What Is a Smart Toilet? Features, Types and How It Differs
A smart toilet is a toilet with a built-in bidet and electronics. Here is what that means, which features matter, and how it compares with a smart toilet seat.
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A smart toilet is a toilet with a bidet, a heated seat and other electronics built into the fixture itself. Instead of adding a separate seat to an ordinary toilet, you buy one integrated unit that washes, dries, flushes and often opens its own lid, all controlled by a remote or sensors.
The term gets used loosely online, so it helps to be precise. On this site, “smart toilet” means an integrated toilet such as TOTO’s NEOREST line or Kohler’s Veil. A “smart toilet seat” means an electric bidet seat that bolts onto a toilet you already own. Both give you warm-water washing, but they differ a lot in cost, installation and what you can upgrade later.
This guide explains what a smart toilet is, what the common features do, what it needs in your bathroom, and when a smart seat makes more sense. It is based on manufacturer documentation, not physical product testing.
What makes a toilet “smart”
There is no official definition, but the products sold as smart or intelligent toilets share a pattern. The bowl and the electronic top unit are designed together, so the wand, the seat, the controls and the flush all work as one system. Most hide the hoses and power cord inside the body of the toilet.
The core of almost every smart toilet is the built-in bidet. A retractable wand sprays warm water for rear cleaning, and most models add a front wash. Around that core, manufacturers layer comfort and hygiene features. Higher-end models add sensors that open the lid when you walk up and flush when you walk away.
Here is how the main manufacturers describe their own products:
- TOTO NEOREST. TOTO’s premium line. The NEOREST NX2 page lists an automatic lid, automatic flush with a manual backup for power outages, EWATER+ cleaning, ACTILIGHT bowl treatment and an instantaneous water heater.
- TOTO WASHLET G5A. An integrated smart toilet from TOTO’s WASHLET range. TOTO lists auto flush, an auto lid, PREMIST, EWATER+ wand cleaning, a warm-air dryer and a remote with memory for four users.
- Kohler Veil. Kohler’s spec sheet for the Veil K-5401-PA lists a tankless design with direct water supply, pump-assisted flushing, a heated seat, a warm-air dryer, a motion-activated cover, a nightlight and a touch-screen remote.
- American Standard Advanced Clean 100 SpaLet. American Standard lists dual self-cleaning nozzles, an auto-open and auto-close seat, auto flush, a heated seat with five settings and a night light.
Lower-cost brands also sell integrated bidet toilets. HOROW, for example, lists models with a built-in tank and pump, auto flush and a heated seat on its own store. Features, build quality and support vary a lot at that end of the market, so read each spec sheet closely.
Common smart toilet features explained
Not every model has every feature. This table shows what each one does and how common it is.
| Feature | What it does | How common |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated bidet wand | Sprays warm water for rear and front washing; usually adjustable for pressure, position and temperature | Standard |
| Heated seat | Keeps the seat warm, usually with several temperature levels | Standard |
| Warm-air dryer | Blows warm air after washing to reduce toilet paper use | Standard |
| Deodorizer | Draws air through a filter while you are seated | Very common |
| Automatic flush | Flushes when you stand up or walk away | Common |
| Automatic lid | Opens when you approach and closes when you leave | Common on mid-range and premium |
| Self-cleaning wand | Rinses or sanitizes the wand, sometimes with UV light or electrolyzed water | Common |
| Bowl pre-mist | Wets the bowl before use so waste sticks less | Mid-range and premium |
| Nightlight | Soft light in or around the bowl | Very common |
| App or voice control | Settings and user profiles on a phone or smart speaker | Some premium models |
For a deeper look at how each of these works, including water heating and the pumps that let tankless models flush, see our guide to how smart toilets work.
Smart toilet vs. smart toilet seat
This is the decision most shoppers actually face. A smart toilet seat, also called an electric bidet seat, replaces the seat on a standard toilet. It brings the same core features: warm-water wash, heated seat, dryer and deodorizer. Some premium seats, such as the TOTO WASHLET S7A, even add an automatic lid.
What a seat usually can’t do is control the flush on an ordinary toilet. Integrated toilets also hide the plumbing and wiring, look more unified, and often add bowl treatments that need the bowl and electronics to be designed together.
| Integrated smart toilet | Smart toilet seat | |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | Whole toilet with built-in electronics | Seat that fits your existing toilet |
| Auto flush | Common | Rare; usually needs a matching toilet or kit |
| Installation | Full toilet replacement | Swap the seat and add a water tee |
| Power | GFCI outlet; some models call for a dedicated circuit | GFCI outlet within cord reach |
| If electronics fail | Service or replace parts of the toilet | Replace the seat only |
| Cost | Much higher | Much lower |
There is also a middle option. TOTO sells WASHLET+ sets that pair a specific TOTO toilet with a WASHLET seat, with the cord and water hose hidden in the toilet’s body. You get a cleaner look than a standalone seat while keeping a replaceable seat. Our bidet toilet vs. bidet seat comparison goes through the trade-offs in more detail.
