pump picks cover complete systems.

Because it does not grind, Liberty says nothing but toilet paper should go in: no feminine products, wipes, towelettes, dental floss or swabs. Liberty’s manual also notes that the Uniform Plumbing Code calls for an audio and visual alarm on sewage systems. The Amazon listing is the pump alone, sold and shipped by Amazon when we checked, and it needs a basin, cover, check valve and alarm. The listing says a maximum head of 20 feet; Liberty’s engineering spec gives a 21-foot shut-off head, which is a different figure.

Sold and shipped by Amazon
Passes 2-inch solids, per Liberty
Cast iron volute and motor housing
3-year limited warranty, per Liberty

Pump only: basin, cover, check valve and alarm are separate
Means cutting the slab, unlike an upflush
Nothing but toilet paper: no wipes or feminine products, per Liberty
Listing says 20 ft maximum head; Liberty’s spec gives a 21 ft shut-off head

Verdict: Buy it only if the slab is open or you are willing to open it; otherwise an upflush unit above is the answer.

Check the Liberty Pumps LE41A on Amazon

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I send an occasional note when a new guide goes up — repairs worth doing yourself, and the parts that actually last. No spam, no course funnel; written by a licensed Georgia plumber.

Before You Buy

Measure the lift and the run. Find where the unit will sit and where its pipe can tie into a drain or stack, then measure straight up and across. Add about 3 feet of lift for each 90-degree turn and count each 10 feet of run as 1 foot of lift (our arithmetic, from the Saniflo and Liberty rule of thumb). Example: 6 feet up, two bends and 40 feet across is 6 + 6 + 4 = 16 feet (our arithmetic). That is over the Saniplus’s 15 feet and inside the 25 feet of the Sanibest Pro and Ascent II. Also keep the run itself inside the maker’s horizontal limit: 150 feet for the Saniplus, Sanibest Pro and Ascent II, per the makers. The Sanicompact needs its own check against the diagram in its manual.
Count the fixtures. Toilet only or toilet and sink: the Sanicompact works. Add a shower or tub, and you need the Saniplus, Sanibest Pro or Ascent II. A washing machine is allowed only on the Sanibest Pro, and only through a utility sink. A raised platform for the shower or tub is part of the plan, and every fixture must sit on the same floor as the unit, per Liberty.
Find the vent. Three of these need a 1-1/2-inch vent tied into the vent system, and none allows an air admittance valve. Our guides on air admittance valves and wet vents explain what a vent has to do. The Sanicompact skips the vent pipe, per Saniflo.
Plan the power. Saniflo calls for a 120-volt, 15-amp supply protected by a GFCI, with the outlet 40 inches from a tub or shower. Liberty says to plug into a GFCI outlet, to use no extension cord, to keep the outlet within reach of its 8-foot cord, and, in a basement, to put the outlet 48 inches above the floor. None of the manuals says a dedicated circuit is required. An electrician can say whether your code does.
Decide what gets flushed. Every maker restricts it, and the lists name wipes, floss, tampons, sanitary pads and cotton swabs. If guests or teenagers use this bathroom, the Sanibest Pro is the only Saniflo here that says it can occasionally take sanitary items. Put a sign on the wall either way.
Expect to hear it. Saniflo lists 53 dBA at 3 feet for the Sanicompact and Saniplus and 63 dBA for the Sanibest Pro. Liberty and Zoeller call theirs quiet but publish no figure that we found. The unit sits beside the toilet, so plan for a motor running in the room.
Check the listing mark. Liberty says the Ascent II macerator is CSA certified to ASME A112.3.4 and CSA B45.9, and Zoeller says the Premier complies with the same standards. Saniflo lists CSA and, for the Saniplus and Sanibest Pro, IAPMO (UPC). Amazon itself sells generic macerator pumps; the VEVOR model we opened shows no CSA, ASME, IAPMO or UPC listing on VEVOR’s product page, so we did not include it. Ask your inspector what mark they want.
Ask about the permit. Whether you need a permit, an inspection or a licensed installer is decided locally. Saniflo says its units should be installed by a licensed plumber and in strict accordance with local plumbing codes. This page cannot tell you your rule.

How the Install Goes

A licensed plumber and, for the outlet, an electrician will normally handle this, and the makers expect it. The unit goes on the finished floor with the toilet bowl connected to its inlet. Any vertical lift starts right at the unit, with a short horizontal jog of 12 to 18 inches at most, and then the pipe runs downhill at 1/4 inch per foot or more to an approved wye or tee in the drain (Saniflo and Liberty both call for that minimum fall on the horizontal run). Run 3/4- or 1-inch rigid pipe, not hose, with long-sweep bends, put a full-port ball valve and a union near the unit so it can be removed, and support the pipe as the manual and the pipe maker say. Fixtures that drain into the side inlets need their own fall, a minimum of 1/4 inch per foot. The pipe from the unit is pressurized and must never tie into a fixture drain. At start-up, Saniflo’s Sanibest Pro manual expects the motor to run 5 to 10 seconds and says to check for a kinked or blocked pipe or a wrongly installed check valve if it runs more than 30. That manual also suggests cleaning out the unit once a year and descaling about every 3 months. If the basement toilet is a new one on an old system, our guides on toilet rough-in size and how to unclog a toilet cover the ordinary side of the job.

