Double Shower Heads

What a double shower head is

A double shower head pairs a fixed overhead head with a handheld on one set. Double, dual, twin, 2 in 1, dual head shower and shower kit all mean the same thing, and this page covers all of them. The overhead gives a steady, rain-like wash, and the handheld gives a focused spray for rinsing hair, cleaning the shower and reaching awkward spots.

The reasons to want both are plain. The handheld helps with bath time for children and with rinsing, and it suits people with limited mobility who need an easier shower. The overhead gives the full-body wash. A set with both removes the choice between them. If you only want the handset, see hand held shower heads. If you want only a rain head, see rain showers. The full range sits in showers.

How one tap feeds two heads

Two heads do not mean two taps. The overhead and the handheld share one water outlet, and a diverter, a lever or knob on the wall elbow or arm, sends the flow to one head or, on some models, both. The mixer blends hot and cold before the water reaches the diverter, so both heads get the same temperature.

The type of diverter matters for pressure. A two-way diverter runs one head at a time and keeps pressure higher in each, while a three-way diverter allows both at once but each head feels weaker. The diverters on these sets switch between the overhead and the handset, so you use one at a time. That suits most homes, because the whole supply goes to the head you are using.

The types in this collection

Twin rail showers

This is the largest group. A twin rail set has an overhead rose on an arm at the top of a rail and a handset on a slider. The Caroma Urbane II rail shower has a 300 mm overhead and a handset on one system, with an integrated diverter and a slider so the handset height suits everyone in the house. It has a 400 mm arm reach, an overall height of 1115 mm and a fixing distance of 600 to 800 mm. The Nero Dolce II pairs a 250 mm metal overhead with a single-function handset on a 1.5 m hose, with a built-in top inlet diverter and an adjustable bottom bracket.

Compact sets

A compact set keeps the pair but shortens the rail, which suits a narrow recess or a smaller bathroom. The Caroma Contura II compact set has a 250 mm head and a rail with a slide, and the Phoenix Ormond compact set has a 250 mm overhead and a three-function handset. See compact twin showers for the full set.

Retrofit sets

A retrofit set is built to fit existing plumbing. The Fienza Kaya Retrofit twin slots into an existing recess without a full re-plumb, with a built-in diverter and a separate inlet. The Phoenix Cromford twin has a top water inlet that fits existing half inch plumbing, and the Ormond lists drill-free installation on existing half inch plumbing. The Meir combination rail has a universal inlet that can be connected at the top or the bottom.

Double hose and shower kits

Some sets, such as the Nero Astra and Celia, come as a kit with a separate diverter, a thread adapter and a handle holder in the box. The Astra has two hoses. See shower on rails for rail sets and shower heads with arm for single heads with their own arm.

Will it fit your existing plumbing?

Check three things before you choose. The first is the inlet. A top inlet connects where the current shower arm comes out of the wall, so the set can go onto existing half inch plumbing, and a bottom inlet needs the water to arrive from below. Meir's universal inlet covers both. The second is the fixing distance, the gap between the rail's wall fixings: 580 to 750 mm on the Dolce II, 600 to 800 mm on the Urbane II, 750 to 850 mm on the Kaya Retrofit and 580 to 680 mm on the Serenity twin, for example. An adjustable bottom pillar or bracket, as on the Cromford, the Riviere and the Dolce II, lets the lower fixing move to match old holes.

The third is wall width. Check that you have at least 600 mm of wall for a rail and that the mixer is compatible. A 200 x 200 mm backing plate can cover minor old fixture holes. There are three install styles. Surface-mounted sets go on existing outlets, for quick retrofits. Built-in sets conceal the pipes behind the wall, for full renovations. Ceiling-mounted sets need in-ceiling plumbing and careful waterproofing. For ceiling options, see ceiling showers.

Water pressure, flow and hot water

Pressure is the limit. Splitting flow between two heads makes each feel softer, so low pressure is the main limitation. Galvanised pipes, upper-storey bathrooms and long pipe runs often have lower pressure, so test the shower at peak times, then check with a licensed plumber before you buy.

