Are you looking to replace your old, outdated shower with something new but are worried that you’ll have to pay a small fortune for a plumber?
This is often the one thing that puts people off upgrading their shower….
And the good news?
We have found some of the best rain shower heads that will allow you to upgrade WITHOUT having to hire a contractor.
In this article:
We’re going to cover how to choose the best rainfall shower head for your needs, install it, and save some money at the same time.
Along with determining which rainfall shower head is the best option for you, we’ll take a look at the different shower heads, so you know for certain; you’re making the right choice!
Let’s get immersed in the rain!
Table of Contents
Top 7 of the Best Rain Shower Heads – 2023 Reviews
- Rain Shower Head with 11” Adjustable Arm, NearMoon
- SparkPod Shower Head – High Pressure Rain – Luxury Modern Look
- Rain Shower Head With Extension Arm, NearMoon Square Shower Heads
- Derpras 12 Inch Square Rain Shower Head
- SR SUN RISE 12 Inch Rain Shower Head
- AquaDance 7″ 3-Way Rainfall Combo for The Best of Both Worlds
- Hansgrohe Raindance S 9-inch Showerhead
Now for the exciting part!
Here are the top-7 rainfall shower heads that we have found on the market.
Remember that not all of these shower heads will suit your current shower setup…
… so be sure to read through the descriptions carefully and check that they are compatible.
1. Best Overall – NearMoon High Pressure Rainfall Shower Head (Editor’s Choice Award)
This head is similar to the SparkPod, this shower head is also round, but this time it has an 8-inch radius rather than a 6 inch one. It also comes with an extension arm, so it is compatible with more showers. This shower head is made from 100% solid stainless steel and has a sleek and thin finish making it ideal for the ultra-modern bathrooms.
While this shower head is extra-large, it doesn’t use as much water as you might think. This head is suitable for low water pressure areas because it uses “air-in” technology to help create pressure from the jets. Containing 90 silicone nozzles, the water spray itself is relaxing but still packs a punch!
This head, unlike the SparkPod, comes with an 11-inch extension arm, which allows you to not only use it with more shower styles but also helps you get the perfect angle of your head. The twin joints mean you can adjust it in two ways to achieve the perfect angle of your shower, and this arm also acts as an extension piece for wall fixed shower heads.
2. SparkPod Rainfall Shower Head (best Value Award)
This shower head is an excellent solution for anyone who simply wants to swap out their existing shower head. This head comes with a wide range of features, but overall, the simplicity of the tool-free installation really does make it a great choice. The 6-inch wide circular head provides you with high-pressure rainfall style spay that will relax and clean you thoroughly. But don’t let that high pressure worry you; it has a water flow restrictor that helps to reduce the amount of water used when showering. The overall maximum outflow of this shower head is 2.5 gallons per minute. This head also has a chrome finish and swivel connection, so if you want to angle it differently, you can do it easily.
This shower head is of great value and so easy to fit that even a novice DIYer can swap it over. For less than you might think, you’ll be able to upgrade your existing shower and get a much nicer showering experience.
3. Best Rainfall Water Coverage – NearMoon Square Rain Shower Head (Top Pick Award)
This shower head, put simply, is enormous. The first of our square shower heads, this rainfall effect shower head, is square in shape and measures an astonishing 12 inches across to cover your entire body. The 144 nozzles that provide the rainfall effect spray are mounted into a stainless steel backing and given a chrome finish. This also comes with an extension arm of 15 inches, which has a swivel joint on the end so you can angle the head to suit your height.
The head itself is super thin, which, as with the round NearMoon shower head, fits nicely into ultra-modern bathroom design. One thing to note about this shower head is that you need to have a specific type of shower currently in order for it to be compatible, which is a high wall mounted shower. Luckily, the NearMoon shower heads come with installation instructions AND additional videos, so if you have intermediate DIY skills, you should be able to fit this without any problems.
4. Derpras Ultra-Thin Rain Shower Head
The Derpras ultra-thin rain shower head is a fantastic shower head that gives a sleek finish and provides a really effective stream. The 12-inch square head is designed to go overhead but still has a tilt function so you can adjust the position to how you like it. This adjustment is ideal for the taller members of the family or those who don’t like to be completely immersed under the shower as it can reach angles of up to 15 degrees. Made from stainless steel and 196 silicone nozzles, this shower head is going to last the test of time and won’t fade or mark like other plastic alternatives.
The air intake technology allows you to use this shower head even in low water pressure areas and is energy efficient, so your water bill won’t skyrocket. While this shower head is good value for money, it doesn’t come with any extensions, so you need to ensure that it is compatible with your shower. The best part of this shower head is that you can maintain it yourself because it comes with replaceable nozzles (in case you live in a hard water area, and the nozzles get limescaled up quickly).
5. Sun Rise Oil Rubbed Bronze Rain Shower Head
You are looking for a shower head that isn’t stainless steel? The Sun Rise rain shower head comes not only in different widths (10 inches, 12 inches, and a whopping 16 inches) but also in the optional oil-rubbed bronze color and brushed nickel, polished chrome. You can choose which color suits your room scheme best, but it is advisable that you pick the matching color to your existing shower. As with the others, this shower head comes with silicon nozzles, which help to reduce the amount of limescale and dirt that builds upon a standard shower head.
The Sun Rise shower head is easy to install for those who already have overhead fixed shower heads but will provide you with a much greater stream of water to cover your body. Better still, the angled ball joint that’s on the top of the shower head helps you get the right angle and, therefore a better showering experience.
As with most of the rainfall shower heads, the Sun Rise uses “air in” technology to help produce an effective stream without relying solely on the mains water pressure. The added benefit of this head is that it has a stainless steel filter that removes any debris or impurities that might come from your water system and provides you with cleaner water to shower with.
