A showerhead can make or break your shower. If you've decided it's time to upgrade but don't know where to start, we're here to help. In this guide, we've detailed the factors that make the best showerheads, including materials, spray settings, features, and more.

Best Showerhead Types

One of the first things you should consider when choosing a showerhead is the head type. Each type of showerhead has its own advantages, from ease of use to ease of installation.

Fixed: Fixed showerheads install directly to a shower wall or ceiling. They're some of the most streamlined and frills-free showerheads to buy, because they lack long shower hoses and other additional hardware. A fixed showerhead is ideal if you want a reliable showerhead with consistent water pressure that doesn't require many additional features.

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Fixed showerheads aren't completely nonadjustable – some have flexible necks and swiveling heads that do allow you to change the position of the showerhead.

Handheld: Handheld showerheads allow you more control over where you can direct your shower's spray. The showerhead itself has a handle and is affixed to a long, flexible hose, which is connected to your plumbing system. Handheld showerheads also come with a wall-mounted clip that secures the showerhead in place when you aren't holding it. Thanks to this little clip, a handheld showerhead can also act as a fixed showerhead. Nowadays, handheld showerheads can maintain the same strong, consistent water pressure as fixed showerheads – the only downside to this type is that the shower hose can look a little clunky in a small or minimalist shower.

Tip!

If you bathe your dog at home, a handheld showerhead can make that process so much easier for you. You'll feel like a professional groomer, able to reach every bit of your dog's fur using the handheld spout.

Rain: Rain showerheads are the next best thing in luxurious, immersive shower experiences. These showerheads are essentially fixed showerheads with two unique twists: they are much wider than traditional fixed showerheads and they spray water almost straight down. They can be both wall- and ceiling-mounted. Standing under a rain showerhead will feel like standing under heavy, soothing rainfall. Rain showerheads have impressive water coverage and can really upgrade the value of your shower.

Dual: Dual showerheads offer you the best of both worlds – they are a fixed showerhead and a handheld showerhead all in one. These showerheads have one spray element that is affixed directly to your wall and another handheld spray element that is affixed to a long, flexible shower hose. The handheld sprayer may clip directly into the center of the fixed sprayer or clip beside or near it. Many of these showerheads also have additional settings that allow you increased control over your shower's water pressure and spray intensity.

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You can also shop for showerheads more broadly by installation location. This is a great way to shop if you are replacing an existing showerhead and would rather not sift through showerheads that won't mount properly to your current shower system.

Best Showerhead Materials & Finishes

There are numerous different showerhead materials and finishes that can impact the way your showerhead looks in your shower. You can find showerheads to match your existing shower and bathroom hardware or you can choose materials and finishes that will make it stand out – the choice is yours.

Stainless Steel: Renowned for its sleek appearance and resistance to rust and corrosion, stainless steel is one of the most popular materials for showerheads. If you like the look of lustrous silver, stainless steel is the choice for you. It is available in polished and brushed finishes.

Chrome: Ultra-sleek and modern, chrome showerheads are some of the most striking showerheads on the market. Chrome fixtures are metal fixtures that have been plated with chromium, an anticorrosive, water-resistant, easy-to-clean material also present in stainless steel. A chrome fixture may be lighter and less expensive than a fully stainless steel showerhead. Chrome showerheads come in three finishes: polished chrome, brushed chrome, and satin chrome.

Bronze: Warm and dark in color, bronze showerheads are the perfect choice for rustic bathrooms. Bronze showerheads are available in three finishes: oil-rubbed bronze, Venetian bronze, and brushed bronze.

Nickel: A little warmer and more muted than silver, nickel is a popular choice for showerheads. Nickel showerheads can subtly complement showers of many different styles. They are available in three corrosion-resistant finishes: brushed nickel, polished nickel, and satin nickel.

Brass: If you'd like a showerhead with the same warmth as gold but don't want it to be quite as flashy, opt for brass instead. Brass is warmer, yellower, and a little more subtle than gold. Antique brass is especially attractive due to its worn, vintage-inspired look, but you can also opt for polished brass if you want a more contemporary look.

Copper: You won't find a more unique material for a showerhead than copper. Warm and red-orange in color, copper has an incredible vintage-inspired look to it that will fit right into a rustic or eclectic bathroom. Copper showerheads come in two finishes: antique copper and brushed copper.