Hot water matters if both heads run together. Two heads at once draw hot water about twice as fast, so an undersized hot water system may not keep up. With a diverter that runs one head at a time, this does not arise.

How much space do you need?

Space is the other limit. Allow about 1000 x 1000 mm as the minimum for a single user and from about 1600 x 900 mm for two people. Showers smaller than about 900 x 900 mm may suit a single handheld better, which is the case for a compact twin shower rather than a full rail set.

Position matters as much as size. Centre the rain head about 500 mm from the back wall, and offset the rail about 300 mm to the side to reduce hose tangles. For heights, the rain head sits at 2100 to 2300 mm from the floor, the bottom of the rail at 950 to 1100 mm, the top at 1600 to 1800 mm, and the mixer at about 1100 mm. A fixed head outlet sits at 2000 to 2100 mm and the top of a rail at 1800 to 1900 mm, which is 100 to 200 mm apart from the rain head figure. Pick the figure that gives the tallest person in the house 15 to 20 cm above their head, and confirm it at rough-in, before tiling.

Is a double shower head right for you?

The call comes down to your pressure and your recess. If your pressure is mains and your recess is wide enough for a rail, a twin set is worth it. If the pressure is low, choose a smaller overhead, or a handset on a rail, and see shower on rails. If the shower is narrow, take a compact set.

Hose, rail and daily use

Hose lengths vary. The Dolce II, the Kaya and the Serenity twin have 1.5 m hoses, and 1500 to 2000 mm is the usual range. The Kaya uses a stainless steel hose, the Dolce II and the Serenity use PVC, and the Riviere uses a smooth metal-style hose that is easy to clean. The Kaya's rail is 19 mm stainless steel and brass, with a slider so the handset can move to suit different heights.

When a part is not in the box, assume it is not in the box and buy it with the rest so the finish matches. The mixer is a separate purchase; see shower mixers, and shower arms if you need an arm.

Finishes, materials and care

Sets here are brass or stainless steel, in finishes from chrome to brushed nickel, brass, bronze, gun metal, matte black and champagne. Many are PVD, a coating that is more durable than standard electroplating. The Nero Zen twin is made from 316L stainless steel, and the Zen range suits coastal areas. Brushed finishes hide water marks better than high-polish chrome, and stainless steel or brass parts are more durable.

For care, use a soft microfibre cloth and warm soapy water, wipe dry after use, and choose non-abrasive cleaners, as matte finishes scratch more easily. Rinse the shower walls and floor after the last shower of the day to limit soap scum and mould. For finish-led browsing, see chrome showers, brushed nickel showers, black showers, gunmetal showers, bronze showers, gold showers and white showers. By brand, see Caroma showers, Phoenix showers, Nero Tapware showers, Fienza showers and Meir showers.

Installing a double shower

A licensed tradesperson should install a twin set. A rail that goes onto an existing top inlet is the simple job, and a bottom inlet, a new outlet position or a built-in set is not. Panel heads need two holes drilled in the wall and a professional installer. Rules on what an owner may do themselves differ by state, and other water supply plumbing work must be done by a licensed plumber. If the wall is open, book the plumber before the tiler, and tell them the height of both outlets.

How to choose your twin shower

1. Check your pressure with the bucket test, and choose a smaller overhead if it is low.
2. Measure the shower recess: a wide recess takes a full rail set, a narrow one a compact set.
3. Check the inlet and the fixing distance against your existing wall, or choose a retrofit set.
4. Choose the overhead size and the handset functions you will use.
5. Check the flow rating of both outlets, and your hot water system if it is instantaneous gas.
6. Check the box for the arm, the hose and the valve, and buy the mixer separately if you need one.
7. Pick a finish that matches the mixer, and book a licensed plumber.

The recess width and the water pressure rule out most sets, so measure the one and run the bucket test for the other before you compare finishes. For help with heights across the whole range, see showers.