In Israel bidets are getting more popular — immigrants from Europe and America bring the habit, and locals "graduate" to them during renovations. Three formats: a classic standalone bidet (a second bowl), an electronic seat over the toilet ("Japanese toilet"), and a handheld bidet shower next to the toilet. Budget — from ILS 300 (shower) to ILS 15,000 (premium Toto Washlet).
Three bidet types — which to choose
Classic floor-standing bidet
A separate "bowl" next to the toilet, with a mixer and hot and cold supply. The European standard and also common in Israeli premium apartments.
- Size: 35–40 cm wide, 55–65 cm long. Needs space.
- Hookups: hot water + cold water + 40–50 mm drain.
- Pros: comfort, aesthetics, longevity (porcelain lasts 30+ years).
- Cons: space, cost, install complexity.
Electronic seat (smart toilet)
A seat with bidet functions, installed over a regular toilet. Toto Washlet, Geberit AquaClean, Grohe Sensia.
- Form: standard seat + water tank + electronics.
- Hookups: cold water only + 220 V outlet near the toilet.
- Pros: functions (water heating, drying, deodorizing, night light), no layout change required.
- Cons: electronics (fail in 7–12 years), price ILS 3,000–15,000.
Bidet shower (handheld)
A handheld sprayer on a wall holder next to the toilet, connected to a mixer (hot+cold).
- Components: thermostatic mixer, handheld sprayer, 1.5 m hose, holder.
- Hookups: hot + cold (cold usually present at the toilet, hot needs to be added).
- Pros: compact, inexpensive, easy to replace.
- Cons: not automatic, requires habit, risk of spraying.
What a classic bidet needs
- Space: at least 80 cm from the toilet.
- Cold supply: 1/2" pipe, 20 cm above the floor.
- Hot supply: 1/2" pipe, 20 cm above the floor.
- Drain: 40–50 mm pipe, 10–15 cm above the floor.
- Fasteners: floor anchors + mounting studs (included).
- Bidet mixer: with aerator (standard) or fountain-style (classic).
Classic bidet installation steps
- Check hookups. If missing — chase walls, run hot+cold+drain. +2–4 days, +ILS 2,000–5,000.
- Shut off water.
- Marking. Bidet sits 15–25 cm from the toilet (center-to-center no less than 75 cm).
- Drill anchor holes in the floor.
- Install floor studs.
- Assemble the mixer on the bidet (usually before placing it).
- Connect flex supplies (hot and cold) to the mixer.
- Connect the drain — bidet outlet to the sewer via flex pipe/eccentric.
- Lower the bidet onto the studs, secure with nuts and rubber washers.
- Connect the supplies to the angle valves.
- Turn water on and test.
- Adjust temperature and flow.
- Seal the base with sanitary silicone.
Smart seat installation steps
- Check for a 220 V outlet near the toilet (no more than 1.5 m away). If missing — electrician +ILS 300–600.
- Remove the old seat.
- Check the toilet shape. Most electronic seats fit standard dimensions, but there are "round" and "elongated" variants. Measure.
- Shut off water, drain the tank.
- Install a T-fitting on the supply line between the angle valve and the tank (to feed the seat).
- Mount the seat bracket on the toilet.
- Connect the hose from the T-fitting to the seat.
- Plug in the electronics.
- Setup — temperature, pressure, nozzle position.
- Function test — all modes (male bidet, female bidet, drying, seat heating).
Bidet shower installation steps
- Choose the layout. Option A — off the sink mixer with a diverter. Option B — a separate thermostatic mixer on the wall by the toilet.
- Shut off water.
- Option A: swap the sink mixer for a model with a shower outlet, connect the hose, mount the holder on the wall next to the toilet.
- Option B: chase the wall, run hot+cold to the mixer location, install the built-in mixer, connect shower and holder.
- Test — pressure, temperature, no leaks.
How much it costs in Israel
Classic bidet
- Budget bidet — ILS 500–1,000
- Mid-range — ILS 1,000–2,500
- Premium (Villeroy, Duravit) — ILS 2,500–6,000
- Mixer — ILS 300–1,500
- Installation labor (hookups ready) — ILS 500–900
- From scratch (hookups + install) — ILS 2,500–5,000
- With chasing and tile — ILS 4,500–9,000
Smart seat
- Toto Washlet budget — ILS 2,500–4,500
- Mid-range — ILS 4,500–8,000
- Premium (Toto S7, Geberit AquaClean) — ILS 10,000–18,000
- Installation labor — ILS 400–700
- With outlet install (electrician) — +ILS 300–600
Bidet shower
- Head + hose + holder kit — ILS 100–400
- Thermostatic mixer (Option B) — ILS 400–1,500
- Labor — Option A (off the sink) — ILS 200–400
- Labor — Option B (dedicated built-in) — ILS 800–1,800
Which option to pick
- Classic bidet — if the bathroom is at least 6 m², budget ILS 5,000+, and aesthetics/comfort matter.
- Smart seat — small bathroom, no room for a standalone bidet, 220 V outlet present. A compromise between price and function.
- Bidet shower — tight budget (up to ILS 2,000 total), comfortable with manual operation, or as a stopgap before a big renovation.
Typical mistakes
- Forgot hot water. Bidet installed with cold only. The user washes with icy water in winter — full rework.
- Wrong hookup heights. The bidet covers the valves, or the mixer hose doesn't reach. Measure per the bidet's spec sheet.
- Wrong toilet position. The bidet sits flush against the toilet, uncomfortable to use. Center-to-center at least 75 cm.
- Electronic seat without a circuit breaker. Seats draw 1–1.5 kW when heating water. A dedicated breaker on its own group is needed, otherwise it trips under active use.
- Bidet shower with no hose retraction. The hose lies on the floor, collects dirt, gets stepped on by staff/kids — leaks.
- Bought a premium seat that doesn't match the toilet. Japanese seats need specific porcelain geometry. Check compatibility.
Is hot water to the bidet worth it
Short answer — yes, always.
A bidet without hot water is useless 8 months of the year. Even in Israel, winter cold-water temperatures drop to 12–15°C, and washing with that is unpleasant and unhealthy. Add hot water at renovation time — +10–20 minutes of work and +ILS 200 in materials. Retrofitting later = opening up tile = ILS 3,000+.
Frequently asked
Which is more popular in Israel — bidet or bidet shower?
As of 2026 the handheld bidet shower leads: 60% of new installs. Classic bidet — 15% (in premium apartments). Smart seats — 25% and growing fast, especially among immigrants from the US and Europe. Soviet-era apartments had no bidet tradition — the habit is absent, and the bidet shower is considered enough.
Does a smart seat need an outlet next to the toilet?
Yes, absolutely. The seat draws 400–1,200 W (seat heating + water heating + drying). A standard 220 V outlet protected by an RCD (mandatory — water next to the seat!). Many older Israeli bathrooms have only a light fixture — an electrician callout +ILS 300–600.
Can I save money and install a bidet without hot water?
Technically — yes. In practice — you won't use it 8 months a year. Israeli cold water in Jan–Feb sits at 12–15°C. Better no bidet than a bidet with no hot water. If the budget is tight — fit a bidet shower off the existing sink mixer (which already has hot water).
How long does an electronic seat last?
Quality Toto, Geberit — 10–15 years. Budget Xiaomi, no-name — 3–6 years. Common failures: heating element, nozzle servos, control board. Repair is possible but usually uneconomic — easier to replace. Premium-brand warranty in Israel is typically 3–5 years.