Curious About Bidets? Here's Everything You Need to Know (2024)

Another Good Housekeeping Home Reno Award winner, Bio Bidet's Discovery bidet was deemed the best overall bidet by our experts because it delivers solid performance at an exceptional price. It earned positive reviews from the three expert testers who evaluated it over four months of in-home testing. They found the seat relatively easy to install, though getting the mounting brackets just right took some doing, so be prepared for a little trial and error.

Once the bidet was secured, testers praised the Discovery DLS's low-profile design, especially compared with other bidets we've reviewed, some of which are so bulky at the back that users are actually pitched forward when they're in a seated position.

Additional features of note include an adjustable nozzle spray connected to an unlimited supply of warm water, a heated seat, a night-light and a built-in air dryer. "I love the self-closing lid," added GH Product Analyst Lynn Redmile. "It solves a huge pet peeve in my house full of guys!"

We also tested the Classic 3.0 as part of our most recent Good Housekeeping Home Reno Awards. It was a winner, thanks to its simple installation ("lived up to the '10 minutes or less' promise," one tester told us). While the overall experience was not the same as with an electric bidet, Tushy’s beefy knobs make it easy to go from a gentle spritz to a powerful wash that ultimately gets the job done. Home experts appreciated that the nozzle rinses itself for even better bathroom hygiene.

Experts praised the overall easy operation and recommend the bidet seat for an affordable alternative that doesn't require a nearby outlet. There may not be any warm settings or customizable controls, but at just under $130 (before additional sales), it's an ideal budget-friendly pick to level up your bathroom experience.

If you'd like a bidet that won't break the bank but still comes with a lot of bells and whistles, consider this option from BioBidet, another respected name in bidet seats and smart toilets.

Our experts like the fact that you can adjust the temperature of the water and seat, and the BioBidet even features an automatic LED light, helpful for finding your way in the dark. The self-cleaning nozzle is a nice touch, too. "Before and after each use, self-cleaning nozzles run through a sterilization process inside their housing located at the back of the seat, so you don't have to worry about compromised hygiene," says DiClerico.

Compared with the top-rated Toto, you'll give up a few creature comforts with the BioBidet, including a lid that automatically opens and closes. Plus, it's a bit bulkier at the back of the seat, which might affect overall comfort, though most users say they got used to it eventually.

The Japanese manufacturer Toto invented the bidet-style toilet seat in 1980, and the company remains a market leader today with a reputation for innovation and reliability. Our experts have tested several iterations of the brand’s flagship model, the Washlet, including the recently launched S7A.

It’s top-rated because of its easy installation and feature-rich performance. The heated seat, night-light and water temperature controls were favorites with our testers, as was the pre-mist feature that helps keep waste from sticking to the bowl. “I also love how easy the seat is to remove for a deep clean,” noted one tester, who installed the S7A as part of a bathroom renovation. Several design tweaks to the S7A give it a particularly sleek, streamlined profile compared with other bidets we’ve tested. We also like that the S7A's seamless seat design minimizes gaps and crevices for dirt and grime to collect.

Make no mistake: The Toto S7A is a luxury bidet seat with the price tag to prove it. In addition to the steep upfront cost, it uses more energy and water than a traditional toilet seat, as is the case with all premium bidets. But you’ll get some of that back in reduced toilet paper purchases, and the experience is nothing short of life-changing. Bottom line: If the Toto S7A is in the budget, it’s 100% worth the investment.

Throughout decades of toilet tests at Good Housekeeping, Kohler has earned a reputation for quality, performance and reliability. The manufacturer is bringing the same high standard to bidets, including the standout C3 230 with its sleek design, remote control and wide-ranging functionality.

Our testers especially liked the continuous warm water flow and adjustable settings, including oscillating and pulsating sprays. It also has a heated seat, a drying feature and a self-cleaning spray wand. The built-in odor control was also a hit. "I thought it might be gimmicky but the odor-neutralizing feature works surprisingly well," one tester said. Another lauded the ergonomic design, saying, "Some bidet seats are steeply angled at the back because of the wires needed to heat the seat, and that can make them awkward to sit on, but the C3 230 is really comfortable."

That combination of comfort, performance and aesthetics makes this bidet another top pick, though some tests disliked the night-light. While still an investment, it costs a few hundred dollars less than the top-rated Toto.

If there's not an electric outlet near the toilet, you'll need to pay an electrician a few hundred bucks to put one in. Another way to go is to opt for a manual bidet, like this top-performing model from Kohler. Its standout features include three nozzle options (soft, medium and intense) as well as a quiet-close lid and seat. "Manual bidets are definitely a different animal from electric models, but not having to contend with a power source makes them a great option for some consumers, including renters," says DiClerico.

