An RV shower head does more than spray water. It has to work with a small water pump or uneven campground pressure, stretch a limited fresh water tank when you are not hooked up, and usually comes with a handheld wand and a pause button so you can stop the flow while you lather. The right RV shower head can make a weak shower feel stronger while using less water.
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This guide covers seven RV shower heads worth a look, what the flow rate numbers mean, the difference between a trickle valve and a full shut-off, how to swap a shower head in a few minutes, and how to fix low pressure. Use the water calculator to see how far your tank will go.
Quick answer
For most RVers, the Oxygenics BodySpa RV is the easiest upgrade. Oxygenics lists it at 1.8 gallons per minute with a SmartPause button that cuts the flow to a trickle while you lather, and it comes with a 60-inch hose. Want more spray settings? The Oxygenics Fury RV has five. For the lowest water use, the High Sierra handheld can be ordered at 1.5 or 1.25 gallons per minute, both WaterSense certified. Every shower head sold in the US is limited to 2.5 gallons per minute.
Table of Contents
7 RV Shower Heads Worth a Look
These picks are based on what each maker publishes, how widely RV sites recommend each one, and whether it is in stock on Amazon. We have not tested these shower heads ourselves.
Specifications note: Makers don't all publish the same details. If a maker doesn't list the flow rate, hose length, or warranty, we say so instead of guessing.
Oxygenics BodySpa RV Handheld
Best overallOxygenics shows up in all eight RV shower head guides we checked, and six of them name a BodySpa model. Oxygenics says the head is designed to perform within RV tank size and pressure limits, and that its Oxygenics setting amplifies existing water pressure.
Oxygenics lists 1.8 gallons per minute and two settings, Oxygenics and SmartPause. Oxygenics says SmartPause is not a shut-off valve. It cuts the flow to a pencil-size stream, which keeps the water moving while you lather. It comes with a 60-inch hose and a wall holder.
What You'll Love
- Light, simple, and widely recommended
- Pause button saves tank water
- Lifetime limited warranty against clogging
Worth Considering
- Only one spray pattern besides pause
- SmartPause is a trickle, not a full stop
- Plastic body
Oxygenics Fury RV Handheld
Best spray optionsThe Fury RV adds spray choices to the same 1.8 gallons per minute flow. Oxygenics lists five settings: Oxygenics, WideStream, Massage, FocusStream and WideStream plus FocusStream.
Instead of a pause button, it has a flow control lever that adjusts the pressure. It comes with a longer 72-inch hose, a wall mount and plumber's tape.
What You'll Love
- Five spray patterns
- Longer 72-inch hose
- Same 1.8 GPM flow as the BodySpa
Worth Considering
- Oxygenics does not call the lever a pause or shut-off
- Bulkier head than the BodySpa
- Warranty term not listed on the product page
Oxygenics BodySpa Adventure RV (25488)
Best for taller usersThe BodySpa Adventure has three settings, Oxygenics, FocusStream and SmartPause, and comes with a 72-inch hose, which gives taller users more reach.
Oxygenics lists 1.8 gallons per minute.
What You'll Love
- Longer hose than the standard BodySpa
- Same proven head
- Pause button saves water
Worth Considering
- Costs more than the standard BodySpa
- Fewer settings than the Fury
- The Amazon listing was sold by a third party seller
Oxygenics Voyage RV Handheld
Newest Oxygenics modelThe Voyage RV is Oxygenics' newest RV handheld. It has four settings, including a Pendulum spray that Oxygenics says oscillates up to 500 times a minute for 14 inches of coverage, plus SmartPause.
Oxygenics lists 1.8 gallons per minute and a 72-inch hose, stainless steel on the brushed nickel kits. The wall mount clicks in place. Oxygenics gives it a limited lifetime warranty against clogging or performance failures.
What You'll Love
- Oscillating spray covers more area
- Stainless hose on brushed nickel kits
- Click-in wall mount
Worth Considering
- The most expensive Oxygenics pick
- Newer model with fewer owner reviews
- The Amazon listing was sold by a third party seller
High Sierra Classic Handheld with Trickle Valve
Lowest water useHigh Sierra makes its handhelds from solid, lead-free metal and offers them in several flow rates. The 1.5 and 1.25 gallons per minute versions are WaterSense certified. High Sierra says its 1.5 GPM heads are consistently rated as equal or better than 2.5 GPM conventional shower heads.
