TOTO Cotton White vs Colonial White vs Sedona Beige
The short answer
Cotton White (#01) is a clean, bright white and by far the most common. Colonial White (#11) is warmer with a cream undertone. Sedona Beige (#12) is a light tan. TOTO puts the colour code after the hash in every model number.
The three colours at a glance
| Colour | Code | Looks like | Best with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton White | #01 | Clean, bright, neutral white | Modern bathrooms, grey or cool tiles, white fixtures |
| Colonial White | #11 | Warmer white with a cream undertone | Traditional bathrooms, cream tiles, brass fittings |
| Sedona Beige | #12 | Light tan | Warm-toned bathrooms, travertine, older suites |
| Bone | #03 | Between Colonial White and Sedona Beige | Matching older American fixtures |
The same toilet, two finishes
TOTO Drake Two-Piece Toilet - Universal Height, Elongated
The standard finish, and the most widely stocked.
$514.54
View
TOTO Drake Two-Piece Elongated - Universal Height Toilet - Sedona Beige
The same Drake in a light tan.
$577.00
ViewHow to read TOTO colour codes
Every TOTO model number ends with a hash and a two-digit colour code:
-
MS604124CEFG#01— Cotton White -
MS604124CEFG#11— Colonial White -
MS604124CEFG#12— Sedona Beige
Same toilet, three finishes. If you are matching an existing TOTO fixture, the code is usually printed inside the tank lid or on the back of the bowl.
Cotton White vs Colonial White
This is the pair people struggle with, because both read as "white" in a photograph. Side by side the difference is obvious: Cotton White is cool and slightly blue-leaning; Colonial White has a yellow-cream cast.
The practical test is what else is in the room. Against a modern bright-white bath or basin, Colonial White looks dirty. Against cream tiles or an older suite, Cotton White looks stark and slightly blue.
Which is more popular
Cotton White, by a wide margin. It is the default on most models, and often the only colour a given model is made in. If you are starting a bathroom from scratch rather than matching, Cotton White is the safer choice when browsing Two Piece Toilets or One Piece Toilets.
Matching an existing fixture
Ceramic colour is difficult to judge from a screen, and monitors vary enormously. Two things help:
- Find the code. If your existing fixture is TOTO, the colour code will be on it. Matching codes is far more reliable than matching by eye.
- Compare in daylight. If you are matching another brand, hold a sample near a window. Bathroom lighting is often warm, which makes every white look creamier than it is.
Different manufacturers' whites do not match. Kohler's Biscuit, American Standard's Linen and TOTO's Colonial White are all warm whites, and none of them are the same.
A note on seats
If you are buying a bidet seat separately, check its colour code matches the toilet. Most WASHLET models are made in Cotton White and Sedona Beige, so a Colonial White toilet may not have an exact seat match — worth checking before you order.
Before you order
- Find the colour code on your existing fixture — it beats matching by eye.
- Compare samples in daylight, not under bathroom lighting.
- Check the seat is available in the same colour as the toilet.
- Don't assume another brand's white will match.