Author
Kat Englishman
Photo courtesy Jonny & Hanna of Finding our Adventure
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As a proud owner of a backyard sauna kit and outdoor shower myself, I can confidently say there's nothing better than a bathing en plain air. Paired with a hot tub and cold plunge or used on its own, an outdoor shower is one of the most simple and rejuvenating ways to freshen up—and a great home improvement project for keen DIYers. In this guide I'll share with you important details to know before you build a backyard shower, along with some inspiring outdoor shower projects and a few favorite outdoor shower kits you can buy for your own backyard today.
Before you dive right in and instal an outdoor shower at your home, cabin or beach house, there are some important steps to take in preparation. Below are four key considerations.
Research Local Code and Regulations:
Before beginning your backyard shower project, familiarize yourself with local regulations, zoning ordinances, and obtain any required permits. Maybe you have an HOA or community board that will need to grant approval. Your city or town may also require permits to hook up your garden shower to your home water supply. This step ensures compliance with legal requirements and helps prevent potential issues during or after installation.
Choosing the Right Location:
When considering where to put an outdoor shower, one should look for a spot that offers privacy while still being conveniently accessible. If you want hot and cold water, you'll need to hook up to your home's plumbing, so you'll need to install the shower close to the house to simplify plumbing installation. Alternatively, some outdoor shower kits are garden hose compatible, so if you go this cold water-only route just be sure your shower is within 25, 50, or 100 feet of the nearest house spigot. Also take into account factors such as sunlight exposure, existing landscaping, and foot traffic patterns.
Consider the Best Materials for your Location:
Materials matter both for aesthetics and durability of your design. Though arid, warm climates have more leeway in terms of material, regardless of location you will want to choose materials that are durable and suitable for outdoor use, such as weather-resistant woods, stone, tile, and stainless steel.
Cedar and teak are top choices due to their natural resistance to decay, rot, and insect damage. Cedar, particularly Western red cedar, boasts natural oils that make it naturally rot resistant even in very wet environments. Teak also contains oils and silica that enhance its resilience. Both woods offer excellent aesthetic appeal and can withstand the harsh outdoor elements with proper maintenance, making them ideal for constructing a long-lasting and visually appealing shower.
Pressure-treated lumber, composite materials applied with weather-proofing stains, and basic PVC outdoor shower designs may provide a more cost effective alternative.
Site Prep & Drainage Considerations:
When building an outdoor shower, ensuring proper drainage is essential to prevent water accumulation and potential damage to your property—not to mention breeding grounds for mosquitos in warmer months. Install a solid foundation with a suitable slope and incorporate a drainage system, such as a French drain or surface drain, to collect and redirect water flow away from the shower itself. Apply waterproofing to the shower floor and walls to prevent water seepage, and install a grate or drain cover to prevent debris buildup.
Additionally, consider integrating the drainage system with the surrounding landscape to promote sustainable infiltration and prevent erosion.
What Are the Different Types of Outdoor Showers?
Freestanding outdoor showers are standalone outdoor structures that do not require attachment to existing walls or structures. They typically consist of a sturdy base or platform, a vertical support structure, and a showerhead. Freestanding showers offer flexibility in placement, such as on a deck, patio, or poolside. These showers often feature a sleek and modern design, with options for various materials such as stainless steel, teak, or composite materials. Freestanding outdoor showers provide a convenient and refreshing way to rinse off after swimming or sunbathing, enhancing the outdoor living experience.
On the other hand, wall-mounted outdoor showers are fixtures attached directly to an existing wall or structure. They come in a range of styles and designs, from simple and utilitarian to more decorative and elaborate. Wall mount showers save space and can be installed in areas with limited room, such as on the side of a house or near a garden wall. These showers typically require plumbing connections to the existing water supply and drainage system. Wall-mounted outdoor showers offer a permanent and convenient bathing solution for outdoor spaces, providing a seamless blend of functionality and style.
6 Best Outdoor Shower Kits to Buy
Outdoor shower kits include building materials and can cost anywhere from $900 to over $4,000 for a high end Cape Cod shower kit. Here are a couple shower systems we like, but the variety available is vast so be sure to do your own research.
Best Outdoor Shower: Plunge Outdoor Shower
New from the leading cold plunge pool manufacturer—who also makes an impressive outdoor sauna—this super sleek outdoor shower kit is made to seamless integrate into a range of environments and home styles with premium materials and a clever intake design that works with both a garden hose and more permanent installation setups. The shower base and panel are made of clear and tight knot cedar wood, with plated black fixtures and copper and brass plumbing components. Setup is reportedly very easy and shipping is free.
Price: $990
Best Budget Outdoor Shower: Redwood Outdoors Shower
From the well regarded maker of outdoor saunas and cold plunge pools, Redwood Outdoors, this straightforward freestanding outdoor shower is made of thermowood and stainless steel fxitures. whereas other options on this list become more of a focal point themselves, this one features a classic look sure to blend into any back or side yard. Bonus points for a dedicated foot wash spigot.