A push-button trickle valve cuts the flow while you lather. High Sierra says the heads are built in the USA from domestic and imported parts, that Teflon tape is not needed thanks to its rubber seals, and that it backs them with a 2-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Its RV hose is sold separately.
What You'll Love
- Lowest flow and WaterSense certified
- Metal body
- Made in the USA with some imported parts
Worth Considering
- Costs more than plastic heads
- Single spray pattern
- Check whether the listing includes a hose
Dura Faucet DF-SA130 RV Shower Wand
Best basic replacementThe DF-SA130 is a simple single-function wand and hose kit made for RVs. Dura Faucet offers it in seven finishes, including satin nickel, oil rubbed bronze, matte black, bisque and white.
Dura Faucet lists a trickle switch and a 60-inch vinyl hose, and says all its faucets are lead-free certified with a lifetime limited warranty. It does not list the flow rate.
What You'll Love
- Many finishes to match existing fixtures
- Lifetime limited warranty
- Simple, familiar design
Worth Considering
- Flow rate not published
- Vinyl hose
- Single spray pattern
RecPro RV Handheld Shower Head (RP-1923)
Best budget multi-sprayRecPro's RP-1923 gives you five spray settings and an on/off push switch. It is the only pick here at the full 2.5 gallons per minute, which suits RVs that spend most of their time on campground water.
RecPro lists a 5-foot aluminum hose and a plastic head with rubber nozzles. It does not say whether the switch is a full shut-off or a trickle.
What You'll Love
- Five spray settings
- Low price
- Higher flow for hookups
Worth Considering
- Uses the most water of our picks
- Plastic head
- Warranty not listed
Also consider: the Camco RV/Marine Shower Head (model 43746, brushed nickel, head only). Camco lists five spray patterns, including a pause/off setting, and says the on/off switch lets you pause the flow to save water. Camco does not publish the flow rate.
RV Shower Heads Compared
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Shower head | Flow | Settings | Pause or shut-off | Hose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxygenics BodySpa RV | 1.8 GPM | 2 | SmartPause trickle | 60 in |
| Oxygenics Fury RV | 1.8 GPM | 5 | Flow control lever | 72 in |
| Oxygenics BodySpa Adventure | 1.8 GPM | 3 | SmartPause trickle | 72 in |
| Oxygenics Voyage RV | 1.8 GPM | 4 | SmartPause trickle | 72 in |
| High Sierra Classic Handheld | 1.25 to 2.5 GPM (choose 1.5 or 1.25 for WaterSense) | 1 | Trickle valve | Sold separately |
| Dura Faucet DF-SA130 | Not listed | 1 | Trickle switch | 60 in vinyl |
| RecPro RP-1923 | 2.5 GPM | 5 | On/off switch | 5 ft aluminum |
RV Shower Water Calculator
How far will your fresh tank go?
Pick your shower head's flow rate and how you shower. The calculator works out the water used per shower and how many showers your tank allows.
This uses the rated flow, which is the most a head uses. Real flow is often lower on a pump. Time on pause or trickle is not counted, and dishes, cooking and the toilet use tank water too.
RV shower water calculator by Restful RVrestfulrv.com
At 1.8 gallons per minute, a 5-minute shower uses about 9 gallons. Cutting the flow while you lather is the easiest way to stretch that further, which is why most RV shower heads have a pause button.
What the Flow Rate Numbers Mean
Shower heads are rated in gallons per minute (GPM). The US Department of Energy caps every shower head sold in the US at 2.5 GPM, measured at 80 psi. The EPA's WaterSense label goes further: certified models use no more than 2.0 GPM and must still meet spray performance tests.
- 2.5 GPM: the legal maximum. Fine on campground water, but it drains a fresh tank fastest.
- 1.8 GPM: what Oxygenics lists for its RV models. A common middle ground.
- 1.5 or 1.25 GPM: High Sierra's WaterSense options, the lowest flow among our picks.
A rated flow is the most a head will use at a set pressure. On an RV water pump, real flow is often lower. Oxygenics says removing a head's flow restrictor voids its warranty, so it won't fix low pressure.
