13 Simple Tips to Save Water in the Shower

Saving water in the shower is easier than you think. Small changes can cut gallons of water, lower your bills, and help the environment. 

From quick showers to smart tools like low-flow showerheads, simple habits make a big difference. Read on to discover 13 practical tips that will save water every time you shower.

• Keep Showers Short: Limit your shower to five minutes or less to save gallons of water.
  
  

• Use Water-Saving Tools: Install a low-flow showerhead or timer to reduce water without sacrificing comfort.
  
  

• Pause and Reuse: Turn off water while soaping and collect leftover water for plants or cleaning.
  
  

• Make Smart Choices: Opt for showers over baths and skip unnecessary showers to conserve water.
  
  

• Build Good Habits: Teach kids efficient shower routines and track your habits to stay mindful and motivated.

Showers are one of the biggest water users in our homes. The Residential End Uses of Water Study found that the average American shower uses about 15.8 gallons over 7.8 minutes, which is roughly 2.1 gallons per minute. 

Cutting your shower from 10 minutes to just 5 can halve that water use, making it the simplest and most cost-effective way to conserve water, according to the Portland Water Bureau. 

Shorter showers don’t just save water, they also have a measurable environmental impact. The United Nations Foundation reports that limiting showers to five minutes for a year could save around 45 gallons weekly and reduce carbon emissions equivalent to what half an acre of U.S. forest absorbs annually. 

Many regions and institutions, from Bogotá’s #DUCHAllenge to U.S. universities like Michigan State, have successfully encouraged shorter showers, showing that small changes can create big results. 

Simple actions, like mindful shower timing or using low-flow fixtures, make a meaningful difference for both your water bill and the planet.

Installing a low-flow showerhead is one of the simplest ways to save water without sacrificing water pressure. 

The United Nations Environmental Protection Agency highlights that an average family could save up to 2,700 gallons of water per year with WaterSense-labeled showerheads, which also reduces energy use, saving over 330 kWh annually, enough to power a home for 11 days. 

Typical low-flow showerheads operate between 1.25 to 2.5 gallons per minute, compared to conventional models that push 2.5 GPM, offering a balance between comfort and efficiency. 

Water Wise reports that a family of four could save around £210 annually on water and energy bills while cutting water use by more than 32,000 liters, roughly 100 baths per person. 

Beyond financial savings, studies in the Journal of Water show that using efficient showerheads in Hong Kong reduced water consumption by 37%, energy use by 25%, and CO2 emissions by 26%. 

Swapping your showerhead is an easy, impactful step toward saving water, energy, and money while benefiting the environment.

Turning off the shower while lathering prevents water waste. Most people leave it running, wasting several gallons per shower. 

Pausing the water can save hundreds of gallons each month and lower your water bill. Use a reminder note or a mental cue to make it a habit. 

Pairing this with a low-flow showerhead increases savings and promotes mindful daily routines.

A shower timer tracks how long you spend in the shower, helping reduce water use. Cutting just a few minutes can save up to 10 gallons per shower. 

For best results, aim for showers under five minutes. Use alarms or family challenges to make timed showers a habit.

Waiting for the shower to warm can waste 2–3 gallons of water per minute. Placing a bucket under the shower lets you collect this water for plants, toilets, or cleaning. Shower water is generally safe for these non-drinking uses.

Leaking showers waste water daily. Detect leaks by observing drips, listening for running water when off, or checking the water meter. 

Common causes include worn washers, faulty showerheads, or loose connections. Even slow leaks can waste 5–10 gallons daily. 

Simple leaks can be fixed at home; persistent or hidden leaks require a plumber. Regularly checking showerheads and connections prevents waste, saves money, and avoids damage.

Showers are a daily routine, but they can waste a surprising amount of water and energy. The average shower lasts about eight minutes, using roughly 16 gallons of water each time. 

Across the U.S., this adds up to over a trillion gallons every year! Heating all that water also consumes a lot of energy, which affects both your electricity bill and the environment. 

One simple way to save is by collecting leftover shower water. If you reuse just half of your shower water for purposes like watering plants, you could save around 3,000 gallons per year. 

This water is generally safe for non-edible outdoor plants like shrubs and trees, as well as humidity-loving indoor plants like ferns, pothos, and Fiddle Leaf Figs, just avoid using it on edible crops or sensitive plants. 

Beyond conserving water, reusing greywater reduces energy use, lowers utility costs, and eases pressure on local water systems. Small habits in the shower can make a big difference for your wallet and the planet.

Showers are a surprisingly big part of our daily water use, accounting for around 17–24% of indoor water consumption. 

A standard 10-minute shower can use up to 150 liters (about 39 gallons) of water, while a shorter 5-minute shower halves that amount. 

Skipping a shower entirely or cutting a few minutes off can save thousands of gallons of water each year, while also reducing the energy needed to heat it. 

Even small changes, like turning off the water while soaping up, installing a low-flow or Water Sense-labeled showerhead, or showering every other day, make a noticeable difference. 

Beyond water savings, these habits also lower energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint, helping combat climate change. 

Studies show that when people receive reminders or track their shower time, water use can drop by 25% or more. 

By taking shorter or fewer showers, you conserve a valuable resource, save money, and contribute to a healthier environment, all without drastically changing your daily routine.

Choosing showers over baths can save a surprising amount of water, energy, and even money. 

While a typical bathtub can use 100 to 200 liters of water, or even more in larger tubs, a standard five-minute shower usually consumes just 40 to 60 liters. 

