The shower’s a place where you wash all of your worries with you and get relaxed. Nothing beats a good shower after a long day of work. But installing a good shower is a must to enjoy your time in the shower.
Shower Height Regulation
Standard heights and regulations are there to mark the range. But that doesn’t mean you can’t choose the height you want. In the past, the standard height was considered as 72 inches to 78 inches.
These days, the standard height for the showerhead is 80 inches or 6 feet 8 inches from the floor. If you are installing something that doesn’t go to the wall then you should have a gap of 22.5 inches from the vertical wall. This is the ideal height regulation.
How High Should Your Showerhead be and Where to Place It?
Depending on what you use in your bathroom the height and place will be different. Showerheads differ in types- some come with a fixed height and some with adjustable height.
There are a few things you have to consider when adjusting showerhead height. Average heights of the person who is going to use it, the placement of the shower, what type of showerhead you are using, is it for home or hotels. These are some things you have to consider
Shower Height for Non-Home Usage
In hotels, you have to consider the tallest person all while considering the shortest person. For this reason, many hotels go for handheld showerheads.
They are usually placed on the wall and have a 3 to 6 feet hose pipe attached to it. You should place it 72 inches from the shower floor as it will be easier to reach for all height people.
Shower Height for Tall Person
Going for the standard height covers for the tall person which is 80 inches. But if you consider NBA players who are taller than average tall people or you have someone like that in your family then up to 96 inches from the shower floor should be okay for everyone.
Shower Height for Short Person
If you are considering only for the short or average person when installing showerheads than 72 inches to 78 inches is a good height for everyone. It would be better not to go for less than 72 inches because if you are considering for the kids, they will grow up fast.
Shower for Home Usage
At home, you can use different types of showers. Let’s discuss different types of showerheads and the difference in their height and placement.
Wall Mounted Standard Shower Head
This is the most commonly used showerhead. For this, you should measure the tallest person of the family and add 3 more inches to the height. This will be comfortable for the tallest person of the family as well as others.
In this case, the control valve should be 38 to 48 inches from the shower floor.
Handheld Showerhead
There are many types of a handheld showerhead. If you are using just a handheld showerhead then it should have 3 to 6 feet hose. Place it around 5.5 feet or 66 inches as it will be more accessible by hand.
Handheld Showerhead (Two in one)
If you are using two in one type of handheld showerhead then place it 72 to 78 inches from the floor as it will be easily reachable by everyone for handheld mode. At the same time, you can use it as a standard wall mount type of showerhead in this height.
Although tall people may not be able to use it as a wall mount type showerhead they can always use the handheld mode. This is a sacrifice you have to make for two in one handheld type of showerhead.
Rain Showerhead
Rain showerhead imitates the effect of rain as the name suggests. It is bigger than the usual showerhead and covers more area. So you can’t mount it on the wall. You need to have a pipe through your ceiling to install this type of showerhead.
It is placed higher than other showerheads as it feels more like rain, the far it is. You should have it 83 to 96 inches from the shower floor and at least 22.5 inches from your shower wall.
Shower Panel
You can install a shower panel for a luxurious shower experience. It comes with a handheld showerhead and rain showerhead and temperature control. 80 to 84 inches height should be enough to set up this panel.
Outdoor Showerhead
As the name suggests this showerhead is placed outside. You can have it by the pool or on the beach. It comes with a fixed height. So check what height you want before buying it. 80 inches is a good height for this type of showerhead. The control valve should be around 48 inches.
Other Heights You Need to Consider
If you are installing a showerhead then beside showerhead you need to look out for some other heights such as the door and the shower wall. You can’t place the showerhead higher than the shower wall. Again, you need to place the showerhead higher than the shower door.
Shower Wall Height
According to the “2003 International Plumbing Codes Handbook” by R. Dodge Woodson shower wall height should be at least 72 inches. It can be increased depending on your showerhead height and placement.
