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Every Toilet Should Have a Bidet — Here Are 5 of the Best to Buy Right Now
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Thousands of Americans — myself included — ordered a bidet during the toilet paper shortage of the 2020 lockdown. And we all realized what Italian, Japanese, and other cultures have known for decades: Wiping is barbaric, and bidets are the future.
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At a Glance: The Best Bidets
Editor’s Pick: Toto C5
Best Attachment Bidet: Tushy Classic 3.0
Budget Pick: Bigcow Ultra-Slim Bidet
Also Great: Alpha Bidet JX2
Premium Pick: Toto S350e
Affordable Electric Pick: Brondell SE400
In the few years since then, bidets have gotten better — and cheaper. Solid bidets are going for as little as $25, meaning just about anyone can get a cleaner bum, and start reaping the money-saving, eco-friendly benefits of using less toilet paper.
If you’re ready to make the upgrade, read on. Below is a full guide on the best bidets to pick up right now.
The Best Bidets to Buy Right Now
After becoming bidet-ers a few years ago, I’ve been able to test many of the most popular models. Below are five of the best bidets, including everything from reliable $25 bottom-washers to high-end bidets. We only considered products from well-regarded brands with an average customer rating of 4/5 stars or higher (see more on our reviewing and selection process further down this article).
EDITOR'S PICK
Toto C5
$399.00 $468.98 15% off
$468
Toto has been the undisputed bidet champion for years, and for good reason. The Japanese brand makes dozens of great bidets, but we think this C5 strikes an excellent balance between quality, features, and price point. The spray, which can oscillate or pulse, is comfortable yet powerful enough to thoroughly cleanse. In terms of features, you get a lot: warm water (from an included warming reservoir), a heated seat, a warm air dryer, and even a built-in deodorizer.
You also get Toto’s EWater+ tech, which cleans the bowl and wand after each use. It’s everything we want out of a bidet, comes from the world’s foremost bidet brand, and it’s well-priced at $400 (as of writing).
BEST ATTACHMENT BIDET
Tushy Classic 3.0
$94.95 $124.95 24% off
$95 $119 20% off
If you want to go with a bidet attachment (instead of a full seat replacement), we recommend the Tushy Classic 3.0. Tushy started as an affordable, eco-conscious bidet brand, and they’ve really nailed it after nine years in business. For $100, you get a nonelectric bidet attachment that’s super easy to install yourself — even if you’re not handy. The stream works great (neither too gentle nor too harsh) while the bamboo knob and overall build quality give the Tushy a solid feel compared to other budget-friendly options.
BUDGET PICK
Bigcow Ultra-Slim Bidet Attachment
$25.49 $35.99 29% off
Not sure if you’re a bidet person? Dip your toe (er, bum) into the world of bidets with this super affordable bidet from Bigcow. It’s just $25, as of writing, but provides a fully capable and pressure-adjustable stream of water. I also like that the control knob is slim and round. Those end up staying cleaner than the wide, flat kind.
ALSO GREAT
Alpha Bidet JX2
$328.50 $369.00 11% off
This Alpha Bidet JX2 was another top contender for the top spot on this list, right along the Toto C5 up top. The main benefit of the Alpha JX is that it runs water through a coil heating system, offering virtually endless warm water (the C5 is limited to its reservoir size). Otherwise, this one has most of the same great features, including a drying fan, a heated seat, and even a nightlight. However, the drying function, cleaning system, and overall build quality of the Alpha aren’t quite as good as the Toto C5.
PREMIUM PICK
Toto S350e
If you want a top-of-the-line bidet, check out this Toto S350e. You get all the features of the Toto C5 up top, including the Toto EWater+ cleaning system, a dryer, a deodorizer, and a heated seat, as well as some additional features. These include on-demand, endless warm water, an auto open/close lid, and a nightlight. The absence of the heating tank, as well as the S350e’s overall design language, makes it one of the cleanest and best-looking bidets on the market.`
AFFORDABLE ELECTRIC
Brondell SE400-EW Swash
$279.00
If you want the features of an electric bidet without the price tag of a Toto, check out the highly-rated Brondell SE400. For less than $300 you get all the best things about an electric bidet: an oscillating nozzle, a heated seat, and even a warm air dryer. Reviewers also love the nightlight, and say its super easy to install for an electric number.
Types of Bidets & Features
Bidets come in a few different styles, and they can get fancy with all kinds of bells and whistles. Below are the types of bidets, and some features you’ll want to keep in mind while making your decision.
Bidet Attachment vs. Bidet Seat vs. Bidet Toilet: Bidets are mainly separated into three categories: attachments, seats, and toilets. Bidet attachments are affordable bum-washing solutions that go under your existing toilet seat, and hook up to your toilet’s water line. However, they typically don’t come with many added features. Bidet seats are often the best solution because they replace your existing toilet seat, allowing for more features like warming (seat and water) and drying, but they don’t require the installation hassle of replacing your whole toilet. Bidet toilets, which totally replace your existing John, are a much bigger operation and something of a different beast altogether, so we didn’t consider them for this roundup.
Electric vs. Manual: The main difference between pricey bidets and the sub-$100 models is whether or not they require electricity. Electric bidets offer more features like warm water, drying, and different modes, but they’re more difficult to install and significantly more expensive. My suggestion? Buy a manual bidet first. If you like it (like I did) and can afford the upgrade, get an electric one after.
