The 8 Best Shower Heads to Make Your Bathroom a Better Place

Corrie
by Corrie

By Corrie Pelc


Whether you’re starting the day, washing up after a sweaty workout, or relaxing before bed, there’s nothing quite like a nice, hot shower to soothe your muscles and clean you up.


Probably the most important part of the entire shower experience is the shower head. Without a shower head, there’s no water. And the shower head is what helps determine the pressure of the water in your shower. Whether you like it more rain-like or with some strength in the flow is a matter of personal preference.


Today’s shower heads come with a variety of perks, such as LED lighting and wireless speakers, elevating the traditional shower experience. Or if relaxing is more your thing, some shower heads now have essential oil diffusers built in.


If it’s been a while since you’ve changed your shower head, now may be a great time to do so. Let’s take a look at the best shower heads available today.

Silver shower head spraying water / Photo via by Amber Oliver
Silver shower head spraying water / Photo via by Amber Oliver

Top Picks

How to Buy a Shower Head

With so many types of showers heads out there, how can you ever decide on what’s best? Here are a few pointers:

  • Fixed or Handheld? Depending on your shower and its plumbing, you may need to shop for a fixed or handheld shower head. A fixed shower head is attached to the shower arm and cannot be taken down except when removed with a screwdriver. A handheld shower head sits in a cradle attached to the shower arm but has a hose attached to it, allowing you to take the head out of the cradle to maneuver it.
  • What Material Should It Be Made Of? Shower heads are made from a variety of materials, from plastic at the least expensive end of the spectrum to more durable metals like brass and nickel. Chrome is a very popular shower head material and is the one you'll find most often.
  • How Many Spray Settings Do You Need? Shower heads come with a variety of spray settings, from light as a mist to the full-on back massage. Knowing what types of settings you like and want to try will help you narrow down the selections.
  • What Perks Do You Need? Do you want a shower head with ambient LED lighting? What about essential oils or a built-in wireless speaker? Knowing what you really want will help you find the shower head of your dreams.


Test Factors We Considered When Picking the Best Shower Heads

We used the following test factors to decide our list of the best shower heads:

  • Type: Is this shower head fixed or handheld?
  • Finishes: What finishes are this shower head available in?
  • Diameter: How big is the shower head’s face?
  • Flow Rate: The flow rate of a shower head measures how many gallons per minute of water comes out of it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits shower heads to a flow rate of no more than 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm).
  • Spray Patterns: How many spray patterns does the shower head provide?
  • Special Features: Does this shower head offer any special features like LED lighting or a wireless speaker?
  • Warranty: Does the manufacturer back this product’s performance?


Let’s take a look at our list of the best shower heads you can buy right now.

Best Fixed Shower Head: Kohler K-22169-G-CP Forte 1.75 GPM Multifunction Showerhead

Type: Fixed Finishes: Polished chrome, polished nickel, brushed bronze, brushed chrome, brushed nickel, French gold Diameter: 5.5 inches Flow Rate: 1.75 gpm Spray Patterns: 3 Special Features: No Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

Enjoy a luxurious shower with up to 30 percent water savings over standard shower heads with the Kohler K-22169-G-CP Forte 1.75 GPM Multifunction Showerhead. This fixed shower head features three spray options — pulsating massage, full coverage, or silk spray, which is a dense spray ideal for rinsing. The shower head features the company's Katalyst technology, which infuses the water with two liters of air per minute. By aerating the water, the spray provides larger, fuller water drops for an extra-special showering experience. The shower head also features a specialized spray face designed to resist mineral buildup so it stays cleaner for longer. And the Kohler K-22169-G-CP Forte 1.75 GPM Multifunction Showerhead is certified by the U.S. EPA's WaterSense program for its water use savings.

Pros

  • Offers up to 30 percent water savings
  • Provides three spray options
  • Specialized spray face helps the shower head stay cleaner for longer

Cons

  • None that we can see!

Best Handheld Shower Head: DELTA FAUCET 58480-KS-PK H2Okinetic Two-in-One Shower Combo

Type: Hand-held Finishes: Black stainless, champagne bronze, chrome, lumicoat chrome, lumicoat stainless, matte black, polished nickel, stainless, Venetian bronze Diameter: 6.88 inches Flow Rate: 1.75 and 2.5 gpm Spray Patterns: 5 Special Features: No Warranty: 10-year limited warranty

With over 2,300 ratings and 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, there's no guessing why the DELTA FAUCET 58480-KS-PK H2Okinetic Two-in-One Shower Combo is our top pick for the best handheld shower head. Available in nine different finishes, you're guaranteed to find a color that fits your bathroom. And the shower head is available in either 1.75 or 2.5 gpm water flows, depending on what you need. Featuring a large shower face, this shower head provides three times more water coverage than standard shower heads. The docking station uses a powerful magnet to hold the shower head when you're not holding it, and it features five spray options — kinetic power drench, full body, massaging, full body with massage, and pause — for the ultimate showering experience. Lastly, this product is backed by an amazing 10-year limited warranty.

