The best shower faucet turns the ordinary shower into a luxurious experience. Our evaluation focused on pressure, self-cleaning ability, handhelds, temperature/flow control, and warranty. We also looked into auxiliary benefits such as aesthetics and water efficiency. The best bathroom essentials improve your overall morning routine.
After more than 17 hours of researching and testing, our top pick goes to the Delta Faucet Windemere Single-Function Shower. It provides powerful water flow, and a monitor scald guard helps prevent sudden temperature changes. Plus, it uses 20% less water than comparable shower faucets. Keep reading about the Delta Faucet Windemere Single-Function Shower and five others that met our strict grading criteria.
Top 6 Best Shower Faucet
#1 Delta Faucet Windemere Single-Function Shower Faucet
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This is the best shower faucet set, offering 20% less water flow than comparable showerheads with WaterSense technology, an EPA standard. It is a great choice for anyone looking to save on their water bills.
- Best quality
- Watersense-rated & monitor scald
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Lack of spray settings
- No handheld
- No tub spout
Powerful streams of water shoot out of this shower faucet, creating a deeply satisfying full body spray. Soft rubber spray holes prevent mineral build-up from gathering on the showerhead. A temperature management system also helps regulate to avoid extreme hot or cold with other running appliances, which is great for crowded households.
This shower faucet comes with a Watersense rating, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) label for products that adhere to water efficiency standards. With it, you can enjoy a 20% reduction in water flow over non-Watersense faucets. Kudos for its lifetime limited warranty, which inspires a lot of confidence. Don’t forget the best shower curtain to protect your floor.
#2 Gabrylly Shower System Wall Mounted Shower Faucet Set
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This is one of the best shower faucets, featuring an 8-inch handheld showerhead and rainshower combo, three pressure settings and a balancing valve cartridge that increases pressure making it great for low pressure homes.
- Best handheld combo
- Multiple pressure settings
- 5-year free replacement parts warranty
- Not very powerful
- No trim rind for handheld hose
- Steep learning curve to install
This shower faucet uses a single fixed rain shower head and handheld shower head combination for convenience. Its handheld comes with three pressure settings, including rainfall and massage.We felt utterly blissful when using this shower faucet.
This shower faucet comes with small silicone spray nozzles for self-cleaning, helping limit mineral deposits and hard water buildup. It is also really durable, made using durable ABS plastic with metal threaded fitting connections. Kudos for its 5-year free replacement parts warranty. It will work perfectly with the best shower caddy. Another versatile and stylish option for your new shower is the PULSE ShowerSpas 1011-III-CH Kauai III Shower System. This product alone has to hook up to an existing shower valve, and it features an 8-inch rain shower head, 5 function handheld shower, and adjustable soap dish in a polished chrome finish. You can also pair this product with the PULSE ShowerSpas Tru-Temp Mixing Valve and Valve Trim Kit to give your shower a cohesive, modern look.
#3 POP Single Function Shower Faucet Kit
Award: EASIEST TO INSTALL
WHY WE LIKE IT: This rain showeruses an 8” fixed square head and a half-inch NPT thread shower arm. It is a great choice for anyone looking for a quick and easy installation taking no more than 5 minutes.
- Very durable
- Large 8″ head
- Easy to Install
- No handheld shower head
- Made of thin metal
A sizable 8-inch head easily covers the entire body. Think of it as the ultimate spa experience. Though water flow is forceful and intense, we wish this shower kit included a handheld showerhead for bodywork and easy shower cleaningWe appreciate this shower faucet’s durability, using a brass valve and a 304 stainless steel shower head. Its spray nozzles are also easy to clean to prevent lime buildup. Like our #2 pick Gabrylly, it also comes with a 5-year warranty. Much like the best shower curtain liner, it is easy to clean.
#4 KES Pressure Balance Shower Faucet and Trim Kit
Award: BEST FOR LARGE PEOPLE
WHY WE LIKE IT: This shower faucet comes with a durable brass faucet, 8” shower head with two spray settings and a long, 15.4-inch shower arm. It is an excellent option for larger people.
- Long shower arm
- Straight water and rainfall combo
- cUPC certified
- No installation instructions
- Scratches easily
- No handheld shower head
This wall-mounted shower faucet features an 8-inch, square head, spraying water rainfall style. Our favorite feature is its sturdy stainless 15.4” shower arm, which converts it into an overhead arm with a lot more space to move underneath it. We are also assured by its cUPC certification, awarded to products that adhere to safety standards by the Canadian Uniform Plumbing Code.
