Adding some light to your shower might seem like a straightforward concept, but you couldn’t be more wrong. Each bathroom is different, so finding the best shower light for your particular needs is essential.
For starters, you need to make sure that you find models that won’t be affected negatively by moisture, like those on our list. You also need to decide the exact kind of model ideal for your setup. Some bathrooms can handle a wired light, while others might need a wireless unit. It all depends on how much work you are willing or can afford to put into making your new lighting dream a reality. We have also found several different options that come equipped with a bathroom fan to help ventilate your shower to get rid of excess moisture. If you are looking to find the perfect light for your shower, then you have come to the right place!
More features: powered by 4 D-cell alkaline batteries
If you are in the market for the best overall shower light, then this just might be the right unit for you. For starters, it is incredibly easy to install. Since this model doesn’t require any wiring, you simply need to hang it wherever you want it to be. This makes it an exceptional option for someone with a smaller or larger bathroom since it lets you put it right where you need the light the most.
Another high point for this light is that it has very long battery life. Unlike many other battery-operated shower lights, this unit can last much longer than the standard 3 months. Even if this light is on for the majority of the day, you can expect it to last at least 6 months before you need to change the batteries. This shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise since it takes 4 D-cell batteries.
This light is also one of the brightest battery run shower lights available. It puts out about 300 lumens. This amount of light, and the large coverage area, should be more than enough for even the largest of showers.
Something else that really helps this shower light’s battery life is that it is a motion sensor. It will only turn on when someone walks by it, which helps to prevent it from staying on when it is not in use. The only issue with this sensor is that it can be a bit sensitive if the light is installed out in the open. Thankfully, when it is placed in a shower, this shouldn’t be any trouble at all.
More features: cool white light; up to 80 sq. ft. of coverage
One of the biggest hurdles that a lot of shower light/fan designers have a tough time getting over is how to keep the fan quiet enough to be used in a small space. This is, thankfully, not the case for this model. It operates at a mere 1.1 sones, making it so you can hardly even notice it over the sound of the shower or any music that you might be listening to while you wash.
This quiet operation is especially impressive since the fan does a very good job of pulling excess moisture out the air. Even if you are someone that takes excessively hot showers with tons of steam, you won’t need to worry about doing any lasting damage to your other appliances, thanks to this fan.
Despite this powerful motor and bright, 900 lumen lamp, this model is quite an energy-efficient one. In fact, even when it is operating as both a light and a fan, it will still only pull about 16 watts of power. This makes it a smart investment since it won’t cost you too much to operate over time.
One thing to keep in mind with this unit is that it is best suited for full renovations or new bathrooms. It needs a large vent to be installed correctly, which can be quite difficult in an older home or a smaller bathroom. Make sure that you have the appropriate space for the required ventilation, as you certainly don’t want to tear apart your entire ceiling to make this fan fit.
More features: dimmable to 10%; CRI 90+
Anytime you are updating or replacing a shower light, or any old fixture for that matter, it is always a good idea to look for a model that is more energy-efficient. That way, you can pay for the new install through the energy savings you will earn over time. If that is what you are looking to do with your new shower light, then this is the model for you. It is incredibly efficient thanks to its LED bulb, which lasts for much longer than any other type of bulb on the market today.
With this bulb in place, this unit only uses about 17 watts of energy when it is being used at full power. This is incredibly impressive, especially when you factor in the number of lumens it can produce. This model is capable of putting out 1050 lumens, all while saving you money over other models. It is also capable of producing a CRI of 90+, which will allow you to see all of your décor in a much better light.
This energy efficiency can be raised, even more, thanks to the fact that this light can be dimmed. Using an appropriate dimmer switch, you can set the light to operate at 10% less of its full power, which will save you even more money.
The only downside to this otherwise fantastic light is the fact that you cannot change the bulb. Thankfully, these LED bulbs last for over a decade, especially if they are used sparingly during the day. This gives this light a longer shelf life than most other units, even though the bulb cannot be replaced.
More features: 100 CFM airflow capacity; up to 90 sq. ft. coverage
If you are someone who thinks that the most important piece of your new shower and light combination is the fan, then this is a great option. It comes equipped with a 100 CFM airflow fan, which will quickly and efficiently pull any and all moisture out of the room, no matter if you have it installed in or out of the shower. This fan is so powerful that there should not be a drop of moisture outside of your shower, which makes it a great way to keep mold and mildew from forming on any of your bathroom surfaces.
