We Tested 36 Showerheads—These 3 Outperformed the Rest (2025)

Whether you’re planning a bathroom remodel or replacing an old fixture, finding the best showerhead is an easy way to upgrade your everyday routine.

We tested three dozen showerheads in our own homes to determine the best one. While showerhead choices on the market can come with an overwhelming amount of features to consider, when we were testing, we learned that the difference between a good showerhead versus a great showerhead is versatility. Handheld and convertible options are a plus, as is good water pressure, which can come in the form of adjustable sprays.

The Bottom Line

For an overall solid, classic showerhead that's easy to use and includes helpful features like a pause button, the Delta Faucet H20kinetic Raincan showerhead is a great option. If you're looking for a dual-head option, we think Delta's two-in-one showerhead is a solid choice, or for those on a budget, we recommend the 12-spray Waterpik showerhead.

Our Testing Process

We’ve tested 36 showerheads since 2022. To evaluate each model, we followed the manufacturer’s instructions to install the showerhead. We then used the showerhead every time we showered during an initial two-week testing period. During that period, we evaluated spray settings and additional features. At the end of the two weeks, we cleaned the showerhead.

While using each showerhead, we considered the variety and intensity of streams, whether or not the showerhead leaked or dripped when not in use, the ease of detaching or reattaching handheld showerheads, the ease of adding and replacing filters, and how easy it was to clean the showerhead. We also used and evaluated additional features like aromatherapy, lights, or Bluetooth capabilities when applicable. For those with filtered showerheads, we considered how our hair, skin, and nails felt post-shower.

We considered installation too, noting whether it was easy or complicated, or took more or less time than expected, or if the instruction manuals were clear and helpful. We considered any tools needed for installation and whether the showerhead fit with no gaps, leaking, or dripping.

To evaluate performance, we noted the water flow, spray cover, and whether the showerhead would work well according to the user’s height. For settings, we considered whether the showerhead offered 360 degrees of adjustability or if it moved in just one or two directions. We also evaluated the number of settings available and if they seemed repetitive, noting if the settings allowed us to customize their showerhead to our preferences.

Finally, we reflected on showerhead durability, noting whether the item felt well-built or flimsy or how easy it was to clean.

After our initial testing period, we continued to monitor our top picks for the next six months, noting any new leaks, rust, or quality concerns that arose.

What to Know About Showerheads Before Shopping

Spray Patterns

According to Lowe's store manager Brian Shaunfield, the most common spray patterns for showerheads are “rain” or wide coverage spray for a more soft, gentle feel or “massage” for a concentrated jet spray for targeted pressure. There are also full-body or even spray options for rinsing soap off the body.

“Having multiple spray pattern options proves the most essential for those who are seeking targeted pressure to help with recovery for the body, outside of what the common patterns will do,” Shaunfield says.

When talking with his clients about showerheads, the most asked question Derek Baxter, lead designer at Select Kitchen & Bath in Alexandria, VA, gets is how they can get high pressure. “Due to current EPA guidelines, the highest rating you will see is 2.5 gallons per minute, though that is not allowed in all states,” he says. “In order to be code compliant in all states, you are looking at 1.75 GPM.” While most of his clients do like the option to switch patterns, he’s found that most will pick one and never adjust it.

Material and Finishes

Many of our testers were surprised to learn that plastic is the most commonly used material for showerheads, even by higher-end brands. “Plastic showerheads are so popular because they are more affordable, lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and are better with heat insulation, which reduces risks of burns,” Shaunfield says.

Baxter echoes Shaunfield’s answer, saying in talks with product representatives, he receives two answers, one being that plastic is more cost-effective to fabricate and two, using a flexible plastic for the nozzle allows the homeowner to break off and clean hard water residue, which can build up on individual nozzles. “This can extend the life of the showerhead,” he says.

When it comes to finishes, stainless steel and brushed nickel are “classics that people still love,” Shaunfield says. Stainless steel has been around for years and continues to be popular and what Shaunfield calls a “timeless” choice. However, “stainless steel is not offered in most lines and when it is it’s used in an application of brushed nickel, which is the most coordinating color for it,” Baxter adds.

“Black finishes have gained a lot of popularity over the last several years, and is also a timeless look, whereas gold finishes lend themselves to a more trend-forward aesthetic,” Shaunfield says. “As long as people continue to like black and gold finishes, they will be around for years to come.”

Baxter sees black finishes as having a long life. “For the gold, I see it lasting another five to 10 years and then it will be the new polished brass that was the rage in the ‘80s and ‘90s,” he says.

Other Showerheads We Tested

Jolie Filtered Showerhead

While we loved the design of the Jolie Filtered Showerhead and found it easy to install, like most filtered showerheads, it only has one setting. It does come in five colors, and we love that customer service was so responsive when we ran into issues.

Act+Acre Filtered Showerhead

While quite like the Jolie showerhead in looks and performance, the Act+Acre Filtered Showerhead is a bit cheaper and only available in one color—black. We did like it overall, and our tester felt like it provided benefits for her hair and skin. However, it is often out of stock or on backorder.

Kohler Moxie Bluetooth Showerhead

Another single-feature showerhead, the Kohler Moxie Bluetooth Showerhead tested well regardless of extra features. While it only has one spray setting, we found the showerhead great and the water pressure good too. We also found that you couldn’t feel the gap where the speaker sat. It may make for a great gift for new homeowners or an upgrade to a teen’s bathroom.

Your Questions, Answered

What can I expect to spend on a showerhead?

On average, showerhead prices can vary from $5 to $300, depending on features, type, and brand.

Baxter says showerheads from big box stores are typically $25 to $65, but investing in a higher end brand through a boutique plumbing company could cost anywhere from $45 to $300. “If you go down the path of a rain showerhead, you should expect to pay between $200 and $800, depending on the level of brand,” he says.

Can I install a showerhead myself?

Yes! We even have a step-by-step guide on how to do so. Most of our testers were able to install their showerhead in less than 30 minutes.

Who We Are

Kate Oczypok is a contributor at Better Homes & Gardens specializing in home and lifestyle product shopping, with expertise in outdoor and indoor appliances. She has nearly 20 years of professional experience as a writer, contributing to a wide range of publications.

To write this article, Oczypok utilized testing insights from the BHG testing team who installed and evaluated 36 showerheads in their homes. She also spoke to Derek Baxter, lead designer at Select Kitchen & Bath in Alexandria, VA, and Lowe's store manager Brian Shaunfield.

What is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.