How High is a Shower Head? What are the Standards on Height?

How high is a shower head should be? Installing and adjusting your fixture at an ideal rise does matter. This is especially true if you’re running a holiday rentals business or simply having a guest in your home. And this is the case because most of the person’s height factor. And having a shower head that’s too high may cause a low water jet, while a shower head that’s too low may render it difficult for you to wash your body thoroughly due to the concentrated jets of water.

The good news is that there’s a standard shower head height that would enable you to ideally place the fixture and have that perfect shower experience. In this article, I’ll talk about these points in detail and provide the guidelines for the shower head installation height. So without any further ado, let’s begin…

• What is the Standard Shower Head Height?
• Height Installation for Different Shower Head
• Some Tools to Increase Shower Head Height
• Notes

What is the Standard Shower Head Height?

When you search the web on the topic of how high a shower head should be is, or the standard rise of the fixture, you would receive many suggestions and advice. And the reason why this is the case is due to the average height in a certain country.

However, the shower head height code and goldilocks zone (not too high or too low, so to speak) of the fixture is 80 inches above the bathroom floorings. And this is the standard proximity provided by experts because it is based on the average height of people around the globe. As a result, it’ll give any individual the comfort and satisfaction of properly grooming themselves.

Height Installation for Different Shower Head

Although the installation of shower heads is part of a plumber’s repertoire, they’re relatively straightforward once you have learned the skill and have the necessary tools and other items for the job. Also, you have to bear in mind the installation process varies depending on the type of shower head you are using. With this being said—I have listed the methods you have to work with as you attempt to install a shower head.

Wall Mounted Showerheads

A wall-mounted or fixed shower head height is the traditional shower fixture we see at home. It is also the easiest in comparison to other shower heads you can think of. This is because once you have installed it at the standard 80 inches rise and found the perfect angle, and then everything should work out well afterward.

Handheld Showerheads

Handheld showerheads provide better mobility in regards to properly washing your body. Apparently, it gives you the advantage of reaching certain areas where you don’t have the luxury of seeing whether they’re thoroughly cleaned or not. The good news is that the same 80-inch rule applies under this setting because all you have to do is to mount it after you are done showering.

Rain Showerheads

This type of showerhead is a little bit tricky to install. The same 80 inches is observed, but the maximum height for rain shower head could go up to 84 inches to accommodate the shape and weight of the fixture. You’ll also see different placements compared to other showerheads because of the apparent odd form of the fixture. It is in a large-square shape that is supposed to be hanging in the ceiling to effectively emulate the pouring of rain as you’re taking a shower.

Some Tools to Increase Shower Head Height

If you are not satisfied with the rise of your shower head and are not willing to spend a plumber’s service fee, then you’d be glad to know that it is a task you can do at home with the help of a few tools you can buy online. Now, here are some of the items you can purchase at your local hardware or online stores—

Adjustable Shower Arm

If you are a budget-conscious individual, then the adjustable shower arm is probably the ideal shower head extension you are looking for. As the name suggests, it is attached to the main water pipes that connect the shower arm and showerhead, which gives you a lot of flexibility in height adjustment.

And if you are seriously considering an adjustable shower arm, you’d also be glad to know that they are very easy to install, and all you need is a pair of wrench and pliers. And it won’t take you any longer than 15 minutes to finish.

Shower Slide Bar

A shower slide bar has a dual purpose. Aside from allowing you to adjust the height of the shower according to your preferences, it also gives you the luxury of using it as a grab or handlebar. Among the other two listed under this section, the shower slide bar is the most convenient fixture for height adjustment because it’s much more accessible and easy to work with.

However, a huge disadvantage of the fixture is that it’s much more challenging to install because you basically have to dismantle the entire shower fixture to attach them to the main water pipe.

Swivel Ball Adapter

This type of swivel ball adapter is an extension that uses a ball joint to enable you to elevate or lower the height of the showerhead. However, its disadvantage is limited to mobility and would only give you about a few inches in raising or lowering the height of the showerhead.

Notes 

In this section, we’ll talk about the height factor a little deeper in regards to the rise of your shower head. Again, this factor does matter, especially if you’re aiming to get the most out of your showering experience. Let’s go about them—

Tall Person

Before I answer this question, it’s important that we define what a tall person first is? Well, according to popular beliefs, you are considered a tall person if your height is at least 6 inches flat or 183 cm. If the standard 80 inches rise isn’t working for you, then you can install shower head tools with a 10 to 16 inches extension. Other alternatives include opting for a rain shower head, but they are much more expensive than your typical showerheads.

Short Person

The average height is between 5’5” and 5’9”, but an individual is considered below average if they fall under 5’3”. The good news, however, is that a short person has a lot of flexibility in experiencing contentment in the shower room because the 80 inches rise is just sufficient.

However, this may not be exactly the case if you have kids living in your home due to their apparent development. With this being said—it’s advisable to install a handheld showerhead to help them wash their body properly. Also, it’s best to mount them at an average of 80 inches.

Takeaway

As mentioned, the height of the shower really depends on your height. This wouldn’t be a problem if you are installing it at your home, but it would be problematic if it’s for a business like hotels or Airbnb.

Therefore, you may have to follow the 80 inches if this is the situation. Again, it is based on the average global height, which should be sufficient to give maximum satisfaction to your guests.

Well, I guess that’s just about it in today’s article. I hope today’s topic on how high a shower head should be has provided you with the insights you need about the matter.

Frequently Asked Questions about How High is a Shower Head

Below are some of the common concerns about the subject matter of how high is a shower head—