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The best shower heads balance excellent water pressure with rainforest-like tranquility, making your bathing experience both enjoyable and efficient. For those who are willing to upgrade, some high-end models also have massaging features and water filters to protect your skin and hair. If you’re looking for a reliable pick with multiple spray patterns, the Kohler’s Forté Shower Head is our all-around favorite for its versatility and classic look. That said, there are several other top-quality contenders on our list to suit every bathroom style and budget.
Ultimately, the best option for your household depends on your shower mount type and pressure preferences, as well as décor style. “A shower head can definitely add flare to a bathroom design,” says Tatiana Seikaly of Studio Seikaly. “It can either be a statement piece or seamlessly blend into the other plumbing fixtures.” While there are a lot of shower head options out there, some rise above the rest in terms of quality and features. Ahead, here are the best options on the market, including premium filtered shower heads and budget-friendly picks.
Best Shower Head Overall: Kohler Forté 1.75 GPM Shower Head
Best High-Pressure Shower Head: Waterpik Powerpulse
Best Rain Shower Head: Grohe Euphoria 260 Shower Head
Best Dual Shower Head: Moen Engage Magnetix 2-In-1 Shower Head
Best Low-Flow Shower Head: High Sierra High-Efficiency Low-Flow Shower Head
Best Budget-Friendly Shower Head: Gurin Shower Head
Best Filtered Shower Head: Brondell Vivaspring Filtered Shower Head
Best Shower Head Overall
A Sleek Option That Offers Three Different Spray Settings
Kohler Forté 1.75 GPM Shower Head
Mount type: Wall | Material: 6 options, including French gold and oil rubbed bronze | Spray pattern: Full coverage, pulsating massage or silk spray | Flow rate: 1.75 GPM (gallons per minute)
The Kohler Forté is a great option for most needs. It delivers three different sprays—full coverage, pulsating massage or a lighter silk spray—to let you mix things up in the shower. Just push the lever on the head over and enjoy. The shower head infuses two liters of air per minute into the spray, giving you plenty of power and volume to rinse off shampoo bubbles and soap residue in the form of large droplets. Choose from six different finishes for the look that’s right for you bathroom.
What our editors say: “This is a great, relatively basic shower head,” says senior home and kitchen editor Amanda Arnold, who tested the model over the course of multiple months. “It’s a significant upgrade from the shower head pre-installed in my Brooklyn apartment, and both my partner and I love its moderate pressure.”
Best High-Pressure Shower Head
A Pick That Delivers 2.5 Gallons Of Water Per Minute
Mount type: Wall | Material: Chrome | Spray pattern: 7 options, including massage and PowerSpray | Flow rate: 2.5 GPM
Whether you have thick hair that takes forever to rinse or just prefer a more forceful spray, a high pressure shower head is the way to go. Waterpik’s Powerpulse delivers an impressive 2.5 gallons per minute to get you washed off fast. This detachable shower head features seven different spray options—including three massage features—to help you customize your cleaning experience. A five-foot hose gives you plenty of room to move about your shower while you clean yourself.
Best Rain Shower Head
A Shower Head With A Generous 10-Inch Diameter
Grohe Euphoria 260 Shower Head
Mount type: Ceiling | Material: Chrome or nickel | Spray pattern: Rain, jet and smart rain | Flow rate: 2.5 GPM
A rain shower head isn’t for everyone—particularly those who don’t want to get their hair wet every time they shower—but it delivers a soothing feel like getting caught in a gentle downpour. This option from Grohe offers up two finishes, along with a generous 10-inch spray face to cover your body. Flip between three different spray selections, including the vigorous jet spray, pulsating rain spray and water-conserving smart rain spray.
What our editors say: “This is a rain shower head, so the pressure isn't comparable to a regular shower head, but I thought it was still great,” says executive strategy editor Lindsay Boyers. “Normally it takes me forever to get the shampoo out of my hair with a rain shower head, but this one felt more powerful while still having a nice trickling effect.”
Best Dual Shower Head
A Two-Head Option With A Kink-Free Metal Hose
Mount type: Wall | Material: Chrome | Spray pattern: Downpour, massage, rinse and more | Flow rate: 2.5 GPM
The Moen Engage gives you two options for shower heads. The larger head delivers a rain shower while the detachable option allows for up-close rinsing. Enjoy a reflective chrome finish that looks sleek in your bathroom. A really cool feature: This dual shower head has a magnetic docking system that lets you easily detach the handheld shower head and just snap it back in place with the help of a magnet. The kink-free metal hose won’t tangle, even over time.
