Best Shower Filters of 2023

Drinking filtered water has tangible health benefits, but unless you have a whole home filtration system, you’re spending ten minutes a day pouring the same dirty water you won’t drink all over your body in the shower.

What’s worse — chances are you’ve noticed the effects of it, but don’t realize your water is to blame.

If you have dry, itchy skin and hair that feels like hay, or you’re worried about exposure to the witches brew of chemicals and contaminants that could be in your water, a shower head filter could be a game changer.

6 Best Shower Head Water filter Reviews

The purity of a spa-quality shower at home is within reach, but which is the best shower head filter for you? We’ve put together this in-depth buying guide and reviewed these seven top picks to help you get started.

#1. Aquasana AQ-4100 Deluxe Shower Water Filter System

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Best For: For anyone looking for a solid chlorine shower filter on a budget.

Pros

• The multi-setting massage head makes for a customizable shower experience, and its 10,000-gallon capacity offers long life between filter changes.
• The Aquasana aq-4100 shower filter is certified to remove over 90% of chlorine from shower water, as well as other harmful chemicals and contaminants.
• It is easy to install and requires no tools or professional assistance.
• The filter will not affect the water pressure or temperature, and has a lifespan of 6 months.
• It’s designed to fit all standard showerheads and comes with a money-back satisfaction guarantee.
• Chlorine is a known skin irritant and can cause dryness, redness, and itchiness –the aq-4100 will help to alleviate these symptoms.
• The filter will also help to preserve the natural oils in your skin and hair, keeping them healthy and hydrated.
• If you have sensitive skin or suffer from allergies, the Aquasana aq-4100 shower filter can make showering a more pleasant experience.
• The Aquasana aq-4100 shower filter is an affordable way to improve the quality of your shower water, and the health of your skin and hair.
• The price is competitive and most users report excellent results with it.
• Unlike some models, it’s backed by a one-year warranty, and we like that it’s NSF-certified for chlorine removal.
• The components are BPA-free
• Overall, it’s a solid performer and a best shower head if you’re on a budget.

Cons

• This filter looks good on paper, but the latest version has a new housing that doesn’t perform as well as its predecessor.
• Housing can be prone to cracks and leaks

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#2. Vitamin C Filter Inline Shower Assembly by Sonaki

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Best For: Those looking for best shower head for chloramine.

Pros

• There’s nothing fancy here, but this is a reliable filter.
• Depending on water conditions, the Vitamin C cartridges can wear out quickly, but at least the housing is see-through, so you won’t have to guess if it’s still working.
• Users across the board report good results, but a few have been disappointed.
• Sonaki performs on par or better than most models in its class, and its resin construction and all-brass fittings.
• It feels more durable than other brands, making it our runner-up for best shower head for chloramine.
• Attach it behind your shower head for a 99-percent or more reduction in chlorine and chloramine and reap the skin benefits, too.
• Made of durable resin with a chrome finish, it comes with three filters that treat an average of 5,000 gallons of water combined.
• he Sonaki Vitamin C Shower Filter is easy to install and use, and it is very affordable.

Cons

• Some users have also found that the filter does not last as long as they would like, needing to be replaced after a few months of use.
• Filters may have less capacity than claimed

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#3.Berkey Shower Filter

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Best For: The Berkey showerhead filter is best for people who are looking for a reliable and effective way to remove impurities and contaminants from their water.

Pros

• Heavy metals including lead are significantly reduced as well as select minerals that cause rust and limescale stains in the shower.
• The unit takes seconds to install and includes a back-flush attachment to help keep it clean. Each unit filters an industry-leading 10,000 gallons.
• For removing chlorine and heavy metals, nothing beats KDF 55 media.
• Its copper-zinc formula reacts with chlorine — called an oxidation-reduction reaction — as it passes through the shower head and turns it into harmless, water-soluble chloride.
• KDF 55 is the filtration media of choice for many filter manufacturers, but it’s not all created equal.
• The Berkey uses only the highest-quality brand, and its Full Flow design not only preserves water pressure — it improves contact between the media and water for a better chlorine extraction.
• If you use the backflush attachment regularly to clean the filter, you’ll keep the water pressure strong and extend the filter’s life.
• With a 10,000-gallon total capacity, it’s my top choice for the best water pressure shower head filter.
• Berkey’s patented Full Flow media encourages a uniform flow of water through the system for maximum pressure. Most users report no change.
• You can use this with a handheld shower head.

Pros

• Spray pattern is narrow
• Teflon tape isn’t included in the installation kit like other brands

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#4. AquaHomeGroup Luxury Filtered Shower Head

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Best For: Anyone looking for a “luxury” look without the luxury price and that works pretty darn good.

