The 4 Best Bidet Toilet Seats or Washlets of 2023

We’re currently researching new bidets and plan on testing the Brondell Swash Thinline T44 as well as three models from Bio Bidet; the Bliss BB200, the Discovery DLS, and the USPA 6800.

People have strong opinions about washing their butts, but one thing is for sure: The Toto Washlet C5 is better than any other bidet seat at dialing in your exact preferences—pulsating or oscillating stream, warm or cool water, high or low pressure.

Thanks to the C5’s unique, intuitive controls, you’ll find that it’s just as easy to disable the bells and whistles if you’re in it only for the heated seat.

And if you’re new to bidets, don’t assume you need to dive in with a feature-rich model like the Toto. We’ve found that many people are perfectly happy with a simpler, less expensive cold-water model, and we have recommendations for those, too.

The C5 has all the features you’d want in a bidet seat, and this model’s intuitive controls make it easier to dial in or disable those features according to your preferences.

We’ve tested 16 bidet seats since 2016—in a four-person Brooklyn apartment, with a family of six in New Hampshire, and another family of five in Los Angeles—and we’re sure Toto’s Washlet C5 strikes just the right balance of features, price, and usability, for an experience that most people agree is excellent, whether they’ve used a bidet for years or are totally new to it. Other bidets have similar abilities, but none of them are quite as easy to get the hang of as the C5, even for guests and children. That’s because of the simple layout of the remote control, which predictably activates or adjusts the things you want. Some bidet features can be annoying or unnecessary, and it’s easier to disable those features on the C5 than on other models. It may seem like a lot to pay for a toilet seat, and the negative reviews include a few stories of installation difficulties. But we’ve found that very few people actually regret getting a C5—more often, they find they have a lot of preferences, and they value the easy control over all the options.

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We hate to give up the remote and programmable user settings, but by excluding those perks, the C2 saves you a few bucks while retaining Toto’s other key features.

If the Toto C5 is not available, we like the Toto Washlet C2. The main difference is that this model has a white plastic side control panel attached to the seat, as opposed to the C5’s exceptional (and stylish) remote. This makes the C2 more awkward to use, but the side panel is easy enough to learn by feel, so you won’t have to contort to see it every time. Compared with the C5, this model also has two fewer options for water temperature and no programmable user settings, but the C2 typically costs anywhere from $50 to $150 less. We do recommend that you wait until the C5 comes back in stock. But if you can’t wait, or if you want a less expensive model for a guest bath, the C2 is nice where it counts—a heated seat, warm water, and pressure controls that (like the C5) go up and down on a +/- scale. (A lot of competitors’ pressure controls cycle through all the levels, including a Waterpik-like beam, before you can get to the one you want.)

The lowest-price electric bidet we recommend heats the water (and the seat). And with its nice remote and six water-pressure options, the Swash is satisfying, even if it lacks some frills.

The Brondell Swash 300 is the lowest-priced electric bidet seat we recommend. It’s a barebones model compared with the C5, but with its six options for water pressure, water temperature, and seat temperature, you should be able to adjust the Swash 300 to your preferences. This model can’t adjust its spray position like the C5, and it takes a few seconds longer to warm the water. It also lacks an air dryer and other frills. But the Swash 300 does have a remote, an unusually nice feature for a bidet at this price, and we think it’s a good deal.

With basic pressure controls but no heated water (or seat), this cold-water option is easier to install, and its low price makes it a good starting point for the bidet-unsure.

The Brondell SimpleSpa Thinline Bidet Attachment doesn’t heat up your water or seat, and it has no features other than a rudimentary pressure control. The good news: Unlike the other models, the SimpleSpa doesn’t need an outlet. And it doesn’t include a new toilet seat, so it’s very easy to install and won’t alter the aesthetic of your bathroom. Watch the pressure, though—some testers found this model’s highest settings painful. Compared with other inexpensive cold-water models, the Brondell SimpleSpa looks nicer for about the same price. And since it’s less than $50, this model is a good place to start if you’re new to bidets and are unsure about investing in a full-featured model.

This cold-water model has a much nicer look than the SimpleSpa. It also has an angle control and more durable construction, and it’s available in an array of colors.

