Toto S550e Vs. S500e Washlets- Which Should You Buy?

Last Updated on October 2, 2023 by toilethaven

What is the Difference Between the Toto S550e and the S500e Washlet?

Toto S550e and S500e are, in my opinion, 2 of the best bidet toilet seats in the market. They replaced the older Toto S350e and S300e washlets, respectively. But what is the difference between Toto S550e and S500e?

The main difference between the Toto S550e and S500e washlets is that the S550e has an auto opening/closing seat and lid with a nightlight, while the S500e doesn’t. All of their other features are similar.

Toto S550e is therefore more expensive than the S500e but offers a complete hands-free experience. The nightlight feature makes it possible to use the toilet at night without turning on the bathroom lights.

Let us now look at the features of both of these two bidet seats in detail.

Toto S550e vs S500e Comparison Table

Toto S550e Review

The Toto S550e washlet is, without a doubt, the most sophisticated bidet seat. It is the only one in the market that gives the user a complete hands-free experience from the time you enter the bathroom until you leave.

The auto-open seat and lid open and close feature is especially great for older people and people with limited mobility. It is a little bit more expensive than the S500e, but in my opinion it is completely worth it.

Toto S500e Review

If you don’t need the auto opening and closing seat and lid feature, you can go with the Toto S500e. I know people who prefer this model to the S550e.

Some people find the S500e to be more silent since you can control how fast or slow you raise and lower the lid. The s550e’s lid sometimes bangs on the toilet, which puts off some people.

Let us now look at the main features of the Toto S550e and S500e in more detail.

1. Design

Both the Toto S550e and S500e come in 2 shapes: classic and contemporary/modern. The classic shape has a beveled edge, while the modern shape is smooth from back to front.

The beveled edge of the classic washlet is only on the lid and does not have any effect on the performance of the washlet. It is purely for aesthetics.

One thing you will notice about these two washlets compared to other Toto washlets is how good they look and feel. The fact that they use an instant water heating system means they do not have a water reservoir at the back and are, hence, more compact and even/smooth from the back to the front.

Assuming the washlet is installed on the toilet, and you are standing at the front facing it, the electric cord and water supply line are connected on the left side. This is a good design since most toilet shut-off valves are also located on the left side of the toilet.

The bidet seats come with a T-connector that helps create a junction such that water will flow to both the toilet tank and the bidet seat. If your toilet has a French curve, these bidet seats might not fit.

On the right side of the washlet is where you have the air deodorizer system as well as the quick-release button to remove the washlet from the mounting bracket for easy and quick cleaning.

The highest point of the seats (the rear) is 5 inches, while the total length of the seats is 20.7 inches. Its maximum weight limit is 320 pounds, and it is only available for elongated toilets.

You can choose to have any of the washlets in either cotton white or Sedona beige.

2. The Nozzles

Unlike other high-end bidet toilet seat manufacturers, which use stainless steel or aluminum nozzles, Toto still makes their washlets with plastic ones. This is, however, not to say that Toto washlets nozzles are inferior. It just seems easy to clean a stainless steel nozzle compared to a plastic one.

Both Toto S550e and S500e have 3-in-1 single plastic nozzles. This is an upgrade from older Toto washlets that had dual nozzles.

They offer rear and front wash functions with an option of either rear wide/narrow wash or front wide/narrow wash. A narrow wash has a stronger water spray than a wide wash, which is gentler/softer and mostly preferred for a front/feminine wash.

The nozzle position can be adjusted back and forth to clean over a large area and also to accommodate users of different sizes. I should also mention that the nozzle will self-cleanse before and after every use.

The S500e and S550e bidet seats also come with oscillating and pulsating wash functions. An oscillating wash is when the nozzles move back and forth to clean over a large surface area, whether front or rear.

Pulsating wash involves the use of alternating strong and soft water sprays to create a massage sensation. You can run the oscillating wash function alongside any other wash function.

The hot water used by these bidet seats is infused with air bubbles through a process known as aeration. This allows for a gentler but thorough wash.

Toto S550e and S500e washlets cleanse you with warm water, whose temperature and pressure can be adjusted to suit your preference. The maximum water flow rate of each one of them is 0.11 gallons per minute.

3. Warm Air Dryer

Another feature that makes electric bidet seats like the Toto S550e and S500e a great choice for most people is the warm air dryer. Unlike the case with bidet attachments or stand-alone bidets, electric bidet seats will completely eliminate the use of toilet paper or towels.

As soon as you are thoroughly cleaned, the bidet nozzle will retract back, and a warm air dryer will start blowing warm air all over your posterior and front until you are completely dried. You can, however, opt to wipe yourself dry with a toilet paper/towel if you so wish.

