Smart toilets promised to change everything about the bathroom experience. Heated seats. Built-in bidets. Voice commands. Health sensors. Some even offered mood lighting and integrated speakers—for those moments when cleanliness meets vibes.
In Japan and parts of Asia, smart toilets have been common for decades. But in the West? In 2025, most people are still reaching for the same old toilet paper roll.
What happened?
Why haven’t smart toilets become a household staple, despite years of innovation, hype, and pandemic-fueled hygiene obsession?
Let’s get into the messy reality of the smart toilet dream—and whether it still has a future.
The Pitch: A Throne Fit for the Future
At their best, smart toilets are genuinely impressive feats of engineering. Brands like TOTO, Kohler, and Brondell have created toilets that do far more than flush:
- Heated seats that remember your preferred temperature
- Automatic lids that rise when you enter
- Bidet systems with adjustable water pressure, temperature, and angle
- Warm air dryers to eliminate the need for toilet paper
- Deodorizing fans, ambient lights, and even music sync
- Self-cleaning nozzles and bowls
- Some even offer health analytics—analyzing waste for hydration levels or signs of illness
During the height of COVID-19, when hygiene was top of mind, sales of bidet attachments spiked in the U.S. It felt like smart toilets were finally going to catch on.
But two years later, most Americans are still using the same basic bowl.
The Obstacles: Why the Smart Toilet Didn’t Go Mainstream
1. The Price Problem
A top-tier smart toilet can cost $3,000 to $10,000+. Even retrofitted smart bidet seats start at $300–$800.
That’s a lot to spend for a product that, to most people, already works fine.
2. Installation Isn’t Easy
Unlike a phone or speaker, a smart toilet requires plumbing upgrades, electrical work, and often professional installation.
Renters? Out of luck.
Older homes? May not even have outlets near the toilet.
3. Cultural Resistance
In much of the U.S. and Europe, bidets and smart toilet features are still seen as exotic or unnecessary.
For many people, the idea of a device spraying water in sensitive places feels uncomfortable—or just too much.
4. Overkill for Most Users
When you’re half-asleep at 2AM, most people don’t want a light show, a song, or a health readout. They just want to go.
The very “smart” features that make these toilets feel futuristic often feel overengineered for a daily, natural function.
5. Privacy and Data Concerns
Toilets that analyze your health? Cool.
Toilets that store, transmit, or sell that data to third-party apps?
A terrifying, very real possibility.
In a world already suspicious of smart assistants listening in, the idea of a smart toilet “watching” you is a hard sell.
Where Smart Toilets Are Thriving
While they’ve struggled with Western consumers, smart toilets are succeeding in specific markets and use cases:
- Luxury Hotels & Spas: High-end experiences where comfort justifies the price.
- Hospitals and Elder Care: For patients with limited mobility, bidets and auto-flush features are life-changing.
- Tech-Enthusiast Homes: Smart homes where the owners want everything connected—from lights to locks to loos.
- Japan & South Korea: In many homes, smart toilets are standard, not special.
And lately, a growing number of eco-conscious buyers are turning to smart bidets to reduce toilet paper waste.
The Future: Still Flushed with Potential?
Despite its slow adoption, the smart toilet isn’t going away. In fact, it’s starting to get smarter and more medically relevant.
What’s Next:
- Urine and stool analysis to monitor hydration, nutrient levels, or even detect illnesses like diabetes or colon cancer early.
- Smart reminders to hydrate or seek medical attention based on waste data.
- Voice assistants integrated directly (for real)—“Alexa, start my morning cleanse.”
- Energy-saving, water-efficient designs that reduce utility bills.
- Modular toilet tech that lets users upgrade seats and features without replacing the entire fixture.
Startups and medical researchers are especially interested in toilets as daily diagnostic tools—because unlike wearables, you don’t have to remember to use them.
You just… do.
The Takeaway: The Smart Toilet Didn’t Fail—But It Also Didn’t Flush Away the Old World
In 2025, smart toilets are stuck in a strange place:
Too advanced for most people, too useful to ignore.
They haven’t changed the world.
They haven’t replaced the classic toilet.
But in the right places—for the right people—they’re already essential.
And as prices drop, data gets smarter, and cultural norms evolve, the smart toilet may still find its moment.
Because if there’s one thing we can count on:
Everyone has to go.
And someday, your toilet might be the one telling you more than you expect.
If you want to check out an affordable smart toilet that solves some real problems, check out this affordable one here. (affiliate)
The TechWanderer 