Andrew Peloquin
8 min
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You love your modern home, don't you? It doesn't matter whether you're living in a retro home or even a classic colonial, you still want to have all the gadgets that make life easier, right?
That means smart thermostats and lights. And oh yes, it now means finding the best smart toilet seat around. A bidet toilet seat that does the work for you.
Let me explain:
A bidet toilet seat, also known as a washlet, isn't a new idea. They've been around since the 60s and used in Japan even longer.
But, because they're still unusual in the US, they still seem high-tech. Better still, they promote good hygiene, shooting a stream of water right in the parts that need it. If you have a disability or know someone who does, these washlets can be a relief.
There are many AMAZING high-tech toilet seats on the market, but we've done our research to find the best for you. We combed through dozens of products, read thousands of product reviews, compared features and specs, and made a list of the pros and cons of each.
Here is our list of the best smart toilet seats for you:
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Have trusted our product reviews
Compact, easy to install, compatible with most two-piece toilets, adjustable fitting, hygienic nozzle storage, designed to keep the spraying nozzle as clean as possible, quality construction, 18-month warranty, and easy to operate.
May break faster in houses with high water pressure; requires a high-quality T-adapter to avoid pressure regulation issues.
This little attachment will turn any toilet into a bidet in 10-15 minutes! The attachment comes with two dials: one to switch between five water pressure settings (ranging from low to high, with a shut-off option), and the other to adjust the washing nozzle. You can easily set the direction of the spray by turning the dial until you’re hitting just the right spots.
The attachment has a self-cleaning feature that will retract the nozzle beneath the gate guard when not in use, ensuring that it stays as clean and sanitary as possible. The movable nozzle guard offers extra protection from splashback and germs, as well as better maintenance.
The attachment comes with everything you need to secure it to the toilet of your choice, and the fact that it has no seat means it’s compatible with just about every two-piece toilet (some one-piece toilets as well).
The attachment looks sleek and stylish: a smooth white plastic exterior with chrome-plated knobs. Most of the parts are high quality, except for the T-adapter that connects it to your water source. The cheap plastic used for this part is kind of weak and prone to wearing out quickly if water pressure is high, forcing you to replace it within a month or two.
However, the design and build of the rest of the attachment—from the mechanical components to the parts used to securely install it—are up to par and guaranteed to last, which is why the bidet comes with an 18-month warranty.
$37 is all it takes to turn your toilet into a bidet! You’ll have to purchase the toilet seat separately, but with this cheap attachment, you can make any toilet in your house a bidet in 10-15 minutes.
Compatible with 98% of toilets, eco-friendly design, self-cleaning and self-sterilizing, adjustable features for user convenience, and weight sensors detect when toilet is in use.
Women will need to scoot back for a front wash.
This smart toilet seat has everything you need for a comfortable bathroom experience. The wash setting can be adjusted to ensure you get the right amount of water pressure at the right temperature. The posterior wash is highly effective, though women who want a front wash will have to adjust their position.
The washing wands are made from stainless steel, making them highly durable and unlikely to break (a problem with many other smart toilet seats). The wands are also self-cleaning and self-sterilizing, so no risk of bacterial or yeast infections being passed between users. The aerated wash stream will be gentler on your sensitive parts.
The instant ceramic core heater provides warm water from the moment you begin to wash, and you'll love how you can adjust the water pressure according to your wash preferences. But the fact that it's an "instant water heater" means you only use energy when washing. It's an eco-friendly toilet seat for sure.
The updated features on the new model are awesome: blue LED nightlight to help you see what you're doing in the dark, one-touch auto-dry, skin conductivity-activated toilet seat sensors, two user presets/profiles for customized automatic washes, and a longer nozzle for a more precise feminine wash. It's also now compatible with more North American toilets than ever!