Gold: Incomparably glamorous, a gold showerhead can really elevate the luxury appeal of your shower. Gold pairs beautifully with dark slate or elegant marble shower tile. If you've got a taste for the finer things, consider a showerhead with a gold finish.

Silver: In search of a silver showerhead to match your existing shower hardware? Browse our broad selection of shimmering silver showerheads, available in a range of corrosion-resistant materials.

Black: Ideal for modern, farmhouse, and industrial bathrooms, black showerheads are striking and stylish. Installed in white bathrooms, black showerheads can create compelling contrast. If you're looking for something muted, opt for a showerhead with a matte black finish.

White: Clean and modern in appearance, white showerheads are old classics. Made primarily of plastic, these showerheads are some of the least expensive showerheads available, unless you opt for an ultra-modern model.

Best Showerhead Flow Rates

Another vital consideration before you buy a showerhead is its flow rate. A showerhead's flow rate refers to how many gallons of water flow out of your shower per minute. It's measured in gallons per minute, or GPM. A showerhead's flow rate can impact your shower's water usage and water pressure, but most importantly, it can be controlled and restricted by your state government. The United States federal limit on showerhead flow rate – also called the Maximum Flow Rate – is 2.5GPM, but your state may have stricter restrictions. For example, the state of California imposes a limit of 1.8GPM on showerheads in use in the state. Be sure to check your state's water conservation standards before you buy.

Low Flow: Low-flow showerheads typically have the lowest water pressure and the lowest water usage of all showerheads; they're optimal if you live in a location with strict flow-rate limits or if you want to conserve as much water as possible. The flow rates of these showerheads are usually 1.5–2GPM.

Medium Flow: With flow rates of 2–2.5GPM, medium-flow showerheads have high water pressure at the cost of higher water consumption. If your state abides by the federal Maximum Flow Rate, you can indulge in a medium-flow showerhead.

High Flow: Most high-flow showerheads have flow rates that match the federal maximum of 2.5GPM. If you want your showerhead to have the highest water pressure possible, go for a high-flow showerhead.

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Some showerheads allow you to adjust their water flow, a valuable setting if you live in drought-prone areas that might impose more restrictive water conservation limits from time to time.

Best Showerhead Spray Settings

Spray settings alter the way water flows out of your showerhead. They can increase the versatility and functionality of your showerhead.

Full/Standard: Standard showerheads spray water from each of their little spouts. They have consistent water pressure and tend to be on the more affordable side of the showerhead price range. A full spray setting is typical (and often the default) of rain showerheads.

Rain: Showerheads in this category can be one of two things: a typical rain showerhead or a showerhead with a rain spray setting. Showerheads with rain spray settings are showerheads that can be used as standard showerheads or rain showerheads. Normally, they may spray a high-pressure stream of water from a few spouts, but with a rain spray setting applied, one of these showerheads will make use of all of its spouts, producing a broader, more gentle rain-like stream of water.

Massage/Jet: A showerhead with a massage or jet spray setting will turn your shower into a spa. It can be configured so that water flows powerfully from a few jet spouts, rather than many standard shower spouts. With all the water being funneled out of a few spouts, the water pressure is increased, enabling the sprays of water to act as massage jets to soothe your muscles. This spray setting is especially useful on handheld showerheads, as you can direct the massaging spray to muscles that most need relief.

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Want one showerhead with multiple spray patterns? Opt for an adjustable showerhead. Showerheads with adjustable spray patterns can have two or more spray settings with various benefits, including increased or decreased flow rate, broad or targeted water coverage, and more. Spray settings can be adjusted using small buttons or levers located on the showerhead itself.

Best Showerhead Accessories

Hose Included: If you're exchanging a fixed showerhead for a handheld (or dual) showerhead or installing a completely new one, a shower hose is a must-have. Some handheld and dual showerheads don't actually come with hoses included, so filter for showerheads with hoses included if you need that piece of hardware.

Shower Arm Included: Similarly, fixed showerheads require shower arms to mount to the wall or ceiling. If you don't already have a shower arm, be sure to browse showerheads with arms included.

Slide Bar Included: Tall people, this accessory feature will greatly improve your showering experience. Slide bars are pieces of hardware that attach to your shower wall to allow you to easily adjust the height of your handheld showerhead. Slide bars are only available for handheld showerheads, but they are well worth it. You'll never need to crouch in the shower again!