What is the Best Shower Head Height?

Comfort at home is not only in the bedroom or living room but also in the bathroom. Having the right shower head is not as easy as it should meet the requirements of the recommended height.

The standard shower height should be 80 inches above the bath floor. Although this height is ideal for the majority of people, a long neck showerhead can reduce the measurement by some inches.

However, are you aware that there are shower heads with different heights? Some are 92 inches in height and others are 72 inches. Generally, these measurements depend on various reasons.

The different designs of showerheads make a difference in their heights. These designs are personalized for a particular installation that will suit every height. In this article, we will share tips on how you can increase the shower height dimensions with ease.

Why do we have different shower head heights?
As stated before, the average showerhead height is 80 inches for individuals with average height. But, the choice of your shower head depends on your space and needs. It should be higher than the tallest person in your house.

If you own a large commercial building like a hotel or guesthouse, you will have to keep the shower head height above 80 inches. This ensures that a tall person of height 7 feet can easily shower.

If you want to make your tall guests more comfortable, regular showerheads are not recommended. You can opt for handheld models that have long vertical bars to hold and set the height. This will prevent accidental bumps in the shower.

To summarize, consider the tallest person in your building before deciding the shower height.

What is the best shower head height?

A few inches above your head is the perfect shower head height, especially if you are the tallest person in the house. Normally, 3 inches above your head is recommended so that you can enjoy all spray patterns during showers.

If you are not aware of your shower head height, you should measure it from the ground to the vertical center of the shower arm.

Excluding these standard reasons, the shower head height depends on your shower head type. We have mentioned some showerheads and their heights.

Types Of Shower Heads And Their Standard Height

Wall-mounted showerhead

For a wall-mounted showerhead, the standard height is 80 inches. However, it can be altered as per your personal needs. But if you have a large number of people using the shower, choosing the right height might be tricky.

For this, you can fix the shower height where it will suit everybody in your house. You might want to calculate the average height of all family members before fixing the shower. You do not need to include the height of children as their height is still increasing.

Rain showerheads

These shower heads make you feel like you are standing in the rain. These models directly pour water on your head. If these are your favorite, install them at a height of at least 84 inches from the shower floor to enjoy the maximum benefit.

Rainshower heads are perfect for houses with variable heights. It is also an ideal fit for low ceilings as water spreads before leaving the showerhead.

Handheld showers

Are you planning to install a handheld shower in your bathroom? If yes, then you should install it at a height of between 72 and 78 inches from the bathroom floor.

Although the standard height of a handheld shower is the one mentioned above, you can always adjust the height by using its attached handheld bar.

If you wish to purchase a handheld shower, opt for a flexible hose of a minimum length of 60 inches. This item allows you to use your shower as a handheld or fixed.

For houses with small children, a handheld showerhead is suggested. This model is ideal for kids as its height adapts to the ever-changing heights of children.

The Ideal Height for Your Shower Enclosure

Ensure that you protect the wall above the shower panel with a waterproof material before installing a new shower. This should be at a height of 72 and 78 inches from the bathroom floor. You can also make or purchase them in a size of about 96 inches high.

The suggested height for shower enclosure is 3 inches higher above your shower rough-in. A shower rough-in is the height at which your shower arm extends out of the wall. Your shower enclosure should not reach your ceiling.

If you don’t have proper ventilation, mildew or molds thrive on bathroom walls especially if steam comes out from the shower.

Now let’s look at the standard shower space sizes

Experts say that the ideal shower space is 36 × 36 inches. These dimensions let you wash your hair without bumping your hands into the shower. However, as there are different enclosures, cubicles, and spaces in different sizes, choosing the right size requires some advice.

You can get the smallest enclosure size of 32 inches x 32 inches. This will let you easily stand and wash if you have a standard body size. But, if you are taller and this size hinders your body movement, you might need a large space.

For people with a wheelchair, shower size should be 36×46 inches. Similarly for the elderly, the shower size should be 36 inches x 48 inches.

If you are thinking about how you can increase the shower height, here are a few accessories you can use.

S shower arm

This tool withstands wear and tear. But, you have to take out the current shower arm on your bathroom wall. Though this task does not require technical skills, it can be exhausting as it requires a lot of strength.

Also, its fixed nature makes it less flexible than other models. If you ignore these minor cons, the S shower arm provides greater height and durability.

Swivel ball adaptor

A swivel ball adaptor lets you easily adjust your showerhead. You can simply lower the height of your showerhead by fixing it between your shower arm pipe and showerhead.

Adjustable shower arm

This is the most affordable and easiest way to raise your shower’s height. An adjustable shower arm can be attached to your existing shower arm thus acting an extension.

Budget oriented customers will love this model. To use this product you need to fix it to a shower arm and the showerhead. Once the installation is done, you can instantly increase the shower height by adjusting the arm.

One more reason to love this accessory is it does not require any tools for installation. Just apply the plumber’s tape to the threads and tighten it with your hands. Within a few minutes, the installation is complete.

Shower slide bar

This is the most complex option for increasing the shower height. It holds the handled shower after being placed on the wall. To adjust the shower height, you will need to move the holder mount along the slide bar track.

There are various types of slide bars, however, we recommend a model that can be screwed to the wall and is flexible.

Ending on a good note

Enjoying a good shower starts with choosing the right shower head height. Since many people will use it, installing the shower according to the height of the tallest person will fix everyone’s issue.

Author Bio

Abdul Ansari is a freelance blogger who has written multiple articles for fitness and sports websites. He reviews outdoor and home products at  Reviews.in. On weekends you will find him playing volleyball.