American Standard Cadet 3 vs. Champion 4: Buying Decision

Are you stuck between the American Standard Cadet 3 and American Standard Champion 4 toilets? You have come to the right place. In this American Standard Cadet 3 VS Champion 4 article, we‘re going to compare two of the most popular American Standard toilet models and make things easier for you.

Related: Difference Between American Standard Champion 4 and Champion 4 max

Since the American Standard toilet brand is very popular, it can be challenging to pick from its wide range of toilet models. This is because every toilet seems to be great and well-designed. For instance, the American Cadet 3 and Champion 4 share lots of features, but they also have some differences. The main differences exist in their structural design and water consumption rates. Regardless of what toilet you pick, you will still get outstanding performance and durability. Read on to know which one is better.

Toilet Comparison Chart: American Standard Cadet 3 vs. Champion 4

Features	Cadet 3 toilet	Champion 4 toilet
Piece:	Two-Piece	One-Piece
Water Consumption:	1.28 GPF	1.6 GPF
Shape:	Round	Elongated
100% factory flush tested:	No	Yes
Clogging:	High	Less
Water-Saving:	Yes(20% save)	No
Certification:	WaterSense	Watersense certified frustration-free
Flush Valve:	3 inches	4 inches
Dimensions:	28.2 x 15.8 x 30.8 inches	29.8 x 17.8 x 29.5 inches
Slow-Close Seat:	Include(+cover)	Include
Powerful Flush:	No	Yes
Price:	Low	High
Warranty:	Chinaware (lifetime), mechanical parts (5 years)	Limited 10-Year
Trapway:	2-1/8-inch	2-3/8 inches
Price:	Check Price	Check Price

American Standard 2988.101.020 Cadet 3 Toilet

If elegance is what you’re looking for, this is a perfect addition to your bathroom. The American Standard Cadet 3 is a sleek and compact toilet that can easily be installed in any modern bathroom. It features a bowl and tank that are shipped separately but are very easy to install. It has an elongated bowl design with the right height for great comfort.

Related: American Standard Cadet Pro Reviews

The toilet is equipped with American Standard’s Cadet 3 flushing system, which is strong and clears waste in one flush. Also, it has an extra-wide flush valve for a cleaner flush and a large siphon trap way to reduce clogging. With its Everclean surface, cleaning is made easy, and you will end up using less water as the toilet utilizes just 1.28 GPF.
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Pros we found while testing:

• Easy to clean with its Everclean surface
• Has a skirted design for easy exterior cleaning
• ADA compliant
• Features a slow close seat with no slamming
• Saves water as it only uses 1.28 gallons of water per flush
• Sleek and compact design
• A large siphon trap is a way to reduce clogging and push down 1,000 grams of waste in one flush
• The Cadet 3 flushing system ensures that waste is cleared in one flush
• The Manufacturer offers a 5-year limited warranty

Notable Cons:

• Quite expensive when compared to other American Standard toilets
• Many users have complained about the toilet seat as being small and uncomfortable

Related: American Standard Titan VS Champion 4

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American Standard 2034314.020 Champion 4 Toilet

The Champion 4 is not only a high-performing toilet, but it is well one of the best sellers on the market. The toilet comes with a powerful American Standard’s Champion 4 flushing system that leaves nothing behind after one flush. Additionally, it features an Everlcean surface that leaves your toilet clean after every flush. Together with the large fully glazed trap way and 4-inch piston action accelerator flush valve, you will never experience clogs in your toilet again. Also, the slow-close seat doesn’t slam after use, and the toilet uses 1.6 GPF. Similar to Cadet 3, the Champion 4 meets ADA requirements, and it is of the right height.
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Positive reviews: Features we like

• Easy to clean and maintain with its one-piece design
• Powerful Champion 4 flushing system clears waste in a single flush
• The slow-close seat doesn’t slam
• The flushing system is efficient in performance but silent
• Durable Vitreous China construction
• Right height to provide comfort to different users
• The Everclean surface keeps the toilet clean for a longer
• Saves water as it uses only 1.6 GPF

Limited Setbacks:

• It has a skirted design which is somehow challenging to clean
• It is somehow expensive when compared to other toilets in the same category

Differences Between American Standard Cadet 3 and Champion 4:

Cadet 3 and Champion 4 are both the product of the American Standard toilet. But it has some significant differences between these two toilets. Like: 

• Compare flushing system

The flush design of the toilet is the essential part. This valve mainly empowers the flushing system and power. A wide flush valve is easy to maintain because it’s better to flush down all the waste without causing any clogs. The flushing valve of the champion 4 is about 4 inches, which is a broader valve than almost all toilets on the market. But the cadet 3 has a 3 inches valve in the flush system. So the clog possibilities of the Champion 4 are less than cadet 3.

