Best Shower Head Review Guide for 2021
Choosing a shower head is not always easy. There is a delicate balance between affordability, usability, and quality that we all try to achieve. Most of us want a shower that is relaxing and enjoyable, but we also need it to be able to massage when needed and the aches of the day are too much to handle. Luckily, there are a lot of choices available when it comes to bathroom fixtures, but even that can make it harder to decide. Each of them has their own unique features. For that reason, we have discovered the most popular choices and the features that may make the difference for you.
Best Shower Heads Comparison
Unit | Type | Rating | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Moen Velocity
![]() | Rainfall | 4.7 | Check Price |
Speakman Anystream
![]() | High Pressure | 4.7 | Check Price |
Hansgrohe Raindance
![]() | Rainfall | 4.6 | Check Price |
Delta In2ition
![]() | 2-in-1 | 4.2 | Check Price |
Kohler Moxie
![]() | Bluetooth Speaker | 4.2 | Check Price |
Top 10 Shower Head Reviews
With so many shower fixtures available, it may be hard to pick the right one. Therefore, we have compiled a list of our favorite options and compared it to what other people seem to enjoy so that we could come up with a top 10. We hope that this will help you decide on the best one for your family.
1. Moen Velocity S6320
The Velocity is an 8-inch rain shower style head. It has two functions that you can easily switch between. One enables you to use the all over rain mode and the other is a more concentrated mode. Whichever you choose, you will not use any more than 2.5 GPM. With the Immersion Technology, however, you will feel as though there is much more water pressure coming from it. It is backed by the Moen Limited Lifetime Warranty. It is available in four colors to perfectly complement your bathroom decor. It holds a consistent 4.7-star rating from current owners, who describe it as amazing. They love the amount of water pressure that it has, the way it looks, the way it covers them with a relaxing spray, and much more. Most all owners also feel that it is well worth the price to get the quality that only Moen can provide.
2. Delta In2ition
Delta is a company that promises quality and there are many people who say that it is backed up by the In2ition. It is a 2-in-1 fixture that can be used as a handheld or freehand. It also enables you to use it the way you want to with its four water spray settings including; massaging spray, H20 Kinetic spray, spray with massage, and pause. With this shower head, you get 60-inches of hose and two heads. If you want to use it as a handheld, you simply grab the handle. When you want a standard shower experience, the Delta Magnatite Docking snaps everything back into position on the stationary head. It is easy to install and comes in several color choices to meet your needs. The color choices include champagne bronze, chrome, venetian bronze, and more to ensure you create a space you can love. Best of all, it is covered by the Delta Faucet’s Limited Lifetime Warranty to ensure your total satisfaction.
3. Hansgrohe Raindance AIR
This extra-large shower head measures 10-inches in diameter and 9.5-inches is dedicated to nozzles. This promises to give you a truly intense rain shower experience. It uses AirPower technology to enrich the water. This means that air and water are mixed together to give you a soft, but pleasant rain to relax in and it is large enough to ensure your whole body is covered by its relaxing stream of water. It is also very easy to clean and care for because it uses QuickClean technology. Limescale buildup will be rubbed away easily from its flexible silicon nozzles. It is available in two colors including chrome and brushed nickel. Overall, it holds a 4.6-star rating from its owners. It is designed to be used while suspended from an arm, which you will need to purchase separately, but most people do not seem to mind since they get such an amazing experience from doing it.
4. Kohler Moxie
Kohler allows you to take control of your bath and make the most of a relaxing experience with the Moxie. This is because it features a built-in wireless speaker and USB charger so that you can stream the music that makes you feel most relaxed or invigorated. It will connect easily to any Bluetooth enabled device. The speaker is water resistant and it is able to pop out of the head to make charging easier. This also makes it able to travel away from the shower head and into other rooms of your home. One charge can last approximately seven hours. It is available in a variety of colors to match your home’s decor. The color choices include chrome, bronze, white, and brushed nickel. The sound volume does need to be controlled by your device, but otherwise, it comes with everything you need for an easy, quick installation.
5. Speakman Anystream
Anystream is a high pressure, 2.5 GPM adjustable shower head that features the patented Anystream 360 technology. It has five adjustable jets that produce 50 individual streams and eight pulsating massage sprays to truly wash away the stress that you deal with every day. All you have to do is turn the T-Handle and experience a full coverage shower, combination spray, gentle rain, therapeutic massage and even pulsating massage. It is available in four color choices to brighten up any bathroom and has nozzles that are self-cleaning. This provides you with a consistent and powerful spray, even if the water pressure in your home is a little lower than you want it to be. It is also backed by a limited lifetime warranty. The Speakman Anystream is very affordable and still holds a steady 4.7-star rating after more than 1,600 reviewers and most owners say that the power of its jets is unbeatable.
