Bidet Toilets: Every Way to Get a Toilet With a Bidet
A "bidet toilet" is simply a toilet with a bidet built in — it sprays a stream of water to clean you after you go. In the U.S. there are three ways to get one, from cheapest to most premium: (1) clip a bidet attachment under your existing seat ($30–$100), (2) swap your seat for a bidet toilet seat ($80–$1,400), or (3) replace the whole fixture with an integrated bidet toilet ($900–$8,000+). For most homes the bidet toilet seat is the sweet spot: you keep the toilet you already own and still get warm water, a heated seat, and a warm-air dryer.
Worth clearing up a common mix-up: in Europe a "bidet" is often a separate porcelain basin next to the toilet. In North America, when people search for a "bidet toilet" or a "toilet with a bidet," they almost always mean one of the three all-in-one options above — the water sprayer is part of the toilet itself, not a second fixture. This guide covers all three so you can match the right one to your bathroom and budget.
Below we break down how each approach works, what it costs, how hard it is to install, and exactly who each one is right for — then point you to our researched product picks for whichever path fits you.
See our top integrated bidet toilets
See our picks →What counts as a "bidet toilet"?
Any toilet that can spray water to clean you counts. That includes a plain toilet with a bidet attachment tucked under the seat, a toilet wearing a bidet seat, and a purpose-built integrated unit where the bidet electronics are baked into the toilet from the factory. The differences that matter to you as a buyer are cost, whether you need warm water and a dryer, and how much installation the option requires. It is not an all-or-nothing decision — you can start with a $40 attachment today and move up to a full seat or unit later.
Option 1: Bidet attachment — the cheapest way in
A bidet attachment is a thin plate that mounts between your existing toilet and its seat and adds a retractable spray nozzle, controlled by a small dial on the side. It taps your toilet's existing water line with a T-valve — no electricity, no plumber, about 15 minutes with a wrench. Most are cold-water only (a warm-water version exists but must reach a sink hot line). Attachments are the fastest, cheapest way to find out whether bidet washing is for you, and they are ideal for renters since they leave no permanent changes. The trade-offs: no heated seat, no warm-air dryer, and a colder spray in winter. See our researched picks in the best bidet attachments guide.
Option 2: Bidet toilet seat — the best choice for most homes
A bidet toilet seat replaces your existing seat entirely — the lid, seat, and wash nozzle come as one unit that bolts to the same holes. This is the category most people mean by "bidet toilet," and it is where the value lives. Electric seats ($200–$1,400) add heated water, an adjustable heated seat, a warm-air dryer, a self-cleaning nozzle, and a remote; non-electric seats (under $100) give a cold-water wash powered by your home's water pressure. You keep the toilet you already own and install it yourself in 30–45 minutes, though electric models need a grounded GFCI outlet within about four feet. Start with our best bidet toilet seats roundup, or the under-$300 and round-toilet guides if those fit your situation.
Option 3: Integrated bidet toilet — one seamless unit
An integrated bidet toilet builds the bidet into the toilet at the factory, so there is no seam between seat and bowl and no visible add-on. This is the premium tier — think TOTO Neorest, Woodbridge, Kohler Veil, and the Japanese-style smart toilets — with features a seat can't match: automatic open/close lids, tankless on-demand warm water, bowl pre-misting and electrolyzed-water self-cleaning, night lights, and heated seats with memory presets. The catch is cost and installation: units run from about $900 to $8,000+, need a nearby GFCI outlet, and most people have a plumber set them because you're replacing the whole fixture. See our best smart toilets roundup for researched integrated picks.
Which should you choose?
If you just want to try a bidet or you rent, start with an attachment — it's cheap and reversible. If you own your home and want the full experience (warm water, heated seat, dryer) without replacing your toilet, a bidet toilet seat is the right call for the vast majority of buyers, and it's what we recommend most often. Only step up to an integrated unit if you're already remodeling the bathroom, building new, replacing an old toilet anyway, or you specifically want the seamless look and top-tier features and have the budget for professional installation. Put simply: attachment to test the water, seat for the best value, integrated unit for a remodel or a premium upgrade.
