What's The Standard Shower Head Height? And How You Choose For Your Family?
by AlbertLucas on May 20, 2021
What's The Standard Shower Head Height?
The International Plumbing Code specifies the dimensions of many aspects of the shower, but not the height of a showerhead. A showerhead should be as high as is necessary to accommodate the tallest member of the family, and no minimum showerhead height is mandated by plumbing codes. So It's completely up to the homeowner to determine the most comfortable showerhead height for the family.
However, most showerheads sit 80 inches above the floor of the shower. Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the average American man is 69 inches tall (6 inches taller than the average American woman), this showerhead height provides about 1 foot of clearance. But some folks may say "what if someone in home is taller than 6'8", or we are all shorter than that average? and what if the house cannot accommodate a shower that high?". Indeed, 80 inches is a good height because it accommodates a lot of people, but of course showerhead can be set at a minimum height of 72” if desired.
So the conclusion is that:
Standard Height: 80" / 203 cm
Minimum Height: 72" / 183 cm
However, Standard is not the same as the most suitable, so you still need to consider some factors.
Special Considerations for Showerhead Heights
The height of a showerhead also depends on its style. For example, handheld showerheads may need to be installed a little lower than other showerheads so that they remain accessible to everyone in the family. The same logic applies to adjustable showerheads; ideally, everyone in the family should be able to reach the showerhead to adjust the water flow as needed.
On the other hand, a rain showerhead produces a greater "rainfall" effect if it's located as high as possible. Consider the height of massaging showerheads or body sprays so that the water will land on the user's shoulders and lower back sufficiently.
The Ideal Height for the Shower Controls
When it comes to the shower controls, you need to place them in a spot where you can operate them without your body being exposed to the water. Setting the controls in the right spot will also prevent you from accidentally soaking your clothes if you turn the wrong lever.
The ideal height range for the shower controls is between 40 to 50 inches above the floor. And should be out of direct line of the water path to avoid being caught in extremely cold or hot water when operating.
Getting the showerhead height right can make a huge improvement. It can determine how comfortable the shower is to use. If you’re trying to make your shower accommodating to as many people as possible, the combo with sliding bar, ceiling, and handheld showerhead would be a best choice. The sliding bar and handheld showerhead can spray water from different levels while the ceiling variant will rain the water down on anyone who fits inside the shower. We hope the knowledge contained in this article will help you choose the right showerheads and their position for your home.