Pros

• With KDF 55 media plus activated carbon and Vitamins C and E, it softens skins and removes contaminants.
• The kit comes with everything you need for tool-less installation including the Teflon tape and five free shower caps.
• Cartridges last about six months and replacement filters have one of the lowest prices in the business.
• It’s well-made, and users give it high marks for overall performance and rave reviews for the way it makes skin feel using words like “luxurious” liberally.
• For the cost, it’s a steal and our pick for best shower filter value.
• The filter removes impurities from the water leaving you with clean water to shower with.
• The shower head is adjustable, so you can customize your shower experience to your liking.
• The shower head is easy to install and use, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a hassle-free way to get filtered water in their shower.
• The filter isn’t NSF certified, but it’s CE-certified — that’s a rough European equivalent.

Cons

• Doesn’t remove chloramines despite Vitamin C in the filter
• Made in China

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#5. AquaBliss High-output 12-Stage Shower Filter

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Best For: Those looking to improve dry skin for a great price.

Pros

• It reduces chlorine, heavy metals and chemical impurities, plus it has two layers of sediment filtration to improve filtering efficiency and lengthen the life of the cartridge.
• Each filter process up to 12,000 gallons depending on water conditions, and for an authentic spa experience, zeolite and tourmaline balls add minerals that revitalize skin and hair.
• If you need an inexpensive filter, this one doesn’t come with a shower head, so using your own saves some cash.
• In terms of performance, it’s competitive and reduces almost everything you don’t want in your water except chloramines and fluoride.
• It’s made of plastic, but it’s still durable, and there are no issues with seams that leak.
• Like the Luxury Filtered Shower Head Set, it has bonus filtration layers that improve water quality beyond removing toxins, making it a best shower filter for soothing skin.

Cons

• Made in China ( Isn’t everything…)

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#6. Culligan WSH-C125 Wall-Mounted Filtered Shower Head with Massage

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Best For: for people who want a NSF certified water filter to improve the quality of their shower water.

Pros

• It’s the only model on our list that’s EPA WaterSense-certified for using two gallons of water or less per minute, and it’s also NSF-certified for chlorine reduction.
• The included shower head has five clog-free settings for comfort, and each filter has a 10,000-gallon capacity and a five-year warranty.
• If you’re one of the folks that get red-eyed and itchy in chlorinated water, the NSF certification on this filter makes it a good choice.
• It’s basic — there are no so-called luxury components or vitamins here, but if you want an old-fashioned clean shower without the chlorine sting, you’ll get it.
• For those living on the road in an RV or in an area where water costs are high, you’ll appreciate the water-saving design.
• This filter doesn’t do as much as the competition, but what it does, it does capably.
• The head swivels 30-degrees making adjusting simple.
• Culligan designed this filter for those with low water pressure in mind, so rest assured — no drop in water pressure to be had.

Cons

• Does not remove lead

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Compare All 6 Shower Filters

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Best Shower Head Filter Buying Guide

A shower head filter is an affordable investment with real benefits, but not every model has the features you need. Let’s take a closer look at what makes these filters tick and which of these best rated shower heads is right for you.

Why You Need A Shower Head Filter

Shower head filters are similar to the type you might put on your kitchen sink faucet, but the filtration goals for the water you bathe with are a little different than for the water you drink.

Your skin is your largest organ and not only is it easily irritated — it absorbs significant pollutants. Chlorine, fluoride and a variety of industrial and agricultural chemicals can be absorbed surprisingly easily through the skin and inhaled through the warm, wonderful vapor we all enjoy in the shower.

Lead, once thought to be safe in water as long as it isn’t consumed, has now been shown in select studies to pass through the skin in small amounts, and if you have children, any amount of lead exposure is too much.

In addition to the health benefits, shower head filters are a boon for the skin and hair. Copper affects the longevity of hair color, and chlorine can make light locks look dingy. Hard water minerals build up quickly on hair, robbing it of its smoothness and shine — as they do to your tub and shower door in the form of limescale stains.

The right shower head filter can fix all that — if it has the proper performance features. Here’s what you need to consider.

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Performance Features

Filtration Media

KDF 55 filtration media is used in several of our best rated shower heads including the Berkey and the Aquasana AQ-4100. The ion exchange process it uses is designed explicitly for reducing chlorine and water-soluble heavy metals. It controls mineral scale and inhibits bacterial growth in the filter, keeping it cleaner.