This smart toilet seat is designed to be compatible with just about EVERY toilet bowl design. Its elongated design makes it ideal for elongated front toilets, but it works with round-front toilets as well. Mounting the seat is a simple task, thanks to the user manual. You'll be using the smart seat in no time. The 1400 got a design update from the previous model, making it look sleeker and slimmer. There's also a hidden "pocket" that conceals the water and electric cord connections so your bathroom looks neater than ever.
Thanks to the wireless remote control, you can adjust the toilet settings without having to twist or fiddle with buttons behind or beside you. There is even a sensor built in that will turn the toilet on when someone is sitting on it.
At $650, this is a pricier-than-average smart toilet seat, but one that delivers excellent features, peerless compatibility, and maximum comfort. Worth every penny, according to most users!
Multiple wash functions, super easy operation, self-cleaning design, heated seat, warm air dryer, energy-saving design, incredibly simple to install, comes in both round and elongated shape, compatible with a wide range of toilets.
Molded plastic seat isn’t the most durable, water pressure drops after a few months of use.
Features is where this bidet seat absolutely slays! The controls allow you to operate everything: the five water pressure settings, the five air dryer warmth settings, the three water temperature settings, and the five nozzle position options. It’s customizable comfort at the press of a button. You get oscillating wash, posterior wash, feminine wash, and turbo wash, all with water that has been filtered for maximum hygiene.
The safety on/off skin sensor automatically switches the seat warmer on when you sit down, then shuts it off when you stand—great for reducing electricity costs. The toilet seat will also switch off when you shut the lid, and it’s built with energy-saving features.
When it’s time to clean the toilet, hit the quick-release button to pop the bidet seat off. This nifty feature makes it incredibly easy to clean not only the toilet, but give the seat itself a thorough wipe-down or bleaching.
The toilet seat comes in two shapes—round and elongated—making it perfect for the majority of North American toilets. The installation is DIY, and all the hardware required for the install comes with the toilet. You’ll find that it’s one of the easiest bidet seats (or toilet seats, for that matter) to get up and running in a matter of minutes.
The button controls are all built into the right side of the bidet seat, but you also get a remote control that allows you to adjust all of the settings without having to turn.
At $245, this is one of the lower-cost options, yet the one that delivers the widest range of features—perfect for your hygiene, convenience, and comfort. If you’re looking for options, this is the seat you want!
Built-in massage feature, adjustable temperature, good pressure, built in water heater tank reservoir, and even features direction settings and power-saving design. The Self-Diagnose and Capacitance features help to save power.
Dryer is inaccurate; if you want to get dry, you have to shift your position.
Features: With this toilet seat, you get everything you could want and more: a seat warmer, a wand for washing, an air-dryer, a programmable wash timer, and adjustable pressure and temperature settings. It will get you clean just the way you like it! The Self-Diagnose feature will send an alert to your phone if any part of the toilet seat is in need of repair.
The Capacitance feature will detect if there is anyone sitting on the seat, and power down if unoccupied. It will use far less energy than the average smart toilet seat. It also comes with a smart power saving function that calculates the time of day when it's most commonly used, powering down on the "off hours" when you're out of the house or sleeping.
This product was designed for people with medical problems. It comes with a "vortex" setting that works like an enema, helping those with constipation use the bathroom more easily. The massage feature is wonderful, helping to alleviate any discomfort of hemorrhoids, diarrhea, or constipation. The seat itself will also give your buttocks a gentle massage, helping you to feel comfortable as you sit.
Design: This looks like your basic smart toilet seat, but with a built-in water reservoir that will warm up your water and ensure that the wash pressure remains consistent. No more shock from contact with cold water--only warmth for your bottom!
The toilet is designed to eliminate odors (up to 90%, or so the product specs claim), thanks to the built-in deodorizer. With the remote control, you can easily adjust all of your washlet/bidet settings to ensure you have the best toilet-using experience possible.
Price: At just under $500, this is a toilet with a reasonably high price tag, but one worth paying if you want convenience, comfort, and customizability. Thanks to the high-tech features offered by this toilet seat, you can use your toilet in style!