FAQ

Can an upflush toilet take a shower and a sink?

Some can and some cannot. Saniflo’s Saniplus and Sanibest Pro, and Liberty’s Ascent II, take one toilet plus a sink and a shower or bathtub. The Sanicompact takes one toilet and one sink only. Saniflo and Liberty both say one toilet per unit, and no dishwasher or kitchen waste. A shower or tub also needs a raised platform, at least 6 to 8 inches depending on the maker.

How far can an upflush toilet pump?

It depends on the unit, and lift and run trade against each other. Saniflo lists 15 feet of lift for the Saniplus, 25 for the Sanibest Pro and 9 for the Sanicompact; Liberty lists 25 for the Ascent II. Liberty and Saniflo both count 3 feet of lift as 30 feet of horizontal run and take about 3 feet off for each 90-degree bend. Keep the discharge pipe sloped and put any vertical lift first.

Does an upflush toilet need a vent?

Most do. Liberty and Saniflo say the Ascent II, Saniplus and Sanibest Pro must be vented into the vent system, with 1-1/2-inch vent pipe, and never through an air admittance valve or spring-loaded vent. Saniflo says the Sanicompact does not need a vent pipe because it has an internal one-way vent. Your local code and inspector decide what is accepted.

What can I not flush into a macerating toilet?

Toilet paper and human waste only, with the makers’ short lists of exceptions. Saniflo names wet wipes, tampons, sanitary napkins, condoms, dental floss and kitchen towels for the Sanicompact, and says the Sanibest Pro can occasionally take sanitary items. Liberty names acids, solvents, oils, paint, food waste and cotton swabs. None of them says wipes are fine. Keep bleach blocks out of the tank.

Do I need a plumber, a permit or a special outlet?

Assume yes to all three and ask locally. Saniflo’s manuals say to install strictly to local plumbing codes and that a licensed plumber should do it. Liberty says all installations must meet federal, state and local codes and that wiring must be done by qualified personnel. The Saniflo and Liberty macerator manuals we read all call for a GFCI-protected outlet; none says whether your code wants a dedicated circuit or a permit. Ask your building department.

Why Trust Plumbing Picks

Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber. Every size, limit and spec on this page comes from the manufacturer documents listed below, which we opened and read; nothing here comes from hands-on testing. The Liberty LE41A we link was listed as new and in stock and sold by Amazon on September 29, 2026. The Liberty Ascent II macerating listing we link is sold by a third-party retailer on Amazon, not by Amazon or Liberty; on that date Amazon’s listing data confirmed the brand and model and showed it in stock. On 10/3/2026 no Saniflo listing was sold by Amazon or Saniflo, so none is linked. Where a link goes to Amazon we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be included here. More on who writes this and how we pick.

Sources

Liberty Pumps: Macerating Toilet Systems product page
Liberty Pumps: Ascent II brochure
Liberty Pumps: installation manual for the Ascent II (5755000L)
Saniflo: Saniplus specification sheet (part 002)
Saniflo: Saniplus installation and maintenance instructions
Saniflo: Sanicompact specification sheet (part 023)
Saniflo: Sanicompact installation manual
Saniflo: Sanicompact 4C installation manual
Saniflo: Sanibest Pro specification sheet (part 013)
Saniflo: Sanibest Pro installation and maintenance instructions
Zoeller: Qwik Jon Premier technical data sheet (FM3344)
Zoeller: Qwik Jon Premier brochure (FM3290)
Zoeller: Qwik Jon Premier Ship-To-Home Kit product page
Liberty Pumps: LE40-Series sewage pump sales sheet
Liberty Pumps: LE40-Series installation manual (7034000)
Liberty Pumps: LE40-Series engineering specification
Amazon listings for the Liberty Pumps LE41A and Liberty Ascent II macerating unit (linked above), read on September 29, 2026; the Saniflo listings, read on October 3, 2026, are not linked

Bottom Line

Start with the numbers: lift, run, fixtures and vent. The Saniflo Sanibest Pro kit is our pick for most full basement bathrooms: 25 feet of lift and a complete kit, at the cost of more noise. The Saniflo Sanicompact is the vent-free half bath, the Saniplus is the quieter full bath for lifts up to 15 feet, and the Liberty Ascent II is the one to price through a supplier for its built-in alarm and service panel. Buy the exact model from a plumbing supplier or a listing that matches it, plan a GFCI outlet and a vent, tell everyone what not to flush, and ask your building department about the permit. If the slab is open, the Liberty LE41A in a sealed, vented basin is the other way to go.