Cold-water models are not just for the entry-level seeker. We’ve found that many people prefer the simplicity of these stripped-down bidets and don’t feel any need to get involved with hot water. So if you’re satisfied with a cold-water bidet and are looking for a nice one to settle into for the long haul, we like the Tushy Classic 3.0. Compared with the SimpleSpa (and the majority of other cold-water models), the Tushy has a more robust build quality and the ability to direct the spray. The color accent of the pressure dial adds a polished aesthetic touch, as do the rounded edges of the control box. The Tushy comes with clear instructions and is available in four base colors with a selection of knob options.

The C5 has all the features you’d want in a bidet seat, and this model’s intuitive controls make it easier to dial in or disable those features according to your preferences.

We hate to give up the remote and programmable user settings, but by excluding those perks, the C2 saves you a few bucks while retaining Toto’s other key features.

The lowest-price electric bidet we recommend heats the water (and the seat). And with its nice remote and six water-pressure options, the Swash is satisfying, even if it lacks some frills.

With basic pressure controls but no heated water (or seat), this cold-water option is easier to install, and its low price makes it a good starting point for the bidet-unsure.

This cold-water model has a much nicer look than the SimpleSpa. It also has an angle control and more durable construction, and it’s available in an array of colors.

To learn more about bidets, we spoke with Dr. John Swartzberg, editor of the Berkeley Wellness Letter and a University of California, Berkeley, clinical professor emeritus, who walked us through the current scientific literature on the topic. We also spoke to Steven Welty, an air-quality consultant, about what can and can’t stop fecal matter from making its way out of the toilet. We interviewed Kyle Bazylo, a bidet salesperson, about the most popular features. And we surveyed 200 Wirecutter readers on their attitudes toward bidets, and then spoke to nearly a dozen bidet owners, most of whom can’t imagine living without one. We’ve spent dozens of hours completing research and interviews, as well as six weeks testing bidets in a four-person apartment and at the home of a family of six.

In related work, author Doug Mahoney also wrote Wirecutter’s guide to pressure washers.

According to the people who are passionate about bidets, everyone could use one. The words “I’m converted” are repeated over and over throughout bidet customer reviews. “How has my booty survived this long without it???” is the title of an Amazon review for one bidet, and it’s fairly representative of others. Although reviewers cite negatives about installation and certain features on specific models, it’s rare to find someone who doesn’t like the actual bidet experience.

As bidets have become more mainstream, their benefits are being noticed by health-care workers as options for postnatal care and those with limited mobility, such as a physical disability or a short-term injury. One bidet user we interviewed told us she was about to have her third child, yet it was only with the third pregnancy that she started hearing about bidets in her birthing class. She also told of a family member who was in an accident, which left him partially immobile. A bidet has allowed him to use the bathroom with dignity and in privacy while he heals. “He just about cried” when he got the bidet.

People usually come to this product by purchasing an inexpensive model and then at some point upgrading to a better one with a wider feature set that’s more attuned to preferences. Barebones, entry-level models that use cold water start as low as $30, but electric models with premium features like a heated seat, warm water, and spray controls start at around $200. We think the best value for full-featured models is at about the $400 or $500 level, but additional bells and whistles can pad the price tag even more. We should note that we’re talking about bidet attachments (also known as “washlets”)—a special seat you install on a regular toilet and control via onboard buttons, an in-wall panel, or a remote. We don’t mean the standalone, toilet-sized plumbing fixtures. For simplicity, we’re just calling the washlets “bidets” in this guide.

But keep in mind that there may be no need to go beyond the simpler cold-water models. Many people we’ve spoken to are completely happy with these more basic versions. A lot of people just like the cold water, but it can be tough not to be curious about the more deluxe models. So if this is you, we encourage you to make peace with it. Don’t drown yourself in FOMO, thinking that the ass is always cleaner on the other side.