Pros

  • Available in nine finishes and two water flows
  • Five spray options
  • 10-year limited warranty

Cons

  • Bit expensive depending on the finish you choose

Best Rain Shower Head: SparkPod Shower Head

Type: Fixed Finishes: Chrome, gold, matte black, brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, polished brass Diameter: ~6 inches Flow Rate: 1.8 gpm Spray Patterns: 1 Special Features: No Warranty: 30-day money-back guarantee, 1-year replacement warranty

If you're looking for the best rain shower head available today, you've found it with the SparkPod Shower Head. This shower head has racked up quite the following, with almost 27,700 reviews and 4.7 out of 5 ratings on Amazon. Available in six finishes, this fixed shower head provides a high-pressure showering experience, giving you the feel of showering under natural rainfall. The shower head uses a water flow of 1.8 gpm for excellent savings on your water bill. Its 90 silicone nozzles are easy to clean by just rubbing them with your fingers, and the shower head swivels on a ball joint so you can aim the spray wherever you want it. And the SparkPod Shower Head is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee and one-year replacement warranty.

Pros

  • Under $40
  • Available in six finishes
  • Silicone nozzles are easy to clean by simply rubbing them with your finger

Cons

  • Fixed shower head may not work for everyone

Best Shower Head with High Pressure: AquaDance 7" Premium High Pressure with Stainless Steel Hose

Type: Fixed and handheld Finishes: Oil-rubbed bronze, chrome, brushed nickel Diameter: 7-inch fixed shower head and 4-inch handheld shower head Flow Rate: 2.5 gpm Spray Patterns: 6 Special Features: No Warranty: Lifetime warranty

If you enjoy a strong blast of water when they shower, then you'll want to check out AquaDance's Seven-Inch Premium High Pressure Three-Way Rainfall Combo with Stainless Steel Hose. This high-pressure shower head offers a lot of flexibility. First off, it's both a fixed and handheld shower head with its dual design. The seven-inch fixed shower head is a rainfall shower head, while the four-inch handheld shower head allows you to easily move water wherever you want it targeted. Both heads offer six settings: power rain, pulsating massage, power mist, rain massage, rain mist, and water-saving pause mode. And the AquaDance dual shower heads' jets are easy to clean with just a rub of your finger.

Pros

  • Under $50
  • Dual system with both fixed and handheld shower heads
  • Offers six settings

Cons

  • Water flow is a bit on the high side compared to other shower heads,

Best Low Flow Shower Head: High Sierra's All Metal 1.5 GPM High-Efficiency Low Flow Showerhead

Type: Fixed Finishes: Nickel, chrome, oil-rubbed bronze Diameter: 1 inch Flow Rate: 1.5, 1.8, and 2 gpm Spray Patterns: 1 Special Features: No Warranty: 2-year warranty

If you enjoy a lighter pressure shower and are more interested in knocking down your water bill, then the High Sierra's All Metal 1.5 GPM High-Efficiency Low Flow Showerhead is for you. Available in 1.5, 1.8, and 2 gpm, you can select the water flow that's best for your lifestyle and budget, helping to save up to 40 percent on water usage. Despite its low pressure, this fixed shower head is still designed to provide a strong, full spray of large water drops for an excellent showering experience. The shower's narrow face is designed to keep water minerals from clogging its nozzles, and the head is constructed from all metal pieces, giving it excellent durability.