Activated carbon, an added ingredient in some filters like the Luxury Shower Head Set and the AquaBliss removes chlorine, chemicals and some chloramines. For chlorine removal, carbon excels with cold water, but it’s less effective with hot water. KDF 55 media is hot-water safe and removes more chlorine than activated carbon in most cases.

Carbon was also once thought to remove chloramines and it can, but Vitamin C is the new gold standard for chloramine reduction. But just because a filter has Vitamin C, doesn’t mean it’s in the amount or form necessary for chloramine reduction. Some makers add it for its benefits to the body in general.

If your primary concern is chlorine, all of the filters on our list perform well. For chloramine reduction, the best shower head filter is the model made by Sonaki.

To remove lead, KDF 55 media is superior, and the better quality grade it is, the more effective it will be. We like the Berkey for homes with children. It lacks carbon, so it alone won’t remove chemicals, but add a carbon filter to it, and you have the best of both worlds. For a lead-free bath, fill the tub from the shower head.

Mineral Reduction

Shower head filters are not water softeners, but they do control limescale and mineral build up on hair. The Jonathan Product Beauty Hard Water Shower Filter System is our best shower filter for hard water, followed by the Culligan WSH-C125.

Size

Every filter on our list fits a standard shower head, but some are long, like the AquaBliss at seven inches. Large filters will lower the height of the shower head and could make things tight for tall users while some interfere with shower caddies that hang over the water inlet to the shower.

Capacity

Filter cartridges have a limited capacity. When the filtration media is spent, it stops working, and water flow slows down to a trickle. The more gallons a filter can process, the less maintenance it requires and the less costly it will be to own. Filter capacity depends in large part on your water quality. If you have heavy levels of sediment or other contaminants, they’ll need to be replaced more often.

Water Pressure

Any filter can impact water pressure, and while most of the models on our list don’t affect it significantly, you’ll notice more of a reduction if you already have low pressure. Several filters on our list are high-output filters — that’s not quite equivalent to high-pressure filters, but it helps.

Our pick for best water pressure shower head filter is the Berkey because it has a an attachment that lets you flush out the contaminants that build up and slow water pressure over time. It guarantees both the best water pressure and the cleanest shower.

Flow Rate

A filter’s flow rate is the maximum number of gallons that flow through it per minute. It could always be less, but it shouldn’t be more. For a large family living in a water conservation area, the only filter on our list with low flow is the Culligan WSH-C125. It’s not so meager that it makes showering difficult, but the savings add up.

Construction

Shower filter heads are compact and significant pressure builds inside. The higher your home’s water pressure, the more likely a weak housing is to crack. Most shouldn’t be used at all with PSI over 100. The only filter on the list that didn’t fare well under high pressure was Aquasana AQ-4100.

Metal housings, however, are not always the answer. Plastic is weaker, but metal rusts. It’s also heavier and could be a hazard to someone’s head if it ever became disengaged.

NSF-certification

Unlike drinking water filters, shower head filters that have gone through testing are only eligible for one NSF certification — NSF/ANSI 177. This designation indicates only that it removes the level of chlorine it claims, but that’s meaningful if chlorine is your problem.

Because the testing required for certification is extensive and costly, some makers choose not to pursue it. Instead, they use materials that are certified. The KDF 55 media in the Berkey filter, for example, is NSF 42-certified for reducing aesthetic impurities.

NSF certification isn’t as meaningful for shower head filters as with those used to purify drinking water, but it does speak to a company’s willingness to have their products tested and scrutinized. Non-certified filters could be just as effective, so make it only one part of the bigger picture you consider.

Read our post on “what exactly NSF Means?“

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Installation & Maintenance

All of our top-rated filters are a breeze to install. You may need a wrench, but most can be finger tightened, and some kits even include the Teflon plumber’s tape that’s wrapped around the faucet threads to ensure the unit doesn’t leak.

• Warranty & Support

Warranties for these filters range from none to five-years. How much does that matter? A guarantee is only as good as the paper it’s written on if the company isn’t trustworthy, and some can be useless if they require you to send it back insured at your expense for repairs.

Our best advice for warranties and customer care is to consider the company’s track record. It’s never a promise of how well they’ll work with you here and now, but a solid record of support improves the odds in your favor. Shower head filters are not expensive, and in some cases, it makes more sense to buy a product that’s a better overall value versus one with a higher cost and an overinflated warranty.
Ironically, the model on our list with the most extended warranty, the Culligan WSH-C125, is also the least expensive.

Final Thoughts

The science is clear that the threat to your health and the aesthetic effects of bathing in contaminated water are genuine, but unlike buying and maintaining a costly whole-home water filtration system, a shower head filter is a small investment with a big pay off. You have nothing to lose, and you’re worth it.