Showering is something we all do on a daily basis, and it can be a highly enjoyable and relaxing process, as long as you make use of the right equipment. Cheap, weak showerheads typically lead to unfulfilling shower experiences, but quality shower panels offer so much more. Typically featuring rainfall or waterfall showers, as well as a hand shower, horizontal spray jets, and precise temperature and pressure controls, the best shower panels are almost like having a luxury spa in your own home.
There are many different models of shower panel out there, but a lot of them are cheap and low quality. In this guide, we’ll be highlighting some of the best shower panel systems you can buy today, like the PULSE ShowerSpas Rio ShowerSpa Panel, which is our Editor’s choice, based on it’s impressive performance. In order to draw up our list of the best shower panels, we looked at a lot of different features including the number of jets, the dimensions, the minimum and maximum pressure options, and other interesting features of each model.
We looked at a lot of the best shower panel reviews from both experts and general users in order to identify the finest systems. Below, you’ll find a simple comparison table with links and scores to our favorite models, as well as indicators of what we liked best about each one. After that, you’ll be able to read through in-depth reviews of each shower panel system. We’ve also written up a buying guide and FAQ section, which you’ll find at the bottom of the page.
Extra features: surface-mounted and pre-plumbed; features an integrated brass tub spout/temperature tester
One of the best shower panels you can buy today, the PULSE ShowerSpas 1049B-BN Rio ShowerSpa Panel immediately catches the eye with its distinctive design. This shower features a beautiful black and brass two-tone design and is made from a tempered glass panel with a bronze body and brushed nickel fittings. In short, it’s one of the prettiest shower panels you can hope to find and can really add a touch of class and elegance to any bathroom.
This shower panel comes completely pre-plumbed, so it’s one of the easiest shower panels to fit and you won’t even necessarily need to call in a professional to do the job, so that’ll save you a little extra cash. Purchasers of this shower panel might be thankful for any opportunity to save some money, as it is by far the most expensive item on our list, but the spa-like quality and wonderful features of this shower panel help to justify the high price.
This shower panel is very easy to clean and offers strong water pressure and impressive features like smart temperature controls and a useful temperature tester. It’s really easy to clean, and the inclusion of a rain showerhead, plus six additional body spray jets, helps to make this particular shower panel system a big winner in our eyes. If you’re looking for a high quality shower panel and are prepared to pay a little extra for the privilege, this is the one to choose.
Extra features: 1-year parts warranty; US and Canada cUPC Certified
Another highly rated shower panel system, the AKDY Rainfall Shower Panel System features a beautiful bronze design. This is a very chic and elegant model, perfectly fitting into most bathroom designs, and it comes complete with a large rainfall and waterfall shower head, a handheld shower, and a series of eight body massage jets. In short, it’s one of the most fully-featured shower panel systems available on the market right now.
Fortunately, this shower doesn’t just look the part, it functions brilliantly as well. The body jets offer highly enjoyable massage-like experiences, while the rainfall and waterfall shower head is just right for those relaxing soaks at the end of a long day. The many features and dials of this shower panel make it a thrill to use, and every shower feels like an exciting experience with this AKDY model. It’s also very easy to connect in the vast majority of bathrooms, although your experience may vary depending on your current setup.
On the downside, some users have complained that the handheld shower on this model is lacking in power, and the bronze color of the panel itself can start to fade over time, but if you’re looking for a powerful, efficient, and highly enjoyable shower panel system, this is definitely one of the top models to choose. It’s available at a great price too, offering a lot of the same comfort and functionality as the PULSE model above, but for far less money.
Extra features: includes a tub spout; 1-year parts warranty
Next up, we have the Blue Ocean SPA392M Shower Panel Tower with Rainfall Shower Head. The first thing that stands out about this product and helps to make it one of the best shower tower panel systems around right now is its design. This Blue Ocean shower panel is made from a chic, shimmering aluminum alloy and features a modern LED display right in the center, showing the current temperature at any given time, with options to display both in Fahrenheit and Celsius.
The temperature display is an excellent bonus feature of this shower panel, and it’s also one of the easiest models to keep clean and shiny, so it can last for many years and still look just as good as it did on the very first day of installation. The installation process itself is a little tricky with this model, so you’ll likely need to add on the extra cost of hiring a plumber, but once the shower is fitted, it works like a dream.