Despite the powerful nature of this fan, it is still relatively quiet. This is due to the dual intake ports on either side of the light. Since the fan has two ports to pull air through, it helps to reduce the noise produced.
This model also comes equipped with a very long-lasting bulb. In fact, even though it is just a standard light bulb, it should still last you for a good long time. You most likely will not need to change the bulb more than once a year, if that, as long as you don’t accidentally leave the light on when you are not using it.
Of course, the reason that this bulb will last so long is that it is relatively dim. The bulb only puts out about 4.5 lumens, which is definitely enough to light up a small shower. This low light output might not, however, be quite enough for a larger space.
More features: several design options available; ETL listed
Sometimes when you are updating your bathroom or home, it makes sense to get the most expensive item thanks to its great features. Other times, it makes a lot more sense to go for a more budget-friendly item, since it will provide you with everything you need without costing you an arm and a leg. This item is one of the latter, as it is extremely budget-friendly but still very effective.
Even though this light might not cost as much as others on our list, it is still worth checking out. For instance, it is capable of producing a ton of light. This unit can put out 1050 lumens, which is tied for the highest output of any of the lights we reviewed.
With this light, you also get more options than you do with any other model. This light comes in several different designs. This versatility makes it much easier to match to your décor in your particular bathroom. It would also make it much easier to get the same light in multiple bathrooms in different styles so that you will have an easier time installing all of them.
The only real issue with this low cost and low-profile light is that you cannot change the bulb. Thankfully, since this light is so inexpensive, you can easily purchase several of them. Then, when one bulb burns out in a couple of years, you can uninstall that light, and put a new one in its place using the same wiring.
More features: auto shut off after 20 seconds
No matter how you slice it, installing a wired light for your shower is a big undertaking. Either you have to pay someone to do it, or you need to have the know-how yourself. If you are looking to skip the hassle of a big install, then this is the light for you. It is battery-operated and simple to hang, making it perfect for anyone looking for a bit of light in their shower without a huge amount of work.
This is a very compact light, which makes it perfect for smaller showers. Even in shower stalls that are only large enough for you to just fit into, it won’t look out of place thanks to its smaller than average profile.
This light comes equipped with a well-designed motion sensor that will turn on when you come within its 18-foot range. While this might sound like it is too sensitive, it does have an auto-shutoff feature that will turn the light back off if there is no movement for 20 seconds. This will help to extend the bulb and battery life, which is always a plus.
Something else that might limit this unit to a smaller shower is the fact that it is not all that bright. Though it purports to put out about 300 lumens, it doesn’t seem to be quite that bright. Thankfully, however, as long as you utilize this light in a medium to small space, you should still have plenty of illumination during your shower.
More features: fights odors; reduces excess moisture and humidity; frosted glass enclosure
If you want to make absolutely sure that you get rid of every single last bit of moisture in your bathroom while you are taking a shower, then this is the light/fan for your needs. It comes equipped with an extremely powerful fan that is guaranteed to pull out any excess moisture from the air before, during, or after your shower. This will help to fight odors and eliminate any chance of mold or mildew from forming in your bathroom at all.
Something else that really helps set this unit apart from its competitors is that plain and simple, it doesn’t look like a fan at all. It is very compact and streamlined. The frosted glass on the light is an especially nice touch that will allow it to fit right in with a modern style bathroom with ease.
Surprisingly, even though this is a powerful fan, it is not all that loud. In fact, it operates at about 2.5 sones, which, while on the higher end, is not unbearable within a bathroom, especially if you have a larger than average shower.
The biggest downside for this unit is how much power it needs to run. Thanks to its bright light and powerful fan motor, this unit need 140 watts of electricity to work properly. This makes it a bit more expensive to run than some other options on our list, but it might be well worth it if you want to get rid of all of the moisture in the air from your shower.
In this section, we will guide you through everything that you need to know to find the best shower light for your needs. We have also taken the time to answer a few of the most frequently asked questions regarding these lights, so be sure to read through those as well if you need any further information.
Though lighting might seem like a straightforward purchase, that is not the case in this instance. Since you are looking for lighting in your shower, there are several different considerations that you need to take into account. In this section, we will guide you through everything you need to know to make an informed purchase and get the best shower light for your bathroom.