A handheld remote lets you customize your cleaning experience without fumbling around for buttons on the bidet seat or toilet top. The seat temperature and rinse pressure are adjustable, and the automatic air deodorizer helps prevent family members from walking into a smelly bathroom.
Shoppers have the choice of a round seat and an elongated seat, but some reviewers say the opening is too small in the round seat. They recommend going with the elongated bidet seat, even if you have a round toilet bowl. Also, some reviewers complain that you need an extension hose kit - which costs nearly $40 - to get the bidet installed properly.
This feature-rich bidet seat makes toilet time much more enjoyable with a heated seat, warm rinse, and customizable pressure options. The illuminated touchpad keeps you clean during middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks, and many users appreciate the remote control.
Folks tired of scrubbing caked-on poop off the toilet bowl will appreciate the PREMIST feature. The PREMIST setting lightly coats the toilet bowl with water so feces slides off of it instead of sticking to it. It doesn't work perfectly, but it still makes bowl cleaning less of a hassle.
We briefly mentioned the heated seat in the first paragraph, but we'll bring it up again since reviewers love it. This bidet seat has 5 different heating options, so you can keep your bottom nice and toasty while you do your business. It's great on chilly mornings or snowy days.
Family members appreciate the built-in deodorizer that captures foul smells. It neutralizes odors in AND around the toilet, so your bathroom smells fresh - or at least fresher than it would without the filter.
And then there's the AIR-IN WONDER WAVE technology that powers each rinse. This bottom-friendly feature sends tiny air particles into the water stream for a gentle yet effective cleaning that reviewers describe as spa-like. When you're done rinsing yourself clean, skip the toilet paper and enjoy warm, soothing air from the bidet's built-in dryer.
This bidet seat comes in two styles, round and elongated, and two colors, Cotton White, and Sedona Beige.
Reviewers say the seat feels like a real toilet seat, though the opening is a bit smaller. If you prefer a wider opening, choose the elongated seat even if you have a round-front toilet. It won't look as nice, but you can still install it over a round bowl.
Installation is semi tricky, so expect to spend some time on YouTube or enlist the help of family members, friends, or a plumber. Users warn that you may need an extension hose kit to get the seat hooked up right. Once the seat is finally installed, though, users typically experience very few issues.
If something does go wrong, you're backed by a one-year limited warranty.
This bidet seat is pricier than many of the models on our list. That wouldn't be an issue if it was easy to install, but many reviewers have to buy extra parts or enlist the help of a plumber. However, it's still a solid product, and most shoppers are happy with their purchase after they finally get it assembled.
Bidets have been around since before the days of modern toilets; they date back to the 17th Century, when the French would use a porcelain basin with a water faucet as a means of washing up after using the bathroom.
Bidets can be found in a number of different styles:
Each type of bidet comes at a differing price, and you’ll find the price ranges from very cheap to surprisingly pricey! For example, a travel bidet will run you anywhere from $15 to $60, while a bidet toilet attachment or handheld sprayer will start closer to $20 or $25. A bidet toilet seat (or washlet) will go from $200 to $1,000, while a full bidet (toilet with bidet features) will start at $1,000 and go as high as $3,500.
Washing up with a bidet is very easy, especially if you have the bidet built into your toilet or toilet seat. It can take a bit of practice to get used to it—after all, most of us aren’t accustomed to having our “downstairs parts” washed after we use the bathroom—but once you do, you may just find it makes your bathroom trip a lot more convenient and hygenic (see the next section, Benefits of a Bidet Toilet Seat).
To use your bidet:
Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons you should consider buying a bidet or bidet toilet seat to use at home:
Less toilet paper used – This is eco-consciousness 101, and you’ll find that using your bidet will drastically cut down on your toilet paper use. You will use a bit more water to clean up, but it’s not a significant increase in water output (5 to 10% per year).