Water Temperature: One feature people often want in a bidet is warm water when you rinse off. Bidets that offer warm water either have a heating tank that warms the water from your toilet water line, or they’ll take water from the sink line and run it through a coil heating system in the bidet.
However, from personal experience, your bum doesn’t feel much temperature difference in the water (your thighs, on the other hand, will thank you for upgrading to a bidet seat with a warming function).
Drying & Other Features: A few other features to keep your eyes peeled for are air drying and seat warming. Being able to adjust the bidet’s water stream and/or temperature settings is also nice.
Benefits of a Bidet
Still not sure if a bidet its worthwhile to get a bidet? We typically point to three main benefits: cleanliness, money-saving potential, and environmental friendliness.
The first — cleanliness — almost goes without saying. With less work and time, you’ll get cleaner than is even possible with toilet paper alone. According to Dr. Alex You, an L.A.-based emergency physician, bidets are more effective than regular TP because they use pressure and water. “If you have dirt on your hands you would want to use water [too] and not just wipe it on a paper towel right?” he asks. “Using toilet paper alone just wipes and smears your poop.”
Then there’s all the toilet paper that you end up not using with a bidet. Sure, you’ll likely have to dry off with a few pads (unless you have an air-drying bidet), but over the years that you’ll use your bidet, you’ll save both money and trees by buying less toilet paper.
How We Chose the Best Bidets
Although bidets are quickly getting more popular in America, there still aren’t a ton of options to choose from. But that means we got to spend time with most of the best-selling bidet brands, as well as several popular bidets found on Amazon. In our testing, we considered ease of installation, built quality, basic functionality (i.e. did it get the job done), and added features. After using different bidets ourselves, we read through other expert opinions and user reviews for dozens of popular bidets. With all this in mind, we selected the bidets above. All had to be readily available at a major retailer (preferably Amazon) and have at least a 4/5-star rating.
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1. TUSHY Classic Bidet Toilet Attachment
The team behind TUSHY says you'll use "80% less toilet paper" with the addition of a bidet (you still need to pat yourself dry after using, though you can easily swap toilet paper for a hand towel or something similar). And considering Americans use more than 36 billion rolls of toilet paper every year -- resulting in the loss of 15 million trees -- bidets could go a long way to saving precious natural resources for generations to come.
This bidet attachment installs in ten minutes and doesn't require any electricity or additional plumbing. To use: turn the knob to set the nozzle spray. Adjust intensity and duration as necessary.
TUSHY Classic Bidet Toilet Attachment
2. SmartBidet SB-1000 Electric Bidet Seat
Swap your basic toilet seat for this electric bidet seat from SmartBidet. The seat is easy to install yourself (no need to hire a plumber) and accommodates up to 440 pounds in weight.
A built-in "skin sensor" activates the seat when you sit down. Use the included remote control to cycle through five different water pressure levels, three different water temperatures and five different nozzle positions. The nozzle can be used for a "posterior wash" or for a "feminine wash" as well. The "turbo wash" gives you a more invigorating clean.
A built-in warm dryer lets you finish off without needing to reach for toilet paper.
SmartBidet SB-1000 Electric Bidet Seat
3. Luxe Bidet Mechanical Bidet Attachment
The Luxe Bidet Neo 120 is a simple, no-fuss bidet that uses fresh water and a powerful nozzle to give you a thorough, targeted clean.
Turn one of the chrome knobs to "wash," and then use the other knob to select your desired water pressure.
What we like: a hygienic "nozzle guard gate" shields the nozzle to prevent unwanted (or unsightly) splashes. The nozzle automatically retracts behind the guard gate after each wash. The nozzle is self-cleaning.
The Neo 120 is easy to install and attaches to most standard toilets. Its slim, low-profile design doesn't take up too much room.
Luxe Bidet Mechanical Bidet Attachment
4. Brondell GoSpa Travel Bidet
A discreet, convenient solution, this GoSpa travel bidet uses a simple squeeze bottle design and spray nozzle to keep you clean on the go.
The bottle holds up to 400ml of water (fill it with cold or hot water) and an air lock on the bottle allows a little air to seep in, so the bidet doesn't overspray. To use: angle the nozzle arm under your body and gently squeeze the bottle.
This set comes with a drawstring travel bag for easy storage.
Because you fill the bottle yourself, consider adding some essential oils to your water to create your own cleaning solution.
Brondell GoSpa Travel Bidet
5. TOTO C200 Washlet
TOTO takes the throne when it comes to bidets, and their popular Washlet model doubles down on thoughtful details for a cleaner, more comfortable experience.
The first thing you'll notice is that the lid automatically opens and closes when it senses movement nearby. A "pre-mist" function sprays the inside of the toilet bowl before you sit down, to both clean and also prevent waste from sticking. The self-cleaning wand, meantime, is automatically cleaned inside and out before and after use.
The Washlet features a heated seat and both front and rear cleaning functions. You can also choose from five different temperature and pressure settings. Once you're done, turn on the warm air dryer to finish off. A built-in air deodorizer removes any lingering germs or smells.
What we like: TOTO says its "AIR-IN WONDER WAVE" technology delivers a more effective and efficient clean. The reason: air is injected into the water, to enlarge the droplets, allowing the spray to cover more surface space without being too aggressive.