Trickle Valve vs Full Shut-Off
Most RV shower heads let you stop or slow the water while you soap up. They work in two different ways:
- Trickle valves cut the flow to a thin stream instead of stopping it. Oxygenics says its SmartPause isn't a shut-off valve, and High Sierra says its valve reduces flow to a small trickle. RecPro says the benefit of stopping the flow this way is that the temperature stays where you set it.
- On/off switches stop the spray from the head. Camco says its switch lets you pause the flow to conserve potable water. Makers do not always say whether a switch is a true shut-off, so check the listing if that matters to you.
Either way, the water you save comes from the minutes you would otherwise spend lathering with the water running.
If your RV has a tankless water heater, a trickle setting can drop the flow below the heater's minimum, so the burner shuts off and the water comes back cold. Our RV tankless water heater guide explains minimum flow.
Fixing Low Shower Pressure in an RV
A weak shower usually comes from the water supply, not the head. Check these first:
- On the fresh tank, your pump sets the pressure. A worn or undersized pump gives a weak spray. See our guide to the best RV water pump for how to check and upgrade it.
- On campground water, a pressure regulator protects your plumbing, but a clogged or low-set one can weaken your shower. See our RV water pressure regulator guide.
- Mineral buildup in the head or a clogged inline filter can also cut the flow.
- A partly closed valve on the water heater or a winterizing bypass left in the wrong position can starve the shower.
Oxygenics says its BodySpa setting amplifies existing water pressure, but no shower head can add pressure the system does not have.
How to Replace an RV Shower Head
Swapping an RV shower head takes a few minutes and usually no tools. Keystone RV's owner guide and the Oxygenics BodySpa RV instructions cover the same basic steps:
- Turn off the water pump or the city water connection, and open the shower to release pressure.
- Unscrew the old hose from the shower wall fitting and the old head from the hose.
- Check that the washers are in place and in good shape.
- Wrap thread tape on the threads if your new head's instructions call for it.
- Thread the new hose and head on by hand. Oxygenics says to hand-tighten only.
- Feed the hose through the wall holder or anchor, turn the water back on, and check for leaks.
Makers disagree on thread tape. Oxygenics' BodySpa instructions list plumber's tape as optional, at 2 to 3 turns, while High Sierra says tape is not needed on its heads because of their rubber seals. Follow the instructions that come with your head. High Sierra lists its connection as a standard 1/2 inch shower thread.
Cleaning Mineral Buildup
Hard campground water leaves scale in the spray holes, which weakens the spray over time. RecPro suggests soaking the head in white vinegar, which it says removes residue without damaging the sprayer seals. Rinse it well afterward and run water through it before your next shower. Oxygenics and High Sierra both say their nozzles or inserts resist buildup, and Oxygenics' warranty covers clogging.
Quick Answers
What is the best RV shower head?
For most RVers, the Oxygenics BodySpa RV is the easiest upgrade, with a 1.8 GPM flow, a SmartPause button, and a 60-inch hose. The Oxygenics Fury RV adds five spray settings, and the High Sierra handheld can be ordered as low as 1.25 GPM.
Can you use a regular shower head in an RV?
Often, yes. High Sierra uses the standard 1/2-inch shower thread for its heads, so many household heads will thread on. RV heads add a pause button and lower flow, which suit a fresh tank and a small pump.
How much water does an RV shower use?
It depends on the flow rate and time. At 1.8 gallons per minute, 5 minutes of running water uses about 9 gallons. Pausing the flow while you lather cuts that further.
What does the button on an RV shower head do?
It pauses or slows the water while you soap up. Some, like Oxygenics SmartPause, reduce the flow to a trickle instead of stopping it, which keeps the water temperature steady.
Why is my RV shower pressure so low?
Check the tank water pump, the campground water pressure regulator, a clogged filter, mineral buildup in the head, and any partially closed valves. The shower head is rarely the only cause.
Do RV shower heads need plumber's tape?
It depends on the head. Oxygenics' BodySpa instructions list plumber's tape as optional, at 2 to 3 turns, while High Sierra says its heads do not need tape because of their rubber seals.
Where to Go Next
Working on your RV's water system? Start with the best RV water pump for stronger tank pressure, an RV water pressure regulator for campground hookups, and an RV water filter for cleaner water. If you are replacing fixtures too, see our guide to the best RV kitchen faucet.