Shower Door Height
The shower door needs to be 72 inches in height. Make sure your shower head is higher than the shower door.
Other shower head height considerations
Adjustable shower head arms
If you are planning to install an adjustable shower arm for easy extension and retraction, consider placing the main base at a reasonable height. Instead of 80 inches, you might want to install the shower head base a little lower so that when the shower arm extends up, there is some room for it to move – and the overall unit still remains under the shower screen, door, etc. Adjustable units are quite simple and effective because they solve the problem of limited heights by adding extra inches without needing to reinstall anything. This makes them a great alternative for families with both tall and short members.
Sliding bar units
Another similar solution is to use a sliding bar shower head unit, especially for handheld wands. This can be installed at the average 78-80-inch height as recommended, and then anyone who needs more height can simply slide the shower head up on the bar. Both the adjustable arm and sliding bar options are useful in homes with a mix of tall and short heights. With a sliding bar unit, you have the benefit of using the fixed head that conveniently doubles as a handheld wand if needed. Combination shower head units are popular for this reason too.
Spray patterns
Luxurious shower head designs are often equipped with multiple spray patterns and shower settings to give you a more customized shower experience. In most cases, these configurations work best at a certain height depending on the model of shower head you are using. You might find wavy, pressurized, drizzle-form, local, and wide spray patterns. They are designed to provide targeted or generous coverage the way you like, so bigger shower head heights can affect the water pressure and slow down the spray settings.
If you install the shower head too high, you might lose the intended spray pattern as it will not form perfectly due to the change in water pressure and height. This also applies to hot water sprays. The added height can interfere with the shower patterns and fail to deliver hot water in the soothing steamy shower consistency that everybody likes. Similarly, if you do not want to use fancy spray settings and just prefer a rain-like coverage, then adding a few more inches should not be a problem. In the end, make sure that the final setup does not consume excessive water and enables smooth cold-to-hot water transitions.
Bathtub showers
It is equally important to consider the bathtub space while installing a shower head above it. Just like the shower spray should stay within the enclosure and not exceed the panels, it should also remain within the bathtub. Based on your bathtub design, the shower head might need to be high enough for average heights and still low enough for the spray to fall below the curtain rod. Usually, the shower fixtures are connected to the bathtub faucet, so this determines the maximum height for the shower head.
Shower grab bars
Another important consideration in a shower enclosure is the grab bar placement. Grab bars offer added support to help people move without the dangers of slipping in the shower space. In general, a grab bar is installed at around 36 inches from the floor to provide easy access and support. This grab bar distance is convenient for holding the bar while you are sitting on a chair. So, the shower head also needs to be positioned accordingly, particularly if the grab bar is placed underneath it. The head should not be too high in such cases and using adjustable or combo units will be a great choice.
Shower filters
Sometimes, the addition of a shower filter can affect the optimum height of your shower head. Depending on the capsule-form, built-in, or slimline water filters you are using, the shower unit will work best at a certain height. This is because it needs the right water pressure and flow for maximum filtration, and extended heights can slow down the flow to the shower head itself – let alone pass the water to the filter. Make sure that your final setting remains compatible with the installed filter and delivers unrestricted water from the chosen height.
FAQ
Q: What is the standard shower valve height?
Ans: The standard valve height is 38 to 48 inches. You can choose between these heights.
Q: What is the standard shower wall height?
Ans: The shower wall height should be at least 72 inches. It can change depending on your showerhead.
Q: What is the standard shower door height?
Ans: The standard shower door height is between 72 to 78 inches. It can also change depending on your showerhead height.
Q: What is the standard horizontal length for the rain showerhead?
Rain showerhead should at least be 22.5 inches away from your shower wall.
Q: What is the standard shower enclosure height?
Ans: The standard shower enclosure height is between 72 to 78 inches.
Conclusion
Everybody has their taste in things. When installing a showerhead you should start from the industry standard, then work your way up to your personal preference. That way you can have your dream shower in your dream shower room.
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