While bidets are becoming more prevalent in the health industry, we found that many of the health claims made by bidet manufacturers don’t have a lot of hard evidence to back them up. We dug into the research with the help of Dr. John Swartzberg and could not find any data that suggest bidets prevent urinary tract infections. Researchers have seen no medical reason to wash the inside of the vagina (as the front-wash feature on bidets allows). One study suggests bidets can reduce pressure in the rectum—and thereby, perhaps, help alleviate hemorrhoids and anal fissures. If you have anal itchiness and cannot find an underlying cause, a bidet will help you to avoid using toilet paper—which is a plus if you find that rubbing the area makes the situation worse. If you plan to use a bidet for any health reason whatsoever, check in with your doctor for assistance in monitoring your condition. We have a more detailed look at the health implications of bidets here.

Before bringing a bidet into your life, it’s important to know that they present a number of trade-offs compared with a regular toilet seat—enough compromises that some of our testers, after a trial run, ultimately declined to have a bidet permanently installed.

First, full-featured electric bidets, like our pick, are expensive, bulky, and need an outlet, and they really alter the shape of your toilet seat, both with the lid closed and open. They also add connections to your water line, and, when combined with the internal mechanics of the bidet, there are simply more places that could potentially leak. Also, as one tester put it, “It’s just another electronic gizmo in my house, and I honestly don’t think my toilet seat needs to be plugged in.”

Electric models also need an outlet within 4 or so feet from the back of your toilet. So for a clean installation, you may need an electrician to add an outlet; this could increase your total cost by a couple hundred dollars. You could run an extension cord, but hiding those can get tricky. Even if you do have a nearby outlet, you need to get used to the look of a cord coming up from behind your toilet and continuing to the outlet (typically at counter level), which some of our testers found to be a constant, low-grade annoyance.

The design of an electric bidet seat also creates some functional issues. The guts of the bidet are at the back end of the seat by the toilet tank, so the lid tends to angle (or swoop) up toward the rear. One could argue (as some of our testers did) that bidets are ugly. They’re certainly bulky. And they tend to come in limited shades, so it may not be possible to get a perfect match with your bowl.

Aside from aesthetics, the design of a full-featured bidet creates some functional issues as well. If you’re someone who uses the toilet as a seat—maybe while helping the kids take a bath or when clipping your toenails—a bidet will lean you forward quite a bit. We found it uncomfortable to use as a seat for any length of time. Even with the lid up, the seats tended to tip us forward. Leaning back isn’t much of an option, either, because the lids typically have a ridge around the outer edge of the upper seat that’s uncomfortable to lean against.

Also, due to the space given to a bidet’s internals, the seat-hole size is reduced by quite a bit. We tested models that fit on elongated seats, and the seat holes were basically down to the size of a standard round seat. If you’re a larger person or just someone who is used to the wide-open spaces of the elongated toilet seat, this can make things uncomfortable.

Another thing to consider with bidets is that they add plumbing connections and electronics, both of which have the potential to fail. Though this won’t be experienced by everyone, or even by most, we did read enough feedback about bidet seats leaking and breaking that we felt the need to mention it.

We wanted to find bidets that both the newbie and the aficionado would appreciate, which had us looking at the inexpensive cold-water models and the full-featured warm-water ones. We found that overall cleaning effectiveness varied little from bidet to bidet, but that features and interface could make a big difference in how pleasant the process was.

We considered design and aesthetics overall. Many bidets don’t do much for the look of your toilet—they’re bulky, plasticky, and, with a cord often visible, eye-catching in a bad way. So with form accepted as a compromise, we looked to the function side of their design for distinctions among the options. The best ones we tested made it easy and intuitive to navigate the long lists of features.

Warm-water bidets tend to be feature-heavy—at times, we wondered if manufacturers were in an arms race to add as many features as they could to a toilet seat. We had to determine which features we felt were important, which ones seemed excessive, and what, overall, could add up to a good value for anyone ready to drop hundreds of dollars on a toilet seat—all the while keeping in mind that many people are perfectly happy with an inexpensive cold-water model that has no features other than a pressure control.

Here’s a rundown of the features we saw most often, starting with the good and ending with the not-so-good.

Variable stream options: Most electric bidets can adjust the location, pressure, temperature, and flow of the water.

Warm water: You can get a bidet with or without warm water. Skipping this feature saves a lot of money and installation complexity. But it’s cold!

Heated seat: Everyone—everyone—loves a heated seat.

Remote: For the more feature-heavy bidets, a remote with an intuitive layout is a big advantage, and using one is easier than having to contort to reach a control panel on the side of the seat.

