The 8 Best Shower Heads To Indulge In A Spa-Like Experience

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)

Pros:

• Attractive design
• Ample diameter for those who like a wider stream
• Some like the light, luxurious feeling of aerated water droplets

Cons:

• Those who like stronger pressure might look elsewhere

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 experts 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.”

Mount type: Wall | Material: Chrome | Spray pattern: Downpour, massage, rinse and more | Flow rate: 2.5 GPM

Pros:

• Stable, easy-to-use magnetic attachment
• Main head offers strong water pressure
• Removable head offers multiple shower patterns
• Reviews say it’s easy to install

Cons:

• Made more of plastic than metal

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.

Mount type: Wall | Material: Chrome | Spray pattern: Rain | Flow rate: 1.8 GPM

Pros:

• Good value for those who like a wider, rain-like stream
• Several users say it installs easily
• Comes with a flow limiter for those who want to save water

Cons:

• Some wish it were built more durably

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.

Mount type: Ceiling | Material: Chrome or Nickel | Spray pattern: Rain, jet and smart rain | Flow rate: 2.5 GPM

Pros:

• Offers enough pressure while maintaining rainfall effect
• Diameter of water stream is adjustable
• Simple to use and install

Cons:

• Some say they expected more of a metal construction, considering the high price

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.”

Mount type: Wall | Material: Chrome | Spray pattern: 7 options, including massage and PowerSpray | Flow rate: 2.5 GPM

Pros:

• Users say it’s easy to install
• Great for fans of high water pressure
• Several users like the massage setting

Cons:

• Hose is made of plastic, but users say their old metal hoses work well with this shower head

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. A 5-foot hose gives you plenty of room to move about your shower while you clean yourself.

Mount type: Wall | Material: 5 options, including matte black and polished brass | Spray pattern: Full | Flow rate: 1.5 GPM

Pros:

• Good water pressure, considering the flow rate
• Energy-efficient and saves water
• Some say it’s great for slow-draining tubs
• Looks and feels high-quality

Cons:

• Some say it can be noisy

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.

Mount type: Wall | Material: Metal, copper | Spray pattern: Rain spray | Flow rate: 1.8 GPM

Pros:

• Helps curb effects of hard water on skin and hair
• Inhibits unwanted growth on shower surfaces
• Many say installation is very simple

Cons:

• Some say filter may last shorter than six months

Hard water can do a number on your hair and skin. That’s where a shower head with a filter comes in. We recommend Brondell Nebia Vivaspring, our top pick in our best filtered shower heads story. 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.

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

Pros:

• Convenient and easy-to-use magnetic dock
• Aesthetically pleasing design and finish
• Several users say installation is simple
• Comes with a limited lifetime warranty

Cons:

• Several users say they had to remove restrictor valve for a stronger flow

Similar to the aforementioned Moen Engage Two-In-One, this Moen Engage handheld pick (the top pick in our dedicated piece on the best handheld shower heads) also features a unique magnetic dock that several reviewers highlight for its user-friendliness and durability. This Eco-Performance model also conserves water, thanks to its reduced flow rate of 1.75 GPM (though there’s also a standard version available). The Engage Ha