Best Shower Heads: Choosing a Shower Head for Your Bathroom Remodel

As you’re designing your new walk in shower, walk in tub, or tub and shower combo, you’ll need to pick several different components. Your shower wall material and design tends to get the most attention. The reality is that your shower hardware can also impact things like total cost and user experience, too, but most bathroom remodeling companies don’t get into these details until the design consultation.

Having completed over 15,000 shower and tub installations, our team at ZINTEX Remodeling Group understands how valuable it is to homeowners to come into that consultation with a plan. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to the best shower heads based on your specific needs and priorities. Read on to discover what your options are and how to make your shower head choice.

Table of Contents

1.  Standard Fixed Shower Heads
2. Handheld Shower Heads
3. Dual Shower Heads
4. Massage Shower Heads
5. Rainfall Shower Heads
6. Filtered Shower Heads

Best Low-Cost Shower Head: Standard Fixed Shower Heads

If your goal is to keep your walk in shower cost low, you may find that a basic shower head is the way to go. The most standard option is the fixed shower head, which is probably what your mind conjures up when you picture a shower.

A fixed shower head has a short wall mount that is immovable, although you may be able to tilt the shower head itself up, down, and to the side. The absolute cheapest option will offer a single pressure level, while fixed shower heads at a slightly higher price point may offer a few different pressure settings. 

Average cost of materials and labor: $100-$350.

Best Disability-Friendly Shower Head: Handheld Shower Heads

Walk in showers and walk in tubs are both great options for homeowners with disabilities that impact balance or mobility. A low threshold entry and built-in seat are both standard features of the walk in tub and premium add-ons of the walk in shower. To get the full shower experience from a seated position, you’re probably going to need a handheld shower head.

Handheld shower heads are typically attached to what’s called a bar mount, which can be installed at waist height for easy access. With a long and flexible waterline, handheld shower heads can be removed from the bar mount. That way, you can direct the shower head and flow of water by hand, rather than having to move your body under the running water. 

Average cost of materials and labor: $150-$900.

Most Versatile Shower Head: Dual Shower Heads

What if you have multiple people using the same shower who are looking for different showering experiences? A dual shower head combines the height and functionality of a fixed shower head with the mobility of a handheld shower head by offering both features in one. 

Typically, your dual shower head will have a bar mount with a standard shower head on the top and a smaller handheld shower head clipped below or beside the standard shower head. However, a dual shower head can also refer to two separate shower heads on opposite walls, used in larger showers fit for two or luxury showers. Make sure to specify which one you’re looking for when working with your tub or shower design consultant. 

Average cost of materials and labor: $300-$1,200.

Best High Pressure Shower Head: Massage Shower Heads

Low water pressure can be the result of fixable problems, like leaks in your plumbing lines or sediment buildup in your pipes. If it’s not the result of an easy-to-fix plumbing issue, what can you do to improve your shower’s water pressure, at least to the point that you can actually rinse out your shampoo and conditioner? The answer may lie in an adjustable massage shower head.

Massage shower heads come in both fixed and handheld options. What makes them stand out is the adjustable nozzle that allows you to change the stream of water, either distributing it evenly for a softer flow or concentrating it for more pressure. This is a great option for anyone with chronic knots they want to work out, but it can also help to slightly increase water pressure in low-pressure households. 

Average cost of materials and labor: $150-$900.

Most Luxurious Shower Head: Rainfall Shower Heads

If your goal is to create a relaxing, spa-like experience at home, you may find yourself drawn to the rainfall shower head options. These tend to be on the higher end of the price spectrum, and they have a few surprising drawbacks worth mentioning, but they are a great choice if you want that luxury effect.

Rainfall shower heads have large, square nozzles with more spray holes than your typical shower head, creating a gentle rain-like flow. The drawback? Because of the way the water is distributed, these can actually reduce your water pressure and your shower’s water efficiency. That said, many homeowners still love the look and feel of a rainfall shower head.

Average cost of materials and labor: $500-$2,000.

Best Shower Head for Hard Water: Filtered Shower Heads

Hard water contains a high mineral count and can leave your skin and hair feeling dry no matter the bath products you use. Overhauling your entire plumbing system can cost quite a bit of money, and many homeowners opt to filter individual water sources instead, including by installing filtered shower heads.

As you might expect, filtered shower heads contain filters that can reduce or remove minerals, heavy metals, chlorine, and other unwanted substances. Some homeowners find that introducing these shower heads is beneficial for both skin and hair health. You can find filtered shower heads at varying price points because they can also come with additional features, like a pressure changing nozzle or detachable shower head. Keep in mind that you will need to change the filter according to manufacturer standards, typically every six months.

Average cost of materials and labor: $300-$1,000.

What Else Do You Need to Know to Design Your Perfect Walk-In Shower or Tub-and-Shower Combination?

Planning your new tub or shower remodel isn’t just about the shower wall materials, although that tends to be where the focus lies. Your hardware and accessories will also play an integral role in the cost of your remodel and the functionality of your finished product. With this guide, you can determine which shower head is most likely to help you meet your goals, whether you’re aiming to keep costs low, accommodate a disability, or filter your hard water.

What else do you need to know to complete your tub or shower design? It’s time to think about water containment. Take a look at the ZINTEX guide to shower doors.