5 Best Shower Heads of 2024

The invigorating spray and even temperature from our expert picks will help turn shower time into a daily indulgence.

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When it comes to creature comforts, a first-rate showerhead should be high on your list. Sure, a wimpy fixture will get the job done — eventually. But why not treat yourself to the vigorous, hair-rinsing stream of a top-performing showerhead? That’s what our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute look for in their continuous testing of this essential bathroom product.

Over the last five years, we've evaluated 30 models from all the biggest brands, including American Standard, Delta, Kohler and Glacier Bay. “The good news from our latest round of testing is that you don’t need to spend top dollar for a top-rated showerhead,” says Dan DiClerico, director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the GH Institute. “In fact, a few of our favorite models are $50 or less.”The following showerheads are our current top picks, based on their superb performance, straightforward installation and solid construction.

After reading our full reviews of each showerhead, read on for more information on how we test showerheads, as well as factors to consider as you zero in on the right model for your home. And don’t miss our expert choices for other shower-time enhancements, including the best shower speakers, shower filters and towel warmers.

The simple elegance of this Kohler showerhead is matched by its stellar performance. "The Forte impressed us right out the box with its clean lines and compact design," says DiClerico. "The fact that our testers installed it in under a minute with zero tools added to its appeal."

The showerhead comes in seven finishes including gold, nickel and oil-rubbed bronze — all of which have different prices. In hands-on testing, the Forte earned the highest scores, thanks to its exceptional performance across all spray settings, from pulsating massage to misting spray. Consumer testers all appreciated how easy it was to switch between settings. The only downside is the lack of a pause setting, which some people like to flick on when shaving or lathering up with soap and shampoo.

Our experts also highly rate Kohler's Purist line of showerheads, praising its superb performance ("the strong water flow feels luxurious compared to our old showerhead," observed one tester) and expansive finish options, including matte black and vibrant brushed moderne brass. The Purist 2-in-1 Showerhead stands out as a recent GH Home Reno Award winner, "combining form and function as well as any system on the market," our judges noted.

Speakman has been a favorite brand in the showerhead category with our experts for many years. The Hotel Anystream Showerhead is the way to go if you're looking for an ultra-cheap showerhead that still delivers great output.

There's a reason why this no-frills model is commonly found in hotel bathrooms. Plungers inside the showerhead nozzle control the spray force intensity, which the brand says makes it the best showerhead for low water pressure homes. The plungers also resist buildup, keeping the showerhead relatively easy to maintain. We like that you can switch between Intense, Massage and Combination settings for a customizable spa shower experience. The Hotel Anystream is available in several finishes, including nickel, chrome and brass.

Our experts also love Speakman's Signature Icon Anystream, which was another winner in our Home Reno Awards. Spending more on the upgrade gets you more durable solid brass construction as well an expanded line of finishes, including matte black and oil rubbed bronze. Our testers raved over the performance. “This may be the best showerhead I have ever used, and I have sampled/used over a dozen top-quality ones in the last three years alone,” one reported.

For less than the cost of a massage, you can make every shower feel like a day at the spa. Glacier Bay’s rain showerhead looks much more expensive than it is, our testers observed, and it outperformed similar models costing several times as much.

Our consumer panelists commented on its stellar coverage and super-easy installation, but especially liked the design, saying the shape brought a high-end look and feel to the bathroom. “It made my shower feel as if I was in a fancy hotel or spa!” said one.

We like the versatility of the fixture: Position it at a slight angle to make room in the shower to lather up or have it completely horizontal for a true rainfall feel. One note: You’ll likely need to buy a shower arm extender to take full advantage of its versatility. The showerhead also only has one setting, so it's best for people who like a good soak in the shower, rather than the option of softer sprays.

Two-in-one showerheads combine an overhead spray with a handheld one, the latter being good for body washing and also to rinse down the shower when cleaning. This version from Delta has a clever, space-saving design: The handheld wand pulls right out of the overhead showerhead, and a powerful docking magnetism lets you store it easily into place each time.

Thanks to the high velocity wave pattern that comes with this showerhead, you'll experience three times the coverage of a standard showerhead, according to Delta. With five different spray settings, this showerhead internally controls the speed, movement and droplet size of the water, which the brand says helps to create the feeling of more water.

While most Amazon reviewers loved the steady flow of water and optimal pressure, some complained about the materials feeling cheap.