6. Moen Magnetix
This handheld has a magnetic holder to keep it in place when you do not need a handheld. It has six high-pressure functions to ensure you get the calming experience that you want while only using 2.5 GPM. The spray settings enable you to experience everything from a gentle rain to a pulsating massage. It has a 60-inch hose to ensure that it is usable with pets, children, adults, and even on just the bathtub walls when cleaning. The brushed nickel ensures that fingerprints and water spots will not stick to the shower head or its handle and it is also available in chrome. It comes with everything you need to install the 3.5-inch head with ease and works great with all standard pipes. It is affordable and overall people say that it makes bathing enjoyable. This is why it holds an impressive 4.6-star rating from current owners.
7. Culligan Shower Head Filter
This filtered shower head has EPA WaterSense Certification because it requires only 2.0 GPM or less. It has anti-clog rubber spray nozzles that can spray in one of five spray patterns. The spray patterns range from full body spray to pulsating massage. It installs easily and in most cases, does not require the use of any tools. You simply have to take off the old head, apply tape, and screw the new one into place. All you need is a standard 1/2-inch threaded shower arm in your bathroom. It filters water as you bathe so you will never need to add a filter to your home if you want that extra-clean feeling, which also gives you cleaner skin and softer hair. It has made the “Best Seller” list and holds an average 4.3-star rating after more than 3,400 reviews. That is impressive by most standards.
8. Vida Alegría
This handheld installs easily and works great for all members of a family since the flexible hose will never tangle up. It features a Hi-tech ABS face that will stay clean no matter how often it is used. It will repel hard water stains. The stay put holder will never twist around unexpectedly and it works great even in low water pressure homes. All you have to do is remove the restrictor if you are not getting the waterflow that you want. This handheld head offers five spray settings that offer drenching rain, gentle rinse, rotating massage, two mix modes, and a drizzle mode which is ideal for boats and RVs where you need to conserve water. It is backed by a 3-year unconditional warranty, which means if you have any issues or it is unable to perform the way you want; you can return it with ease. You may also choose from chrome, brushed nickel, and oil-rubbed bronze finishes.
9. Aqua Elegante
The Elegante is a 3-inch shower head that has 36 nozzles. It offers a high-pressure flow that uses less water than many that are on the market today. If it lowers your water pressure too much, the waterflow restrictor can be removed easily. It is made with ABS plastic and brass fittings to ensure that it does not cause you problems. It can also battle hard water for you thanks to the self-cleaning nozzles which prevent build up. It works well for all applications whether you are installing a bathroom fixture in your home, RV, boat, or outdoors. It comes with a five-year warranty to ensure your satisfaction and installs easily with step-by-step instructions. It simply twists on to your existing pipes or shower arms. You can also choose from four color choices to create the bathroom of your dreams for an affordable price. Overall, it holds a 4.8-star rating from owners who are happy they chose to take it home.
10. Ana Bath
If you want extra versatility in your tub, you may find the Ana Bath appealing. It is a set that comes with two heads. They are both 5-inches wide and promises to provide you with a spa-like experience that your entire family will enjoy. Each of these heads have five spray settings so that you get a relaxing experiencing that is unmatched by single ones. You can even run water out of both heads at one time thanks to the three-way diverter. The hose measures five-feet and the finish is brushed nickel. For all that you get, it is still affordable to own and it holds an overall 4.5-star rating. Most owners say that it is well worth purchasing if you want a great shower setup and many of them have used it for a long time before saying that they have never been happier about bathing.
Types of Shower Heads
There are a lot of bathroom fixtures available and all of them appeal to some people. This does not make them ideal for everyone or every family. In order to ensure that you get the best one available for your home, we feel it is important that you understand the types of fixtures that are available and what they will be able to provide to your family.
High Pressure
These types of fixtures often pressurize the water that comes out from the nozzles. This helps to give you a relaxing experience, even if your home does not have a lot of water pressure. It also works well for families that enjoy taking long showers, but want to conserve water. Often, they use less than 2.5 GPM to help you cut down on your water bill, but if you are not getting the experience that you want from it; you can often remove the waterflow restrictor. This will increase the amount of water coming out so that you get the massaging pressure that you need.
- See our favorite high pressure shower heads
Rainfall
There are very few things in life that are as relaxing as a rain shower, but most of us are not willing to go outside and stand in the rain. The rainfall heads are designed to mimic this soothing experience by allowing water to spray out from over your head. They often require you to add a water supply from your ceiling or an arm that can extend from the wall. They are often larger heads to give you an all over rain shower and it is something that many people enjoy using at the end of a stressful day.
- Head over to the best rain shower heads
Dual Shower Heads
These fixtures are ideal for large showers or people who want variety and all over water spray. The dual heads can often work together, but you can turn one off if you want to. Most dual kits have a handheld and a stationary head so that you can take full advantage of the benefits that they both offer. A lot of them will also have spray functions that range from rain to pulsating massages and they may also have heads that are rather large in diameter. It is truly a shower experience that can be customized to meet your needs.
- Head over to our guide of the best double shower heads
Handhelds
One of the greatest things about these heads is the fact that they are so versatile. Most of them have multiple spray settings that you can choose from. They have hoses that often average about 60 inches in length so that you can use them for yourself, children, and pets. The hose also makes it easier for you to clean the stall and other items that you may take into your bathroom to clean. Most all of them are high-pressure, low GPM fixtures and many of them also give you the ability to pause the waterflow if you need to.
