Best Heated Seat With Nightlight: Brondell LumaWarm Heated Nightlight Toilet Seat

Let us sing the praises of a heated toilet seat.

Here at the home ranch in Colorado, winters can be long and hard. A heated toilet seat is one of those purchases that are life-changing!

Yes, they cost more than a standard toilet seat . . . but that upcharge pays for itself time and time again in comfort! Trust us, you’ll try this and wonder how you lived before.

Even if you live in a warm climate, a heated seat on the low setting takes the chill out of an air-conditioned bathroom.

After trying several toilet seat, we think the best option for most folks is the Brondell LumaWarm. We’ve had one here at the office for 20 years and it is still going strong.

Before we discuss the Brondell, we should point out an obvious requirement for a heated toilet seat: an electrical outlet. And since it is in the bathroom, a GFI circuit (also called GFCI or ground fault circuit interrupter outlet) may be required by code depending on where you live.

Since most toilets don’t have electrical outlets installed nearby, this could be a consideration in the total cost if you need to add one.

Here’s why we love the Brondell LumaWarm:

What We Liked

• Four heat settings. We use the lowest setting for summer and then crank it for a cold Colorado winter! Amazing!

• Sturdy.

• Soft close.

• Easy to install.

• Includes night light—yes, a cool blue light that amazes cats.

• Fits most toilets.

• Well made. As we mentioned above, we’ve had a Brondell for 20 years and still works.

What Needs Work

• Not everyone likes the night light.

• No energy savings mode.

• Need a GFI electrical outlet to plug it in.

• Can be hard to clean.

Best Easy-to-Clean: KOHLER K10349-0 PureWarmth Heated Toilet Seat

We do love the Brondell seat, but it does have one drawback: it isn’t that easy to clean. 

If this is an important issue (think teenage boys), then the Kohler K10349-0 might be a good choice—that’s because it has quick-release hinges that allow it to be removed for cleaning. 

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Easy to install with included tools.

• Easy to clean, thanks to quick release hinges for easy on/off.

• Very warm!

• Two nightlights: one that illuminates the bowl and another that works when the lid is down.

• Bluetooth-enabled app lets you change settings remotely.

• Concealed cord.

• Soft close lid.

What Needs Work

• App works better in theory than reality. We see more than one user complain the app is not easy to set up. And why can’t you set a separate schedule for the weekend?

• Buttons could be easier to press.

Best Easy-to-Work Controls: BEMIS Radiance Heated Night Light Toilet Seat with Slow Close

When we tried out various heated toilet seats, one feature we noticed missing on many brands were easy-to-press controls. You’d think this would be a no-brainer, but alas, many heated toilet seats have tiny buttons that can be hard to press. 

For the best easy-to-work controls, we thought BEMIS was tops—yes, these buttons are super easy to press. We liked this seat’s overall design and the price is easy on the wallet.

What We Liked

• 3 heat levels.

• Built-in LED night light.

• Simple to install.

• Easy access to control buttons.

• Quick remove/replace for cleaning.

• Fastening system keeps it from moving around.

What Needs Work

• Uneven heating? We didn’t find this in our test, but we do see some users said the seat didn’t heat evenly (that is, there were cool spots).

Best Round Heated Toilet Seat: Brondell LumaWarm Heated Nightlight Toilet Seat

Yes, most heated toilet seats come in elongated size. But what if you have a round toilet? 

Brondell, the first recommended seat in this article, also comes in a round version. Since the pros and cons are the same, we’ll repeat them below:

What We Liked

• Four heat settings. We use the lowest setting for summer and then crank it for a cold Colorado winter! Amazing!

• Sturdy.

• Soft close.

• Easy to install.

• Includes night light—yes, a cool blue light that amazes cats.

• Fits most toilets.

• Well made. As we mentioned above, we’ve had a Brondell for 20 years and still works.

What Needs Work

• Not everyone likes the night light.

• No energy savings mode.

• Need a GFCI electrical outlet to plug it in.

• Can be hard to clean.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability. When we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money. 

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!