The 12 Best Handheld Shower Head with Hose

Handheld shower heads bring a lot of convenience and versatility you don’t get from a standard fixed shower head. Namely, you can more easily clean yourself, the shower wall or tub, and pets.

In this article, we’re covering handheld-only shower heads, not the 2-in-1 combination shower heads. If you want to check those out you can read our article here.

Our top pick for the handheld and fixed shower head combination is the Delta In2ition 58480-PK showerhead.

What makes a great handheld shower head?

• Picking up or putting back the shower head in its dock should be easy and not require too much readjusting.
• Strong water flow with at least one hard and soft flow setting.
• Hose that doesn’t coil up. Preferably metal.
• Metal connections for the shower arm and hose are preferred.
• “Trickle” function for reducing water flow without turning off valves.

Regarding functionality, being able to undock and dock the shower head easily has a huge impact on ease-of-use since you’re likely to be doing that multiple times during a shower. Having a clumsy dock means the shower head will fall out or cause you to have to readjust the spray direction repeatedly.

If you require seated showering then a handheld with an adjustable height bar is a great option. It is also more comfortable for elderly individuals to shower. With this type of shower head, they do not have to shift around in the shower to properly rinse off. For this reason, we’ve included a top recommended model with an adjustable height bar for the handheld.

Do you have a pet?

If so, then you know how difficult they can become when it is time to give them a bath. When you have a shower head that is not fixed to the wall, getting the soap out of their fur is a lot simpler.

The “trickle” function allows for nearly stopping the water flow while not losing the temperature settings you’ve adjusted to. It’s convenient, but not all shower heads have this function. However, it’s very easy to add a trickle valve before the shower head connection.

 

Plastic or Metal?

Plastic is hard to avoid, but perhaps the most important part of the shower head you should having plastic is the main connection to the shower arm. Adjusting the angle of the shower head puts a strain on the plastic which will eventually fail. Plastic threads can easily be damaged if you aren’t careful about attaching the shower head, and they won’t last as long a metal.

There are great handheld shower heads that aren’t solid metal and are made of coated plastic. We’re going to recommend a couple of our favorites below, but first, we’re going to take a look at solid metal handheld shower heads.

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Metal Handheld Shower Heads

The 4-inch wide handheld face is adequate and has an extra-long 72-inch stainless steel hose. There is only one shower function, which is a wide-coverage rain shower spray.

As of January 2018, the bracket for holding the handheld has been updated to handle the weight better and maintain its position. The manufacturer’s willingness to solve problems and update their product make us feel confident in this shower head. Plus, you get a 1-year warranty and 90-day Money Back Guarantee.

• Brushed Nickel Finish
• Improved Pivot Bracket has 360-degree rotation.
• Made from Stainless Steel and Brass
• 72 Inch Hose
• 2.5 GPM Flow Rate

Regarding features, this handheld isn’t impressive at all. But it has it where it counts, and that’s the stainless steel body and hose. The holder for the handheld is made from brass. This eliminates most of the major complaints you will see when reading through reviews of many poorly made plastic shower heads.

Don’t forget to add Teflon tape, wrapped in the correct direction, when you attach everything together!

You’ll Also Need These

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The Kohler Forte is a simple, solid metal handheld from a well-known brand. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with all the parts needed for a complete install. You will need to buy the hose and mounting bracket separately. We’ve included a link to one above, but this particular one may or may not work for you. You could have this handheld be your primary shower head, or placed off to the side as a secondary.

• Solid Metal Construction
• MasterClean Sprayface resists hard water buildup.
• Hose and Mount sold separately.
• 2.5 GPM Flow Rate
• Brushed Nickel Finish

The higher cost and more involved installation process make this handheld unattractive to some people, but if you’re willing to do the extra work then we don’t think you’ll be disappointed in the quality of this handheld. Additionally, the Kohler model has more options than the HammerHead. One issue with the Kohler handheld is the grip. It gets slippery when you have soapy hands. Adding a texture would reduce this problem.

This handheld shower head from High Sierra is in the “Low Flow” category because it only uses 1.5 GPM. The simplified “firehose” looking nozzle produces a satisfying spray despite the relatively low flow rate. You also get an excellent 72″ all-metal hose.

