In this article
Bidets, in its most basic form, use a stream of water to cleanse your posterior after you poop. As a longtime bidet user myself, I consider it an essential for my personal hygiene. Since making the switch years ago, I use far less toilet paper (which can be abrasive to your butthole) and feel much cleaner down there after using the restroom. That last point was confirmed by anal surgeon and sexual-health and wellness expert Dr. Evan Goldstein, who is also a co-founder of the sex-care brand Future Method. “If we’re talking about bidets, we’re also trying to make sure people are educated about pooping the right way: not straining, not sitting too long on the toilet, and not wiping too much,” he says. “With bidets, we’re cleaning in a way that is much more strategic, less irritating, and environmentally helpful.” (Goldstein recommends patting the area with TP after you’ve cleansed with water rather than wiping.)
The more you learn, the more the concept becomes appealing, but for those unfamiliar with it, springing for one can be quite intimidating. To find the best bidets, I spoke to bidet experts, plumbers, and even bidet users themselves. From my own experience with my Tushy bidet and testing other manual options, I’m of the camp that you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to get all the benefits — a simple attachment will do just fine. However, if you’re willing to pay a bit extra, plenty of sources told me their electronic seats (complete with warm water and some with air dryers) are well worth the investment. Before you commit, though, you’ll want to check the style of toilet seat you have (round or elongated) and whether your bathroom is equipped with the proper plumbing and outlet access.
What we’re looking for
Manual versus electric
Bidet attachments can range from under $50 to over $500, and the main feature dictating the price is whether it’s manual or electric. Manual bidets require no electrical hookup, making them easier to install, but they lack some of the features of electric bidets. You can still adjust the nozzle and water pressure and even control water temperature with some manual models, but if you are interested in a dryer, automation, or a massage cycle, you’ll need an electric bidet.
Dual wash
Bidets aren’t just for butts, which is why you should look for a model with either two separate nozzles or one whose position you can adjust for front feminine wash and rear wash. It’s great for refreshing yourself after sex or when you’re on your period.
Warm water
If the idea of having cold water blasted at your rear end sounds unappealing, you’ll want to look for a model with a warm-water hookup. With an electric bidet, you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a warm-water option, but with manual models, you’ll need to read the fine print.
Best manual bidets
Best manual bidet overall
Manual versus electric: Manual | Dual wash: Dual wash | Warm water: No warm water
Even before taking on this article, I had a Tushy bidet. It appealed to me three years ago (a total bidet newbie at the time) because it’s simple to set up and looks sleeker than other ones I’ve seen. It also stood out as the overwhelming favorite among sources for those very reasons. The Tushy attaches to your toilet bowl (you place your existing seat on top of it), requires no electricity, and comes with a hose to connect to your clean water supply, making it very plug-and-play. Simple knobs allow you to adjust water pressure and the angle of the self-cleaning nozzle (from front to bum).
The Tushy is also great for women and their needs. Morgan, a photographer and mom of three, uses it every day but says the gentle stream of water was especially helpful when she was postpartum. Sally, a new mom, says the Tushy similarly saved her when she was in her third trimester of pregnancy, when moving around became more difficult and peeing much more frequent. “I started to feel raw from all the tissue wiping, but that raw feeling went away almost instantly with the bidet, and I wasn’t needing to use nearly as much toilet paper.” While you’re shopping, keep in mind that the Classic model will supply only room-temperature water.
Best less expensive manual bidet
Manual versus electric: Manual | Dual wash: Dual wash | Warm water: No warm water
Luxe Bidet’s Neo 185 model also offers front and rear washing and is a little more affordable than Tushy. It’s not quite as sleek as the best overall, but it’s still a great entry-level bidet since you can easily adjust the water pressure. It’s operated by dual nozzles, one for front feminine wash and the other for rear wash, plus two knobs: One controls water pressure, and the other controls the feminine wash and engages the nozzle-cleaning mode. When I tested it for myself, I found the larger knobs extremely easy to turn and adjust. The nozzles retract and come with a guard gate to prevent splash back, keeping everything hygienic. And for an even less expensive option, consider the Neo 120, which does not have feminine front wash. Strategist senior editor Crystal Martin swears by hers: “The cold water could be a jolt to an uninitiated tush and took some getting used to, but now it’s refreshing,” she says.
Best manual bidet with warm water
Manual versus electric: Manual | Dual wash: Dual wash | Warm water: No warm water
If you are interested in a bidet with a warm-water option, Tushy also carries a model for about $20 more than the Classic. It has all the same features as our best overall pick with the addition of a separate knob to control water temperature as well as pressure. To install the Spa properly, you’ll need access to your sink for hot water to hook up the nine-foot-long connection hose. While the Tushy on its own is great, it’s well worth it to take the extra step. Compared to the standard room temperature, the customizable temperature settings are a game changer (I tend to keep mine on the warmer side almost all the time). I still get the nice clean feeling after a rinse, but without the initial shock of cold water.