- See our list of the top handheld shower heads
Novelty/Kids Shower Heads
Not all small children are excited about taking a shower. The water spray may spook them. Kids bathroom fixtures are designed to make it fun for those that are hesitating to give it a try. These heads often produce small jet sprays of water and they are available in kid friendly characters. For instance, you may have a dinosaur that sprays water from its mouth. These sprayers may require you to put water in the tub so that it can siphon it up and spray it out. This means less noise and more fun for children, who will also get used to the idea of water spraying over their body.
- View our favorite kids shower heads
Shower Head Filters
This type of fixture is designed to help people with hard water feel cleaner. They make it easy for you to have softer skin and hair that feels better all the way around. They have cartridges that you will have to change out every 10,000 gallons or so, but saves you money on traditional water filtration systems. These filters can remove lead and calcium as well as all other things in the water, which can help you save money on soaps and shampoos for your family. Luckily, the filtered heads are just as affordable as the non-filtered, which makes it easier for people to make the switch.
- Check out the best filtered shower heads
Low Flow/Eco-Friendly
Low flow fixtures are designed to restrict the waterflow that comes out of it without sacrificing the quality of your shower. They often use less than 2.0 GPM of water with some using closer to 1.5 GPM. They can be used in RVs and other applications where conserving water is important. They are also great in homes that have children and adults that may enjoy long showers and in homes that have to pay more if they go over their allotted amount. The good news is, since they are designed to use only a little water, they can often still offer a satisfying bathing experience.
- Head over to our guide for the best low flow shower heads
Bluetooth Speaker
Most Bluetooth heads allow you to listen to your favorite music or news while you enjoy time in your shower. They are water resistant, rechargeable speakers that attach to the head and pick up any Bluetooth enabled device you have close by. Many people feel it makes bathing more fun and relaxing. Often, these speakers will alert you to incoming messages or calendar events, but they are not able to be used as a speaker phone. They can also be used as speakers in other parts of the house since many of them have a speaker that pops out of the head.
- See the top rated bluetooth shower speakers
Light Up Shower Heads
LED lights in a bathtub can be beneficial in making young kids happier about a shower, but they are also able to do more. Some LED heads have temperature sensors to ensure that young kids and elderly people stay safe in the shower. If the water is too hot, the LED lights will show red and if it is too cold, they will show blue. A water temperature that is perfect for bathing in may turn the LED lights green or some other neutral color. Not all LED heads have sensors. Some may change colors the entire time that the shower is turned on and most owners say that they enjoy the calming rainbow of colors.
- Check out the most popular light up shower heads
Factors to Consider Before Purchasing
- Type of Mount Needed (wall, ceiling, sliding bar, etc)
- Finish Color (chrome, bronze, stainless steel)
- Spray Patterns (massaging, waterfall, rain, high pressure, etc)
- Eco-Friendly Options (1.5 gpm vs 2.5 gpm)
- Special Features Desired (LED, bluetooth, digital controls, etc)
- Budget: shower heads range from just a few dollars to several hundreds
Now that you have seen the different types of showerheads that are available, you must also consider other aspects of it. There are a lot of other things that may influence your buying choices. It depends on the type of fixture you hope to have and what you feel will work best for your family. For instance, you may need to decide what type of mount you need. There are heads that mount to the wall, overhead, or on a sliding bar. The sliding bar allows you to move the head up and down along the wall so that it can work for both larger and smaller people within your home.
Another consideration is the finish that you want on it. Most all bathroom fixtures available have a chrome, brushed nickel, bronze, white, or other colors for you to choose from. When choosing a finish color, you should choose one that matches your bathroom decor and your existing fixtures. Otherwise, your fixtures will look out of place.
Different spray patterns may also be something you want to consider. If you like a rain experience, but your partner wants a high-pressure massage, you can choose a head that provides both. This makes it easier than setting up two separate bathrooms to accommodate the people in the home. If you have a pet or a child, you may also want to consider a handheld with a pause feature since it will stop the waterflow until you are ready to use it.
Do you need to save water? You have the option to choose eco-friendly or traditional fixtures. The eco-friendly ones will use between 1.5 and 2.0 GPM and the traditional ones will use 2.5 GPM.
What special features do you want for it to have? Do you want it to have digital controls, provide steam, Bluetooth speakers or LED lights? There are a lot of features available for bathroom fixtures in today’s market.
Before you go shopping, you should have an idea of what you want to find and how much you are willing to spend since some shower heads can cost well over a hundred dollars or as little as $20-$30. You should know the features that you want as well as the price range that you can afford and strive to stick to it Otherwise, you could end up disappointed by your purchase.
How to Change a Shower Head
Don't let the thought of changing your shower head intimidate you. Its really quite simple and you shouldn't need to hire a professional. If you've never done it yourself, Wikihow walks you through it step-by-step. If you're more of a visual person, take a look at the video below. And don't forget you will also need some teflon tape as most shower heads don't come with it!