Our test engineer was so impressed with the water pressure of Delta Faucet's 2-in-1 showerhead during Lab tests that he installed the same fixture in his home.

In addition to the vigorous stream, our experts like that the two sprays on the fixture can be controlled individually. The handheld part of the showerhead attaches to the middle of the showerhead, allowing you to experience two flows at once, for a wide, powerful spray. One small ding against the fixture: Testers sometimes had to do a bit of fiddling when re-attaching the two showerheads.

Within the handheld spray, there are three different settings to choose from to adjust the pressure. We also like that the handheld hose is 60 inches long, allowing you to spray your entire body while the showerhead sprays your head. If you feel like only using one part of the showerhead, you can turn off the other one, which would then provide even stronger water pressure coming out of whichever showerhead is still on.

Our product experts keep constant tabs on the current marketplace to identify the showerheads you’re most likely to find at home centers, bath showrooms, plumbing supply stores and online. They also stay on top of the latest trends by attending trade shows and industry events, including the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS).

We've tested 30 models over the last five years. Hands-on testing begins in our Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab, where we test multiple aspects of showerheads by installing them in our in-Lab shower. As part of the evaluation, we time our engineers to see how long it takes to get each showerhead up and running. To calculate flow rate, we measure how much water comes out of the showerhead in one minute. We also utilize mannequins with hair, testing rinseability of shampoo to see how well the showerhead can penetrate and wash. To garner real-world feedback, we work with our consumer testers to see how well they liked using the showerheads in their home showers.

Check out the below to see what's important when looking at a new showerhead.

✔️ Flow rate: How much water is used is measured in gallons per minute (GPM). Some places limit the flow rate, for instance, in New York City or Colorado, it's 2.0, while California's standard is 1.8 gallons per minute. Typically, the higher the flow rate, the more pressure you feel, which tends to be a good thing.

At the same time, newer showerheads are capable of using less flow rate, but actually channel more water through different heads, so it feels as if it's a higher flow rate than what it is. Low flow rate also means less water, so some showerheads can imitate more powerful systems while actually using less water. Some showerheads are available with more than one flow rate, so you can choose depending on your preference or builder code; within a model line, options with higher flow rates typically cost more.

✔️ Type of system: Showerheads typically come in different styles. Some are dual-head combos, where the two heads combine to make one showerhead, but you can separate them at any time. There are single-head showerheads that have multiple settings so you can adjust it to however you want. There are handheld showerheads, where you can take them off the wall and spray your body. Be sure to understand what type of showerhead you are getting before purchasing it.

Replacing a showerhead is usually a fairly straightforward project that any capable DIYer should be able to handle. In most cases, you start by unscrewing the old fixture with an adjustable wrench. To prevent future leaks, be sure to peel away any of the old plumber’s tape from the threaded section of the shower arm and replace it with fresh tape.

Then screw on the new showerhead, tightening by hand or with a wrench, according to the user manual. Note that some models require an extra shower arm. The installation process can get more complicated with showerheads that have multiple sprays, since the regulator on the main plumbing line might need to be upgraded to account for the additional water flow.

Showerheads that qualify for the EPA's WaterSense certification must use less than 2 gallons per minute (GPM), compared with the 2.5 GPM that's the maximum permitted by federal regulations. These water-efficient models are often referred to as "low-flow" showerheads. Our tests find fixtures that are even more efficient. In this current report, there is a pair of showerheads that uses 1.75 GPM. In the past, we've reviewed models with a flow rate of 1.5 GPM, like the Niagara Conservation Earth Massage Showerhead.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab provides expert reviews and advice on all things home-related, including bath fixtures and accessories. This article was originally written by Nicole Saporita, a former member of the Good Housekeeping editorial team who spent years working with the GH Institute to report on product testing.

Our most recent testing was overseen by Dan DiClerico, director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Dan brings nearly 25 years of experience to his role, having reviewed thousands of products for Good Housekeeping, as well as brands like Consumer Reports and This Old House.

Alec Scherma is a mechanical engineer who has worked hands-on with HVAC systems and robotics built to create semi-conductors. For this report, he used his engineering experience to help install and understand how each showerhead works, as well as explain what features of a showerhead are most important.

Nicole Saporita was an editor and writer at Good Housekeeping from 2014 to 2020, where she researched, wrote and reported original content for the Good Housekeeping Institute and several other departments, including health, travel and family.

Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.

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