• Finish Options: Chrome, Nickel, Oil-Rubbed Bronze
• Solid Brass Holder with 72″ Metal Hose
• Textured Grip
• 1.5 GPM Flow Rate
• Adjust the strength of spray or shut it off completely.

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Plastic Handheld Shower Heads

• 5 Spray settings: Full-coverage, Intense, Massage, Drench, Pause
• Brushed Nickel and Polished Chrome Options
• 5-foot Metal Hose and Couplings
• 2.5 or 2.0 GPM Flow Models

The grip and quality of the spray options make this model shine. You do get some rotational freedom with the handheld mount, so using this as your primary shower head is not a problem.

• Solid brass handheld bracket.
• 63″ Stainless Steel hose stretchable to 75″.
• Chrome, Nickel, Oil-Rubbed Bronze finishes available.
• Handheld is made from durable ABS Plastic

The handheld bracket is the piece that sees the most wear and tear. Taking the handheld in and out multiple times per shower and adjusting the angle puts a lot of force on the bracket and fittings. That’s why you see plastic brackets and connectors crack and bust over time. Having a metal bracket eliminates much of the trouble associated with plastic shower heads.

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Handheld Shower Heads with a Grab Bar

Grab bars are intended to help people with mobility problems and will support a substantial amount of weight. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for installation as these kits need to be anchored correctly.

The Delta 51900 is an attractive looking ADA shower kit that has all the basics you need. Be sure to pick up the elbow for the handheld hose, as most of these types of shower kits don’t include them.

• 1-inch Diameter Grab Bar
• Non-rotating Bar
• Elbow for hose sold separately.
• Overall length of grab bar: 24″
• Handheld has Trickle settings to greatly reduce water flow.

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Adjustable Height Handheld Shower Heads

Not to be confused with the grab bar model above, these shower heads and slide bars are not meant to support the weight of a person. Being able to adjust the height of the handheld dock is handy if you shower while sitting, or have animals that you bathe in your shower.

Be sure to pick up the elbow for your handheld hose to attach to, and make sure you get the matching color.

Sliding bars give you the ultimate freedom in positioning your shower head vertically. If you’re tall or require seated showering, you can get the height positioned just right.

• 69-inch metal hose
• 4 Spray Settings
• Brushed Nickel, Chrome, and Oil-Rubbed Bronze Options
• 2.0 GPM Flow Rate
• Moen Limited Lifetime Warranty

The steel strip is 18 inches long and requires no screws to install. That means you won’t have to drill into your tile. The adhesives work very well in holding the strip in place. It’s important to follow the installation instructions and make sure the strip doesn’t straddle grout as much as possible. For example, if your tile has consistent vertical grout lines then place the strip such that only the horizontal grout lines are under the strip.

• No screws or drilling necessary.
• 5 Spray Modes
• Magnetic Bracket for holding the handheld.
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

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Other Popular Handhelds

These handhelds didn’t make our top list, but they are very popular for one reason or another. These are reasonably good alternatives that have overall positive reviews.

• 3.5″ Shower Head with 6 Spray Options
• 2.0 GPM Flow Rate
• Moen’s Lifetime Warranty

The Magnetix docking is very convenient and makes this handheld stand out. We mentioned in our first outline of desirable features that we wanted easy docking and undocking of the handheld. The Moen Magnetix does it best, but we prioritized metal fittings above that added convenience. That doesn’t mean you have to.

• 5 Spray Settings
• 5-foot hose
• Rub-clean nozzles
• Lifetime Limited Warranty

If you’re going to buy a plastic model it’s always a good idea to make sure it has a warranty. This Waterpik has a limited lifetime warranty, so it’s definitely worth considering.

This Vida handheld is another great budget choice with a solid brass connector/ball joint and hose. This model has overwhelmingly positive reviews and has a 3-year warranty. Usually, when you see leaks from a shower head immediately after installation, it’s because you didn’t use Teflon tape or didn’t put it on properly. Be sure to check that the tape is wrapped in the right direction before giving up on any shower head.

• Solid brass ball join and connector.
• 5 Spray Modes
• 2.5 GPM Flow Rate
• Flow Restrictor is easy to remove.
• 3-year Warranty