Double Showers: Are They Worth It and How Do You Plan One?

The term covers two setups, and they suit different households.

Two-person double shower
Two separate shower outlets in one enclosure, each usually with its own mixer, so two people can shower at once at their own temperatures. It suits couples who get ready at the same time, and larger ensuites where the shower is a feature. It needs more space, more hot water capacity and more plumbing than a single shower.

Twin shower
An overhead shower and a hand shower that share one mixer, with a diverter to switch between them. It gives one person the choice of a wide overhead spray or a hand shower for rinsing, washing children or cleaning the shower. A twin shower fits in a standard shower recess and is a much simpler upgrade.
A two-person shower is worth it when you'll regularly use both outlets together. If you mainly want flexibility for one person, a twin shower delivers most of the benefit at a fraction of the plumbing work.

The right layout depends on your bathroom's shape and how the two outlets will be used.

• Side by side on one wall: two shower heads along the back wall of a wide shower. This is the simplest to plumb, because both outlets share one wall. Leave enough space between them so each person has their own spray zone.
• Opposite walls: outlets on facing walls, so two people can shower without sharing spray. This suits long, narrow walk-in showers, but needs plumbing on two walls.
• Overhead plus wall shower: a ceiling or overhead rain shower combined with a wall-mounted or rail hand shower. This suits one person who wants both spray types, or two people sharing more casually.
• Walk-in double shower: an open, screen-light layout with a generous floor area. Our walk-in showers guide covers splash zones and screen options.

Whatever the layout, place each mixer where it can be reached before stepping under the water. Make sure the shower is wide enough for two people to move comfortably, and talk to your designer or builder about the dimensions for your space.

A two-person double shower can roughly double the water flowing at once, so your hot water system and water pressure need to keep up.

The Plumbing Code of Australia limits showerheads in new developments to a flow rate of no more than 9 litres per minute, which is a 3-star WELS rating. A 4-star showerhead flows at 7.5 litres per minute or less. With two 9 L/min showerheads running together, you could be drawing up to 18 litres of mixed water a minute, before anyone turns on a tap.

Rinnai advises sizing a continuous-flow hot water system for the number of showers and outlets that may run at once, and warns that an undersized unit can restrict flow when several are used together. If you have a storage system, two showers running together also empty the tank faster. Ask your plumber to check your hot water system and water pressure before committing to two outlets.

Check the WELS label on every shower head and twin set. Ratings vary: some twin shower sets combine a 3-star overhead shower with a 4-star hand shower, while others carry lower ratings. Choosing 4-star heads is an easy way to reduce the combined flow.

For a two-person double shower, choose two matching outlets and, ideally, two mixers so each person controls their own temperature. Pair rain showers, ceiling showers or wall shower heads in the same finish, and browse our double shower heads for combinations.

For a twin shower, choose a set with a built-in diverter. Two examples from brands we stock:

• Nero Round Twin Shower: pairs a 3-star (9 L/min) overhead shower with a 4-star (7.5 L/min) hand shower on an adjustable rail, with a built-in diverter and top water inlet.
• Meir Round combination shower rail: has a universal water inlet that can be connected from the top or bottom, so it suits both new builds and existing homes. A twist of the built-in diverter switches between a 300 mm overhead rose and the hand shower.

You can compare more options in our twin showers collection, and by brand in our Nero, Meir, Phoenix and Caroma shower ranges. Choose a matching shower mixer in the same finish to complete the set.

A double shower puts more water on the floor and more steam in the air, so plan these details early.

Drainage. More water means the floor waste or linear drain needs to cope with the combined flow, and the floor must fall correctly towards it. Our guide to choosing the right shower drainage explains the options. Have your plumber confirm the drain suits two outlets.

Ventilation. Two showers running together create more steam. Size your exhaust fan for the room, using our bathroom exhaust fan sizing guide.

Storage. Give each person their own space for products. A long shower niche between two outlets, or one niche per person, keeps the shower floor clear.

Installation. All shower plumbing must be done by a licensed plumber, and waterproofing must be completed to Australian standards before tiling.

When you're ready to choose outlets and mixers, browse our twin showers and double shower heads, or shop the look below.