Best manual bidet seat
Manual versus electric: Manual | Dual wash: Dual wash | Warm water: No warm water
Instead of installing a bidet attachment to the underside of your toilet seat, consider a manual bidet seat that replaces the entire thing. The AquaWash SpaLet has a streamlined design and is a favorite of Mark Feldman, the chief home officer of the online home-décor and furnishings site Riverbend Home, who says it has strong water pressure. It features dual self-cleaning nozzles for easy front and back washing and is operated by a discreet side handle. Cleaning the whole thing is really easy, too, as the nozzles are detachable and the unit itself has a quick-release button that makes it easy to lift off. It’s also the most unobtrusive-looking of the manual bidet attachments on this list, if you’d rather not have a control panel protruding from the side of your toilet. And, of course, it requires no electricity.
[Editor’s note: This model is currently only available for elongated toilets, so make sure that matches what you have at home.]
Best electric bidets
Best electric bidet overall
Manual versus electric: Electric | Dual wash: Dual wash | Warm water: Warm water
Japanese toilet manufacturer Toto is a major player in the bidet space for its award-winning bidet seats. The brand was brought up by three sources: two anonymous folks who own a bidet from Toto personally and professional plumber Gerald Carpenter, who blogs about everything from toilet and bidet reviews to DIY bathroom solutions on his website, Sanitary Review. While the C100 Washlet was originally recommended, it’s now discontinued and very limited in stock. I found that the C2 Washlet was the most similar entry-level model packed with the same praised features: front and rear washing with adjustable spray power and water temperature; a heated seat; a tank-type heating system that supplies at least 40 seconds of warm water; air deodorizer; pre-mist, a mist that coats your toilet bowl so your doo-doo does not stick; and a warm air dryer with three settings. The adjustable air dryer is a standout feature for Carpenter because other bidet-seat dryers are typically overly powerful or too weak. The C2 also comes with a self-cleaning nozzle that washes itself before and after every use and is operated with a side-control panel (versus a remote control, which usually comes with higher-end units).
Best less expensive electric bidet
Manual versus electric: Electric | Dual wash: Dual wash | Warm water: Warm water
For a more affordable option than the above Toto, look to Brondell’s entry-level model. In addition to adjustable water pressure and temperature control, the Swash SE400 features posterior and feminine front wash, an adjustable heated seat with three settings, anti-bacterial self-cleaning nozzles, aerated wash spray, a slow-closing lid, a warm air dryer, and an optional eco-mode. The only more high-end features it lacks is a deodorizer and detachable remote control.
Best high-end electric bidet
Manual versus electric: Electric | Dual wash: Dual wash | Warm water: Warm water
If you’re willing to splurge on a more luxurious bidet experience, Bio Bidet’s BB2000 is worth the extra money. After hours researching the perfect bidet, Strategist writer Lauren Ro’s husband decided on this because of its upgraded heating system, which provides a continuous stream of warm water. The water comes out of a stainless-steel nozzle that provides rear, feminine-front, and vortex-enema modes (indicated on the remote by a graphic of a butt and a drill-like spray, an image Ro finds delightful). It also has unique features such as an air deodorizer, an adjustable warm-air dry, and various massage-wash modes.
Ro’s husband prefers the two-minute wash cycle twice before going through the three-minute dry cycle, and says it gets him exceptionally clean. “I used to use an inordinate amount of toilet paper whenever I pooped. I don’t know the number of times I’ve clogged a toilet with an absolutely gargantuan wad of TP,” he says. “Now I just run the wash cycle on my bum, use a modicum of TP, more or less to get visual confirmation that I’m clean, and I never clog the toilet.” Ro finds that the feminine-front mode is strong enough for rear washing (even though she rarely goes the whole two minutes), and she never does the dry mode, mostly because cycling through the entire process takes at least five minutes. She also loves it for refreshing during periods and after sex.
Some Strategist-approved bathroom accessories
Our experts
• Gerald Carpenter, plumber and founder of Sanitary Review
• Mark Feldman, chief home officer of Riverbend Home
• Dr. Evan Goldstein, co-founder of sex-care brand Future Method
• Thomas Jepsen, housing expert
• Crystal Martin, Strategist senior editor
• Ian Mesa-Jonassen, production accountant
• Lauren Ro, Strategist writer
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best women’s jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.
