Best Bidets

Toto Washlet C5 sits at #1 in the S tier of our consolidated board, ranked across independent research runs over current expert reviews. While not a perfect solution, its warm seat and improved water feel make it a generally well-regarded option according to user feedback.

Coway Bidetmega 500S ranks #2 (A tier). Its inclusion in a “luxury” list by a reputable source indicates high quality and desirability within the bidet market.

Our research places Bio Bidet SlimEdge, Alpha JX2, Tushy Classic, Tushy Classic 3.0, Duravit SensoWash Arcova, Brondell Swash 1200, Brondell Swash LE99 Advanced Bidet in the bottom tiers (D/F). Limited durability and infrequent updates undermine its budget appeal.

A bidet washes you with a jet of water instead of wiping. On a modern bidet seat or attachment a small wand extends from under the rim, sprays a stream you can aim and adjust, then retracts and rinses itself. Attachments run on your toilet's cold water line alone. Electric seats add a heater for warm water, a heated seat and often an air dryer, which is why the Toto Washlet C5 and Bio Bidet BB-2000 need a power outlet near the toilet.

A bidet seat replaces your toilet seat and is usually electric, with warm water, a heated seat, adjustable pressure and sometimes a dryer. A bidet attachment slips under your existing seat and is usually cold water only, with a simple dial for pressure. On our board the electric seats dominate the top: the Toto Washlet C5, Coway Bidetmega 500S and Toto Washlet S5 are all seats. The attachments, such as the Tushy Classic and Tushy Classic 3.0, sit in D tier because reviewers found them noisier, less durable and short on features.

Most bidets fit standard two-piece toilets with a round or elongated bowl, and you buy the seat shape that matches your bowl. Measure from the seat bolt holes to the front rim before ordering. One-piece toilets with a curved or sloped tank and French-curve designs can block the seat or its control panel. On our board the Bio Bidet SlimEdge is noted for its slim, compact design that fits most toilets, which matters if space behind the seat is tight.

Toto is the most consistent brand on our board. The Toto Washlet C5 is the only S tier product and the Toto Washlet S5 is in A tier, and both are praised for reliable warm-water delivery, quiet motors and long-running firmware updates. Coway also scores well, with the Coway Bidetmega 500S covering most parts under warranty for up to five years. Brondell is the mixed case: the Brondell Swash 1400 is in B tier, but the Brondell Swash 1200 and Brondell Swash LE99 Advanced Bidet are both in F tier.

The wand and the firmware decide how long a bidet stays useful. Stainless-steel wands, as on the Kohler Puretide, Brondell Swash SE400 and Alpha JX2, hold up far better than the plastic composite wands that reviewers say wear quickly on the Ultra Nova (Kohler) and crack on the Brondell Swash 1200. Firmware support matters too: the Toto Washlet C5 is praised for long-lasting updates, while the Bio Bidet SlimEdge and Brondell Swash 1200 are marked down for infrequent or no updates.

The wand is the usual weak point. Plastic wands wear and crack, which is the main complaint against the Brondell Swash 1200 and the Ultra Nova (Kohler), and the Ultra Nova (Kohler) is also reported to have a higher failure rate overall. Software is the second failure mode: older firmware with bugs on the Brondell Swash 1200 and sparse updates on the Ultra Nova (Kohler). Mineral scale on the nozzle is the common general failure, so rinse or descale the wand every few months in hard-water areas.

Water cleans more thoroughly than dry paper, and a self-rinsing wand keeps the nozzle clean between uses. The concern about urinary tract infections comes from rear-to-front spray carrying bacteria forward. Use the rear wash aimed at the rear and the front wash, where fitted, for the front, and keep the pressure moderate. Seats with a self-cleaning cycle, such as the Brondell Swash LE99 Advanced Bidet, automate nozzle hygiene, but that model is in F tier for other reasons. Wipe the wand and seat with a mild cleaner weekly.

Usually a little, to pat dry, unless the seat has an air dryer. Reviewers found that even the Toto Washlet C5 does not fully remove waste on its own, and the Tushy Classic 3.0 was marked down because users needed more toilet paper and were left damp. The Bio Bidet BB-2000 and Duravit SensoWash Arcova both include an air dryer, though the Duravit SensoWash Arcova sits in F tier for poor spray quality.

Avoid plastic wands, which wear and crack, and avoid models with no recent firmware updates. Both faults sink the Brondell Swash 1200 to F tier. Check local plumbing rules before buying an electric seat: the Brondell Swash LE99 Advanced Bidet ran into backflow prevention regulation problems and extra installation costs in Australia. Do not pay a premium for marginal gains either. Reviewers found the Brondell Swash SE400 offered modest improvements for little added value, and the Duravit SensoWash Arcova was judged not worth its price.

Skip an electric seat if there is no outlet near the toilet and you are not willing to have one fitted, since warm water, a heated seat and a dryer all need power. Skip a full seat if your toilet has a one-piece curved tank that blocks the seat from sitting flat. If you only want a cold-water attachment, be aware that the attachments on our board, the Tushy Classic, Tushy Classic 3.0 and Bio Bidet SlimEdge, are all in D tier, so the Toto Washlet C5 is the better buy if the budget stretches.