The 6 Different Types of Shower Heads

It’s time to revamp your shower with a new shower head. Maybe your current shower head has build-up, is starting to fall apart, or simply doesn’t look that great anymore. A replacement is exactly what you need.

But with lots of options to choose from, it’s important to prevent decision paralysis.

To make things easier, we’ve put together a list of all the different types of shower heads you’re likely to find. But first, let’s go over how they can be mounted:

Shower Head Mount Techniques

Shower heads can be mounted in the following ways:

Wall mount

A wall mount is the most common and easiest shower head mounting technique. It’s also the cheapest, since wall mounts are easy to maintain, easy to replace, and are widely available. They’re the best option if you’re on a budget and can include handheld shower wands.

The cons of wall mounts are that they’re typically seen as a less “luxurious” option — though they’re highly practical and can deliver a fantastic showering experience.

Ceiling Mount

Ceiling mount shower heads hang from your ceiling and are often associated with more luxurious showers. These allow you to install popular options like a rain shower, which simulates showering in a rainfall or waterfall.

The cons of a ceiling mount are that they require additional plumbing — most plumbers end the pipe at the wall. As such, they can be more expensive.

Bar Mount

A bar mount lets you enjoy adjustable height without having to spring for additional plumbing. This type of mount employs a vertical bar attached to the shower wall, along which you can clamp down the shower head holder at your desired height. This also gives you the potential to use a handheld shower head.

The only con is that they can be more expensive than standard wall mount shower heads.

Types of Shower Heads

The following are the most common shower head types, and they have different functionalities, prices, and styles:

1. Fixed Shower Head

Tried and true, the fixed shower head reigns supreme in the shower world. As its name implies, the fixed shower head stays attached to the wall and is nearly immobile, aside from the ability to slightly adjust the head angle. This is the most common type of shower head.

Fixed shower heads come in numerous styles. You can choose ones with various functions, such as adjustable heads that switch between spray patterns.

The pros? They’re cheap, abundant, easily replaced, and have many options to choose from. The only con is that they’re fixed at one height. not very adjustable.

2. Handheld Shower Head

If you’re looking for more versatility — think about the ability to wash your dog, spray down the walls of the shower, or wash while you’re sitting down — then look no further than the handheld shower head.

A handheld shower head is perfect for anyone with mobility issues. It usually has multiple settings and a long water line, letting you reach around yourself with ease. When you want a wall shower, simply hang it back on the mount.

The only cons to a handheld shower head are that they can be more difficult to install and take up more space than a standard wall mount.

3. Dual-use Shower Head

If you’re after the best of both worlds, fear not: the dual shower head is here for you. This type of showerhead is fixed to the wall but gives you the option of a handheld wand, which you can toggle on or off with a lever.

Sometimes dual shower head designs let you use both heads simultaneously, but others may only allow you to use one at a time. Keep in mind that if you run two shower heads simultaneously, you’ll lose water pressure out of both.

The pros of this type of showerhead are obvious: They’re versatile, and they are wonderful for seated showering. On the con side, they are more expensive than fixed units.

4. Rainfall Shower Head

The rain shower has become exceedingly popular in recent decades. It is the height of luxury — rain-like water pours upon you from directly overhead. This is perfect for walk-in showers and pairs well with great lighting.

It’s also the height of, well, height. Rainfall showers often need to be fixed to the ceiling of your shower and are not wall-mounted. This makes them more complicated and, as you could probably guess, more expensive.

Pros: they are luxurious, fun, and gorgeous to look at. Cons include poor water efficiency and will not give you the vigorous shower pattern that you would get from a jetted showerhead, but then again, the goal is to get that rainfall type of feeling. lower water pressure.

5. Jetted High-Pressure Shower Head

What feels better than a shower with a powerful water flow?

A jettedhigh-pressure shower head is ideal for situations where water pressure is lacking, such as in upper-story baths or in older buildings. A jettedhigh-pressure showerhead compresses the available water supply into a smaller water jets or nozzles nozzle, making it exit at a higher speed. This means you get that high-intensity, cleansing shower that you need — regardless of your house’s water pressure woes.

These shower heads are wonderful at providing higher water pressure and because of this increased pressure, it gives you the feeling of getting more water flow while still being frugal with your water consumption.

6. Shower Panels

Shower panels are one of the newest additions to the luxury shower head market. Also known as shower towers, they’re starting to gain popularity for their high-tech feel and unparalleled control over your showering experience.

Usually, shower panels feature a number of different functionalities, including a waterfall shower head, adjustable sprayers for your body (not to mention massagers), a handheld shower wand, and even a full-body sprayer that sprays your back.

One pro for shower panels is that they’re extremely sleek — they have a modern look that will go well with new remodels and more modern hardware. They’re also highly versatile, as they offer practically every shower feature you can think of in one place.

The cons are that they’re very expensive and they sacrifice water pressure. This second con is simple physics — if you have multiple shower sprayers turned on at the same time, your water pressure will decrease.

Find the Best Shower Heads at Kingston Brass

Shop Kingston Brass for the most affordable and high-quality shower heads on the market. From Victorian wall mounts to rubbed bronze rainfall showers, we have what you’re looking for. The possibilities are endless.