Is 1/2 PEX Big Enough For Showers? (Explained)

Have you taken up the task of renovating your shower system or constructing a new one and wondering whether ½” pex pipes are a good choice?

Yes, in most cases, 1/2 inch PEX is big enough for showers.

In this post, I’ll help you decide if ½” pipes are big enough for your shower, or if you need to opt for bigger size pipes.

Can You Use 1/2″ PEX For Showers?

Yes you can. A lot of plumbers seem to think 1/2″ PEX is perfectly fine for showers, even for pretty decent shower setups.

Here are some of the main reasons why:

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It Can Handle The Allowed Flow Rate

Building regulation codes allow a maximum of 2-2.5 GPM flow rate for shower heads. 

These regulations are established to conserve water and energy.  

1/2″ PEX pipes can handle up to around 6 GPM, so it’s more than enough for a single regular shower head.

It Has Been Used For Long

The fact that we’ve been using 1/2″ lines for showers for a long time shows that they’re good enough and big enough. 

They reliably give us the water flow we need for showers in most homes.

If 1/2″ lines weren’t cutting it, we’d probably see industry standards changing to bigger pipes. 

But since that hasn’t happened, it’s safe to say that 1/2″ lines are doing the job just fine.

It Reduces Water Waste

Using smaller 3/8″ hot water lines for showers is becoming more popular in some places as a way to save water.

When you have smaller lines, you waste less water waiting for hot water to get to the shower. This adds up to big water savings in the long run.

But using 1/2″ lines for showers strikes a balance. You still get enough water pressure and flow for a good shower, while also saving water.

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It’s a compromise that works well for both water conservation and shower comfort.

It’s Easy to Install 

If you are renovating your shower system, your task will be much easier with ½” pipes.

You can simply replace existing 1/2″ supply lines without having to deal with adapters and fittings to go to a larger size. 

This can save you a lot of time, effort, and money.

Reasons to Go Bigger Than 1/2″ PEX

Of course, not everyone is sold on 1/2″ as the shower pipe size.

Here are some of the reasons why should use the 3/4″ PEX instead:

Bigger Is Better For Luxury Showers

If you want a super fancy shower setup with multiple heads, body sprays, etc, 1/2″ may not provide enough volume.

For example, 3/4″ would be better for a shower with a rain head, 4 body jets, and a handheld wand. 

This kind of setup requires higher water volumes, so you will have to use larger pipes.

Minimize Pressure Drops 

The further the water travels in the pipes, the more pressure you lose. 

Using a larger 3/4″ pipe size can help prevent annoying pressure drops over long runs. 

Bigger pipes carry more water, so using them in a long running setup and reducing the size near the shower heads using adaptors will allow you to have better water pressure. 

Plan For The Future 

You may do fine using ½” pex lines for your current shower setting, but what if you decide  to go for something fancier in the future? 

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Even if your shower is relatively simple now, going with 3/4″ will give you more flexibility to upgrade things down the road without replacing all the pipes again.

Should I Use 1/2 PEX For My Shower?

Now you have to decide if you are going to use ½ PEX on your shower.

There are basically 3 things you have to consider:

#1 The Number of Shower Heads/Body Sprayers

The more fixtures you have, the more water flow you’ll need.

If you have multiple shower heads or body sprayers, you might need larger pipes to make sure you get enough water volume.

#2 The Flow Rates For Those Fixtures

Different shower heads and body sprayers have different flow rate requirements.

You need to double check and make sure your pipes can handle the flow rates needed for each fixture to give you a good shower.

#3 The Total Pipe Run Length

The distance water needs to travel from the source to the fixtures impacts pressure and flow. 

Longer pipe runs may experience more significant pressure drops, so you might need to use larger pipe sizes to compensate for potential losses.

My Recommendation

Here’s a compromise that me and some plumbers recommend: 

Run 3/4″ PEX pipe from the main supply up to the shower valve.

Then transition down to 1/2″ PEX pipes for the shower head and any body sprayers. 

This gives you the best of both worlds – good overall flow from the main 3/4″ line but without oversizing the smaller branches.

Bottom Line

In most situations, ½” pex pipes will be big enough for plumbing a shower system, but there are times you will have to choose bigger.

Larger sizes like 3/4″ may be necessary for luxury setups or to minimize pressure drops.