Why the mismatch matters more on a bidet seat
A plain plastic seat that overhangs is annoying. An electric bidet seat that overhangs is a different story: these seats weigh 10–14 pounds, carry their bumpers and mounting geometry where the matching bowl's rim should be, and aim their wash nozzle assuming the bowl length the engineers designed for. Put an elongated seat on a round bowl and the front lip — the exact spot that takes your full weight when you stand up — floats over air. Put a round seat on an elongated bowl and you sit with a crescent of bare porcelain in front of you, and the wash geometry sits further back than intended.
The other two measurements that matter
- Bolt spacing: standardized at 5.5" in the US — nearly every seat fits. A few (Alpha UX/iX) tolerate 5–7".
- Tank clearance: electric seats need at least 1.5" between the bolt holes and the tank face for the seat body. One-piece toilets with curvy "French curve" tanks are the usual troublemakers — check your model's fit guide.
Bowl shape settled? The next fork is attachment vs full seat, and if you're going TOTO, the Washlet picker sorts their lineup in three questions.