Report Overview

Global Smart Toilet Market- Industry Trends & Forecast Report 2027

The global smart toilet market was worth USD 4.93 Billion in 2020 and is further projected to reach USD 6.78 Billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 5.0% during 2021-2027 (forecast period). The growing consumer demand for efficient and comfy sanitary hygiene products, coupled with changing lifestyles, consistent technological advancements, and the growing awareness of the importance of saving water has raised the demand for smart toilets, besides driving the market growth. Furthermore, the increasing adoption of intelligent technologies (such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and voice-controlled devices) in residential, commercial, and corporate buildings are driving product demand. The same factors are expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period.

Source: BlueWeave Consulting

Global Smart Toilet Market Overview

A smart toilet, also known as an intelligent toilet, comes with built-in smart technology that can connect and communicate with users. These self-opening and self-flushing toilets are widely used in smart homes throughout the world. Smart toilets are capable of determining how much water a user requires to flush the toilet. Furthermore, by combining high-tech styles with intuitive technology, smart toilets are capable of enhancing sustainability, hygiene, and user experience. Smart Toilets may include several unique features such as seat warmers for warming the toilet seat, a nightlight that turns on automatically when the room is dark, automatic flush, automatic air-freshening, and an automatic opening and closing cover for hands-free convenience. What’s more, smart toilets can be linked to mobile apps to allow users to customize their preferences such as cleansing pressure, appropriate temperature, and much more.

Global Smart Toilet Market Trends

Growth Drivers

Concerns about water scarcity are growing all over the world

The world is speeding toward a future with rapidly declining water resources as climate change is affecting weather and water patterns all over the world. As a result of population growth, increased pollution, and climate change caused by global warming, many developed and developing countries around the world are facing massive water scarcity. Consequently, there has been an increase in demand for water conservation on a global scale.

Smart toilets have been specially designed to save water. Such toilets flush only the required amount of water by detecting how much water the user needs for flushing. Some smart toilets use as little as 0.6 gallons of water per flush. The formulation and implementation of government initiatives in different countries aimed at raising consumer awareness about the importance of water conservation are encouraging people to spend more on intelligent toilets.

Technological Advancements Are Driving the Market Growth

The growing popularity of IoT technology and voice-activated equipment are bolstering the growth of the global smart toilet market. To provide a better restroom experience to the users, industry players are introducing various cutting-edge hygiene technologies, such as Bluetooth connectivity, UV lighting, auto open seat covers, auto flush, and much more. For example, the iToilet project, which is funded by the European Union, is developing an ICT-powered toilet system to help older people live independently at home. The same researchers are also working on motorized toilets that are capable of changing position in response to voice commands. Such intelligent toilets can also detect if someone has tumbled in the restroom. The day is not far when smart toilets would be able to detect a variety of disease markers in stool and urine, including those associated with cancers like urologic and colorectal cancers.

Restraints

High-Cost Involvement May Stifle the Smart Toilet Market

The smart toilet market involves high-end innovation and technology. Since market players are engaged in cut-throat competition, they are constantly adding innovations to smart toilets, which adds up to its final costs. Neorest NX2, an intelligent smart toilet product by Japan’s leading smart toilet making company, Toto Ltd., costs around USD 12,800. This is only the cost of the toilet itself. It further involves the installation expenses. This, without any doubt, supersedes the budget of an average family even in its leading markets like Europe or North America. Furthermore, smart toilets have to be connected to power lines, which may escalate your overall electricity bill. Furthermore, because smart toilets rely on high-tech components, repairs and replacements are likely to be expensive, which is why a majority of consumers prefer traditional toilets over smart toilets. These are the key factors limiting the smart toilet market's global economic growth.

Impact of COVId-19 On Global Smart Toilet Market

Just like many different markets, the unforeseen circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global smart toilet market too. The significant cause of this is the halting of demand and supply chain from the end-user market. The demand was hampered in commercial spaces such as hotels, bars, pubs, and restaurants due to the lockdown, as having a smart toilet in their vicinity was the last thing on their minds. Residents' buying power has also been harmed by the lockdown, which resulted in pay cuts and the loss of jobs. This led to cutting off unnecessary expenses, including spending on house maintenance, renovation or the purchase of luxury products. 

However, since the post-COVID-19 world has also fueled the demand for touch-less technology, more and more people now prefer a no-touch environment for health and safety concerns. Therefore, the smart toilet market is expected to grow in the coming years as the commercial spaces would want to give their customers a hygienic and enhanced washroom experience.

