What Is The Best Placement Of A Rain Shower Head?

A rain shower head conjures images of fluffy bathrobes, a jetted spa tub, and luxurious relaxation. Of course, with fluffy bathrobes and jetted spa tub aside, you can enjoy one aspect of a spa-like experience from the comfort of your own home. It’s as simple as trading your old shower head for a rain shower head. 

However, to get the best experience, you need to situate the shower head correctly. If it’s too far away from the wall, water could end up all over your bathroom floor. On the flip side, if the showerhead is too close to the wall, you’ll barely be underneath the water flow. So, placement is essential for the best experience. Here’s what you need to know.  

Where Should You Place A Rain Shower Head?

The best place for your rain shower head depends on a few things. First, you need to decide which kind of rain showerhead you want. If you’re working with existing plumbing, you might opt for a wall-mounted configuration. Or, you might choose to buy a ceiling-mounted shower head. 

The type you buy will impact the best spot for your showerhead. Aside from this, you’ll need to consider a few additional factors, including the height of the tallest individual in your family and the shower stall size.

We’ll discuss these factors more in the following sections. 

How High Should A Rain Shower Head Be Installed?

Like any shower head, a rain shower head needs to be installed high enough that it’s comfortable for the tallest individuals in your family. For example, let’s say you’re the tallest person in your family. 

You should position the shower head at least three inches above your head so there’s plenty of space between you and the shower head. This ensures your head won’t touch the showerhead, allowing you to enjoy the experience comfortably. 

Aside from this, you need to consider the size of your showering space. Let’s say you’re working with a standard 30×30 showering area. In this case, you should mount your regular wall-mounted rain showerhead at a distance between 72 and 80 inches from the floor. 

For most folks, 72 inches is plenty of space for a wall-mounted rain showerhead. Of course, if you’re seven feet tall, that won’t cut it. So, you might need to mount the showerhead higher for a more comfortable experience. 

Many rainfall showerheads are mounted in the ceiling, so you don’t have much control over the height of the placement. Some folks mount the showerhead at the height of 84 or 86 inches from the floor, allowing the individual to experience the rainfall effect. Some hotels place the showerhead even higher, at about 96 inches, although this depends on the ceiling height. 

How Far Away From The Wall Should A Rain Showerhead Be?

When you’re standing under the spray of water in your shower, you want to have enough room to move around without bumping into the fittings or against the wall. Ideally, you’ll have plenty of room to enjoy the full rainfall effect without bumping into anything. 

So, to achieve this result, you’ll need to position the showerhead at an appropriate distance from the wall. Generally, you should place a wall-mounted (or fixed) showerhead on a shower arm that allows about three or four inches of space from the wall. For this type of showerhead, the distance is determined by two factors:

• The width and diameter of the shower head
• The distance between the floor and shower head

To achieve the proper distance with these shower heads, you can either use a shower arm to create additional space or mount it on the ceiling. Remember, these showerheads are broad, so you’ll want them to be at the perfect angle for a balanced stream of water. 

On the flip side, you’ll want to position a ceiling-mounted shower head roughly 1 ½ to 2 ½ feet from the wall. The exact distance depends on the size of the shower enclosure, but it’s typically placed centrally overhead.

This leaves plenty of room for you to stand comfortably beneath the flow of water without bumping into the wall or shower fittings. On top of that, a centrally-placed showerhead helps ensure water won’t spill out of the shower enclosure and onto the bathroom floor. If the showerhead is too close to one side of the enclosure, you might notice issues with spillage. 

So, if you have a ceiling-mounted showerhead, position it in the middle of the shower enclosure’s ceiling. 

Should The Drain Be Centered With The Shower Head?

If you decide on a ceiling-mounted rain showerhead, you might be questioning the best spot for the drain. You don’t want to put it in a spot where drainage will be poor, allowing water to pool excessively at your feet. However, you also need to place it in a convenient location that you won’t stand on. 

If you center the drain directly beneath the showerhead, there’s a good chance you’ll stand on the drain, blocking drainage with your feet while you shower. For the most part, it’s best to position the drain in the corner of the showering enclosure, as this will allow adequate water drainage from every direction.

Showers generally have a sloped floor that allows water to drain effectively, so place the drain in the lowest part of the floor. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do Rain Shower Heads Have Low Water Pressure?

Compared to standard showerheads, rain showerheads might seem to have low water pressure. These showerheads aren’t designed to have high water pressure – they’re designed for a soothing, relaxing, and rain-like experience. So, while they’re great for relaxation, they might not be your best bet if high water pressure is a non-negotiable factor for you. 

That said, you could always install a handheld showerhead for stronger water pressure when you’re ready to wash. Many folks choose to install an additional showerhead or a dual head shower for multiple options to meet their expectations. 
If your rain showerhead suddenly drops in water pressure, it could have an issue. For example, mineral deposits might clog the tiny holes, or the shower arm could be overrun by mineral deposits. Here are a few potential solutions.