We appreciate this shower faucet’s pressure balance ceramic disc cartridge, which helps prevent drops in water temperature. This is especially useful when sharing the bathroom with multiple people running sinks or flushing toilets. Kudos to its rubberized spray nozzles which are self cleaning to prevent mineral build-up. The best fixed shower head is another good option.
#5 Moen T2902EPBL Gibson Posi-Temp Pressure Balancing Shower Faucet
Award: BEST DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: This shower faucet uses the best shower faucet installation with the Moen M PACT common valve system for easy swaps. It is a great choice for people with disabilities.
- ADA-compliant
- EPA Watersense-certified
- Easy to swap and personalize
- No rough-in valve
- Limited spray settings
- No handheld shower head
This shower faucet offers a full spray with a 1.75-gallon-per-minute flow rate. Though pressure falls between soft and hard, we wished it had more spray settings. It also comes with a limited lifetime warranty, longer than most warranties on our list. Bonus points for its ADA compliance, which is a distinction awarded to products that comply with Americans with Disabilities Act specifications.
Aside from the Moen brand which regularly delivers top rated shower faucets, we really appreciate its EPA Watersense certification. Headed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program, this distinction is awarded to products that meet water efficiency standards. This shower faucet saves roughly 20% more water than standard faucets. It belongs in good company with the best shower heads. Another great Moen product is the Genta Posi-Temp Pressure Balancing Modern Tub and Shower Trim that’s suitable for a shower-tub space. This bold and stylish matte black set includes everything you need, from a tub faucet and shower head to the Genta Posi-Temp valve that adjusts to water pressure changes, ensuring consistent and comfortable water temperatures. This product is also backed by great customer service with a limited lifetime warranty.
How We Decided
In determining the best shower faucet to buy, we explored finish, design (wall mount vs. handheld shower faucets), water efficiency, and scald guards. Our recommended shower faucets generally come in three finishes – chrome, brushed nickel, and stainless steel, all rust-resistant.
Design is essential. We prefer wall mounted shower faucets with longer shower arms for better coverage or handheld shower faucets to concentrate water flow wherever you need it.
Our evaluation focused on water efficiency. The Moen Gibson Shower faucet is EPA Watersense certified, meaning it conserves roughly 20% of water versus comparatively priced products. This is an excellent way to save on your water bills. Lastly, scald guards are recommended to prevent sudden drops in water temperatures – particularly useful in large households with people running in and out of the bathroom. You should also explore our guide to the best shower faucet set.
Shower Faucet Buying Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Self Cleaning
We love shower faucets with self-cleaning, rubberized spray nozzles. This helps reduce lime, mineral deposit, and hard water buildup that could affect water flow if not treated over time. - Temp and Flow Control
For strong pressure, look for shower faucets with a minimum flow rate of 2 gallons per minute. We also appreciate shower heads with different pressure settings. One commendable option is the Gabyrlly shower system with three pressure settings ranging from rainfall to a full massage. This is especially useful for large households with family members that have individual preferences. - Wall Mount vs. Handheld Shower Faucets
Wall mount shower faucets are easily adjustable using a pivot and come with short or long arms. The Gabrylly Shower System has an extra long shower arm, great for larger people. Handheld shower faucets allow you to spray water exactly where you need it. - Finish
Shower faucets come in all types of finishes, including brushed nickel, chrome, stainless steel, nick, and matte black. Brushed finishes typically carry fewer fingerprints, and brass /nickel finishes are usually more elegant and cost more. Choose the finish based on how it compliments your bathroom decor. - Water Temperature Guard
Some shower faucets come with built-in scald guards. This helps prevent sudden water temperature drops due to running sinks or flushing toilets. It is especially useful in larger households with kids running in and out of the bathroom in a frenzy. - Materials
Stainless steel and brass construction are our preference. If it includes plastic, our preference is on the use of ABS plastic which is very sturdy and holds up well with regular wear and year. - Warranty
Gain peace of mind with long warranties. They help cover replacement faucet or faucet parts due to manufacturer defects. The best warranties on the list belong to the #1 Delta Faucet Windemere Single-Function Shower Faucet and the #5 Moen T2902EPBL Shower Faucet, each with limited lifetime warranties.
