Bidets are showing up in more American bathrooms every year. Here is an honest look at what you gain, what you give up, and what it takes to add one.
The Short Answer on Bidets
For most households, yes, a bidet is worth it. It cleans better than paper alone, cuts how much toilet paper you buy, and can be gentler on sensitive skin. The right type depends on your space, your budget and your toilet installation setup.
Below we cover the benefits, the downsides, the three main types, what installation takes in an older home, and how to decide.
What Are the Real Benefits of a Bidet?
The main benefit is a cleaner, fresher feeling after using the toilet. Water rinses better than dry paper. Many people say they feel cleaner for the rest of the day.
Less toilet paper
Most bidet users still pat dry with a little paper or a towel. But they use far less than before. That means fewer rolls to buy, store and flush.
Gentler on sensitive skin
Warm water can be kinder than wiping for people with hemorrhoids or recovering from surgery. One randomized trial is listed in the National Library of Medicine. In it, a low-pressure electronic bidet worked about as well as a warm sitz bath for pain after hemorrhoid surgery. Patients also found the bidet more convenient.
Easier for older adults
People with limited reach, stiff shoulders or balance issues often find a bidet easier than twisting to wipe. Paired with a comfort-height toilet and grab bars, it can help someone stay independent at home longer.
The downsides
Bidets are not perfect. Attachments often spray cold water, electric seats need an outlet, and there is a short learning curve. Everyone in the home has to be on board, or the bidet becomes an expensive seat.
Bidets are common in many parts of the world, and more American homes are adding them during remodels. The shift makes sense once you try one, since most people find it hard to go back.
Bidet Attachment, Bidet Seat or Standalone Bidet?
There are three common ways to add a bidet. Each one needs different plumbing, power and floor space.
Bidet attachment
This thin unit slides under your existing toilet seat and connects to the toilet’s water supply. Most models use cold water only. It is the simplest and least costly option.
Electric bidet seat
This replaces your toilet seat. It usually offers warm water, a heated seat and a dryer. It needs a grounded outlet close to the toilet, which many older bathrooms do not have.
Standalone bidet
This is a separate fixture next to the toilet with its own hot and cold lines and drain. It needs extra floor space and new plumbing, so it usually only makes sense during a full remodel.
Handheld bidet sprayers are a fourth, less common choice. They mount beside the toilet and work like a small kitchen sprayer.
Toilets already use a lot of water. The EPA WaterSense toilet page says toilets are the main source of water use in the home, at nearly 30 percent of indoor use. If you are replacing the toilet anyway, pairing a WaterSense model with a bidet seat is a smart combination.
What It Takes to Add a Bidet in an Older Home
In an older home, the outlet is usually the hard part, not the plumbing. Many older bathrooms have a single outlet by the sink, far from the toilet. Running a new, protected outlet means opening the wall, so it is easiest to plan during a remodel.
The water supply can also need work. Old shutoff valves often seize or drip when they are turned for the first time in years. Replacing the valve before adding a bidet tee avoids a slow leak behind the toilet.
This comes up often in older Philadelphia row homes. With more than 60 full-time employees, Showcase Remodels works in a lot of older Philadelphia homes. Our free design consultation starts with a home visit and an honest assessment. That is the right time to check the outlet and the shutoff valve before anything is ordered.
Safety is part of the same conversation. One Showcase Remodels customer wrote that their old bathtub was very unsafe. After the remodel, they had a nonslip floor, grab bars and a seat. A bidet seat fits right into that kind of bathroom built for comfort and safety.
How to Decide If a Bidet Is Right for You
Start with a simple attachment if you are unsure. It lets your household try the idea without changing the bathroom.
Choose an electric seat if you want warm water and a heated seat, and you have or can add an outlet near the toilet. Save a standalone bidet for a larger bathroom that is being fully remodeled.
If your toilet is old, replace it first. Our guide to toilet installation cost explains what that job involves. For more ideas that pair well with a bidet seat, see our look at smart bathroom technology trends for 2026.
Talk it over with the household
A bidet only works if people use it. Some family members love it on day one, while others need a few weeks. Starting with a seat that has adjustable pressure and a gentle setting makes the switch easier for everyone.
If you are planning a full remodel, ask for an outlet behind the toilet even if you are not ready to buy a seat. Adding it now costs far less than opening the wall later.
Finally, measure before you buy. Seats come in round and elongated shapes, and a seat that does not match your bowl will not sit flat.
Frequently Asked Questions
They can. Most users buy far less toilet paper. The savings depend on the type you buy and how many people use it. A bidet seat also lasts for years with basic care, so the savings build over time.
Yes, when they are kept clean. Most bidet seats and attachments have self-cleaning nozzles. Wipe the nozzle area and seat as part of your normal bathroom cleaning. Choose a model with a nozzle you can remove or replace for deeper cleaning.
Most standard toilets can take an attachment or a bidet seat. One-piece toilets with unusual shapes may not fit every model. In older Philadelphia bathrooms, the bigger question is usually whether there is an outlet close enough for an electric seat.
Plan a Bathroom That Fits How You Live
Showcase Remodels designs comfortable, easy-to-use bathrooms for Philadelphia homes, including space for the fixtures you want. Call us to book a free design consultation.
