The Best Outdoor Showers Hook Right Up to Your Garden Hose
Turn your backyard into a beach house.
Published Jun 1, 2023 3:30 PM
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When we think of outdoor showers, our minds go straight to custom-built teak stalls situated on the lush lawns of coastal homes. In other words, it’s an amenity reserved for sprawling waterfront properties with ample access to backyard plumbing.
This preconceived notion was challenged, however, after we came across the Novogratz Rainey outdoor shower—which (drumroll) hooks right up to any old garden hose. Tickled by the concept, we took a deep dive into the best outdoor showers that don’t require an entire renovation project and acres of land to install. Some, like the Rainey, provide the whole kit and caboodle with a freestanding platform and frame. Others are sleek and minimal, possessing the nifty ability to stake right into the ground. We even found one with solar-heating capabilities for folks who prefer a hot alfresco shower.
Shop our favorites across a range of budgets, below.
Our Favorites
- Best overall: Novogratz Rainey Outdoor Shower
- Best portable: Excel Copper Outdoor Shower
- Best solar-heated: Bestway Solar-Heated Outdoor Shower
- Best design: Pottery Barn Malibu Metal Outdoor Shower
- Best hardwood: Wildon Home Noah Stainless-Steel Freestanding Outdoor Shower with Duckboard
- Best minimalist: Alain Gilles for ZEE Levantine Outdoor Shower
- Best wall-mounted: Almost Heaven Saunas Wall-Mounted Outdoor Shower and Footwash Spout
Best Overall: Novogratz Rainey Outdoor Shower
Style: Freestanding platform base / Dimensions: 80-by-35.4-by-40.1 inches / Weight: 29 pounds
What we like:
- Powder-coated finish
- Freestanding frame
- Slip-resistant base
Worth noting:
- Assembly required
- Shower bar is 2 feet wide
- 1-year limited warranty
From its cheerful sunshine-coated color to its unencumbered freestanding frame and 70% off price point, this outdoor shower had us charmed at first glance. After digging deeper, we found that reviewers echo our feelings on the product’s “cool design,” while also plugging the piece’s practicality and ease of setup. “Great solution for apartments or homes where you can’t build a proper outdoor shower! Water pressure is nonexistent but is also reliant on hose pressure. Overall it looks cool and does the job!” one writes.
Best Portable: Excel Copper Outdoor Shower
Style: Freestanding spiked base / Dimensions: 78.7 inches high / Weight: 5.2 pounds
What we like:
- Polished copper pipes and brass fittings
- Lightweight
- Spiked base
- 5-year warranty
Worth noting:
- Assembly required
- Materials patina over time
- Needs to be drained and stored in colder months
With an extremely lightweight frame and spike-style base, this sleek outdoor shower is the most portable design we’ve encountered. Crafted by a Danish design brand, we particularly love its elevated copper and brass fittings that will patina with use. It’s worth noting that the shower should be drained and stored out of the elements during colder months or when it’s not in use for extended periods of time.
Best Solar-Heated: Bestway Solar-Heated Outdoor Shower
Style: Freestanding metal base / Dimensions: 19.7-by-19.7-by-85.8 inches / Weight: 18.9 pounds
What we like:
- Solar-heating capabilities
- Sturdy base
Worth noting:
- Assembly required
- 2.1-, 5.2-, or 9.2-gallon reservoir options
Cold showers aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, so we were pleased to uncover this top-rated outdoor shower option with solar-heating capabilities. Boasting a simple yet sturdy frame crafted from durable, weather-resistant metal materials, the design is offered in three different water reservoir sizes. Shoppers tout it as easy to assemble, fairly priced, and well designed. “The solar heating feature is a real standout here, as it means you can have warm water without having to hook up any electricity or gas. It’s incredibly easy to set up and use, and the 9-gallon capacity is more than enough for a decent shower,” one reviewer raves.
Best Design: Pottery Barn Malibu Metal Outdoor Shower
Style: Freestanding marble base / Dimensions: 19.25-by-7-by-80.75 inches / Weight: 48.25 pounds
What we like:
- Crafted from steel, marble, and copper
- 1960s Arco lamp-inspired design
Worth noting:
- 9-inch showerhead diameter
- No warranty
Inspired by the 1960s Arco lamp, this one takes the cake for most design-forward outdoor shower. Its sleek cylindrical base is crafted from sturdy marble paired with a frame that’s fashioned out of steel.
Best Hardwood: Wildon Home Noah Freestanding Outdoor Shower
Style: Freestanding platform base / Dimensions: 94.5-by-31.5-by-32.75 inches / Weight: 41 pounds
What we like:
- Hardwood-slatted base and frame
- Rain-style showerhead
- Built-in shelves
Worth noting:
- 8-inch showerhead diameter
- Assembly required
- Hose included
A classic iteration of the quintessential beach house outdoor shower, minus the teak stall. This freestanding style features a hardwood base and frame, built-in shelving for storing all your bathing essentials, and a sleek stainless steel showerhead. Wayfair reviewers are fond of the wood’s quality, color, and finish—with one even going so far as to state that it appears “much more expensive” that its reasonable price might otherwise imply.
Best Minimalist: Alain Gilles for ZEE Levantine Outdoor Shower
Style: Freestanding steel base / Dimensions: 17.32-by-82.67 inches / Weight: 44 pounds
What we like:
- Made from sustainably sourced materials
- Low-profile frame
- Cone-shaped water stream
Worth noting:
- Limited 1-year warranty
- Assembly required
- Available in black and white
Brought to life by Belgium-based designer Alain Gilles, this outdoor shower is a modern minimalist’s fever dream. The architecturally inspired frame and base are both fashioned from UV-resistant, powder-coated galvanized steel tubes; the rubber-capped showerhead is built to provide an evenly dispersed cone-shaped water stream.
Best Wall-Mounted: Almost Heaven Saunas Outdoor Shower
Style: Wall-mounted frame / Dimensions: 48-by-19-by-10 inches / Weight: 25 pounds
What we like:
- Red cedar mounting board
- 3 different water settings
Worth noting:
- Includes mounting hardware
- Assembly required
If you’re lacking lawn square footage, this wall-mountable outdoor shower is the ticket. The design comes equipped with a red cedar wood mounting board, stainless steel hardware, and three different water functionalities: an overhead rain showerhead, hand wand, and foot-wash spout.
Outdoor Shower Accessories
Whether you need a good-looking garden hose, are dealing with a backyard that requires a bit more privacy, or your rustic bath lacks a platform base, we rustled up a few fitting accessories to support your budding outdoor shower setup.
