By: Timothy Dale, Jasmine Harding
Updated on Feb 13, 2024 1:55 PM EST handicap faucet handles
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A shower faucet is an integral part of any bathroom. The best shower faucet for a bathroom should suit personal tastes, both in terms of style and function. Some people enjoy showering once or twice a day but only wash their hair twice a week, so they can choose a simpler configuration. Other people use the shower to treat their sore muscles and would benefit from a tower panel shower system with multiple body sprayers. A rain shower head can make almost any shower feel more luxurious.
To find shower faucet sets with these features and more, take a look at the products below, which represent top shower faucet choices available in each category.
We researched the most sought-after shower faucets in their respective categories and discovered that the best models are determined by their type, flow rate, size, number of handles, materials and finishes, and other special features included by top brands.
While we were searching for the best shower faucets available, we found the most popular types among users were the panel and single-tap mixers with water pressures of 1.4 to 5 gallons per minute (GPM). Most come with rain shower heads, handheld shower heads, or standard shower heads. These picks are available in small and large sizes to suit a range of shower spaces, with one to three handles for adjusting nozzles, handheld shower heads, and standard shower heads.
These shower faucets come in various materials and finishes including matte black, gold, nickel, chrome, stainless steel, and bronze. Some of these models also have pressure-balancing systems, a shower hose, digital LED screens, holders and handles, and rough-in valves.
The best shower faucet sets in their respective categories are recommended based on overall efficacy, availability, and popularity.
The Blue Ocean 52-inch shower panel tower installs easily on wall-mounted brackets with a full panel that measures 52 inches tall by 10 inches wide by 3.5 inches deep and is best for flat shower walls. This is because of the eight body-massage nozzles you can adjust to hit the perfect spot at just the right pressure. The unit is made of a high-quality aluminum alloy and has two specific controllers: one to swap between functions and one for water temperature.
Owners can set a desired temperature that will display on a screen, which is powered by AA batteries. The shower faucet set includes a rainfall shower head, handheld shower head, body-massage nozzles, and an integrated tub spout, making this an ideal choice for a combined shower and bath. The panel shower faucet set provides a flow of about 2.5 GPM and comes with standard installation accessories.
Get the Blue Ocean shower faucet at Amazon or Walmart.
If a full-panel shower faucet takes up too much space, consider the SR Sun Rise shower system that includes a 1.75-GPM rainfall shower head and two dedicated controls for temperature and flow rate. The set also comes with a solid metal shower arm, stainless steel shower hose, and a shower wand holder to keep the shower set organized and efficient.
The SR Sun Rise single-tap mixer on this shower faucet set has a pressure-balancing system for flow control so that sudden changes in hot or cold water flow (such as from the flushing of a nearby toilet) won’t affect the water temperature too much in the shower. This shower faucet set comes in standard chrome or, for a higher price, in a brass, nickel, or matte black finish to give a bathroom a unique look.
Get the SR Sun Rise shower faucet at Amazon or SR Sunrise.
The affordable Sumerain shower faucet set is a single-tap mixer shower faucet set that includes everything required for a straightforward installation. The set includes a shower head, shower arm, handle, and brass rough-in valve. The brushed-gold and matte-black finishes on the shower faucet are intended to resist corrosion and tarnishing, with Sumerain claiming that the shower faucet can last up to 600,000 uses.
The combined flow-and-temperature-control lever is simple to understand, making it easier to focus on the shower instead of fighting with multiple control settings. For homes with hard water, Sumerain’s Touch Clean showers have soft spray holes that lend themselves to the quick and easy wiping away of calcium and limescale buildup. With a flow rate of 2.2 GPM and a fingerprint-resistant finish, this shower faucet is an excellent choice for any budget.
Get the Sumerian shower faucet at Amazon, Wayfair, Walmart, or Sumerain.
Anyone who doesn’t want to replace their entire shower system can install a new rainfall shower head like the Delta Faucet Raincan shower head in less than 20 minutes with no special tools required. The square shower head can fit an existing shower set with standard 0.5-inch pipe fittings, but it isn’t intended to be ceiling mounted. The manufacturer recommends a 16-inch shower arm so that the 8-inch shower head has space for unobstructed water flow.