User presets: Some models can save your preferences of water pressure, water temperature, and spray position, so you need to press only one button instead of three or four.

Seat sensor: All of the warm-water electric bidets we looked at had some kind of seat sensor, so water could be sprayed only when someone was sitting on the seat. Simpler cold-water models don’t have this feature, so watch out if you have curious young kids.

Blow dryer: Not as good as it sounds—they’re loud and mostly ineffective.

Front wash: As UC Berkeley’s Dr. John Swartzberg noted, it’s not necessary to wash the vagina, and doing so regularly is potentially damaging.

Night-light: Bidet night-lights shine light directly into the bowl—not into the room—highlighting the contents of the toilet.

Air deodorizers: An internal fan can draw air through a carbon filter; we didn’t notice much effect from this feature. And you have to change the filters regularly.

Pre-misted bowl: Some bidets can wet the toilet bowl before you go, theoretically making it harder for fecal matter to stick to the sides. In our tests, it didn’t make much of a difference.

UV light: Models that have UV lights can make spaces cleaner, Steven Welty, an air-quality consultant, told us. They work by damaging the germs’ DNA—but it’s nearly impossible to expose all the germs in your toilet bowl to the effects of the light.

Enema function: Every bidet we tried had either an enema function or a pressure setting that was forceful enough to act like one. “This is a horrible idea,” Swartzberg told us. “Not only is it unnecessary, but it could cause damage to the anal and rectal area.”

For our original guide, in 2016, we tested five bidet seats, and then in 2019, we looked at 11 more. To test the bidets, we simply installed them and used them, first in a Brooklyn apartment shared by four people, then in a six-person home, and another 5-person home, with kids as young as 5 using the bidets. In all locations, we had guests use the bidets and offer their reactions and thoughts on the experience. The purpose of these firsthand, subjective trials was to look for the elements of success that the stats don’t show: seat comfort, ease of installation, simplicity of operation, the ability to be used by children, and, of course, how clean they got our butts.

The C5 has all the features you’d want in a bidet seat, and this model’s intuitive controls make it easier to dial in or disable those features according to your preferences.

After all of our research and testing 16 bidet seats, the Toto Washlet C5 proved to be the best. It offers all of the options for customizing the bidet experience without many unnecessary extras. Where it really stands apart is its sleek, intuitive remote, which guests and children were able to use with ease. Unlike most bidets we looked at, the C5 allows you to easily disable unwanted features (we’re looking at you, automatic pre-rinse) or turn them back on, based on your personal preferences. The C5 received the most positive feedback from our testers. (We tested an elongated style; there’s also a round model available.)

The C5 features a stream of water that’s as gentle—or as strong, if that’s your preference—as that of more expensive options. And in terms of cleaning, this model was just as effective as every other bidet we tested. There are options for a pulsating or a back-and-forth stream (you can even do both at once), which further varies the feel of the water and can make the stream less intense than a direct one. You can dial in the stream, pressure and location among other customizable options, and it’s highly likely that you can easily set it exactly how you want it, which is a major reason so many people (like us) find this model satisfying.

The water gets up to a comfortable 97 degrees Fahrenheit on the highest of its three settings. The water stream starts up a few seconds after you press the button, which is on a par with most bidets and a considerably shorter amount of time than on some. Though the tank of hot water can run out if you use the bidet for much longer than a minute, or multiple times within a period of 10 minutes, this almost never happened (and when it did, the temp faded to cool, so it wasn’t an abrupt or uncomfortable transition). In fact, the temperature change often served as a “you’re probably done here” reminder. Tankless models, which are typically more expensive, offer infinite hot water, but they often begin with a blast of cool water, which can be a little startling.

Of the bidets we tested, the C5 clearly had the best remote, and this is what really sets this model apart—enough to help it outperform some models that cost twice as much. The interface has all the right controls laid out in a simple text-free format that young kids or non-English speakers could pick up without much guidance. Its lights indicate the current settings for pressure and nozzle position, so it’s very easy to see the status at a glance.