Best Low-Flow Shower Head
An Option That Saves 40% More Water Than The Competition
High Sierra High-Efficiency Low-Flow Shower Head
Mount type: Wall | Material: 5 options, including matte black and polished brass | Spray pattern: Full | Flow rate: 1.5 GPM
The High Sierra shower head offers up a 1.5 gallons per minute flow rate to help conserve water. This ends up using 40% less water than high-pressure heads, saving you money on utilities in the long run. Choose from five different finish options, including a trendy matte black and nickel. And, while this shower head is low flow, it still delivers enough force to help you feel thoroughly rinsed after.
Best Budget-Friendly Shower Head
An $20 Pick That Delivers A Powerful Rainfall-Style Flow
Gurin Shower Head
Mount type: Wall | Material: Chrome | Spray pattern: Rain | Flow rate: 1.8 GPM
At $20, the Gurin shower head is a total steal. It delivers a powerful rainfall-style flow with a luxury look. Anti-clog silicone jets—there are 90 of them total—push out more than enough water to get you clean. A nice perk: The shower head comes with a filter for hard water to protect your skin and hair. Choose between 1.8 and 2.5 GPM models.
Best Filtered Shower Head
An Easy-To-Install Pick That Can Filter Chlorine, Lead And More
Mount type: Wall | Material: Metal, copper | Spray pattern: Rain spray | Flow rate: 1.8 GPM
Hard water can do a number on your hair and skin. That’s where a shower head with a filter comes in. Featuring 60 nozzles that create a wide rain spray, this shower head can reduce the levels of chlorine, copper, lead and mercury from your water. What’s more, it can also inhibit the growth of algae, bacteria, fungi and scale on the surfaces of your shower. The filter can treat up to 10,000 gallons of water, which means you should only need to replace it every six months or so.
MORE FROMFORBES VETTED
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Here at Forbes Vetted, we know what distinguishes a truly great item from one that’s bound to disappoint over time. We’ve also published roundups of the best bath towels, bath mats, towel warmers and other bathroom-related products that can upgrade your showering experience. Additionally, for this article, we consulted four home and design pros to get their insight into what they look for in a shower head: Erin Sander of Erin Sander Design, Jess Weeth of Weeth Home, Melanie Hay of Melanie Hay Design and Tatiana Seikaly of Studio Seikaly.
How We Chose The Best Shower Heads
To determine the best shower heads on the market, we identified the most popular models from top brands like Kohler, Grohe, Waterpik and more. Then, we took a closer look at each model’s construction, mount style, water pressure and flow settings. Additionally, Forbes Vetted editors Amanda Arnold and Lindsay Boyers each tested one of the models that make this list.
Does A Good Shower Head Make A Difference?
A shower head serves the dual purpose of combining function and fashion, so yes, it can certainly make a big difference in your bathing experience. But in order to maximize the device’s effect, it’s important to consider your specific needs, including the flow rate you need (if you have long or thick hair, a higher flow rate of 1.75+ GPM is ideal) and how many spray pattern options you want to have. But a shower head can also elevate your bathroom. “The hardware for a shower is just as important as the tile and layout to the overall success of a design,” says Erin Sander of Erin Sander Design. “Shower heads are not something that’s just added at the end, it's an integral piece to the architectural design of the space.”
What Should I Look For In A Shower Head?
It really depends on your personal preferences and lifestyle. “When looking to choose the right shower head for your bathroom, start by thinking about how you plan to use the shower,” says Melanie Hay of Melanie Hay Design. “Are you a fan of rain heads or do you prefer an angled wall mounted shower head? Is the shower very large? Would you like multiple shower heads or sources of water?” And of course, it’s important to make sure your shower head fits in with your overall bathroom décor. “Shower heads are one area where form and function have to be in complete harmony,” says Jess Weeth of Weeth Home. “We always recommend our clients think about their comfort and priorities in terms of location and pressure, and from there we guide them to find a finish and style.”
Which Brand Makes The Best Shower Heads?
Our top pick is the Kohler Forté Shower Head, which offers up three different shower sprays. Kohler has a reputation for making quality bathroom fixtures, including shower heads, and this one’s no exception. That said, there are a lot of great shower heads out there made by a slew of different companies.
Zoro
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Zoro
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Bed Bath and Beyond
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Cricut
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FastGrowingTrees.com
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Guitar Center
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