This Blue Ocean model features simple dials to help you adjust the temperature and function settings with ease and offers great performance overall. However, one downside we have to highlight with this model is that it’s impossible to activate the jets and showerhead at the same time, which is slightly disappointing when compared to other shower panel systems. The shower arm is a little short too, but overall, this panel is still one of the best and most enjoyable to use.
Extra features: 2-year warranty on parts; features an LED display with temperature and timer and LED lighting; includes a tub spout
Next up on our list of the best shower panel systems is the ELLO&ALLO Rainfall Waterfall Shower Panel Tower. If you’re looking for the best shower massage panel, this might be the one for you. The ELLO&ALLO shower panel comes with high-powered massage jets, as well as rainfall, waterfall, handheld, and body jet options, so it’s a fully-featured shower panel and you can activate any two of the various features at once for a lot of different shower combinations.
The design of this shower panel is quite futuristic as it features LED lighting in the main showerhead and a digital LED screen showing off the current temperature of the shower, as well as a useful little timer to let you know how long you’ve been in the shower. The lighting in the showerhead is a cool feature, but having to dismount the whole unit to replace the batteries is one of the drawbacks to this particular model, so you might not want to use the lighting too often.
Another little issue is that the main showerhead is a little narrow compared to some of the models we’ve seen above, and the handheld shower is quite basic, but apart from these minor problems, this is one of the best shower panels you can get for the money. Its modern design and strong massage jets help to earn it a high spot on our list, and many users have fallen in love with the therapeutic nature of this shower.
Extra features: 1-year parts warranty; comes with all standard installation accessories
Next up, the Perfetto Kitchen and Bath Shower Panel Tower System SP0056 is another great value shower panel system you might want to consider. Available at lower price than many of the models mentioned above, this particularly shower panel is one of the best value systems we’ve found. It has a lot of advantages to go along with its affordability, including its strong body jets for massage-style shower experiences and its easy installation.
Another nice bonus of this shower panel system is the fact that all of the various features, including the main showerhead, handheld showerhead, and the body jets, can be turned on and work simultaneously. This gives you a lot of options and really helps to provide a thorough, intense shower experience, but in most cases, the water pressure will take quite a significant drop when you activate more than one feature. This is to be expected and is seen in most other shower panel systems too, but the drop in pressure is big enough to be noteworthy with this particular model.
The Perfetto Kitchen and Bath Shower Panel Tower System SP0056 can also be a little tricky to keep clean so may start to show some water marks over time. Like many other shower panel systems, its handheld option is a little basic too, but the overall experience with this shower panel is generally a very positive one. Users have a lot of good things to say about this model and it’s certainly one of the most affordable shower panel systems you can buy today.
Extra features: 3-year quality guarantee; surface-mounted and wall-mounted options; completely pre-plumbed; features a tub spout; brushed nickel
Another top quality shower panel system you might consider for your own bathroom at home is the Vantory Shower Panel VS077-1. There’s a lot to like about this shower panel, starting with its modern, sleek design. It’s quite a minimalist shower, with all of the various dials on the side rather than the front, so it definitely has a lot of aesthetic appeal. It’s slightly less attractive when viewed from the back or top, however, as there are no covers in these areas.
Installing this shower panel is very simple as it arrives fully pre-plumbed, so most users will be able to fit it themselves without any need to call up a plumber. It’s also an easy shower panel to maintain, with its stainless steel body staying nice and clean, even months or years after purchase. Another big advantage of this model is that all of the features, including the rainfall, waterfall, handheld, and massage jets, can be turned on simultaneously. Plus, it comes with some of the best water saving tech of any shower panel system on our list.
On the downside, the massage jets are slightly lacking in strength compared to some of the body jets we’ve seen on other models; they tend to produce more of a misty effect than a real therapeutic massage feel. The handheld shower is also quite small and simple on this model, but it’s a solid contender overall.
Extra features: brushed nickel finish; includes a tub spout
If you’re looking for the best shower panel under $200, look no further. The Rozin Bathroom Rainfall Waterfall Shower Panel Set is most definitely our Budget Pick for this list. When compared to some of the other entries on our best shower panel list, this system lacks a few features and has a narrower design, so can offer less water coverage overall, but the narrower showerhead and massage jets on this model actually help it to provide stronger pressure and more of a massaging feel for the user.
Not only that, but the Rozin Bathroom Rainfall Waterfall Shower Panel Set is one of the easiest shower panel systems to install as well. It’s very easy to set-up and simple to use, offering a waterfall and rainfall showerhead, as well as a handheld option and two sets of body massage jets. You can only activate one of these features at any one time, which is a little disappointing compared to some of the other models on our list, but the low price tag of this model helps to justify its slight lack of functionality.