The warm air dryer eliminates unnecessary body movements, which is especially helpful for people with limited mobility. For your comfort, the warm dryer’s temperature is also adjustable.

4. Heating system

Electric bidet toilet seats have different water heating systems. There is an instant water heating system, hybrid water heating system, and system which allows the seat to store warm water in a tank located at the back of the seat.

The problem with bidet seats that use an instant water heating system is that there is usually no guarantee that the initial stream of water will be hot. Countless people have received cold water shocks while using these bidets.

Currently it is only the Bio Bidet BB 2000 bidet toilet seat that uses a hybrid heating system. It has a hot water reservoir at the back of the seat, and as soon as the water runs out, an instant water heating system kicks in. This is a good system only, but it is not very energy-efficient.

Bidet toilet seats that rely only on a hot water reservoir at the back have no cold shocks, but the hot water runs for about 40 seconds, followed by cold water. This is not ideal for some people.

Toto S550e and S500e use an instant water heating system, making them more compact than most bidet seats. The only difference is that they have no cold water shocks and provide you with an endless supply of hot water. They are also more energy-efficient.

5. Bowl Premist

Another cool feature in both the Toto S550e and S500e that is not available to any other bidet seat is the bowl premist. Before each use of the toilet, the bidet seat sterilizes the nozzle using electrolyzed water, which Toto calls Ewater⁺.

The same water used to sterilize the nozzle is also used to mist/wet the bowl. According to Toto (and something I have also noted myself,) a wet bowl is better at waste elimination than a dry bowl. In short, the wet bowl prevents waste from sticking on the bowl’s surface so that you don’t have to scrub it.

6. Auto Close/Open Seat and Lid

This is the main feature that is present in the Toto S550e but missing in the Toto S500e. Toto S550e is fitted with a sensor that detects motion towards the toilet, prompting the lid to open automatically so that you don’t need to bend and open it with your hand.

You don’t have to turn and put the lid down as soon as your business is done. You stand up and walk away. After a few seconds, the lid will automatically and slowly close, which is the reason why the Toto S550e washlet is the only bidet toilet seat that gives a 100% hands-free experience.

For people looking for maximum comfort and luxury, seniors and generally anyone with limited mobility, the Toto S550e is the best seat to go for.

7. Nightlight

Nightlight is the other feature that the Toto S500e lacks but is present in the Toto S550e. If you often use the bathroom at night and wouldn’t want to turn on the bright bathroom lights (obviously not lose your sleep,) a nightlight comes in handy.

A blue LED light helps you negotiate your way to the toilet once in the bathroom. Unlike most bidet seats with the nightlight illuminating the entire bowl, the Toto S550e’s nightlight is on the seat’s side.

8. Heated Seat

Toto S550e and S500e have their seats heated throughout the day and night. This is especially helpful during winter when sitting on a cold plastic toilet seat in the morning can be quite punishing.

The temperature of the heated seat can also be adjusted to suit the user’s preference. If this is not a feature you would like to have running, especially during the summer, you can opt to turn it off altogether.

9. Air Deodorizer

Both the Toto S550e and Toto S500e have an air deodorizer fitted on the right side of the seat. Any undesired odor lingering in the room is expelled air, leaving the bathroom smelling fresh throughout.

The air deodorizer does not clone the bad but cleans it out, hence no artificial fragrances. This is the real deal.

10. Wireless Remote Control

Both the Toto S550e and S500e come with a sleek dual-side wireless remote control. The remote control uses touch-sensitive buttons and also comes with a wall mount.

One thing you will notice with the remote control, however, is that it only has the icons but is not labeled. For a person using the bidet seat for the first time, it can be a little confusing.

Luckily, the remote control also comes with a matching cheat sheet that you can install together with the wall-mount. The cheat sheet is clearly labeled to help you know exactly what each icon does.

I like the fact that both Toto S550e and S500e have two user presets each. What this means is that you are able to select the preferred bidet seat settings for two users and save them.

Every time you use the toilet, you will not need to select these settings again but will tap on the user preset from the remote control.

Toto S550e vs Bio Bidet BB 2000

Toto S550e washlet and Bio Bidet BB 2000 bidet toilet seat are 2 of the best bidet seats in the market today. So, what is the difference between the two bidet seats, and which one is better than the other?

I have written a detailed article reviewing and comparing both of these high-end bidet seats. Read it here.

Conclusion

Both Toto S550e and S500e are great and high-end bidet seats. While the S550e is slightly more expensive, it offers more luxury and convenience compared to the S500e. If you have the extra cash, I would say go for the S550e. You will love it.