Installation and electrical basics
All three options tap the same cold-water supply line that already feeds your toilet, using an included T-valve — no new plumbing for attachments or seats. The one requirement that trips people up is electricity: any bidet with warm water, a heated seat, or a dryer needs a grounded, GFCI-protected outlet within about four feet of the toilet. Newer bathrooms usually have one; older ones often don't, in which case budget $150–$300 for an electrician to add one. Non-electric attachments and seats skip this entirely since they run on water pressure alone. Integrated units add one more wrinkle — because you're swapping the whole fixture, you'll also reset the wax ring and confirm your rough-in (the distance from the wall to the drain bolts, usually 12 inches), which is why most buyers hire a plumber for that tier.
3 ways to get a bidet toilet — compared
| Approach | Upfront cost | Install | Warm water, dryer, heated seat? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bidet attachment (mounts under your seat) | $30–$100 | ~15 min, no outlet | Usually cold-water only (a few warm-water models) | Trying a bidet cheaply; renters |
| Bidet toilet seat (replaces your seat) | $80–$1,400 | 30–45 min; electric needs a GFCI outlet | Yes on electric models | Most people — keep your existing toilet |
| Integrated bidet toilet (one-piece unit) | $900–$8,000+ | Plumber usually; needs a nearby outlet | Yes — plus auto lid, self-clean, tankless heating | Remodels, new builds, premium buyers |
Tips & warnings
- Not sure you'll like a bidet? Spend $40 on an attachment first. If you love it (most people do), move up to a seat or unit — you'll have lost almost nothing.
- Before buying any seat or attachment, confirm your bowl shape: round (~16.5 in from seat bolts to front lip) or elongated (~18.5 in). They are not interchangeable.
- Check for a GFCI outlet near the toilet before you buy anything electric. No outlet nearby is the single most common surprise cost.
- "Smart toilet," "Japanese toilet," and "washlet" are all names for the integrated bidet-toilet tier — the same category, different labels.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bidet toilet?
A bidet toilet is any toilet that sprays water to clean you after using it. That can be a regular toilet with a bidet attachment under the seat, a toilet fitted with a bidet seat, or a one-piece integrated unit with the bidet built in from the factory. All three do the same core job — the difference is cost, features (warm water, heated seat, dryer), and how much installation is involved.
Is a bidet toilet the same as a smart toilet?
Not quite. A smart toilet is one type of bidet toilet — specifically the premium integrated kind with electronic features like an auto-open lid, tankless warm water, and self-cleaning. But a plain toilet with a $40 bidet attachment or a bidet seat is also a "bidet toilet" without being a smart toilet. So every smart toilet is a bidet toilet, but not every bidet toilet is a smart toilet.
How much does a toilet with a bidet cost?
It depends entirely on the approach. A bidet attachment runs $30–$100, a bidet toilet seat runs $80–$1,400 (non-electric under $100; full-featured electric $300–$1,400), and an integrated bidet toilet runs about $900 to $8,000+. Most people get the full warm-water experience for $300–$600 with an electric bidet seat on their existing toilet.
Do you need an electrician for a bidet toilet?
Only if you want warm water, a heated seat, or a dryer — those need a grounded GFCI outlet within about four feet of the toilet. Many newer bathrooms already have one. Older bathrooms often don't, so budget $150–$300 for an electrician to add an outlet. Non-electric attachments and cold-water seats need no electricity at all.
Do bidet toilets need special plumbing?
Attachments and bidet seats do not — they connect to your toilet's existing cold-water line with an included T-valve, no new plumbing. Integrated units do involve more work because you're replacing the entire fixture, so you'll reset the wax ring and match the rough-in distance; most people hire a plumber for that tier.
Are bidet toilets worth it?
For most people, yes. Water cleans more thoroughly than paper, it's gentler on sensitive skin, and it cuts toilet-paper use by 50–75%, so an electric seat often pays for itself within a few years. The lowest-risk way to decide is to start with an inexpensive attachment; if you like it, upgrade to a seat or an integrated unit.