Pros

  • Available in three different water flows
  • Provides up to 40 percent water savings compared to other shower heads
  • Nozzle is designed to not clog up from water minerals

Cons

  • Only has one spray pattern

Best Shower Head with Built-In Speaker: KOHLER Moxie Alexa Enabled Shower Head

Type: Fixed Finishes: Matte black, polished chrome, vibrant brushed nickel Diameter: 5 inches Flow Rate: 1.75 or 2.5 gpm Spray Patterns: 1 Special Features: Built-in wireless waterproof speaker; Amazon Alexa-enabled Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

Sing in the shower to your heart's content with the KOHLER Moxie Alexa-Enabled Showerhead. This fixed shower head features a wireless waterproof speaker built right into the shower head, making it super easy to shower while enjoying your favorite tunes. The shower head is also Amazon Alexa-enabled, so it has built-in voice control for turning music on and off, setting alarms, and more. The speaker is held by magnets to the shower head, so you can detach it to take it with you to other parts of the bathroom. And the speaker's quick-charging battery offers up to nine hours of music when fully charged. The KOHLER Moxie Alexa Enabled Showerhead is available in three finishes and either 1.75 or 2.5 gpm of water flow.

Pros

  • Built-in wireless waterproof speaker for music while you shower
  • Amazon Alexa-enabled
  • Available in three finishes and two water flows

Cons

  • Bit expensive
  • Only offers one spray pattern

Best Shower Head with LED Lights: DreamSpa Ultra-Luxury 5-Setting Rainfall LED Shower Head

Type: Fixed Finishes: Chrome Diameter: 8 inches Flow Rate: 2.5 gpm Spray Patterns: 5 Special Features: LED lights Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

Make it easy to know when your shower is at the perfect temperature with the DreamSpa Ultra-Luxury Rainfall LED Shower Head. This fixed shower head features a water temperature sensor (powered by running water) that will change its included LED lights in one of three colors — blue, green, or red. A large eight-inch face provides an amazing amount of water during a shower, and it’s easy to keep sparkling with rub-clean nozzles. And the DreamSpa shower head features five sprays, including pulsating massage, power rain, hydro-mist, economy rain, and water-saving pause.

Pros

  • Features LED lights that illuminate one of three colors to tell you the shower’s water temperature
  • Large 8-inch shower face
  • Includes five spray options

Cons

  • Water flow is a bit high compared to other shower heads
  • Only available in one finish

Best Shower Head with Essential Oil Diffuser: MOEN Aromatherapy Wall Mount Dual Shower Heads

Type: Fixed and handheld Finishes: Chrome, brushed nickel Diameter: 6.5 inches and 5.6 inches Flow Rate: 1.75 gpm Spray Patterns: 6 Special Features: Essential oil diffusing Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

Instantly turn your shower into the ultimate spa experience with the MOEN Aromatherapy Six-Spray Patterns 6.5 in. Wall Mount Dual Shower Heads pack. This dual fixed and handheld shower head uses INLY capsules that infuse your shower with the fragrance of essential oils. (The oil doesn't come directly out of the jets, so no oily residue is left in the tub or on your hair or skin.) You can also set your preferred fragrance level to low, medium, high, or completely off. The shower set includes a fixed 6.5-inch diameter showerhead and a 5.6-inch handheld sprayer that offer six different spray options. The MOEN Aromatherapy Six-Spray Patterns Wall Mount Dual Shower Heads only use a 1.75 gpm waterflow, allowing the set to be certified through the EPA's WaterSense program. Lastly, the set is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

Pros

  • Includes a built-in essential oil diffuser using INLY capsules
  • Dual shower system with both fixed and handheld shower heads
  • EPA WaterSense-certified

Cons

  • Bit expensive

Shower Head Care and Cleaning Tips

Now that you've picked the perfect shower head for you, it's time to learn how to keep it working as well as the first day you install it. Here are our top shower head care and cleaning tips:

  • Keep the Nozzles Clean: Water has microscopic bits of minerals and, over time, those can clog up the nozzles on a shower head. Just rubbing your fingers over the nozzles every time you shower can help keep the nozzles clear. You can also use a toothbrush to gently scrub them.
  • Give It a Soak: Just like the rest of your shower, your shower head needs a deep cleaning every so often. To clean your shower head, you can use basic white vinegar inside a plastic bag — just submerge the shower head in the plastic bag. If your shower head is fixed, just place the bag with vinegar over the shower head and secure it with a rubber band. Allow plastic or chrome shower heads to soak for a few hours, but brass-, gold-, or nickel-coated shower heads should be removed after 30 minutes so the acid from the vinegar doesn't damage the coating.
  • Protect It Daily: Once your shower head is super clean, protect it daily by keeping a plastic spray bottle of diluted vinegar nearby — spray the shower head after every use to help cut down on built-up hard water deposits. Or use a shower cleaner designed to help keep hard water deposits from sticking.


Do you have a shower head that makes your morning or evening better? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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  • Dee Dee on May 20, 2022

    Great article. I am looking for a new shower head now, and this gave me some really good choices. Thank you

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