The Touch Clean spray holes on this Delta faucet rain shower head make it easy to wipe away calcium and limescale, so this model is a great option for locations with hard water. The single-spray setting is designed to release a 2.5-GMP relaxing, gentle fall of water that mimics a soft summer rain, adding to peace and relaxation in the shower.
Get the Delta Raincan shower faucet at Amazon, Lowe’s, or Wayfair.
The Kohler Bellerose shower kit has a distinctive design that can make any shower feel more like a spa. This shower faucet has two shower heads—one regular and one hand shower—positioned on a rotating rail. You can adjust both the 360-degree rotating rail and each shower head to get a personalized shower experience. A horizontal position is an excellent choice for creating a shoulder-massaging effect, while the vertical position feels more like a traditional shower head.
Each shower head offers three spray patterns: wide coverage, massage, and silk spray. It also has a pause feature that can stop the water flow for lathering or shaving, as well as a diverter to choose the shower head, hand shower, or both. A magnetic docking system adds to ease of use, and with a maximum flow of 1.75 GPM, it’s set up just right for a relaxing shower.
Get the Kohler shower faucet at The Home Depot.
This shower faucet from Waterpik doesn’t just get our award for most spray patterns; it also ranks first for the most useful spray feature: Waterpik’s PowerPulse massage function. This feature is up to two times stronger than other comparable shower massage heads. It’s backed by clinical studies to deliver therapeutic strength massage, and it’s even FDA approved as a wellness product.
Overall, this shower faucet has 12 spray patterns, including massage patterns, a full-body spray, mist spray, and water-saving options. Consisting of a 5-inch shower head and a handheld shower with a vertical spray head, this shower head is an excellent choice for cleaning as well as relaxing. The PowerComb feature helps penetrate hair to clean thoroughly, and with a flow rate of 1.8 GPM for both parts of the shower head, it can provide a bit of a scalp massage, too.
Get the Waterpik shower faucet at The Home Depot or Waterpik.
It’s hard to beat the luxurious feeling of a rain shower, and for those who really can’t get enough, the larger the rain shower, the better. This rain shower head from Lovedima measures 40 inches long by 20 inches wide. This large size creates an enveloping flow of water to create an even more spalike feel in the shower.
As an extra-luxurious feature, this shower head’s modern design has built-in LED lights as well. These make it possible to illuminate the shower for an even more unique washing experience. With its large size, this rain head shower will run through a little more water than most. It has a 2.5 GPM flow rate to maintain good water pressure despite its larger size.
Get the Lovedima shower faucet at Amazon.
Overhead shower heads and even handheld shower heads can help the body relax after a long day, and the Ello&Allo shower panel tower system fits the bill with four adjustable body-massage nozzles. The panel shower faucet set is made of durable stainless steel and has a sleek design to suit modern bathrooms.
The Ello&Allo tower system measures 55.1 inches tall by 18.1 inches wide by 7.87 inches deep and has a built-in temperature display and LED lighting that shines down from the rainfall shower head. The set can be used in six modes, including rainfall, waterfall, handheld sprayer, bathtub faucet, and two horizontal massage spray settings.
Get the Ello&Allo shower faucet at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Bed Bath & Beyond.
The single-tap mixer of the Gabrylly wall-mounted faucet set and shower system has a rainfall shower head and handheld shower head that you can control with a single lever for temperature and flow, and a dial to switch between shower faucet settings. The handheld shower head adjusts for optimal pressure, including rainshower, full-spray massage, and fast massage settings.
The Gabrylly faucet set has a sleek matte-black finish that doesn’t show dirt and grime buildup. However, it’s also available in brushed gold, brushed nickel, bronze, and basic chrome to match the shower faucet system to most types of bathroom decor. The 1.8-GPM flow rate ensures that showerers won’t suffer from low water pressure.
Get the Gabrylly shower faucet at Amazon.
