Smart toilets: what they are, why they’re booming, and how to choose the right one

Walk into a decent hotel bathroom now and there’s a fair chance you’ll spot one: the smart toilet. You might hear them called Japanese toilets, shower toilets, or wash and dry toilets, but the idea’s the same, a WC that cleans you with warm water (and often dries too), with comfort and hygiene features built in.

They’ve gone from “future tech” to a genuine, everyday upgrade in UK bathrooms, especially in en suites, premium refurbs, and main bathrooms where people want that spa feel at home.

What is a smart toilet (and what does it actually do)?

A smart toilet is a WC with integrated washing functions, normally a retractable spray arm that provides warm water cleansing. Depending on the model and range, you can also get:

• Rear and front washing (often with adjustable temperature and pressure)

• Warm air drying

• Heated seats

• Deodorising and odour extraction

• Night lighting

• User profiles (so different people can save their preferred settings)

• Remote control and sometimes app control

For example, Geberit’s AquaClean range highlights features like its WhirlSpray shower technology, TurboFlush flushing design, remote and app control, and options like seat heating and odour extraction on certain models. Duravit’s SensoWash ranges also offer remote control, with app control and configuration available depending on model. Roca’s smart toilets and e-bidet solutions focus heavily on hygiene features too, including retractable self-cleaning nozzles (and on some models, UV sanitising).

Why smart toilets have got so popular recently

It’s a mix of comfort, cleanliness, and the fact that bathroom expectations have moved on.

1) People want a cleaner, fresher routine

Water cleansing feels noticeably cleaner than paper alone. Many smart toilets also use retractable, self-cleaning nozzles and hygiene-focused features that help keep things fresh between uses.

2) Home bathrooms are being treated like “mini wellness rooms”

We’ve seen a big rise in comfort-led upgrades: better lighting, warmer materials, calmer colour palettes, more hotel-style finishes. A shower toilet slots straight into that, it’s a daily “nice” that doesn’t wear off after a week.

3) Accessibility and independence matters

For people with reduced mobility, injuries, arthritis, pregnancy, or simply anyone wanting an easier routine, a shower toilet can be a practical upgrade that genuinely improves day-to-day comfort.

4) The tech has matured

Early smart toilets could feel overcomplicated. Now you can get simple entry models, full feature models, and even retrofit seats, so the product can match the job rather than forcing the job to match the product.

Smart toilet vs touch-free flushing: what’s the difference?

Worth separating these, because not everyone needs a full shower toilet.

• A smart toilet / shower toilet is about washing and drying.

• A touch-free flush system is about hands-free flushing, usually via a wave sensor, and often paired with a concealed cistern and wall-hung WC.

If you like the minimalist wall-hung look and want fewer touch points, IMEX’s Senso smart cistern frame is an example of a wave-activated flush system with a manual override in case of power-off, plus dual flush and safety glass features depending on the exact model.

What to look for when choosing one

This is the bit that saves people money and hassle.

1) Installation type: wall-hung, back-to-wall, close-coupled

Your layout and existing plumbing will steer what’s sensible. Wall-hung looks brilliant, but it’s not always the quickest route in every refurb.

2) Power supply

Most shower toilets need an electric supply nearby. It’s normally straightforward in a refurb, but it needs planning early, not the day before second fix.

3) Hygiene and cleaning design

Look for features that make the toilet easier to keep clean day to day: rimless bowl designs, self-cleaning nozzle routines, and easy-access cleaning. Roca, for instance, describes retractable nozzles that self-clean before and after use, with UV sanitising on certain models.

4) Comfort features you’ll actually use

Heated seats and drying sound “extra” until you’ve got them. Geberit lists optional comfort features like seat heating, odour extraction, user profiles, and orientation lighting across models.

5) Limescale and maintenance

In hard water areas, decalcification functions and sensible aftercare matter. Duravit highlights decalcification on some SensoWash models.

Our suppliers and options we can help you compare

We can supply and advise across leading manufacturer ranges, including:

• Geberit AquaClean shower toilets (from entry models through to full-feature designs).

• Duravit SensoWash shower toilets (remote control, app configuration on some models, range options).

• Roca smart toilets and e-bidet solutions (hygiene features, nozzle cleaning systems, UV options on some models).

• IMEX touch-free wave flush cistern frame solutions for modern wall-hung installs with hands-free flushing.

How we help you get the right one (without the headache)

Smart toilets are one of those products where getting it “nearly right” can still be wrong. We help you avoid the common traps by:

• Checking your bathroom layout, waste position, and whether wall-hung is realistic

• Confirming power requirements early

• Matching the right model to your priorities (simple and clean, or full comfort spec)

• Advising on controls, user profiles, and the features you’ll genuinely use

• Helping your installer with the right product info, so it fits first time

Quick checklist: are you a good fit for a shower toilet?

You probably are if you’re nodding at any of these:

• “I want that hotel bathroom feel at home.”

• “I’d like better hygiene, especially in the main bathroom.”

• “I want something easier for kids, guests, or older family members.”

• “We’re doing a refurb anyway, so let’s do it properly.”

Want to explore options?

If you tell us your bathroom style (wall-hung or not), whether you’re renovating or replacing like-for-like, and what matters most (hygiene, comfort, minimalist look, budget), we’ll point you to a shortlist that makes sense and help you spec it correctly.