What Is a Bidet and Should You Invest in One?

If you've never tried a bidet, the thought may seem out of your comfort zone. But there's a reason bidets are common in bathrooms abroad and often found in public and residential restrooms. While they haven't fully caught on in the States yet, bidet usage has increased in popularity among Americans thanks to cost-effective bidet attachments for standard toilets. Below, we cover what a bidet is, the benefits, and whether you should invest in one for your bathroom. 

What Is a Bidet?

Bidets were invented in the late 17th or early 18th century in France as a way to improve toilet hygiene in the pre-toilet paper era. In its original form, a bidet was a separate porcelain fixture that sat near the toilet so bathroom-goers could squat over it and rinse after using the toilet. 

Modern-day iterations include bidet toilets with everything you need in one porcelain throne or toilet attachments designed to use water to clean off instead of toilet paper. They can also include additional features like a heated seat, LED lights, warm water settings, and a built-in dryer.

Benefits of Bidets 

Are you on the fence about kicking toilet paper to the curb? Consider these bidet benefits you won’t want to miss out on. 

Bidets Can Be More Hygienic

In most cases, a bidet is believed to leave you much cleaner than regular old “TP,” making it the more hygienic option. Be aware that bacteria can still build up on the nozzle if not cleaned regularly. Read the manufacturer's guide to learn how to disinfect your specific bidet.  

People Claim to Feel Cleaner Using a Bidet

When comparing a bidet versus a toilet, most people who finally try using a bidet tend to never go back because of how much cleaner they claim to feel after using the bathroom. 

Bidets Are a Sustainable Option

With a bidet, you can significantly reduce the amount of toilet paper you use. Fewer paper products equals fewer trees used and less waste. If you want to go to extra lengths to protect the Earth, a bidet might be the right type of toilet for you. 

You Can Save Money on Toilet Paper

Cutting back on toilet paper isn’t just good for the environment—it’s good for your wallet, too. Invest in the initial cost of a new bidet and save on your weekly grocery trip. 

Bidets Are Easier on Your Plumbing System 

Too much toilet paper is often the culprit of clogged toilets—a problem solved by using a bidet and flushing less toilet paper down your system.

Types of Bidets

There are several types of bidets to choose from depending on your current bathroom setup (and how much you’re willing to spend). Understanding how these bidets work can help you make the best choice.  A toilet installer can walk you through the costs of the different types and how they would fit into your current bathroom setup. 

Stand-Alone Bidets

One of the first modern bidet designs was a stand-alone bidet—a porcelain structure separate from the toilet. Though they look similar to toilets, they are not. Stand-alone bidets are much smaller and only have a faucet and a pop-up drain (similar to a sink) instead of flushable pipes. 

Adding this type of bidet to your bathroom is likely the most costly option since you will need to make space in your bathroom and add the necessary water and power hookups. 

Built-In Bidet Toilets

Built-in bidets are toilets that already come equipped with a cleansing spray mechanism. The most advanced (and expensive) bidet toilets include additional luxury features, such as LED night-lights, water temperature control, hands-free flushing, deodorizing filtration systems, dryers, and seat warmers. 

Bidet Toilet Seat

Keep your existing toilet and convert it with a bidet toilet seat. This affordable bidet option is easy to install and simple to use. All you have to do is remove the existing lid and seat from your toilet and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to replace it with the bidet toilet seat. Many of these seats come with the same luxury features as built-in bidets. 

Bidet Attachment 

Bidet attachments allow you to add a bidet to your current toilet. Unlike bidet toilet seats, you can keep your current lid and seat. However, you still need to remove and reattach both to install a bidet attachment. 

Most attachments do not have all the bells and whistles other options do, but they’re still a wallet-friendly way to install a bidet. You can always upgrade later if you want to. 

Handheld Spray Bidets

Handheld spray bidets also attach to your toilet, but they work differently than other bidet types. Instead of an automatic spray mechanism fixed in the center of the toilet seat, there is a separate handheld spray nozzle that you use to clean up manually. 

How Much Does Bidet Installation Cost?

Bidet installation costs between $40 and $1,500, with the lower end covering bidet attachments and toilet seats and the higher end covering standalone bidets and bidet toilets. Depending on the extent of the installation and any necessary plumbing modifications, labor from a toilet installation professional near you can account for a decent portion of the cost, sometimes up to $1,000. In some cases, particularly with bidet attachments and toilet seats, homeowners can DIY the installation and save some money.

Is Bidet Installation Worth It? 

Whether bidet installation is worth it comes down to personal preference. While some like the type of cleaning process that a bidet offers, others can’t get used to it. But even if you don’t use the bidet feature, a bidet toilet seat provides other benefits like LED lights for easy nighttime access and a heated seat for comfort.

For the environmentally conscious, a bidet can reduce toilet paper use, preserve the septic tank, and go easier on the sewer system. It can also save you money on toilet paper costs over time. Considering your comfort level, the environmental impact, and the price can help you decide if a bidet is the right toilet for you.

Paul F. P. Pogue contributed to this piece.