One of the first things that you will need to decide upon is the type of lighting that you want for your shower. This will depend on a lot of factors, but perhaps the biggest is just how much time and effort you are looking to put into your shower lighting.
If you do decide to get a wired model, then you have an additional consideration to keep in mind. While you certainly could go for just light for your shower, like the Cloudy Bay LED Flush Mount Ceiling Light, you could also go for something that also has a fan built-in. This would help to reduce the amount of humidity in your bathroom, which will help the other fixtures to keep operating correctly for longer. Of course, this is a more extensive installation, since you will also need to provide venting for the fan to work correctly.
If you do decide to go with a combination model, then the Homewerks Worldwide 7117-01-BN is an excellent option. Its fan is quite powerful, making it perfect for taking any excess water vapor up and out of your shower to keep your bathroom looking clean and fresh.
Once you decided upon the type of light that you want to purchase, the next thing that you should consider is just how bright it needs to be. This will depend on your personal preference. You need to decide if you are just looking for a bit of illumination in your shower or whether you want to really light up space. You should consider the CRI of each light as well. This scale indicates how close each light gets to natural light, which will have a direct effect on how your bathroom fixtures appear when the light is on. The higher the CRI, the closer the light is to natural light.
The Yurnero Motion Sensor Ceiling Light is a great light if you don’t need a lot of illumination but still want to light up your space effectively. If you are looking for a lot of light, however, the Westinghouse Lighting 6323000 is an awesome option. Finally, if you are just looking for a small amount of light, then the Broan-NuTone 696 is going to be your best bet.
As is the case when you are getting anything that needs electricity to run, you always want to make sure you get the most efficient model possible. That way, you won’t have to spend a lot of money to keep it running.
The Cloudy Bay LED Flush Mount Ceiling Light is perhaps the most energy-efficient option on our list, mostly because of the type of bulb that it employs.
LED bulbs are very cost-effective since they last for much longer than standard units. They also operate with a fraction of the electricity needed to power a standard bulb, making them a great investment.
Another item that you will want to keep in mind is the coverage area of the light you are selecting. If you have a larger shower, then you will want to get a model with a larger coverage area. That way, you will be able to see well within the entire shower, rather than just in a small section of it. On the other hand, if you have a smaller shower, then you don’t want to get a model with a huge coverage area since it will be too bright for your space.
Both the Mr. Beams MB990 and the Yurnero Motion Sensor Ceiling Light have a good-sized coverage area that makes them great buys for larger showers. If you only need to light up a small space, then the Broan-NuTone 696 is a great option. It has a much lower illumination level, which makes it ideal for smaller spaces.
Something else to keep in mind when it comes to finding a light that is right for your shower is just how much space it takes up. If you have a smaller shower, then you are going to want to aim for a smaller light. Otherwise, your design and aesthetic might be compromised by any light that is too large for space. If, however, you have a larger shower, you can choose pretty much any size light without too many issues as long as it provides you with enough light.
If you are looking for the smallest light possible, then the Yurnero Motion Sensor Ceiling Light will be the best option. It is quite compact, making it perfect for smaller spaces. It is also quite bright for a smaller light, which might make it a good choice for a larger shower as well.
One final consideration to keep in mind is just how much work is involved in installing your new shower light. As we have mentioned above, wired models and those models with fans are more difficult to install, since they need to be connected to electricity and, in the case of the fan models, will need to be vented as well. This makes them a great option if you are just building a home and are looking for lighting, or you are completely renovating your bathroom.
Battery operated lights are much easier to install since they only need to be attached to the wall or ceiling before they are up and running in your shower. This makes this style of light perfect for anyone looking for a quick and easy upgrade to their shower.
Of all the different lights we reviewed, we liked the Yurnero Motion Sensor Ceiling Light the most. This light is easy to install, has a long battery life, is bright enough for most showers, and has an energy-saving motion sensor. Plain and simple, if you are looking for an upgrade to your shower light, we highly recommend that you give this unit a try!
The Homewerks Worldwide 7117-01-BN is a great option if you want a quiet shower fan to go along with your new light. This unit is very quiet, but quite powerful and bright, making it a good option for larger bathrooms.
If you are someone that thinks that the best shower light is going to be the most efficient model, then the Cloudy Bay LED Flush Mount Ceiling Light is for you. This light barely uses any electricity at all yet can produce a ton of light. It also will last for over a decade without having to be replaced, which is always a plus.