Unlike other remotes, the C5’s remote has controls on both the front and the back. The front has the controls for the features you’d use on a day-to-day basis: to activate the wash, change the water pressure, move the nozzle, activate the pulsating or oscillating stream, and turn on the dryer. There are also buttons that activate the two user presets. The long-term settings are located on the back of the remote. Things like seat and water temp are controlled here with an intuitive graphic interface, and it’s here that you can also (thankfully) disable any features you find annoying. We disabled the pre-mist and the auto fan. We also muted the remote, which otherwise beeps when you press a button. All of the other models were more difficult to configure.

The pressure control and spray positioning are particularly nice. Both are adjusted via a +/- scale, which simply goes up and down. This is better than another common format: a single button that forces you to cycle through the entire range to get where you want to be. On those models, if you’re just trying to get a lower pressure, you have to cycle through the full range, often (quickly) bypassing the highest pressure the bidet offers, usually a Waterpik-like beam. The C5’s (and the C2’s) simple up/down switch makes this a lot more pleasant.

Like most of the bidet attachments we tested, the C5 has default energy-saving features: If the toilet isn’t being used frequently, the bidet lowers the seat temperature. If the toilet is not being used at all for an extended period of time, it shuts off the seat heat and warm water. You can allow the seat to automate these energy-saving modes based on your usage, or you can set them on a timer.

The C5 suffers from the drawbacks of all bidet seats: reduced hole size, a reshaped toilet seat, a partially ineffective dryer, and a fairly large and bulky appearance. These are just par for the course with bidets. There were a couple other slight drawbacks to this model, but none that bothered us enough to dismiss it.

At one location where we have the C5 set up, the bathroom wall is tiled. Rather than drill and mount a remote holder, we attached it with the included pieces of double-sided tape. At about the one-year mark, the tape lost enough stickiness that the remote fell down on occasion. We suggest you either screw the remote holder into the wall or plan to replace the double-sided adhesive every so often.

The C5 doesn’t have a night-light, which is a feature often found on high-end bidet seats. It’s not a feature we really cared for—typically, the night-light highlights the contents of the bowl. But, as with all bidet features, this is one some people prefer a bidet to have.

We hate to give up the remote and programmable user settings, but by excluding those perks, the C2 saves you a few bucks while retaining Toto’s other key features.

If you want to save a few bucks or if our top pick is sold out, we recommend the slightly pared-down version of the C5, the Toto Washlet C2.

The biggest catch is the C2 lacks the helpful remote that makes the C5 so great. Instead, you control everything from the side of the seat. To be clear, if you’re going to spend this kind of money on a bidet seat, we think you’ll appreciate the remote enough to justify spending a little more for the C5.

Although it’s more difficult to access than the C5’s remote, the side panel on the C2 is still self-explanatory and laid out in such a way that after a few uses, we got the hang of where the main buttons were without having to do much twisting and looking. Like the C5, the C2 emphasizes the most-used controls, positioning them closer to the front. The less frequently used controls are located toward the back and are much smaller.

Like on the C5, the C2’s water-pressure control is on a +/- scale, which we really like. It has just as many water-pressure settings, as well as an option for an oscillating water stream (but no pulsing) and a pre-mist function, to keep matter from sticking to the bowl. Although this model offers only three temperature settings for the water (instead of five), the stream can get just as warm on the C2 as on the C5. One last compromise: The C2 doesn’t offer programmable user settings like the C5 does.

The lowest-price electric bidet we recommend heats the water (and the seat). And with its nice remote and six water-pressure options, the Swash is satisfying, even if it lacks some frills.

If you want to outfit your bathroom with an electric bidet for as little money as possible, we like the Brondell Swash 300. This model is barebones (or as barebones as an electric bidet seat can be). It has a heated seat, six options each for water pressure and temperature, and both rear and front wash. The Swash 300 has a nice remote (a feature typically reserved for more expensive bidets), which, due to the model’s stripped-down feature set, is uncluttered and easy for a regular user, guest, or child to control.

The Swash 300 has options for front and rear wash, with pressure and water-temperature adjustability. You can also control the temperature of the heated seat. That’s it! Even though our testers really appreciated the oscillating spray and nozzle positioning options of the C5 and C2, the Swash 300 typically costs about half the price, so there are bound to be some compromises. There’s also no dryer, deodorizer, or programmable options, which we didn’t miss as much.