This Rozin shower panel might be quite simplistic, but it’s also one of the most affordable shower models on the market right now. So if you’re working with a budget or just want to get a decent shower panel that offers solid performance and a nice range of features without having to pay a huge premium for the privilege, this might be the perfect product for you.
When shopping for your shower panel, you have to consider a lot of different factors. A shower panel system can really be a life-changing addition to any home, making the simple act of taking a shower so much more enjoyable and exciting each day – but there are a lot of things to think about. This buying guide will take a look at some of the key aspects you need to consider when searching for your next shower panel.
The reasons to get a high quality shower panel are numerous and varied.
Now let’s take a closer look at the various features you need to take into consideration when shopping for your next shower panel. Every shower panel system is different. Some are actually quite simple, whereas others will come with a huge range of varied features and basically function like mini-spas right in your own home. Factors like the number of jets, the materials used to make the shower panel, the functions it has to offer, and how easy it is to install will all play a role in determining the best shower panel for you.
The presence of body jets and massage jets is a big reason why so many people choose to invest in a shower panel, and the golden rule generally states that the more jets you have, the better the experience will be. This isn’t always true. For example, the PULSE Rio ShowerSpa Panel only features six jets, but is still just as impressive and enjoyable as some of the eight-jet models on our list. In general though, more jets is always a good thing, especially for taller people.
This is one of the most important aspects to consider when shopping for a shower panel. Each panel will have its own set of functions, which may include rainfall showerheads, waterfall showerheads, handheld options, tub spouts, body jets, and more.
However, don’t let yourself be fooled by a shower panel that seems to have a lot of functions.
The flow rate of a shower panel system effectively tells you how much water the shower pumps out each second. The higher the flow rate, the more enjoyable and intense the shower experience will usually be. However, higher flow rates also result in higher water bills for the user, so this factor has both positive and negative connotations to consider.
Shower panels can be made from a mixture of metals and may also feature glass as part of their construction, as seen on the PULSE ShowerSpas Rio ShowerSpa Panel.
Some materials are going to be better at coping with corrosion and rust as time goes by.
If you’re living in a home with weak water pressure, you might find that some models of shower panel just won’t work for you. Shower panels typically come with min and max psi ratings, which let you know the level of water pressure needed for the panel to function properly. Before buying any shower panel, be sure to know your home’s water pressure and choose a model that will actually match up with your plumbing.
The physical size of the shower panel is another big factor to think about. Some shower panels are huge. Measuring up at 61 x 20 x 10 inches, the Rozin Bathroom Rainfall Waterfall Shower Panel Set is a perfect example. Not every bathroom is going to have enough space for certain models, so you’ll need to measure out the space you have available and take this factor into consideration in order to avoid wasting money on a shower panel that’s just too big for your bathroom.
Many people shy away from getting a shower panel as they worry about how difficult these devices seem to install, but some shower panels are actually very easy to set-up. In many cases, like with the Vantory Shower Panel VS077-1, for example, the shower will arrive pre-plumbed, making it very easy to install. Other shower panels will come with all the installation equipment and fittings you need, and these are the models you’ll want to choose. Otherwise, you’ll have to add extra costs of equipment and professional plumbing services onto your initial purchase.
How to clean a shower panel is probably one of the first questions you’re going to think about when purchasing one. Over time, shower panels can develop water marks and other little stains, so it’s important to look after them well. The presence of a handheld shower on your shower panel is always a big bonus, as it makes cleaning it a lot easier. Various bathroom cleaning products can be used to keep your panel shimmering and shiny, as well as home remedies like water and vinegar for those tough water marks.
Overall, the PULSE ShowerSpas Rio ShowerSpa Panel took the top spot in our list of the best shower panel systems. This panel might have a high price, but it offers truly luxurious shower experiences and makes you feel like you’re stepping into your own private spa every time you take a shower.
Next up, the Golden Vantage Multi-Function Waterfall Style Shower Panel Tower System is easily one of the best shower tower panel systems around right now. It catches the eye with its stunning bronze design and is a real joy to use, with its eight body jets offering a thoroughly enjoyable and therapeutic experience for the user.
Last but not least on our list of the best shower panel systems, we have the Blue Ocean SPA392M Shower Panel Tower. Equipped with high pressure body jets and a useful digital temperature display, this shower panel offers both style and functionality.