For people who want to change the existing shower faucet system in their combined tub and shower, the Delta Linden Monitor 17 Series shower faucet offers replacements (or new installations) for a shower head, handheld shower wand, and bathtub faucet so that the shower can have a uniform look. The single-tap mixer shower faucet system comes in several finishes and has an elegant look, sure to suit most bathrooms.
This faucet has a distinctive design, with the shower wand nestled into the main shower head. This design gives it the flexibility of both pieces, but in a sleeker-looking package that’s also easier to install. You can choose from a few spray options: full-body spray, full spray with massage, and a massaging spray, as well as independently control the spray volume and the water temperature. This shower system set has a pause function to stop the flow of water without losing temperature settings.
Get the Delta Linden shower faucet at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Wayfair.
Anyone looking for a stylish and reliable shower faucet will want to take a look at this model from Delta. Available in a matte black or chrome finish, this faucet is made with a Monitor pressure-balance valve cartridge to maintain a consistent water temperature. The Touch-Clean spray holes prevent mineral buildup and tarnishing for long-term use. This Delta faucet is also easy on the energy bill as it uses 20 percent less water than the industry standard without compromising on water pressure. This ADA-compliant shower faucet provides a 1.75-GPM flow rate and has an opening of just over 5 inches for plenty of coverage while showering.
What our tester says: Stephanie Cronk, executive editor of product reviews, says, “I chose this shower faucet because its square look matched the other hardware I selected for my bathroom remodel and in part because Delta has been a leader in the industry for many years. There were no issues with installation, and the shower head provides adequate water pressure. Although the handle might feel a bit flimsy, I think that’s only because it’s a longer handle. I’ve had no problems with it, and I’m confident it will last many years.” Get the Delta Modern shower faucet at Amazon.
Before settling on a specific style or selection, take a look at these important product considerations ahead. We’ve included some tips for shoppers to choose a shower head that will best suit their bathroom’s current faucets and fixtures as well as their lifestyle. The best shower faucet sets are stylish, pleasant to use with good water pressure, and can even help save money on water bills—if they’re an efficient pick.
Shower faucet types are separated primarily by their available water controls, including a single-tap mixer, traditional two-tap mixer, and panel.
Single-tap mixer shower faucets have become the most commonly installed style in homes and hotels. This style features a single lever for water temperature, which controls hot and cold water as well as the flow rate. However, an alternate style of single-tap mixer uses separate levers for flow-rate control and for temperature mixing. With this second style, the faucet set draws both hot and cold water into the mixer and brings levels up or down to a predetermined temperature before the water flows out of the head.
Traditional two-tap mixers were the only option for shower faucet mixers for many years. This style of shower faucet uses two separate levers for hot and cold water. With this style, the water does not mix until hot and cold water enter the pipe to the shower head.
Panel shower faucets are a relatively new option available for home renovations, and they typically cost more than either the two-tap mixer or single-tap mixer types. This style features a vertical panel on the shower wall with plumbing connections that often run to multiple body spray nozzles, an overhead shower faucet, a handheld shower faucet, and even a bathtub faucet. However, if a home has low water pressure, a demanding water fixture like the panel shower faucet might not work well.
Flow rate is the volume of water that comes out of the faucet and it is commonly measured in GPM. Having a low flow rate in the shower can be frustrating when the spray doesn’t adequately reach you, or you have to deal with an inconsistent stream while trying to get clean.
To avoid reducing household water pressure significantly, most shower faucets have a minimum flow rate of about 1 GPM, but it’s usually worth it to invest in a shower faucet set with a higher flow rate, between 1.5 and 2.5 GPM. Some shower faucets can have flow rates that exceed 2.5 GPM, but this heavier flow is not necessary for most people and can quickly increase a water bill. Owners of homes with low water pressure will want to consider installing a high-pressure shower head.
Before buying any shower faucet set, you will want to measure the size of the bathroom and shower, including tub dimensions for bathrooms with a combined shower and bath.
Taking these measurements helps to properly plan the required faceplate space on the shower walls, the length of pipe required for the desired layout, and the style of shower faucet set that will fit in the given space. Some smaller showers cannot accommodate large panel shower faucets and might cause difficulties when you’re installing multiple sprayers or shower heads, such as with a rain-and-handheld-shower-head combination.