The biggest sacrifice, we think, with the Swash 300 is that you can’t position the spray. Our testers found the aim of the Brondell to be pretty spot-on, but there were times when some felt that wriggling around was necessary.

We think our main pick is worth the extra investment, but if it isn’t in your budget, this model still hits most of the right bases. If nothing else, the Swash 300 has a heated seat, which is something a lot of people appreciate, even if they don’t need a spritz of water at the time.

With basic pressure controls but no heated water (or seat), this cold-water option is easier to install, and its low price makes it a good starting point for the bidet-unsure.

If you’re still on the fence about bidets, but you want to try one—or if you’re just looking for a very basic model and don’t mind cool water—we like the Brondell SimpleSpa Thinline Bidet Attachment. Typically sold for less than $40, the SimpleSpa has none of the features of the electric models, and it lacks their finesse, but it does the cleaning work just fine. The benefit of the SimpleSpa, beyond the price, is its far easier installation: You don’t need an outlet, and you don’t even have to replace your toilet seat.

The SimpleSpa consists of a single outboard control handle, to the right of the bowl (as you’re sitting). The end of the handle can be turned to the right or the left. One way turns the water on and controls the pressure (just like a sink faucet), and the other kicks on a self-cleaning mode, which washes water over the spray nozzle. That’s all there is to it. No heated seat, no oscillating spray, no temp control, and no exhaust fan.

The most noticeable difference between the SimpleSpa and our other picks is the lack of hot water. Opinions on this setup were mixed. The cooler water temperature didn’t bother a lot of our testers, but others felt hot water was essential. The reviews at Amazon reflect this division, as well. One commenter called it “refreshing,” while another said they found it too cold.

Likewise, this model doesn’t have a heated seat. This is a big compromise, especially if your bathroom gets unusually cold in winter. The heated seat may be the most-used feature on electric bidets. But if your climate, bathroom setup, or general preferences lead you to skip the hot water, you may not miss the seat.

One big benefit of the austere SimpleSpa is that, with almost no features, it doesn’t need electricity, so you don’t have to add an outlet or to look at a cord sneaking up behind your toilet seat. It also doesn’t include a toilet seat, so the install is really just taking off your toilet seat, adding the SimpleSpa, then replacing the toilet seat. There is no additional mounting bracket and no change to your toilet seat.

The SimpleSpa has no adjustments, so the aim of the water stream can’t be altered. We found that it was pretty good (better than the Luxe Bidet Neo 120, the other $40 model we tested). But like the Brondell, with the SimpleSpa some wriggling around might be necessary. We also learned to be very careful with the pressure dial. Once it moves toward the high end, pressure gets aggressive, and our testers found it painful. As Amazon reviewer Phil Timpson writes, the “pressure could peel the barnacles off of a cruise ship, so be careful.”

Although the SimpleSpa feels stripped-down and rudimentary compared with the luxury models, it’s a good place for a bidet newbie to start. For a small investment, you’ll get a sense of what the larger models offer. We just want you to know that the heated water, heated seat, and variable spray options add quite a lot, and the difference should not be underestimated.

This cold-water model has a much nicer look than the SimpleSpa. It also has an angle control and more durable construction, and it’s available in an array of colors.

If a cold-water model appeals to you, but you’d like a little something more than the most barebones model available, we also like the Tushy Classic 3.0. This popular model maintains the overall vibe of the cold-water models—easy installation, simple controls, no nearby outlet needed—but it adds a few nice flourishes that elevate it to the top of the cold-water category, such as spray direction, a more customizable aesthetic, and a more robust build quality. Tushy owners we’ve spoken to also appreciate the easy installation instructions.

Like the SimpleSpa, the Tushy activates with the pressure control, but in this case it’s a dial instead of the pivoting end of the control arm. The Tushy adds a small directional adjustment to help you fine-tune the aim, so using it involves less squirming around to get the angle just right than with the SimpleSpa. As with the SimpleSpa, we heard reports that the upper end of the pressure spectrum is pretty extreme, with one Tushy owner telling us she was worried about her kids using it due to the force of the water.

