TOTO Washlet S5 vs S7: Key Differences and Which to Buy in 2026
The TOTO Washlet S5 vs S7 is the comparison most serious TOTO buyers reach at the end of their research. Both are slim bidet seats. Both deliver TOTO's instant warm water, EWATER+ self-cleaning, and PREMIST bowl prep. Both work with most elongated toilets and are Washlet+ compatible. At Majestic Flush, these two seats together account for a significant share of our Washlet sales every month.
The price difference between them is real, and so are the differences. There are five of them. This guide covers each one plainly, then tells you which seat is the smarter match for your bathroom.
What is the same between the TOTO Washlet S5 and S7
Start with the shared feature set. It is long, and it is why both seats deliver an excellent TOTO wash experience regardless of which you choose.
Both use TOTO's instantaneous water heater, which means warm water does not run out mid-session. Both include EWATER+ on the wand and bowl, misting electrolyzed water before and after every use to keep those surfaces clean without chemicals. Both include PREMIST, which pre-wets the bowl surface before each use so waste does not adhere to dry ceramic.
Both seats include a heated seat, a warm air dryer, an air deodorizer, a nightlight, and a wireless remote with four user memory presets. Both fit elongated bowls and come in cotton white. Both are Washlet+ compatible, meaning the water supply line routes through the bowl for a cleaner installation with no visible T connector at the tank.
The real differences between the TOTO Washlet S5 and S7
1. Profile height and nozzle design
The S7 is significantly slimmer than the S5. The S5 sits at 5.5 inches at the rear. The S7 comes in at 4.06 inches, which is a visible difference when both seats are side by side.
2. Seat sensor
The S5 uses a mechanical hinge sensor at the seat pivot. You can hear a soft click when sitting down. The S7 uses a silent skin-detection sensor that requires direct skin contact before wash functions activate.
The S7 sensor will not trigger accidentally from a bag, a child sitting on the rim, or a pet. The S5 sensor is reliable in normal use, but the mechanical design is an older approach. For busy households, the precision of the S7 sensor is a noticeable improvement.
3. Wash modes
The S5 has three wash modes: rear, soft rear, and front. The S7 adds a fourth, the wide soft spray, which broadens the spray pattern for a gentler and less concentrated wash. Buyers who find direct spray patterns uncomfortable often find the wide soft mode on the S7 a meaningful improvement. It is the only additional wash mode on the S7, but for buyers who use it daily it becomes one of the more appreciated differences.
4. Remote control
The S5 ships with a matte-finish wireless remote with a single infrared transmitter. The S7 ships with a high-gloss wireless remote with dual infrared transmitters, which eliminates the signal dead zones that can occur when the remote is used at an angle. Both are wall-mountable with four user memory presets. The S7 remote is a noticeably more refined object in hand.
5. Nightlight, auto flush compatibility, and warranty
The S5 has a single-zone nightlight inside the bowl. The S7 has a dual-zone nightlight with illumination inside the bowl and a secondary light strip along the side of the seat. The side strip is visible when approaching the toilet in a dark bathroom, which makes it more useful as a navigation aid.
The S7 is compatible with TOTO's optional auto flush kit (THU857 for single flush toilets, THU855 for dual flush) when paired with a Washlet+ ready TOTO toilet. The S5 does not support the auto flush kit.
The S5 carries a one year limited warranty. The S7 carries a two year limited warranty. For a heavily used primary bathroom, the extra year of electronics coverage is a practical difference worth noting.
TOTO Washlet S5 vs S7 comparison table
| Feature | TOTO Washlet S5 | TOTO Washlet S7 |
|---|---|---|
| Profile height at rear | 5.5 in | 4.06 in |
| Seat sensor | Mechanical hinge (audible) | Silent skin-detection |
| Nozzle design | Standard retractable | Telescoping, retracts behind door |
| Instantaneous water heater | ✓ | ✓ |
| PREMIST | ✓ | ✓ |
| EWATER+ (wand and bowl) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wash modes | Rear, soft rear, front | Rear, soft rear, front, wide soft |
| Remote | Matte, single IR | High-gloss, dual IR |
| User memory presets | 4 | 4 |
| Nightlight | Single zone (bowl only) | Dual zone (bowl + side strip) |
| Auto open/close lid | No | No (see S7A) |
| Auto flush compatible | No | Yes (optional kit + T40 toilet) |
| Heated seat | ✓ | ✓ |
| Warm air dryer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deodorizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Washlet+ compatible | ✓ | ✓ |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years |
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If auto open and close lid is what you are actually shopping for, neither the S5 nor the S7 has it. That feature belongs to the S7A. We have a separate post on the S7 vs S7A comparison.
