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Shower Cost Calculator

Created by Piotr Małek
Reviewed by Steven Wooding and Jack Bowater
Last updated: Jan 31, 2024


Our shower cost calculator is an excellent tool if you've ever wondered: "How many gallons of water does a shower use?" Who doesn't love taking long, hot showers? Hardly anyone, we'd guess. However, despite being a fantastic way to relax after (or ahead of) a long day, taking a long shower also means using up a tremendous amount of water and energy (to heat it) as well as increasing your average price of water bill. We're not going to explore the environmental effects here, but they're certainly not very positive either.

According to statistics, showers are the third largest use of water in a household, after toilets and washing machines (and the latter sometimes get overtaken by showers, too). We believe the first step to limiting our water consumption is awareness, and this is exactly what this tool was designed to spread.

We based the calculations on the most popular electricity-powered water heaters and ran the equations around our office. Most people were surprised by how much a 10-minute shower costs. Will they limit their shower time or choose to shower less frequently? We should hope so.

💡 Also, check our electricity cost calculator!

How much does a shower cost?

Now, let's return to predicting average shower water consumption with our shower cost calculator. To give you the most accurate estimation, we will need several pieces of information from you. First of all, we need to know:

  • How many people live in your household, how many showers they take on average, and what's the average duration of each.

  • Based on your location, we'll try to grab the latest water price and cost of energy in your area and will use them to calculate the average price of your water bill.

  • The last thing to consider is the shower flow rate, or the amount of water that's pushed through your shower head every minute. This will allow us to calculate how much water the shower uses. We set a default value already, but feel free to edit it depending on your shower head; it should be on the box.

  • However, if you're unaware of this metric, you're probably good to go with what we set unless you shower with some super-efficient or ancient technology.

Based on these numbers, the tool will calculate the average consumption of shower water in your household. And knowing the 1,000 gallons of water price, we can tell you how much a shower costs you and what average water bill price you can expect per month or year.

How much does a 10 minute shower cost? Example of using the shower cost calculator

Let's test our shower cost calculator with a practical example. Suppose you live alone and take a 10-minute hot shower to relax after a long day. To calculate its cost using our tool:

  1. Enter the number 1 in the "People in household" field.

  2. Select the shower duration as 10 minutes and set the number of showers per day as 1 for now.

  3. Determine the 1,000 gallons of water price in your area; you can check it on your water bill or supplier's website. Let's assume that treated water costs you $3.5 per 1,000 gallons.

  4. Set your shower flow rate. In this example, we will leave the default value: 2.08696 gallons per minute. Now, the calculator will tell you how many gallons of water a shower uses in 10 minutes.

  5. Enter the price of kWh electricity, e.g. $0.17 per kWh.

  6. And there we got it, let's take a look at the result! The single, 10-minute long shower will cost you $0.46 or $168.93 if you repeat it daily for a full year.

  7. Don't forget that these are sample calculations for one person and 10 minutes for showering only 1 time a day. Play around with our shower cost calculator to count what the real average shower water consumption in your home will be. There are countless options, and this shower cost calculator will update automatically with every change.

💡 On top of water and energy costs, you may also have to pay for sewage; the exact amount will depend on the total water used. This tool doesn't consider this factor because of the difficulty in calculating the costs around the world. Keep it in mind, though, as it will make every minute of your shower even more expensive!

How to reduce average shower water consumption?

Sounds like a lot of money? We can offer you some fun with numbers and a few pro tips on how to reduce your average water consumption:

  • Lower the shower duration by just a minute and see how it affects the results;

  • Investigate some water-saving shower heads and see how they would affect your spending;

  • You might consider limiting your washes to just one per day;

  • Brush your teeth at the sink, not in the shower; and

  • Collect cold water from the shower into a bucket and use it to water your plants.

Explanation of a submarine shower. Wet for 10 seconds. Water off. Soap and scrub. Rinse for 10 seconds.
Credit: Jono Hey - Source

See our bath vs. shower water usage calculator to learn how you can save water by choosing one over the other.

FAQ

How much water does a shower use?

Assuming that the average U.S. shower has flow rate of 2.1 gallons per minute (7.9 liters per minute), and a shower lasts an average of 8.2 minutes, it uses 17.2 gallons (65.1 liters) of water. Exact calculations depend on shower duration and type of your shower head.

How can I calculate the cost of a shower?

To easily calculate the total cost of your shower:

  1. Determine the duration of your shower and how many times you shower during the day.

  2. Find the flow rate through your showerhead.

  3. Multiply the total shower time by the flow rate to get the total amount of water.

  4. Check the water price and energy costs in your area.

Is 10 liters of water enough for a shower?

Yes, using 10 liters of water at a flow rate of 2.1 gallons per minute, you can shower for 1.2 minutes. Admittedly, it's not much, but if you're in a hurry or protecting the environment, it may be enough for a quick refresh. However, on average, it is recommended to use about 20-30 liters of water for a basic shower or bath.

Is it cheaper to have a shower or bath?

In general, taking a shower uses less hot water and will save more money than soaking in a bathtub, but it can vary. Pay attention to how the water is heated. For most bathtubs and standard mixer showers, the water is heated by a gas boiler. If the water is heated by electricity, the heating costs increase because electricity is more expensive than gas.

Piotr Małek
People in household
👪
Avg shower duration
min
Showers per person
/day
Water price
$/
1k US gal
Total water used
l
/day
Energy price
$/kWh
Shower flow rate
US gal
/min
Single shower cost
$
Total shower cost
$/
yr
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