Yahoo Lifestyle The Best Showerheads to Transform Your Bathroom Into a Spa
- 1/10
The Best Showerheads to Transform Your Bathroom Into a Spa
This story was updated in January 2023 to ensure all recommendations vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute were in stock and accurately priced. Some original picks were replaced.
There's nothing like coming home after a rough day and hopping into a hot shower. It washes away all the dirt, grime and for a brief moment, the stress of the day. In order for that to happen, you need the best showerhead to help provide you that maximum comfort. There are so many different versions of showerheads that it is important to understand what works for you. At Good Housekeeping, we do all the heavy lifting so that you can purchase the best showerhead for your needs.
The Good Housekeeping Institute routinely tests out different household appliances. From air purifiers to mattresses, if it can improve quality of life, we test it. There are a vast amount of showerheads, from dual-head to single, to even smart showers that utilize aromatherapy. Utilizing both consumer feedback and our own personal Good Housekeeping shower, we can test different showerheads in our Lab to gather and measure different datapoints in order to provide the most accurate information on each showerhead. We test how easy it is to install the showerhead, how many settings it has, how strong the flow is and even how well it rinses shampoo from hair.
Our top picks:
Ahead, you'll find the best showerheads for gifting or using yourself. Keep reading to learn more about the most important features to look for when purchasing a brand new showerhead.
getty/amazon - 2/10
1) Forte Showerhead
Kohler
amazon.com
$81.08
Those who care more about powerful settings and easy installation over flashy, tech’ed-out features need Kohler’s classic model. Not only does it look great, its smaller size means it can fit in even the tightest of spaces, without sacrificing performance. It comes in six finishes including gold, nickel and matte chrome — all of which have different prices. This one aced our tests, earning the highest scores thanks to the quality and performance we’ve come to expect from Kohler. It was a Lab and consumer favorite, with testers rating it top for intensity. They also appreciated that the settings weren’t too complicated. We installed it in under a minute with zero tools — you’ll likely be able to just hand-tighten it.
Kohler - 3/10
2) Hotel Anystream Showerhead
Speakman
amazon.com
$30.47
If you are looking for a cheaper showerhead that still delivers great output, the Hotel Anystream Showerhead is the way to go. There's a reason why it's commonly found in hotel bathrooms. Plungers inside the showerhead nozzle control the spray force intensity, which the brand says makes it an ideal showerhead for low water pressure homes. The plungers also resist buildup, keeping the showerhead relatively easy to maintain. You can switch between Intense, Massage and Combination settings for a customizable spa shower experience. It's available in several finishes, like nickel, chrome and brass.
speakman - 4/10
3) Modern Square Raincan Fixed Showerhead
Glacier Bay
amazon.com
$52.99
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 and outperformed similar models five times its price. Of all the models we tested, this was the consumer favorite. Testers commented on its stellar coverage and super-easy installation, but especially liked the design, saying the shape looked very high-end. “It made my shower feel as if I was in a fancy hotel or spa!” said one. Position this rain showerhead at a slight angle or completely horizontal for a true rainfall feel. Testers said it gave them exceptional water coverage, but you’ll likely need to buy a shower arm extender.
Glacier Bay - 5/10
4) H2Okinetic Technology Showerhead with Wand
DELTA FAUCET
amazon.com
$203.30
The brand claims that thanks to the high velocity wave pattern that comes with this showerhead, you experience three times the coverage of a standard showerhead. 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. The handheld showerhead actually pulls right out of the overhead showerhead, and a powerful docking magnetism lets you store it easily into place each time. While most Amazon reviewers raved about the steady flow of water and optimal pressure, some complained about the materials feeling cheap.
delta faucet - 6/10
5) Chrome PowerPulse 2-in-1 Dual Shower System
Waterpik
bedbathandbeyond.com
$59.99
When it comes to versatility, it doesn’t get better than this two-in-one showerhead from Waterpik. Not only does it have 10 settings, but it also has dual-use overhead and handheld parts you can use at the same time or individually (so you won’t freeze when rinsing off shaving cream). It easily beat every other model with a hand shower in our tests, offering a more intense stream of water and many extra settings. Consumers all raved about its versatility, saying, “I liked the flexibility of using it different ways on many different settings.” Keep in mind that testers rated it slightly lower for intensity and overall style; it has a bit of a complicated assembly and it may be too large for some showers.
bedbathandbeyond.com - 7/10
6) Nebia Rainshower
moen
amazon.com
$313.31
This Nebia and Moen collaboration takes efficiency to the next level, using 45 percent less water than standard showerheads, according to the brands. The fixture accomplishes this by breaking up water into tiny droplets, a process known as atomization. Not all testers loved the mist-style spray, but our experts recommend the Moen for anyone looking to keep water consumption in the shower to a minimum. In terms of functionality, the fixture adjusts vertically at different heights and swings horizontally, accommodating family members and guests of different sizes. The Nebia is available in four finishes and can be installed without a plumber.
moen - 8/10
7) Aromatherapy Showerhead
Moen
amazon.com
$89.00
For a more customizable shower experience, this showerhead uses INLY aromatherapy technology to infuse the running water with fragrant essential oils in scents like lavender, citrus, berry and lemongrass (but keep in mind the showerhead can operate with or without the aromatherapy capsules). It features four dilution settings so you can alter the aromatherapy fragrance to run on high, medium, low or off.
moen - 9/10
8) 4-Spray In2ition 2-in-1 Dual Showerhead
DELTA FAUCET
amazon.com
$49.98
Delta Faucet's 2-in-1 showerhead has the ability to control each one individually. The hand-held part of the showerhead attaches extremely easily to the middle of the showerhead, allowing you to experience two flows at once, imitating a more powerful and wider flow spread. Within the handheld, you have three different settings you can choose from that will adjust the pressure. The handheld hose is 60 inches long, allowing you to spray your body while the showerhead is spraying onto 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 whichever showerhead is still on. Our test engineer really enjoyed the water pressure of this showerhead. It covers a great amount of area, so it's easy to rinse and wash your hair and body. It was not difficult to install. Our engineer who tested this liked it so much, he has it installed in his own home.
amazon.com - 10/10
9) High Pressure 8-mode Handheld Showerhead
Hotel Spa
amazon.com
$34.99
A strong, high-pressure showerhead is Amazon's number one pick. It has over 20,000 ratings, with 78% of those being five-star ratings. While it's a single showerhead, it has eight different settings that one can switch. Six of those settings are different variations of water coming out like a typical shower, while two types of settings actually are meant for cleaning your shower. It essentially becomes a pressure wash, allowing you to wash your bath and shower tiles much easier. The hose length is 72 inches, helping you to reach all your bits and pieces. While we didn't get to test this model, commenters loved the high pressure nozzle to help clean their shower and how the product was so well-made.
amazon.com