Who should buy the TOTO Washlet S5
The S5 is the right slim S seat for a clear group of buyers.
- You are a single user or a couple in a primary bathroom. EWATER+ on the wand and bowl is the same on both seats. The S5 covers what two adults in a primary bathroom need.
- You want the slim S profile and wireless remote without paying for the telescoping nozzle, wide soft spray mode, or dual-zone nightlight.
- You are upgrading from a basic bidet seat or a non-wireless setup. The step up to the S5 is significant regardless of what comes after it.
- You are equipping a guest bathroom in a premium home. The S5 delivers a quality bidet seat experience without overspeccing a room with occasional use.
Who should buy the TOTO Washlet S7
The S7 earns its upgrade cost for a specific group of buyers.
- You share the toilet with three or more people. The wide soft spray mode and the precision skin-detection sensor make the S7 a more comfortable daily experience in a busy household.
- You want the slimmest possible profile. At 4.06 inches, the S7 sits closer to the toilet and reads more integrated than the 5.5-inch S5.
- You prefer the enclosed nozzle design. The telescoping nozzle behind a protective door is a cleanliness and aesthetic upgrade that matters to buyers who think about those details.
- You want the wide soft spray mode. If direct spray is too intense, the wide soft mode on the S7 is a real daily benefit that the S5 does not offer.
- You want the S7A experience without the automatic lid. The S7 gives you the slim 4.06-inch profile, the telescoping nozzle, the wide soft spray, and the dual IR remote of the flagship slim seat at a lower price than the S7A.
Where the S7A fits above the S7
If you are reading the S7 section and the only missing piece is a lid that opens when you walk in, that is the S7A. It adds a motorized auto open and close lid to everything the S7 already has. Same wash, same nozzle, same remote, same wide soft spray. The lid is what changes. We cover that decision in full in our S7 vs S7A comparison.
Installation
Both seats install identically. Shut off the water, remove the existing seat, mount the bracket, snap the Washlet in, connect the T valve to the supply line, plug into a 120V GFCI outlet within four feet of the toilet, and turn the water back on. Most installs take 30 to 60 minutes.
Both seats are Washlet+ compatible. Paired with a TOTO Washlet+ ready toilet, the supply line routes through the bowl rather than across the tank, hiding all connections. See our installation requirements guide for the full electrical and plumbing checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between the TOTO Washlet S5 and S7?
The S7 is slimmer (4.06 in vs 5.5 in), has a telescoping nozzle that closes behind a protective door, a dual-zone nightlight, a high-gloss remote with dual IR transmitters, a silent skin-detection sensor rather than the S5 mechanical hinge, a wide soft spray mode, and a 2-year warranty versus 1 year on the S5.
Is the remote the same on the S5 and S7?
No. The S7 ships with a high-gloss remote with dual infrared transmitters. The S5 ships with a matte-finish remote with a single IR transmitter. Both are wall-mountable and hold four user memory presets, but they are two different remotes.
Does the TOTO Washlet S7 have an auto open and close lid?
No. The auto open and close lid is exclusive to the S7A. The S7 has a soft-close lid controlled via the remote, but it does not open or close automatically. If that feature is important to you, the S7A is the correct seat.
Can the TOTO Washlet S7 do auto flush?
Yes, when paired with a TOTO Washlet+ (T40) compatible toilet and the optional auto flush kit (THU857 for single flush, THU855 for dual flush). The S5 is not compatible with the auto flush kit.
Our verdict
For a single user or a couple, for a guest bathroom in a premium home, or for a buyer making their first slim S upgrade, the TOTO Washlet S5 delivers everything that defines the slim S experience at the more accessible price point.
For a multi-person household, for a buyer who wants the slimmest possible profile and the enclosed nozzle design, or for anyone who specifically wants the enclosed nozzle design, the wide soft spray mode, and the dual-zone nightlight, the TOTO Washlet S7 earns the upgrade.
The tiebreaker is how much the physical design differences matter to you. If the slimmer profile, enclosed nozzle, and dual IR remote are important, the S7 is worth it. If not, the S5 delivers the same wash at a lower price.
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