Can you save water by showering instead of bathing?

Author: Orpha Shanahan  |  Last update: Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Taking a bath uses over 70 gallons of water. If monitored properly, a quick shower will use much less water. A shower uses about 6 gallons of water per minute. A 10-minute shower will limit the water consumption to about 60 gallons per wash.

Do you save water having a bath or shower?

Unfortunately, unless you're taking 20-minute showers—more on that later—baths just can't measure up in terms of water usage. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, while taking a five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons.

Is it OK to replace a bath with a shower?

Yes, replacing a bathtub with a shower can be a good idea if you're seeking to save space, increase accessibility, or update the look of your bathroom. It's especially beneficial for those who prefer showers over baths or need a more accessible bathroom solution.

What saves more water, a shower or a bath?

Generally, taking a shower uses less water than a full bath. A standard showerhead flows at a rate of 2.5 gallons per minute . This means that a ten-minute shower only uses 25 gallons of water. A full bath can use up to 50 gallons of water .

Can you minimize your water consumption by taking showers instead of baths?

Final answer: Taking showers instead of baths is a more efficient way to minimize water consumption. Showers generally use less water, especially when taking shorter showers. Implementing low-flow shower heads can further enhance water savings.

Tap water baths vs. Showers: Which is better?

How long of a shower is equal to a bath?

An ordinary electrically heated shower puts out four litres per minute. So a 19-minute shower is just more than a bath. If you have a power shower, flow rates could be doubled and you'd need just 10 minutes.

Why should we take showers instead of baths?

They're better for the environment. Showers are often be better for the environment by using less water than the average bath. While a bath can hold up to 80 litres, a typical eight minute electric shower will use 62 litres. And for those of us who spend less than five minutes in the shower, it's under 40 litres!

How many litres is a 20 minute shower?

The shower

A water-efficient showerhead uses approximately 9 litres per minute. An older style showerhead uses approximately 19 litres per minute - that's 10 litres more!

Does showering together actually save water?

The average shower in the U.S. uses 20 gallons of water. But what if two people could shower using the same amount of water? They'd significantly cut down on their overall water usage. Sure, doing so would take some concerted effort, but having the right shower head can help.

Why are people getting rid of bathtubs?

According to a recent survey, only 23 percent of homeowners actually use their bathtubs on a regular basis. This means that the vast majority of bathrooms have tubs that just take up space. If you aren't using your bathtub, you can have it removed and give yourself a bigger and more comfortable bathroom.

Why are people replacing baths with showers?

Homeowners are using bathtubs less and wanting a fresh look and style when remodeling. They feel these showers are convenient and provide additional safety. “I think it's easier just to jump in the shower real quick and jump out,” Fielden said.

Can I turn my shower into a bath?

There are numerous styles of bathtubs you can choose from for your shower to bathtub conversion. Options include, but aren't limited to, freestanding tubs, alcove tubs (where the tub is surrounded by three walls), corner bathtubs, and soaking tubs for those who love a deep bath.

How long should I shower to save water?

Spend less time in the shower

To save water in the shower, aim to get your shower time down to 4 minutes or less. Use a shower timer or your favourite 4-minute song to time your showers.

Do you save more money taking a bath or shower?

Showering daily would come to $64.54 per year per person and using the bath daily would be $195.68 per year per person, approximately three times more expensive.

Do baths increase the water bill?

Take short showers rather than a bath or reduce the number of baths you take each month. A four minute shower uses about 8 gallons of water, while a full bath uses about 50 gallons of water. If you bathe, fill bathtub ½ full. You can save 18 to 25 gallons per bath.

Is a 20 minute shower too long?

Most dermatologists say that your shower should last between five and 10 minutes to cleanse and hydrate your skin, but no longer than 15 minutes to avoid drying it out. You can still benefit from the shower length you prefer, whether long and luxurious, quick and efficient or somewhere in the middle.

How often do married couples shower together?

In fact, over 70% of you never shower together. There are plenty of reasons you might feel showering together isn't feasible. But with 29% of couples showering together at least once a week (and many who swear by it!), you could be overlooking some of the marriage-changing benefits of this activity.

What is the average shower time for a woman?

Adeyeye et al. (2020) discussed that, in a two-week study with 12 volunteers, women spent more time in the shower compared with men. The average time for women was 11 min, and 9.5 min for men. ...

How long should you shower for to save money?

4 minutes is the shower running time you are aiming for. So, pausing the water flow in your shower to shampoo your hair, or apply conditioner, may help you hit that target time.

How many litres does a toilet flush use?

choosing a water-saving, low-flush or dual-flush version when buying a new toilet - low flush toilets use six litres of water per flush compared to nine or more litres for other toilets.

How much does it cost to run a shower for 10 minutes?

Are electric showers expensive to run? Following our calculations based on a 10-minute shower, you can expect to spend 73p per electric shower and 40p per gas shower. Overall, it's cheaper to run a gas shower.

Is it cleaner to shower or bathe?

Next time you find yourself tossing and turning, consider running a bath instead. On the flip side, showers are known for being the cleaner method. They efficiently wash away dirt and grime, thanks to their steady streams of water.

Is it better for a woman to shower or bathe?

The short answer is, yes, in terms of your health and well-being a bath is better than a shower. Showers may be better at cleaning you than a bath can be, but that does not mean that a beautiful bath time isn't good for you too.

Do we really need to bath everyday?

While there is no ideal frequency, experts suggest that showering several times per week is plenty for most people (unless you are grimy, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often). Short showers (lasting three or four minutes) with a focus on the armpits and groin may suffice.

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