One fun way the Tushy distinguishes itself is with aesthetics. Many inexpensive cold-water models have a flimsy, utilitarian look, but the Tushy is boxier and is made of thicker material. The edges of the control arm are nicely rounded over, and the dial has a polished look. Beyond that, most cold-water bidets are white with some kind of silver accent, but the Tushy offers a lot more options. Four base colors are available (white, biscuit, pink, or blue), and within those there are options for the knob, including bamboo, gold, or bronze. A Tushy owner we interviewed called it “cute,” which is a rare compliment in the toilet world.

Tushy owners also told us the instructions were a high point, clearly guiding them through the installation process.

Installation of most bidet seats requires only a wrench and a screwdriver. The models we tested were all the same. First, remove the old toilet seat and replace it with a thin plastic mounting bracket (it attaches through the same holes). Then slide the bidet seat onto the bracket until it clicks into place. For the plumbing, the bidet comes with a T-connector that installs between the supply line hose and the inlet of the toilet tank. This provides water to the bidet via a flexible hose. To install this connector, you need to shut the water off where it comes out of the wall—there should be a valve there—then disconnect the line where it attaches to the toilet. This is where the T-connector goes. In the installation process, a little water spills out of the line, but that can be captured in a small cup (we used an old yogurt container). Before you buy a bidet, make sure that your valves aren’t completely corroded and that you can access them.

On the electrical side, the bidet just plugs in. Most have a 4-foot cord length, so an extension cord or a new outlet may be necessary.

Even if you have minimal to no DIY skills, installation should take less than an hour. If you do want professional installation help, it will run you $100 or so.

If you have a “tankless” toilet, a plumber will be needed—we recommend consulting with one before you purchase a bidet. The type of “tankless” toilet most often found in homes is the wall-hung toilet: This means that a tank is present, but it’s just concealed in the wall. You’ll have to install an extra connection to provide water to the bidet. If your toilet uses a flushometer, the plumber will have to make more-dramatic changes to the plumbing system; these are found only rarely in homes.

When it comes to cleaning, bidets are more complex than the average toilet seat, so it’s no surprise that they offer more nooks and crannies for gunk to develop. What’s great is that bidet seats can be taken right off the mounting bracket for a thorough wipedown. The process is very easy and usually involves a release button to the side of the bidet. It’s a little like pulling a drawer off the slides.

The Toto C200 and C100 were formerly our pick and runner-up in this guide. They have been discontinued; if you see any leftover units for sale, we’d recommend either as fine options, with features that almost identically match what you’ll find on the C2 and C5.

Toto’s A100 and A200 are slightly stripped down versions of their C2 and C5, respectively. They have all of the same features, but lack the dryer and deodorizer. If you’re sure that you’ll never use these features, these should be just as good as our picks. The price difference for the upgrade is so minimal though, typically less than $50, that we feel most would prefer to experiment with the added features.

We also looked at the Toto S550E and the S500E, both of which are typically sold for around $1000. They have a more streamlined look than the C5 and C2, but add only a few extra features. The S550E has a night light and the lid opens and closes automatically. Both models use ewater—electrolyzed water with disinfectant qualities—on the bowl and wand. These look like very nice bidets, but we don’t consider these added features to be essential, especially given the added cost.

The Brondell Swash SE600 is in line with the Toto C5 as far as cost and features go, but our main gripe is that the electrical cord sticks straight out of the left side of the seat (as you’re sitting). The plumbing line is on the right side, and most bidets combine the two and often make it so they can be clipped together in a neat bundle. We much prefer the cleaner look of having them both on one side of the seat.

The same can be said for the cord of the Brondell Swash SE400, which is a very similar model. The main difference is that it comes with a control panel and not a remote.

The Brondell Swash 1400 is a feature-filled model that we had a couple of issues with. First, it’s tankless, so as the wash starts, it delivers a blast of cool water, which is a little uncomfortable. Also—and we saw this with a lot of bidet seats—the controls are scrolled, rather than on a +/- scale, so if you shift to a temperature or pressure that is higher than you like, you need to go through the entire cycle to get back to where you’re comfortable. Our pick has a simple +/- interface that eliminates this small but notable drawback.

