How to install a bidet toilet seat in 5 easy steps, and the tools you need to do it

• Bidet toilet seats are an affordable alternative to standalone models and are designed to fit onto your existing toilet.
• Installing a bidet toilet seat is easier than you might think, and with a few simple tools, installation can be completed in about 30 minutes.
• We break down the installation process in five easy steps.
• There may be some minor variations in different brands and models, but these instructions should apply to most bidet seats on the market.
• If you don't have one yet, check out our guide to the best toilet seat bidets for buying advice and recommendations.

The prospect of any kind of plumbing work can be intimidating, but there's no need to hire a professional to install your bidet toilet seat. Unlike standalone models that require brand new plumbing lines, bidet toilet seats connect directly to the existing water supply for your toilet.

This process is completed with a few simple hose connections and the addition of a special T-valve. This T-valve will be included in your bidet toilet seat, and once it's attached to your toilet's supply line, it's all the plumbing you need to have a fully functioning bidet.

The tools you need to install a bidet toilet seat:

• A bidet toilet seat: The Coway Bidetmega 200 electronic bidet seat is one of the best you can buy right now, but these instructions apply to nearly all bidet toilet seats. Read our full review. (There are also simple bidet devices like the Tushy, which uses your existing toilet seat.)
• A screwdriver: Some mounting bolts may require a standard flathead or Philips screwdriver. If you don't have one on hand, consider picking up a multi-bit version that includes a variety of bit heads, like the Channellock 13-in-1 Multi Bit Ratcheting Driver.
• An adjustable wrench: Your seat may have plastic fittings that can be hand-tightened, but if you have metal connections you'll want to have a wrench handy. You can't go wrong with a pair of classic 12-inch Channel Lock pliers.
• Towel and a bucket: A small amount of clean water may drain out when you disconnect your toilet's supply hose, so a small bucket is fine for this. A rag or a few paper towels is all you'll need for cleanup.

Here's how to install a bidet toilet seat:

1. Remove the old toilet seat.
2. Turn off the water supply to your toilet.
3. Install the T-Valve to your toilet's existing supply line.
4. Mount the bidet toilet seat to the toilet.
5. Connect the bidet seat to water supply.

More detailed instructions follow below.

First, remove the old toilet seat:

• The seat will be attached to the rim with a pair of large mounting bolts. There may be small plastic covers over the top of these bolts, so you'll have to pop them open with a flathead screwdriver.
• Once you can access the top of the bolts, use your screwdriver to remove them. You may need to reach underneath the toilet to untwist the nuts holding them in place. The mounting bolts of some toilet seats are actually part of the seat itself and have no "top" to unscrew. These seats should still have a pair of nuts under the rim though, so you should be able to untwist them and free the seat.
• Once the nuts and bolts are removed, lift the seat and it should come right off. Clean the rim to prepare it for your new bidet seat. Some bidet devices, like Tushy, uses your existing toilet seat, so don't throw that away.

Next, turn off the water supply to your toilet:

• To locate the toilet shut-off valve, look behind your toilet, close to the floor. A supply hose should be running from the bottom of your toilet tank to a water supply pipe on the wall, connected by an oval-shaped valve. This is your toilet shut-off valve.
• Turn the toilet shut-off valve clockwise until it stops.
• Flush the toilet to drain the remaining water in the tank.

Install the T-Valve to your toilet's existing supply line:

• Included with your new bidet seat should be a T-shaped valve, called a "T-valve." This will divert water between the toilet and the bidet sprayer. Most components in this step should be made of plastic, so hand-tightening should be all you need to get them nice and snug. Use your wrench on any metal fittings you're having trouble tightening up.
• Unscrew the supply hose from the bottom of the toilet tank. A small amount of water left in the tank might leak out, so have your bucket and towel handy.
• Attach the T-valve to the bottom of the toilet tank where the supply hose was attached.
• Re-attach the supply hose to the bottom of the T-valve.

Mount the bidet toilet seat to the toilet:

• Included with your bidet seat should be a flat plastic mounting plate. Position this mounting plate on the back of the rim, aligning it with the existing bolt holes. If you are installing a bidet device like the Tushy, the whole unit is a mounting plate.
• Insert the included mounting bolts through the bolt holes and secure them in place with their nuts underneath the rim. Depending on your bidet seat, these nuts and bolts may be metal instead of plastic. If so, use your wrench and/or screwdriver.
• Slide the bidet seat onto the mounting plate, towards the back of the toilet, until it clicks into place.

Connect the bidet seat to water supply:

• Your bidet seat will have its own water supply hose. Attach one end of this hose to the remaining opening of the T-Valve.
• Attach the other end of the bidet hose to the connection on the side of the bidet seat. Double-check that all the hose connections are nice and tight. Now you're ready to open the shut-off valve you turned off earlier.
• Open the toilet shut-off valve by twisting it counter-clockwise. This will fill up your toilet tank and supply your bidet seat with the water it needs to function. Check for any leaks and tighten any hose connections if necessary.
• If you have an electronic bidet seat, plug it into a grounded GFCI outlet (these are designed to prevent accidental electrical shock, and are usually found in home bathrooms and kitchens). If there isn't an outlet within reach, use an extension cord.

Now your bidet toilet seat is installed, and it's time to use it.

If you don't have a bidet toilet seat yet, check out our guide to the best ones.