To operate, you simply twist the end of the lever to extend the nozzle out to the desired position, then pull up on the handle to manually pump water (which is not heated) out of the nozzle as many times as needed. Our experts say Kohler's affordable manual bidet is best thought of as a complement to toilet paper, unlike full-featured electric models that provide thorough cleansing and air drying, eliminating the need for toilet paper altogether.

Bidet attachments are even less of a commitment than manual bidets, since they work with your existing toilet and toilet seat. Tushy's Spa 3.0 bidet attachment comes with a temperature control function and a variety of spray settings, plus a self-cleaning nozzle. Its versatile design is suitable for round, oval and elongated toilets. Plus, it's available in nine colors.

"The attachment is perfect for people who don't want to change the look or configuration of their current toilet," says DiClerico. It also allows you to connect it to either your toilet's water supply or your sink's, depending on your plumbing configuration (though there is a limited warm water supply).

Brondell's FreshSpa is an inexpensive bidet attachment without much of a tradeoff. The simple, non-electric bidet sells for under $50 and you can install it yourself using your existing toilet and seat. For control, a scroll button lets you dial in your preferred water pressure. The water draws from your cold-water source, but reviewers swear that it feels cool, not startling.

At this price, many reviewers say they outfitted more than one bathroom in their house with this manual bidet attachment. Note that you should check that your toilet connector, from the water source to the tank, is a flexible hose rather than a rigid pipe before you install this; if not, you'll need an inexpensive flexible toilet connector. It also slightly changes the height of the seat.

Our analysts start by surveying the current marketplace to identify the bidet seats you’re most likely to find at home centers, bath showrooms, plumbing supply stores and online. They also keep up with the latest trends by attending trade shows and industry events, including the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS).

Since bidet seats are a relatively new category, we haven’t completed Lab tests of all models featured in this round-up. However, we brought our decades of toilet testing to bear by focusing on brands that have proven the most reliable and top-performing. We also included some newer brands that offer promising features or innovations.

Our engineers reviewed the technical data for all models, looking at such factors as power source, seat shape and feature set. In addition, our home product experts did get hands-on with several bidets by installing them in testers’ homes and using them over several weeks, getting a real-world sense of convenience, comfort and other factors related to user experience.

All the models included in our round-up are top performers, but to figure out which one is the best fit for your bathroom, consider these questions:

✔️ Bidet seat or bidet attachment? A bidet seat is designed to replace your existing toilet seat, while a bidet attachment works in conjunction with the existing seat. Full seats offer the most variety, including electric or manual operation and the full bevy of features. Bidet attachments tend to be the most affordable choice and they're almost always manual, so they're suited to toilets that don't have a nearby electrical outlet.

✔️ Automatic or manual? Most bidet seats are powered by electricity, which means they work with the press of a button. While that offers maximum convenience, it means you need a GFCI-rated outlet within a few feet of the toilet. If an outlet isn’t present, expect to pay an electrician several hundred dollars to put one in. Manual bidets come with a handle or paddle that you tilt down to spray water. They’re less expensive and eliminate the need for an outlet and a cord. But our testers say the overall experience is less luxurious.

Automatic bidets are the most fully featured, including heated seats, night-lights and air drying. They usually come with adjustable water temperature too, which most of our consumer testers say is worth the splurge. "Cold water cleansing is plenty effective, but testers prefer the warm-water experience, especially during colder times of the year," says DiClerico.

✔️ Round or elongated? These are the two main toilet bowl shapes. If you're going with a full bidet seat, you need to make sure that the model you choose corresponds to the shape of your toilet bowl. If you’re starting from scratch, our tests have found elongated bowls to be a bit more comfortable, while rounded bowls are more space-efficient.

Our engineers also point out that if you have a one-piece toilet, with little to no space between the toilet and tank, some bidet seats won’t fit. Measure the gap between the bowl and tank and check that it meets your bidet’s minimum requirements.

✔️ Tankless or tank? Higher-end bidets often feature a tankless design, meaning they provide an endless supply of heated water. Other models have a reservoir that stores a limited amount of heated water. If the bidet will serve multiple members of your household, and heated water is important (most of our testers say it is), it’s worth springing for a tankless design.

It depends on whether you’re putting in a full bidet seat or a bidet attachment. For a full bidet seat, step one is removing the existing seat by unscrewing the seat bolts that anchor it to the toilet.

Then shut off the water to the toilet by turning the valve on the supply line. Install the new connector valve that comes with the bidet seat to the supply line. Secure the bidet seat to the toilet using the provided seat bolts. Finally, connect the bidet to the water supply line and turn the water back on. If it’s an electric bidet seat, plug in the unit and you’re good to go.

To install a bidet attachment, remove the existing toilet seat, then secure the attachment to the toilet with the provided mounting plate. Put the toilet seat back on, as pictured. Most bidet attachments connect to the water supply line in the same manner as a bidet seat.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab provides expert reviews and advice on all things home-related, including bidet seats and other bathroom fixtures.