Shorter showers and water-efficient showerheads can further reduce usage, making a six-minute low-flow shower save roughly three gallons compared to a half-filled bath. 

Over time, just a few showers can equal the water saved from skipping a single bath. Beyond water savings, reducing hot water use also cuts energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, benefiting both your wallet and the planet. 

The Australian Government highlights that using water-efficient taps, showerheads, and appliances can significantly lower your household’s environmental impact without changing your daily routine. 

By swapping long baths for quick, mindful showers, you not only conserve precious resources but also enjoy guilt-free indulgence when you occasionally soak in the tub.

Teaching kids to save water early helps form lifelong habits. Children as young as four or five can learn simple routines, like turning off the tap while soaping. 

Parents can make it fun with games or visual charts. Easy habits include quick rinses, using a cup for washing, or timing showers. 

Encouragement and involvement in daily routines teach responsibility and create a family culture of water conservation.

One of the simplest ways to save water during showers is the Navy Shower method, created by the U.S. Navy. 

It’s surprisingly effective: wet yourself for 30 seconds, turn off the water while you lather, then rinse quickly. 

While a standard 8-minute shower uses around 20 gallons, a Navy Shower can use as little as 3 gallons, cutting water use by up to 95%! 

Beyond saving water, this method also reduces energy consumption since less hot water is needed, lowering both utility bills and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Studies show that shorter, efficient showers can save several kilowatt-hours per person per day and reduce household energy costs by hundreds of dollars annually. 

Using less water also means less strain on treatment systems and helps mitigate water scarcity. 

Adopting simple habits like the Navy Shower not only benefits the environment but also encourages mindful, responsible water use at home.

Did you know that leaving the water running while brushing your teeth or shaving can waste about two gallons every minute? 

The Sacramento Suburban Water District notes that installing a low-flow aerator on your faucet could save over 140 gallons a month. 

Small changes in shower habits can also have a huge impact, if everyone cut their shower time by just one minute, we could save 12 billion liters of water annually, enough to fill Optus Stadium 12 times! 

Environmental experts recommend using low-flow shower heads, which reduce water usage from 10–15 liters per minute to around 6 liters, and aerated shower heads can maintain pressure while conserving water. 

Studies from the UK and elsewhere show that real-time eco-feedback, smart meters, and awareness campaigns can shorten showers by over a minute and save liters of water per session. 

By being mindful and reducing unnecessary water use, every small step adds up to a big difference for the planet.

Track your showers to see how much water you use and motivate better habits. Note the duration of each shower using a timer or app. 

Logging every shower reveals patterns, helps set realistic goals, and shows progress. You can calculate potential water savings and stay accountable, turning showers into a small eco-friendly challenge.

Showers are a daily necessity, whether to wake up, relax, or cool off, but they also account for a surprising amount of water and energy use. 

The average shower lasts about eight minutes, using over 16 gallons of water, and across the U.S., showers consume more than one trillion gallons annually. 

Cutting down shower time or using Water Sense–labeled showerheads can save both water and energy, lowering utility bills and reducing the carbon footprint. 

Less water use also eases pressure on treatment facilities and helps protect lakes, rivers, and recreational areas from seasonal shortages. 

The Journal of Environmental Management highlights that retrofitting homes with water-efficient fixtures led 65.5% of participants to change their habits and 76.6% to see lower water bills. 

Experts agree that simple actions, like shorter showers and fixing leaks, not only conserve water but also ensure sustainable supplies for the future. Every small step makes a real difference for both your household and the environment.

Showers are one of the largest contributors to household water use, accounting for roughly 30–40% of daily consumption. 

On average, an American shower uses about 15.8 gallons (60 liters) over 7–8 minutes, with standard showerheads flowing at around 2.1 gallons per minute. 

Older or high-pressure models can use more than double that, while low-flow or WaterSense-labeled showerheads reduce usage to 2 gallons per minute or less without sacrificing comfort. 

Shortening your shower by even a few minutes can save significant water and energy, and tools like shower timers or on-off switches while lathering can further reduce waste. 

Low-flow technologies such as aeration, laminar flow, and flow restrictors help maintain a satisfying shower experience while conserving water. 

Considering how much we rely on showers daily, switching to a water-efficient model and being mindful of duration not only lowers bills but also supports environmental sustainability. Even small changes can make a big difference over time.

Using a bucket to collect unused water during a shower is a simple yet powerful way to cut down on waste. A standard showerhead releases about 9 liters (2.4 gallons) per minute, so a 10-minute shower can use around 90 liters (24 gallons), much of which runs straight down the drain, especially while waiting for the water to heat up. By placing a bucket in the shower, this otherwise wasted water can be collected and reused for tasks like watering plants, cleaning, or flushing the toilet. In fact, a bucket bath often uses just 20 liters (5 gallons), saving up to 75% compared to a regular shower. Beyond personal savings, reducing water waste has environmental benefits, conserving resources, lowering bills, and helping build sustainable habits. Research in the Journal of Environmental Management also highlights that greywater from showers can serve as a valuable resource, accounting for over half of household water use. Communities further encourage bucket collection through workshops, pledges, and campaigns, making conservation both practical and collaborative. Small changes like this ensure every drop counts.

A Navy shower conserves water by briefly running it to get wet, shutting it off to lather, then turning it back on to rinse. This method reduces usage from about 20 gallons in a standard shower to roughly 3 gallons, also saving heating energy.