Household

Water-saving shower head

A shower head that lets through much less hot water. You shower as usual and still pay less.

Older shower heads often let through 10 to 15 litres per minute, good water-saving ones less than 9. And every litre you don't use doesn't have to be heated either. That saves water and energy without you having to do anything. You swap the shower head yourself in a few minutes, usually without any tools.

saves money
My recommendation Duravit 3jet 110 MinusFlow Price range: Budget
See price on Amazon* All 3 price ranges

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Measure first, then swap

This way you know in one minute whether a water-saving shower head is worth it for you at all:

  1. Turn the shower on the way you usually shower
  2. Let it run into a bucket for 30 seconds
  3. Multiply the litres in the bucket by two: that's how many litres per minute your shower head lets through
  4. If it's more than 10, swapping is worth it

What it takes off your hands

Old shower head
  • Around 96 litres of hot water per shower
  • The heating warms every litre
  • You pay for water and sewage for every litre
With a water-saving shower head
  • Around 68 litres per shower
  • Shower just as long and just as warm
  • Screwed on yourself in a few minutes
Right for you if …
  • Your shower head is already older and lets through a lot of water
  • Your water is heated with electricity, then you save the most
  • You want to save without showering shorter or colder
To be honest
  • It often doesn't work with older hydraulic instantaneous water heaters: they usually only switch on from about 8 litres per minute
  • If your shower head already lets through less than 10 litres per minute, you only save a little
  • It doesn't save you time or effort. This one is only about money, water and energy

Which model is right for you?

One recommendation for each price range. You can see the current price on Amazon.

My recommendation
Budget

Duravit 3jet 110 MinusFlow

  • Good at German consumer magazine Stiftung Warentest (grade 1.9, issue 4/2023), level with the best in the test
  • Lets through 8.8 litres per minute in the test, a flow limiter is built in
  • Three spray types, you switch between them with a dial
  • Soft nubs on the nozzles: you simply rub off limescale

For most people. My tip, because it did just as well in the test as the more expensive models.

To be honest

It lets through a little more water than the other two, just under 9 litres per minute. The difference is small.

See price on Amazon*

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Mid-range

Hansgrohe Pulsify Select S EcoSmart

  • Good at Stiftung Warentest (grade 1.9, issue 4/2023)
  • Lets through 8.6 litres per minute in the test, with a flow limiter
  • Three spray types, you switch between them at the push of a button
  • Also suitable for instantaneous water heaters, according to the manufacturer

If you prefer to switch the spray type with a button.

To be honest

When buying, look for “EcoSmart” in the name. This is the version that was tested; according to the manufacturer the one without EcoSmart lets through considerably more water.

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Premium

Grohe Vitalio SmartActive 130 Cube

  • Good at Stiftung Warentest (issue 4/2023)
  • Lets through the least of the three in the test, just over 8 litres per minute
  • Square hand shower with three spray types
  • Easy to clean and descale

If you like the square shape.

To be honest

More expensive doesn't mean better here: in the test it didn't do better than the cheap Duravit. It hardly saves more water either. On Amazon it is sometimes called “150 Cube”. What matters is the article number 26595000.

See price on Amazon*

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Work it out yourself

Set it to how you live. Everything recalculates instantly.

Questions and answers

How much do I really save?

That depends on how much your current shower head lets through, how long you shower and how your water is heated. You save the most if it's heated with electricity, for example in an instantaneous water heater. In a model case, Stiftung Warentest arrived at up to 345 euros per person per year. The calculator shows how much it is for you.

Does it work with my instantaneous water heater?

With an electronic instantaneous water heater, usually yes. But older hydraulic units usually only switch on from about 8 litres per minute. The three models here are just above that in the test, which may or may not be enough. This is how you can tell the type: hydraulic ones usually have only a switch with two levels; with electronic ones you set the temperature in degrees. The rating plate tells you for sure. With a hydraulic one, it's best to order with a right of return and try it out. If the water stays cold or lukewarm, send the shower head back.

Does it fit my hose?

Almost always. Shower hoses and hand showers have a standardised half-inch thread. You don't need to worry about it when buying.

How do I swap the shower head?

Turn the old shower head anticlockwise off the hose; it usually comes off by hand. If it's stuck, use pliers with a soft cloth in between so nothing gets scratched. Check the washer in the nut on the hose and screw the new shower head on hand-tight. Keep the old shower head, then you can screw it back on when you move out.

Is showering with it worse?

Hardly. Stiftung Warentest had test persons shower with all the shower heads and also checked how well shampoo rinses out of long hair. Only with very economical models at 7 litres per minute or less does that take a little longer. The three here let through more.

My water is very hard. What should I look for?

Choose a shower head with soft nubs on the nozzles. You then simply rub the limescale off with your finger. Stiftung Warentest included such nubs in its rating. According to the manufacturers, all three models here have this rub-off function.

Why is the test from 2023?

Stiftung Warentest last tested water-saving shower heads in March 2023 (issue 4/2023); there is no newer test. Two of the most economical models at the time are no longer available. The three here are still available.

Why isn't the Ikea shower head included?

The Ikea Brogrund was good at Stiftung Warentest and one of the cheapest good shower heads in the test. But it's only available at Ikea, so I can't link it here. If you're passing by anyway, it's a good choice.

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