Price: $499
Best Premium Freestanding Outdoor Shower: Dundalk CT Pillar Outdoor Shower
Handcrafted from sustainable and weather-resistant Eastern White Cedar and durable, stainless steel, Dundalk’s outdoor shower features a sturdy platform and back panel to prevent this outdoor shower from getting blown over, but you can also mount it to a wall. The cedar outdoor shower's hardware kit hooks up to a garden hose for a refreshing cold rinse, or upgrade to the premium hardware kit for a hot and cold water supply and a hand-held sprayer. Either way, this shower comes with a rain shower head for a refreshing rinse.
Price: $999 $847
Best Outdoor Shower Enclosure: Dundalk Cloudburst Outdoor Shower
The Cloudburst Outdoor Shower offers a contemporary privacy wall design with a self-closing door featuring stainless steel hinges. The entire outdoor shower enclosure is crafted from Western red cedar and shipped in an easy-to-assemble kit, making it ideal for cottages or backyard use, providing a refreshing rinse after sauna sessions, lake or pool swims, or hot tub relaxation. With full stainless steel hardware, including a hand-held shower and hot/cold water supply, it can be set up quickly with a garden hose connection. Additionally, it features a cedar wall-mounted shelf for soap or accessories and stainless steel self-closing door hinges, making it a popular and convenient outdoor shower choice. Available in two sizes.
Price: $5,596 $4,596
Best Premium Wall Mount Outdoor Shower: Almost Heaven Wall Shower
Featuring corrosion-resistant stainless steel fixtures with a sleek cedar wood backing, this attractive wall-mounted outdoor shower comes fully pre-assembled and ready for installation—water hookup via garden hose or hard-plumbing. And at just 27 lbs it can be affixed in a wide range of locations. Both a rainfall shower plus a hand shower head gives you a spa-like experience outdoors in one sleek and simple form. Foot washing spigot a plus.
Price: $723
Best Outdoor Solar Shower: Giantex 7.2 Ft 9.3 Gallon Solar Heated Shower
By connecting to your garden hose, this energy-saving outdoor shower is designed to absorb the heat from the sun to sustainably warm up 9.3 gallons of water. The freestanding shower has a stable, easy-to-clean base with an additional shower faucet lower down that acts as a foot shower for rinsing sand, dirt, or grass off your feet, and it all comes at a great price.
Price: $185
Bonus: Outdoor Washroom Plans: DEN Washroom
If you're all in for a DIY, the DEN Washroom may be for you. The design is delivered as a set of digital plans you can hand off to a project manager (or yourself) in order to build the outdoor bathroom completely from scratch. Technically an all-in-one washroom, the final product features a sleek indoor shower, toilet, and a private changing room, while outside, an outdoor shower is tucked into its own private alcove, so you can shower comfortably no matter the weather.
Price: $199+
5 Outdoor Shower Ideas
If you're looking for design ideas, or simply want to experience the luxury of an outdoor shower yourself before buying, the locations below serve as a little inspiration to get you started.
Inverlonan Bothy — Ballygown Farm, Oban, UK
The outdoor shower at each Inverlonan bothy is barebones to say the least. Made from nothing more than a shower head with a pull chain to release water and a small platform for keeping mud at bay, the payoff are views of Loch Nell and a perfect example of just how minimalist an outdoor shower can be.
Price: £480/2 nights
Treetop Tent at Ramsden Lake — Stone Mountain, GA
Simple and rustic with a luxurious waterfall showerhead, the Treetop Tent’s outdoor shower stall looks a lot like something you could DIY. A slanted roof constructed with wavy plexiglass panels lets in plenty of sunlight to dry things out and give you that fresh air feeling while providing coverage year-round. A curtain is a creative solution to the typical hinged shower door (or lack thereof).
Price: $179/night
Brillhut Cabin — Eleuthera, Bahamas
Totally enclosed and hidden out of sight, this cedar-shingled outdoor shower in the Bahamas has a large window that opens up to let the sea breeze flow through for ventilation and total reinvigoration. Perhaps it’s inspiration for converting a backyard shed into an outdoor shower?
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Vermont Retreat Yurt — Putney, VT
This outdoor shower is located on the wraparound porch of one seriously dreamy yurt in the Vermont countryside. The doorless, three-walled stall lets in plenty of fresh air and leaves you open to the elements as you rinse—think of it as a chance to commune with nature.
Price: $184/night
Explorer's Escape — Cane Beds, AZ
Inspirational or aspirational? The owners of this Southwest glampsite went for it and created an outdoor shower that looks and feels like you’re washing off inside one of the area’s famous slot canyons. There’s a very good chance that these won’t be the plans you use to build your own backyard outdoor shower, but it goes to show how a design can draw from the landscape. The property also has a more traditional outdoor bath and shower setup, too.
Price: $129/night
Baba Yaga Atitlán — San Marcos La Laguna, GUAT
Located on the shores of Lake Atitlán, this retreat hosts treehouse-style cabins, each with its own magical outdoor shower overlooking the lake or tucked away in a luscious garden.
Price: $101/night
Published 02-14-2024
Updated 05-23-2024