No paper residue or bacteria – Bacteria accumulates from the air, previous flushes, your clothing, and so much more. Every time you wipe with toilet paper, you leave bacteria behind, along with residue from the toilet paper. That includes any chemicals or fragrances used to make the toilet paper “scented”. Washing up using fresh, clean water is less likely to leave paper residue or bacteria of any sort.
Less irritation – Unless you’re spending good money on very soft toilet paper, you may find that repeated bathroom use and wiping can leave your butt a little sore and irritated. Not so with a bidet or bidet toilet seat! The washing won’t cause any irritation, but can actually soothe your butt.
Easier for those with disabilities – Reaching around behind you to wipe your butt can be surprisingly difficult with a broken arm, arthritis, lower back problems, and other mobility issues. The angle required to get a good wipe is not easy on your wrists and arms, which means a lot of people with disabilities and limited mobility struggle to get clean on their own. With a bidet, there’s no hassle or discomfort. The water does all the work of cleaning, and all they have to do is shift around or adjust the controls to ensure the water does a thorough job.
Cleaner hands – How many times in the last year have you gone to wipe, only to have the toilet paper break mid-wipe? Even if your toilet paper doesn’t break, tiny poop particles can pass through the paper, where they cling to your fingers. With a bidet, you never have to worry about dirty hands—your hands never go anywhere near your butt!
Better anal and genital hygiene – A 2005 study confirmed it: washing up using a bidet toilet seat can lead to a decrease in bacteria and better hygiene on your “downstairs parts”. Those with hemorrhoids will find that a bidet is far gentler on their butts, and the warm-to-hot water can actually help to decrease inflammation.
As you can see, there are a lot of reasons to consider using a bidet!
The fact that bidets are so uncommon in the U.S. means most of us are fairly unfamiliar with them, their operation, and the benefits of using them. Below are a few misconceptions, as well as the truth about bidets that you need to know:
Misconception #1: Bidets are unsanitary and messy, with all that spraying water.
Truth: Yes, water is being sprayed around, but we’re not talking hyper-powered jet streams. The jet stream is gentle enough that it won’t shoot out of the toilet bowl, yet strong enough to do a good job cleaning. You have control over the direction so you can prevent it from causing a mess or splashing around. As for being unsanitary, you’ll find water does a better job cleaning than wiping with toilet paper, and your hands stay far away from anything messy or dirty, thereby keeping them much cleaner.
Misconception #2: I don’t have space in my bathroom or budget for a bidet.
Truth: Bidet toilets are pricey (see above), but a bidet toilet seat or portable bidet doesn’t have to be. In fact, you’ll find many cost less than $100! Even if your bathroom isn’t big enough for a proper bidet toilet, you can install a bidet toilet seat or a toilet seat attachment to turn any regular toilet into a bidet—all at a fairly inexpensive price tag.
Misconception #3: Bidets are weird and uncomfortable.
Truth: Yes, in the beginning, it might feel a bit strange to wash your genitals and anus every time you use the bathroom. After all, it’s not something you’re used to, and it can take some time to grow accustomed to it. However, once you realize that washing up using a bidet makes you cleaner at a far lower cost and does a more effective job, you’ll start to get used to the idea. With just a few washes, you may find you get over the “weirdness” and come to enjoy the sensations of being extra clean.
Misconception #4: Bidets are for women only.
Truth: While bidets are commonly made available in women’s bathrooms, men can use them just as effectively. Bidet toilet sets are designed for both men and women—some with separate pre-programmed user profiles that adjust according to the gender of their user—and they can work for both with ease.
If you’re shopping around for a bidet, here’s what you need to know:
Sizing matters – Toilet seats come in typically one of two sizes: the elongated 18-inch size, and the round 16-inch size. This is determined according to the toilet bowl, which will adhere to one of these two sizes. Older toilets are typically rounder, while newer toilets tend to use the elongated design.
