Smart Toilets & Toilet Seats: A Complete Guide

If you're considering upgrading your bog-standard bathroom toilet to a luxury electric model, this is the guide for you. Here, we'll explain the benefits, features, costs and considerations associated with a smart toilet, giving you plenty to think about before you replace your existing toilet with an advanced model.

What is a Smart Toilet?

The majority of regular UK toilets work by manually flushing water into the bowl in order to push waste out of the toilet. Smart toilets replace this traditional process with a range of advanced features - some of these will be familiar, while others are unique to high-end models.

A smart toilet typically includes:

  • An automatic flushing system: a more hygienic way to flush
  • A bidet and/or adjustable wash nozzle - for a gentle but thorough cleanse
  • Adjustable temperature controls - for customising to your personal preference
  • Self-sanitising technology - to maintain hygiene
  • Water pressure settings - to suit your specific needs
  • Remote control options - for a hands-free and hygienic bathroom experience
  • A heated seat feature - for year-round comfort
  • A built-in air dryer - to remove the need for toilet paper
  • An anti-bacterial spray - to eliminate pathogens

The features found in a smart bidet toilet seat are designed to deliver maximum comfort, convenience and hygiene for the user.


smart toilet

Smart Toilet vs Smart Toilet Seat

At Sauben, we felt like replacing the entire bowl was a bit... drastic. We wanted to give homeowners the ability to upgrade their toilet without needing to rip the existing toilet out, causing as little disruption as possible.

So, our design team produced a range of advanced smart toilet seats instead. With a smart toilet seat, you can enjoy the unrivalled comfort of a Japanese-style, state-of-the-art toilet by simply fitting it to your existing bowl.

Our smart toilet seats offer all the same features as a full-size model but are simpler to install and more cost-effective, transforming UK bathrooms one home at a time.

In this guide, we may refer to both smart toilets and smart toilet seats interchangeably, as the features both models offer are often the same. Of course, where differences exist (for example, with price), we will explain each separately.

Is a Japanese Smart Toilet the Same Thing?

Japanese-style toilet seats came into existence around 1980 with 'the Washlet', essentially a western-style toilet with a built-in bidet function. From there, Japanese-style toilet seats grew in popularity exponentially and began to include an ever-growing number of features.

The smart toilets and toilet seats on the market in the UK are a natural progression of this pioneering technology, incorporating many of the ingenious features of their Japanese counterparts. They are not technically the same, but offer the same unparalleled bathroom experience.


Sauben smart toilet seat remote control

Why Buy a Smart Toilet?

Whether you're looking for an accessible way for yourself or somebody you love to go to the toilet, or you simply want to replace your outdated toilet paper habit, a smart toilet seat may be the perfect solution. Here's why:

  1. Improved Hygiene - Smart toilets can use self-sanitising technology, adjustable water pressure settings and anti-bacterial sprays to help keep you - and the toilet - clean and fresh.
  2. Enhanced Comfort - Bidets, heated seats and air dryers all work together to create a more comfortable experience in the bathroom, especially during the chilly winter months.
  3. Reduced Waste - Smart toilets can help reduce waste by removing the need for toilet paper, which is a well-known burden on the environment.
  4. Peace of Mind - With adjustable temperature controls and nozzle cleaning modes, your smart toilet will provide a sense of security that your experience in the bathroom is as hygienic as possible.
  5. Simple to Control - Many of our customers are people with limited mobility, who use a bidet toilet seat to make toilet trips easier and more comfortable. Smart toilets come with easy-to-use remote controls, making them the perfect solution for those who need a little extra assistance.

The Benefits of Bidet Toilet Seats

Along with the list of benefits above, a bidet toilet seat offers a few other advantages, too. These include:

  1. Cost - Smart toilet seats are the most affordable option when upgrading your bathroom to a luxury model - often costing less than 50% of what a full-sized smart toilet would.
  2. Easy Installation - As they fit directly onto your existing toilet bowl, bidet toilet seats are simple to install and don't require any plumbing modifications.
  3. Variety of Options - Whether you're looking for a high-end model or something more economical, there's sure to be a bidet toilet seat that fits your requirements and budget.

So if you want to enjoy the luxurious feel of a smart toilet without spending a fortune on an upgrade, then a bidet toilet seat could be the ideal option for you.

How Much Does a Smart Toilet Cost?

Replacing an entire toilet isn't cheap, but thanks to advances in technology, a quality smart toilet isn't out of reach for most homeowners.

  • A full smart toilet intended to replace your existing unit can cost well over £1,000, depending on the brand, features and warranty
  • Prices for smart toilet seats are much lower, starting at around £400

As the features for both don't vary much, this makes smart toilet seats better value for money overall.

What About Installation?

You should remember that replacing your toilet comes at a cost, no matter whether you're opting for a smart model or not:

  • Installing a smart toilet will cost around £250 per toilet
  • Disposal of your old toilet may cost extra - around £50 per toilet

A smart toilet seat will simply fit onto your existing model, which you can often do yourself by following the instructions provided.

However, as the smart toilet or toilet seat is electric, you should have a power outlet (plug) nearby so that the unit can be plugged in. If you don't have a power outlet nearby, an electrician will need to install one before the toilet can be used. This could cost between £75-£100.

Running Costs

The majority of smart toilets will require little electricity to operate.

For a family of three using one of our smart toilet seats three times each per day, the seat will consume roughly 15kwh per month. Based on the current energy price cap set by the UK government, this gives us a running cost of around £5 per month.

Is a Smart Toilet Right for Me?

Whether you're looking for a more hygienic experience or enhanced comfort, a smart toilet or smart toilet seat could be the perfect solution. Especially if you want to upgrade your bathroom without breaking the bank.

Smart toilet seats are easy to install and maintain, while also offering a wide range of features that will keep your bathroom feeling clean and fresh - all at an affordable price. So if you're looking for a way to upgrade your bathroom without spending a fortune, then a bidet toilet seat may be the perfect option for you.

Shop our full collection of smart toilet seats right here and enjoy free next-day delivery to UK mainland addresses. Alternatively, learn more about Sauben and our mission to transform bathrooms across the country.