Winner: American Standard champion 4

• Water usage

Water usage is one of the most important parts of every toilet. The Champion 4 uses 1.6 gallons of water in every flush. On the other hand, the cadet uses only 1.28 gallons of water per flush. That saves water from waste and reduces the cost of your water bill, which is also suitable for their environment. And for this reason, this champion 4 toilet is not legal in many states of the USA because of this amount of water usage.

Winner: American Standard Cadet 3

• Design

The design is also different in these two types of toilets. The bowl of the champion 4 is elongated, and the cadet has a round bowl. It changes the look of the bathroom. The build-in materials are also vitreous in China for cadet 3 and Porcelain for Champion 4. 

Winner: Tie

• Price Difference

Both toilets are very budget-friendly. Suppose your budget is lower than $500; the Cadet 3 is perfect for you. But the Champion 4 comes with additional features like a wide flush valve and fewer clogging problems. And you need to raise your budget by 200 dollars from the cadet budget.

Winner: American Standard Cadet 3

• Compare Height

The Champion 4 toilet height is 17 inches from the floor. I know this is a little bit higher than a regular toilet. That’s why it’s ADA-approved and suitable for any disabled person. On the other hand, the American Standard Cadet 3 is manufactured with a typical height of 15.8 inches from the ground. So if you want a regular-height toilet, you can get the American Standard Cadet 3 toilet.

Winner: American Standard Champion 4

Why should you buy an American Standard Cadet 3 toilet?

The American Standard Cadet 3 is one of the most famous toilets on the market. Because this regular-sized toilet is made with vitreous China material, enhancing the product quality. The water usage is also less than the typical toilet. The water amount of this toilet per flush is 1.28 gallons. This is an eco-friendly option in this budget and saves money on the water bill. This toilet comes with a 5-year warranty, and you can get this toilet for under $500.

Why should you buy an American Standard Champion 4 toilet?

The American Standard Champion 4 is very popular for its wide flush valve. The main plus point of this toilet is that it is tough to clog. So you don’t need to worry. The height of the toilet is also 17 inches. That’s why this is ADA-approved and perfect for disabled people. The primary material of this toilet is porcelain. You can go with this champion to 4 toilets in your washroom. The most important thing is that this toilet comes with a 10-year warranty. So you don’t need to worry about repairing this.

Final Buying Decision

The American Standard Champion 4 and Cadet 3 toilets go head-to-head in terms of the features that they offer to users. They have powerful flushing systems, are of a universal height, are ADA compliant, and come with a slow-close seat. Some of the differences include water usage, design, and price. Cadet 3 uses only 1.28 GPF, while Champion 4 uses 1.6 GPF. The Champion 4 is a one-piece toilet, while the Cadet 3 is a two-piece toilet. In terms of price, the Champion 4 is slightly costlier than the Cadet 3 toilet.

Recommendation: If you need a powerful flush with fewer clogging issues, then buy Champion 4. But if you want to save the water bill, then buy Cadet 3.

FAQ

Question: What are the different flushing systems that American Standard offers?
Answer: American Standard is one of the most popular brands on the market. They have been in this field for a very long period of time and offer a wide range of flushing systems. Some of the flushing systems that you will have to choose from include the pressure-assisted system, the Champion 4 flushing system, the dual flush, the aqua force flushing system, and Cadet 3 flushing system.

Question: My toilet tank is not sitting level and wobbles. What is the problem?
Answer: In case the tank moves, remove the tank cover and place a level across the top of the tank. Then, pull the tank down evenly and attempt to level it out. Utilizing a screwdriver to hold bolts tightly, turn the nut with a wrench ¼ turn the left side, then ¼ turn the right side. Avoid turning the screwdriver. Move from one side to another until the tank is secure on the bowl and level.

Robert Crossan

Hi, this is Robert Crossan, the owner of this website, has 17 years of experience in the installation, maintenance, and repair of toilets and plumbing systems. After completing the Level 2 Basic Plumbing course in 2005, I started working in both domestic and commercial buildings as a professional plumber. So I can figure out the core difference between different toilet models and brands. It also helped me monitor their work performance and setbacks.