Always check the size and shape of your toilet before buying a bidet toilet seat. Even if you don’t have the manual for your toilet (who keeps these?), you can still find out what type of seat you need first by looking at it (the sizing differences will be pretty visible) and by using a measuring tape.
Know your water source – Bidet toilet seats come in two different styles: tankless and reservoir.
Tankless bidet toilet seats typically connect directly to the water source that feeds into your toilet tank, and it comes with its own built-in heater to warm up the water as it passes through. They tend to be more compact and provide a more reliable stream of hot water, but they tend to be significantly pricier.
Reservoir toilet seats, however, contain a water tank that stores water supplied from the water source, heating it up as it fills. It heats more slowly, which means using the toilet right after someone else could lead to a cold water splash when it comes time to wash up. They’re also bulkier and occupy more room in your bathroom. However, their price is typically much lower and more affordable.
Price matters – Just as with any other appliance, it’s important to buy a bidet toilet seat worth the price. Going too cheap means you could end up with an unreliable heater, a poor design, and low-pressure water jets that do a rubbish job of washing you up. Consider spending a bit more for higher quality.
Power is a must – In order for your bidet to heat up water, it needs electricity, which means it needs to be plugged in. You’ll need a power outlet no less than three feet from the toilet in order to install the bidet toilet seat.
Important features – Here are the most important features for you to consider:
While there are other functions—UV light to clean the toilet, deodorizer to reduce smells, “feminine wash”, pre-mist functions, enema options—the five listed above are the most critical.
While bidets and bidet toilet seats are ideal for cleanliness and eco-friendliness, they can actually be very good for your health—particularly if you have certain health problems that make using the bathroom more painful.
For example, people with IBS, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis often end up using the bathroom more frequently than “normal”. If they wiped with toilet paper after every use, they could end up in a great deal of discomfort, suffering from rectal itching or even bleeding. With a bidet, however, they can use warm water to wash up after every use, reducing the risk of irritation and actually helping to relax the rectum.
Those with hemorrhoids will find that using a bidet can soothe the inflamed area around the rectum, decreasing pain and the chance of bleeding. Bidets can help those with rectal prolapses, anal fistula, and anal pruritis.
If your bidet or bidet toilet seat is giving you trouble, here are a few of the more common problems with their solutions:
Problem: My bidet doesn’t spray.
Solution: This could be a number of things. It could be that the water tank needs a minute or two to fill, as it emptied after the previous user and hasn’t yet had time to refill. All you have to do is wait before trying again.
If that doesn’t work, check the shut-off valve. It may have closed and simply needs to be opened.
If the room is very cold (in winter, for example), the water in the unit or the water supply hoses may have frozen. NEVER try to operate the bidet when the parts are frozen, as they will break. Heat the room first before using.
Problem: My bidet is leaking water.
Solution: Check the hose and connectors to make sure they’re properly connected. Tighten the screws and check the gaskets. Consider using plumber’s tape if that doesn’t work. If the main unit is leaking, you’ll need to replace it.
Problem: My bidet isn’t turning on.
Solution: Check the power cord first—it may simply be unplugged, or the power in your house isn’t on. Next, center your body on the seat. You may not be in the right position, so the built-in sensor isn’t being triggered. Finally, if you’re trying to use the remote but it’s not working, try changing the batteries.
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Fitness has come hard for Andy; he's had to work for it. But, his trials have led him to becoming a martial artist, a NFPT-certified fitness trainer, and a man passionate about exercise and healthy living. That’s why he’s our resident fitness expert.
His favorite food is lettuce-leaf steak tacos – though he’ll admit to a love of hot wings if you leverage the right pressure.
We know him as the guy who understands British humor and wishes everyone was as passionate about life as he is. His previous forays into the worlds of international business and education have left him wildly optimistic. And, if that wasn’t enough, he's also a best-selling, award-winning author of fantasy novels! Can you say renaissance?
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5 Best Bidet Toilet Seats
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