Shower Water Usage Calculator
How much water do your showers use per week and per year? Duration × flow rate, with yearly total in m³.
Result
Water per shower (L)
72
Water per week (L)
504
Water per year (m³)
26.2
How it works
A shower’s water use is simply duration times flow rate. A standard shower head delivers about 9 litres per minute, low-flow models around 6, and generous rain showers 12 or more. An 8-minute shower at the standard rate uses roughly 72 litres. Daily showers at that rate add up to about 26 m³ per year — a small swimming pool through the bathroom drain. To measure your own flow, run the shower into a bucket for 10 seconds and multiply the litres collected by six. The hidden cost is energy: most of that water is heated, and water heating is typically one of the largest energy uses at home. Shorter showers, a low-flow head and a slightly cooler setting cut water and energy at the same time — the head swap alone saves about a third.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I measure my shower’s flow rate?
Run it into a bucket for exactly 10 seconds, measure the litres collected and multiply by 6. Around 9 L/min is standard; above 12 is high.
Which uses more water, a bath or a shower?
A full bath takes 150–200 L, equivalent to a 17–22 minute standard shower. Short showers win easily; very long ones can exceed a bath.
Is a low-flow shower head worth it?
Yes — dropping from 9 to 6 L/min saves about a third of the water and of the energy used to heat it, with no change in habits.
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