Global Smart Toilet Market: By Type

Based on type, the smart toilet market is segmented into Wall-hung Toilet, Close-coupled Toilet, One-piece Toilet, and Single-floor standing toilet. The wall-hung toilets segment has the largest market share and is expected to expand during the forecast period. A smart wall-hung toilet is a new rage as it offers integrated personal hygiene besides freeing up a lot of bathroom space. Thus, smart wall-hung toilets are a popular option for homes or commercial spaces with limited bathroom space. Moreover, because of their minimalist and intuitive design, smart wall-hung toilets are highly preferred by consumers that advocate for a minimalist lifestyle.

Global Smart Toilet Market: By Application

Based on application, the smart toilet market is divided into commercial and residential. Amongst these two, the commercial market acquires a larger share. The increasing installation of smart toilets in commercial real estate, high-end restaurants, bars, shopping malls, and hotels are a major factor assisting the commercial segment's growth. What’s more, smart toilets are now gaining traction in the healthcare and hospitality industries too. Over the next few years, favorable government policies directed towards infrastructural development are anticipated to boost the market for intelligent toilet vanities as luxury goods.

Global Smart Toilet Market: By Connectivity

Based on connectivity, the smart toilet market is segmented into Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth provides wireless connectivity options in smart toilets. Even though the Bluetooth segment dominates the market, Wi-Fi enabled smart toilets are expected to grow in popularity in the coming years as it allows devices to connect to the internet. Through continuous innovations, companies are also introducing Virtual Reality (VR) to enhance the overall experience, which may need Wi-Fi for some of its functions.

Global Smart Toilet Market: By Distribution Channel

Based on the distribution channel, the smart toilet market is grouped into two segments--online and offline. The offline market has a larger share in terms of revenue generation. This is mainly because consumers prefer self-inspection before buying. However, in the post-COVID-19 world, people are giving more priority to zero-contact shopping. Therefore, the online market of smart toilets is also likely to catch up in the coming years. Another factor driving the growth of the online market is the easy accessibility of a wide range of options in a single click, as well as cash back and discounts, as well as doorstep delivery.

Global Smart Toilet Market: Regional Insights

Geographically, the global smart toilet market is categorized into North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Europe leads the global smart toilet market and is projected to lead the overall industry during the forecast period. According to a recent study, a significant portion of the population in the United Kingdom and Germany prefers installing smart toilet seats because hand-pulling toilet seats are considered unhygienic. Growing consumer spending on health and hygiene products in the UK, France, and Germany is expected to continue to be a major force for industry growth in the coming years. North America is also leading the way in the smart toilet industry, with demand for technologically advanced toilets skyrocketing the region.

Additionally, the Asia-Pacific is also expected to register positive growth in the industry owing to the rising disposable income, and population growth in the urban areas of countries like China, India, Bangladesh, and South Korea.

Competitive Landscape

The market ground for the smart toilet seems a bit tight and harsh. It necessitates a significant capital investment for the production of top-notch and high-quality smart toilets and devices, which might be a barrier for the new entrants. The top key players of this market are Kohler Co., Toto Ltd., DXV America Standard, Ove Decors, Roca Sanitario S.A., LIXIL Group Corporation, Dongpeng, Dongyang, Caroma Industries Ltd., Lotus Hygiene.

These stakeholders are already at the neck-to-neck competition to deliver world-class technology such as automated flushing and lighting system, AI/VR-Powered smart toilets, and whatnot. In order to outperform their competitors, they are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to consistently promote product innovation. Additionally, they have also been making huge investments in research and development to stay ahead of the curve.

Recent Developments

• In April 2020, an American Physician, Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, and his lab took a major leap in global smart toilet technology. They introduced the concept of ‘disease-detecting toilets’ which can detect major illnesses and diseases such as cancer through stool and urine analysis. Although, it’s still on paper they envision merging a cloud-based system with the smart toilet through which the analysis reports are accessible to any health care provider.

• At the CES 2020, Shine Bathroom introduced a very environmentally-sound innovation in the smart toilet market. To avoid the use of chemicals to clean the pot, their product self-produces electrolyzed water. It's also equipped with technology that can detect leaks and send out an alert.

Scope of the Report

By Type

• Wall-hung Toilet
• Close-coupled Toilet
• One-piece Toilet
• Single-floor Standing Toilet

By Application

• Residential
• Commercial

By Distribution Channel

• Online
• Offline

By Region

• Asia-Pacific
• North America
• Europe
• Middle East & Africa
• Latin America