| Product | Best for | Heated seat | Water heating | Bowl shape | Power | Warranty | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOTO WASHLET S7A | Premium, hands-free features | Yes | Tankless (instant) | Elongated | 120V GFCI outlet required | 2-year limited (residential) | Check Price for TOTO WASHLET S7A (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| Bio Bidet BB-2000 (Bliss) | Wide range of wash modes | Yes, adjustable | “Hybrid” continuous warm water | Round or elongated | 120V GFCI within 4 ft | 3-year | Check Price for Bio Bidet BB-2000 Bliss (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| Brondell Swash 1400 | Separate front and rear nozzles | Yes | Tankless (on-demand) | Round or elongated | 120V, 3.5-ft cord | Limited 3-year tiered | Check Price for Brondell Swash 1400 (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| Alpha JX2 | Value-focused tankless design | Yes | Tankless | Round or elongated | 120V, 4-ft grounded cord | 3-year | Check Price for Alpha JX2 bidet seat (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
Specifications from manufacturer product pages, checked November 2026. Models and availability change — confirm details on the listing before you buy. No prices are shown because they change frequently.
What a smart toilet needs in your bathroom
Electricity
Every smart toilet needs power. TOTO lists a 120V GFCI outlet as a requirement on its NEOREST models. Kohler’s spec sheet for the original Veil K-5401 goes further and calls for a dedicated 120V, 15A circuit with GFCI protection. Requirements vary by model, so read the installation sheet before you buy and have a licensed electrician add or upgrade the outlet.
Water supply and drain
A smart toilet connects to the same cold-water supply and floor drain as a standard toilet. Most models are made for the common 12-inch rough-in, which is the distance from the finished wall to the center of the drain. Kohler’s Veil, Eir and the TOTO G5A spec sheets all list a 12-inch rough-in.
Many smart toilets are tankless. Instead of storing water in a tank, they flush from the supply line with help from an electric pump. That design needs enough water flow. Kohler, for example, lists a minimum flow rate of 6 gallons per minute for the Veil K-5401-PA and 4 gallons per minute for the Eir.
Space
Smart toilets are usually elongated, and the electronic top unit adds bulk at the back. Check the overall depth against your bathroom door swing and any cabinet above the toilet. Elongated bowls are longer front to back than round ones, so measure before you order.
Water use
Smart toilets are often very water-efficient. TOTO lists a dual flush of 1.0 or 0.8 gallons per flush on the NEOREST NX2 and AS. Kohler lists 0.8 or 1.28 gpf on the Veil K-5401-PA and 0.8 or 1.0 gpf on the Eir. For comparison, the EPA says WaterSense toilets use 1.28 gallons per flush or less, while the federal standard is 1.6 gallons.
The bidet wash uses a small amount of water too, but it can reduce how much toilet paper you go through. Check the gallons-per-flush figure on any model you shortlist.
Pros and cons of a smart toilet
What we like
- All features designed to work together
- Hidden hoses and cords for a cleaner look
- Auto flush and auto lid on many models
- Often very low water use per flush
- Easier to clean around with skirted bowl designs
Things to consider
- Far higher cost than a seat upgrade
- Full toilet replacement needed
- Needs a GFCI outlet and sometimes a dedicated circuit
- Electronics repairs depend on the manufacturer's parts and service
- Tankless models need adequate water flow
Who a smart toilet is for
A smart toilet makes the most sense if you are remodeling a bathroom, replacing a toilet anyway, and want the cleanest possible look with hands-free features. It also suits people who want automatic flushing and lid operation, which can help anyone who finds bending or twisting hard. Our guide to smart toilets for older adults covers that angle.
A smart seat is usually the better choice if your current toilet works well, you rent, or your budget is limited. Our breakdown of whether smart toilets are worth the money walks through that decision step by step.
Frequently asked questions
Is a smart toilet the same as a bidet?
Not exactly. A traditional bidet is a separate fixture. A smart toilet builds a bidet wand into the toilet itself, along with features such as a heated seat and dryer. A smart toilet seat adds similar washing features to an ordinary toilet.
Do smart toilets work during a power outage?
Most offer some backup flushing. TOTO lists a manual backup flush on its NEOREST models, and Kohler says the Veil K-5401-PA supports up to 100 flushes during an outage using a touch button. The bidet, heated seat and dryer won’t work without power.
Can I install a smart toilet myself?
If you are comfortable replacing a toilet, the plumbing part is similar. The heavier, more complex unit and the electrical requirement are what make it harder. American Standard recommends professional installation for its SpaLet bidet toilet, especially for first-time installers. See our smart toilet installation guide.
Do smart toilets need special cleaning?
Many have self-cleaning wands and bowl treatments, but you still need to clean the bowl and exterior. Use only the cleaners the manufacturer approves, since harsh chemicals can damage plastic parts and coatings.
Next steps
If you are still deciding between an integrated toilet and a seat upgrade, start with our list of the best smart toilet seats. To budget for either route, read how much a smart toilet costs.