6. AquaDance Dual Rainfall Combo Shower Head
If you are looking for a shower head that is compatible with your standard shower or your handheld shower, then the AquaDance will be right up your street. This dual head combo actually contains a fixed head shower AND a handheld attachment as well. The fixed head attachment provides a rainfall effect shower while the handheld shower head offers a dual spray option. Both of the heads have adjustable jets so you can increase or decrease the pressure according to your preferences. In fact, you will find 6 different settings on this shower head, including power rain, pulsating massage, power mist, rain massage, rain mist, and water-saving mode.
You can decide which shower head you want to use by moving the water diverter switch to your desired head and simply twist the head itself for the desired water function. As well as all of this, you can also purchase the AquaDance in 3 different colors: brushed nickel, chrome, and oil-rubbed bronze. Overall, this shower head is best suited to those who currently have a handheld shower and are looking to update it.
7. Hansgrohe Raindance Downpour Shower Head
Last but by no means least on our list, the Hansgrohe Raindance Downpour Shower Head. This circular head is nearly 9.4 inches in diameter but is under an inch thick, making it a stylish yet sleek shower head. This head comes with specially designed nozzles that have Quick Clean technology and “air in” power to help increase the pressure of your water. But don’t be fooled, you will still be using the same amount of water as you would in your standard shower, so your bills won’t be any more expensive.
This shower head comes in both chrome and brushed nickel color options. It also has a handy swivel joint at the top of the head, which provides up to a 26-degree angle on the head. The Raindance comes in a range of models, including a 7-inch diameter version and a 12-inch diameter version, all of which offer the same technology, just with a different sized head.
Types of Shower Heads Explained
Single Spray
These shower heads are possibly the most basic but nevertheless still effective.
They are readily available and on the lower end of anyone’s budget.
While they may work as a perfectly adequate shower, they are restricted to the type of jet and the water pressure that comes out, so bear this in mind.
Dual Head Spray
A dual spray shower is a shower head that provides two different types of a water jet.
Most commonly, an ambient spray (which is lower in water pressure) and a harder, more concentrated spray (which is usually higher in pressure).
These two variations can be switched mid-shower and provide a shower head that caters to different needs and tastes.
Handheld
A handheld shower head enables you to move the shower about your body and over the bath.
Sometimes fitted as well as a ceiling mount, this allows you to use your shower more flexibly and provides you with more washing options.
Ceiling Mount
This is a fixed shower head that is either attached to the ceiling or on the arm from the shower unit’s top.
These aren’t moveable…
… but, they do come with different functions and water pressure options to suit your showering tastes.
Rainfall
A rainfall shower head is one that is usually fixed to the ceiling.
But the kicker is…
It has a much greater surface area than a standard ceiling mounted shower head and provides water spray that mimics rainfall rather than hard pressured jets.
If you are looking for a more luxurious shower, then a rainfall shower head is for you!
Why Choose A Rainfall Shower Head?
As we have said, a rainfall shower head really does give your bathroom a bit of luxury and can be a really simple upgrade.
Most ceilings mounted shower heads can be switched for a rainfall shower head quite easily and can make a big impact on the design of the room.
The rainfall shower heads are also designed to be more relaxing than your standard single shower head.
It’s true!
In some cases, they use less water as well (making them more cost-effective to run month to month).
What to Look Out For
So, if you have decided that a rainfall shower head is for you, you will need to look out for a few things before you commit to buying.
Firstly, you need to decide between a round shower head or a square one.
If you have a modern, funky bathroom, then a square/rectangular shower head might suit your room scheme best.
On the other hand…
With a more traditional bathroom, a round shower head will fit into the room style nicely.
The next thing to look out for is the compatibility with your existing shower.
You need to make sure that your shower works with a ceiling-mounted shower head (in some cases, you might simply be switching your existing ceiling-mounted shower head to a rainfall shower head) and that your shower had enough pressure for the head.
To do this, look up your showers make and model number online and find out the water pressure limits it works within, then ensure that this matches up with the shower head you are looking to buy.
Finally!
The last thing to look out for when buying a rainfall shower head is the quantity of water it uses.
Some of these shower heads use a mixture of air and water to produce the relaxing droplet effect that rainfall shower heads provide.
But others may not!
While this might not be an issue for you, for some, the idea of their water bill doubling each month is a big deal and is a costly issue that can be avoided with a bit of research before purchase.
Will They Be Easy to Install?
You’ll be pleased to know that rainfall shower heads are easy to install if you already have an existing ceiling mounted shower head, it is simply a case of taking one-off and putting the other on.
However, if you have a single or dual spray shower head currently, then you are going to need an extension piece to fit your rainfall shower head accurately.
Ideally…
… your rainfall shower head should be situated directly above your head when you shower, so when buying an extension kit, you should bear this in mind.
You CAN buy rainfall shower heads that are each shower head will come with installation instructions, but if you are more of a visual learner, you can follow this video:
How Much Should I Expect to Pay?
Prices can vary significantly on rainfall shower heads depending on the make and the style, but overall you wouldn’t want to spend less than $50 on a decent showerhead.
The more features a shower head has, the higher the price tag but try to remember that you pay for quality.
Conclusion: Best Rain Shower Head
So those are our 7 picks of the best rain shower heads on the market.
It’s important to remember when choosing to check that they are compatible with your shower and, if not, that you can easily purchase the attachments that you need.
Also…
Make sure that you are confident with the installation instructions before you begin work.
The last thing you need is to turn a cheap fix into an expensive plumber’s bill!
If you are unsure how to fit your new shower head but still want to give it a try, check out some online videos for hints and tips so that you can feel more confident when it comes actually to perform the switch.
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