Decide how complex you want your shower faucet system to be, or just stick with what you know if you aren’t comfortable learning a new configuration.
The lever, or shower handle, can be installed in the center of a shower, off to one side, or more than one handle or lever can go in a variety of configurations. This all depends on the size of the shower, the placement of pipes behind the wall, and the amount of work required to relocate piping.
Most shower faucet kits allow for a shower lever to be installed wherever the purchaser wants. With panel-style shower faucets, you can adjust the position of the panel itself, but all levers, handles, sprayers, faucets, and shower heads come preinstalled on the front of the panel. If you have a specific place in mind for your shower faucet lever or levers, go with a single-tap mixer or traditional two-tap mixer for optimal control over lever placement.
A shower faucet set’s material can be a big factor in determining or matching the overall design of a bathroom. Although the durability of various metals can vary somewhat, the functional differences between metals used for shower faucet sets are not great enough to factor heavily into what you ultimately buy.
Most shower faucet sets are available in a basic stainless steel or chrome finish, which are timeless additions to any bathroom decor. For a more stylish material that can make a bathroom stand out, go with a nickel, brass, or bronze shower faucet. Or, for minimal cleaning, choose a matte-black finish that hides dirt and fingerprints.
After selecting the base material, buyers can choose between a polished or brushed finish. Polished is a beautiful look, but fingerprints, water spots, and other common bathroom grime build up quickly, so for a lower-maintenance bathroom, and especially for high-touch options like a handheld shower head, consider a brushed finish.
It is best to avoid starting the process of replacing or installing a shower faucet until answering one important question: Are you doing the work or are you hiring someone to do it? The answer to this can be a big factor in determining which shower faucet set to choose. For example, DIYers who know some basic plumbing and have decided to replace a traditional two-tap mixer might have a more limited product selection. When hiring a pro, the current shower configuration would be less of a limiting factor.
Beyond the skill of the installer and the current shower configuration, some shower faucet sets are much easier or more difficult to install. Those with little plumbing experience or who lack confidence in their abilities will want to look for a shower faucet set that comes with a user guide, possibly an instructional video, and a helpline to call if stuck. Products that require a plumber or plumbing technician to install normally indicate this requirement on the product details or packaging, so that is a consideration for anyone who does not want to spend the money hiring a plumber.
For some of the most commonly asked questions and their answers, take a look below before shopping for your new shower faucet set.
The durability of your shower faucet can depend on a lot of factors such as brand, frequency of use, frequency of cleaning and maintenance, and hardness of water. However, a shower faucet should last between 15 and 20 years before needing replacement.
Hard water occurs with the presence of an excess of heavy minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium. These minerals can cause long-term damage to a water system and fixtures, including shower faucets, tub faucets, and other taps. However, signs of hard water are easily recognizable, including a chalky film on dishes, mineral deposits, and scale buildup on water fixtures like faucets and shower heads. Solve hard water issues with a water softener.
This depends heavily on your plumbing experience, the current configuration and quality of your plumbing system, and your desired post-installation shower configuration. Assuming that you have a basic knowledge of plumbing, a relatively new plumbing system, and you want to replace your existing system with a similar style, then you should have everything you need to do the job yourself.
However, if you aren’t quite sure what you are doing or you want to make big changes to your shower configuration, it might be a good idea to hire a plumber. Additionally, most shower faucets will indicate whether they are simple to install or if they require a plumber for installation.
Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.
Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.
Timothy Dale is a home improvement writer who has been in the industry for several years. In his work for BobVila.com, he has written a number of how-to articles related to yard maintenance, vehicle repair, and home renovation, not to mention a wide variety of buying guides and articles on DIY projects. He always ensures readers get the information they need to tackle their next project.
We’re committed to testing and reviewing products so you can make an informed decision. Advertising does not influence our product reviews and it never will. We always focus our coverage on standout products and never hesitate to mention their flaws and quirks. By using our affiliate links, you’re supporting our work and helping us continue to provide expert analysis. Find out more about our product evaluation process.
By: Glenda Taylor, Deirdre Mundorf
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