The main benefits of a bidet are less toilet paper, a gentler clean, and easier bathroom use for people with limited mobility. A bidet also uses far less water than it takes to make a roll of toilet paper. The research on health claims is thinner, so we’ve separated what’s well supported from what isn’t.
This article covers benefits only. For types, features, brands, costs, and installation, see our complete bidet guide.
What Is a Bidet?
A bidet cleans you with a stream of water after you use the toilet. Most U.S. homeowners add one as an attachment or a replacement seat. Others install a bidet toilet or a separate fixture next to the toilet. Bidets are common in many parts of the world; by one estimate, only about 25% to 30% of people worldwide use toilet paper.
Bidet Benefits
Less toilet paper and lower costs
Angi says a bidet can cut toilet paper spending by as much as 64%, or about $50 per person per year. Most people still use a little paper to pat dry, and a warm-air dryer on an electric seat can cut that further. Your savings depend on how much paper you use now.
A smaller environmental footprint
Toilet paper has a bigger footprint than most people think. A 2019 report from NRDC and Stand.earth found that the largest U.S. tissue makers use no recycled content in their at-home toilet paper and rely on trees from Canada’s boreal forest. The forest industry disputes parts of that report. NRDC also says the average four-person U.S. household uses over 100 pounds of toilet paper a year.
Water use points the same way. A widely repeated estimate says it takes about 37 gallons of water to make one roll of toilet paper. A bidet uses about 0.17 gallons per use, according to Angi.
The savings shrink if you use a bidet and still use plenty of paper. Where water is scarce, such as Arizona, one researcher told the Associated Press that toilet paper may be the more sustainable choice.
A gentler, cleaner feeling
Water is less abrasive than dry wiping, and many bidet users say they feel cleaner. Health experts generally agree that bidets improve the bathroom hygiene experience when used properly, though research is limited. Doctors quoted by the Associated Press said the texture of toilet paper can cause irritation and itching, while a water stream is gentler on skin.
Comfort for hemorrhoids and recovery
Medical professionals sometimes recommend bidets for people with hemorrhoids, people recovering from surgery, and people with limited mobility. A UC Berkeley public health professor told the Washington Post there are clear anecdotal reports that bidets help with hemorrhoids. If you have bleeding that doesn’t stop, see a doctor.
Easier use for people with limited mobility
A Cleveland Clinic gastroenterologist told The Washington Post that bidets are often helpful for people with arthritis, severe obesity, or Parkinson’s disease. Wiping takes reaching and twisting. A seat with a remote control and a warm-air dryer reduces both. A handheld sprayer can be awkward to use, so choose a seat or an attachment if mobility is a concern.
That makes a bidet a useful addition if you’re planning for aging in place.
Fewer clogs and less strain on plumbing
Less paper in the bowl can mean fewer clogs and less buildup in a septic system. A bidet is also an alternative to wet wipes, and Consumer Reports warns that any wipe, including ones labeled “flushable,” can clog sewer and septic systems.
Comfort features
Electric seats add warm water, a heated seat, a dryer, and a night light. Features vary by model, and they raise the price.
What to Know Before You Switch
- Research is limited: Experts say studies aren’t conclusive, and nothing shows that bidets prevent urinary tract infections.
- Overuse can irritate skin: Bidets are most appropriate after a bowel movement, and low pressure is a good starting point.
- Cleaning matters: Wipe the nozzle regularly, and follow the maker’s upkeep schedule.
- Resale value is unproven: We couldn’t find reliable data showing a bidet raises a home’s value.
Is a Bidet Worth It?
For most households, the payoff is lower toilet paper spending, a gentler clean, and easier use for family members with limited mobility. The cheapest way to find out is an attachment, which costs $20 to $130 and installs in about 30 minutes. Talk with a trusted bathroom contractor if you’re considering a bidet toilet or a separate fixture.
Ready to compare types, costs, and installation? Start with our complete bidet guide.
Find the Right Contractor for Your Bathroom Remodel Project
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Sources
- Angi, how much a bidet costs (2026)
- NRDC and Stand.earth, The Issue with Tissue (2019)
- Associated Press, doctors share the best ways to get the most from a bidet (2026)
- Washington Post, bidets are big, but do you really need one (2021)
- Grist, bidet sales are on the rise
- News4Jax, flushable wipes and bidet seats (Consumer Reports)