The Coway Bitmega 200E is in the same price range as our pick, but it has a side control. It also has the cord sticking out of the side, like the Brondells. We liked that the buttons on the control panel have braille labeling on them.

The Kohler C3-230 K-4108-0 and the Kohler C3-455 K-8298-CR-0 were both very nice, but the remotes weren’t as intuitive as that of our Toto recommendation (the C3-230 comes with both a side panel and a remote). For example, the buttons on the C3-455 remote have three lights to indicate five settings. We also found that it wasn’t as easy to disengage or engage features like the night-light and the auto fan.

The Kohler C3-155 K-8298-0 is comparable to our runner-up, but we preferred the Toto C2’s control panel.

We tested the cold-water Luxe Bidet Neo 120, and although it’s comparable to the Brondell SimpleSpa SS-250, it’s just not as sleek, and our testers found the aim of the spray a little off by comparison.

There are many other cold-water models available, but none offer any noticeable advantages over the Brondell SimpleSpa or the simple luxury of the Tushy. Attachments like the Tibbers Bidet, Greenco Bidet, and the Veken Ultra-Slim Bidet all look similar, but we’re not as confident in the warranty and customer support as we are with Brondell.

The GoBidet Attachment is an all-metal cold-water model that lacks the discretion of the Brondell. It has an interesting look that may appeal to some, but the user feedback is so-so and it costs nearly $150 for the same functionality.

The Kohler K-5724-0 Puretide Elongated Manual Bidet Toilet Seat is a cold-water model that allows you to have control over the positioning of the spray. When you tilt the handle down, like a joystick, the spray direction also shifts forward. This model is priced at around $100, and, unlike the $30 models, it includes the toilet seat. We liked this Kohler a lot, but the seat felt cheap, and it flexed under almost any weight. It also made a loud creaking noise every time one of our testers sat down or shifted their weight.

We did not test any of the non-electric warm-water models that need to connect to the under-sink hot-water line, such as the Luxe Bidet Neo 320. These models offer warm water at an affordable cost. But we think installation offers too many variables, including the proximity of the sink shut-offs to the toilet and the likelihood of cutting a hole through the side of a vanity. There are well-reviewed models, including the Neo 320 and the Tushy Spa 3.0. However, if warm water is an essential feature for you, we think you’ll also appreciate the other upgrades that the electric models, like the C5, have to offer.

We also left travel bidets out of our research and testing. Such devices are handheld and offer neither the luxury nor the physical assistance of a standard bidet. If you are absolutely a bidet fanatic and want to try one, you might want to check out the highest-rated one on Amazon, the Toto Travel Washlet 1. But even Bidet.org’s Kyle Bazylo, who sells travel bidets, says he doesn’t bother using one when he travels.

The following models are bidets we tested before 2019.

The Bio Bidet BB-600 gets the job done just fine. It just doesn’t look or feel as nice as our top pick, and it has a side panel. Our main complaint about this bidet is that in our tests the water pressure was higher than our top pick’s, even on its lowest setting. But setting the mode to “aerated” fixed that issue. During the washing process, the water was a bit cooler than with our top pick, even on the highest temperature setting, but not uncomfortably so. The button that controls water pressure is the same one that controls air-drying strength, which could be annoying if you intend to use the air dryer and you prefer a soft water stream.

The SmartBidet SB-1000 hurt to use. We found that the water pressure was too high—even at the lowest setting, which is a dealbreaker on an otherwise decent (and low-cost) bidet.

We liked the Bio Bidet Bliss BB-2000, but its high price buys you many features you don’t need. This leads to a remote that’s overcrowded with buttons: In addition to pressure and temperature settings, it offers a massage function, an enema function, an auto wash, a kids’ wash, something called a bubble infusion, and a wide spray. Overall this model doesn’t have enough worthwhile extras to be worth about $300 more than our top pick.

Doug Mahoney

Doug Mahoney is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering home improvement. He spent 10 years in high-end construction as a carpenter, foreman, and supervisor. He lives in a very demanding 250-year-old farmhouse and spent four years gutting and rebuilding his previous home. He also raises sheep and has a dairy cow that he milks every morning.

Shannon Palus

Shannon Palus is a former Wirecutter senior staff writer. She tested countless health and wellness products from 2016 to 2018.

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