Do Bidets Cause High Water Bills?

Switching to a bidet means adding water use where there was none before, so it's a fair question. The short answer: a bidet wash uses a small fraction of what a toilet flush uses, and for most households the effect on the water bill is negligible - often offset entirely by using less toilet paper. Ready to see the range? Our range of bidet toilet seats for Australian homes covers both electric and non-electric, all WaterMark certified.

How Much Water Does a Bidet Actually Use?

A single bidet wash typically uses somewhere in the range of half a litre to around a litre and a half, depending on the model, spray setting, and how long you use it. Compare that to a standard Australian toilet flush, which uses roughly 4.5 to 6 litres on a full flush (Australian dual-flush toilets are designed to reduce this, with the half-flush option using less again). Even at the higher end of bidet water use, a wash uses meaningfully less water than a single flush.

What Actually Affects Bidet Water Use

Electric vs non-electric.

Non-electric seats typically use slightly less water per wash since there's no extended warm-up or additional wash modes involved, though the difference is minor in practice.

Spray duration and pressure.

Longer washes and higher pressure settings use more water, same as any tap. Keeping washes brief and pressure moderate (which is also more comfortable) keeps water use low.

Frequency of use.

More daily use means more total water use, but even frequent use adds up to a small amount compared to other household water uses like showers or laundry.

The Bigger Picture: Water Bill Impact

For a typical household, the additional water used by a bidet is a minor fraction of overall water consumption - usually far less than the water used by a single extra shower per week. Any increase is also commonly offset by reduced toilet paper purchases and, for some households, fewer plumbing issues from reduced paper use in the pipes.

Beyond the water-bill question, a bidet's overall water footprint is genuinely low compared to the resources used to manufacture and transport toilet paper - production alone is water- and energy-intensive well before a roll reaches your bathroom. Switching to a bidet, even factoring in wash water, typically reduces a household's total bathroom-related water footprint rather than increasing it. If minimizing water use is a priority, a handheld bidet spray uses the least water of any option, since you control spray duration by hand rather than a fixed cycle - browse our bidet spray range to compare.

Tips to Keep Water Use Low:

• Use moderate pressure rather than the highest setting - it's more comfortable and uses less water.
• Keep washes brief; a few seconds is usually enough.
• Check for leaks periodically, particularly around the T-valve connection, since a slow leak (not the bidet itself) is the more common cause of an unexpectedly high water bill.
• If you notice a genuine spike in your water bill after installation, it's worth checking for a leak rather than assuming the bidet is the cause - a licensed plumber can quickly confirm either way.

FAQ about Do Bidets Cause High Water Bills?

Do bidets use more water than toilet paper?

Bidets use more water directly, but the difference is small - a wash typically uses under a litre and a half, while a toilet flush uses several litres. Any increase is often offset by lower toilet paper use.

Will installing a bidet noticeably increase my water bill?

For most households, no - the extra water used is a small fraction of total household water consumption. A sudden large increase is more likely due to a leak than normal bidet use.

Do electric and non-electric bidets use different amounts of water?

The difference is minor. Non-electric seats may use marginally less due to simpler operation, but spray duration and pressure matter more than the type of seat.

How can I minimise water use with a bidet?

Use a moderate pressure setting, keep washes brief, and check periodically for leaks around the connection, particularly if you notice a bill spike.