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Power shower vs electric shower: which one should you buy?
Updated 08/26
By: Laura Macdonald
Reviewed: Alex Peters
How power showers and electric showers actually differ
Which type suits your water pressure and boiler
How much each one costs to buy and install
Which one is cheaper to run day to day
Whether you need a plumber or an electrician
How to avoid running out of hot water
Picking between a power shower and an electric shower comes down to two things: the water pressure you've already got, and how much you want to spend on running costs.
Get that wrong and you'll end up with a shower that's either underwhelming or expensive to use.
This guide breaks down how each type works, what they cost to buy and install in 2026, and which one suits your home - whether that's an older house with a gravity-fed tank or a modern combi boiler setup.
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Power shower vs electric shower: the quick answer
If your home has low water pressure (common in older houses with a gravity-fed tank), a power shower will boost that pressure using an internal pump.
If you want something cheaper to buy, cheaper to run, and easy to fit almost anywhere, an electric shower is usually the better call.
The trade-off: power showers use more water and energy for a stronger, more luxurious flow. Electric showers are more efficient and versatile, but won't match that pressure if your mains supply is already weak.
What is a power shower?
A power shower draws on the hot and cold water already stored in your home's plumbing system - typically from a hot water cylinder and cold water tank - and uses a built-in pump to boost the pressure before it reaches the showerhead.
How does a power shower work?
It blends hot and cold water from your home's stored supply to maintain a consistent temperature
A built-in pump increases the pressure of that blended water
Flow rates from a power shower typically sit between 12 and 18 litres per minute, noticeably stronger than most electric showers
Benefits of a power shower
Ideal for homes with a gravity-fed system, where pressure from the tank alone is often too weak
Delivers a strong, consistent flow for a more spa-like shower experience
Since it reuses existing hot and cold pipework, installation can be quicker if that plumbing is already in place
Drawbacks of a power shower
Not compatible with combi boilers, which don't use a stored hot water cylinder
Uses more water and energy than an electric shower to achieve that stronger flow
The pump adds some operating noise compared with an electric shower
Needs an adequately sized hot water cylinder and cold water tank - if either is undersized, you can run out of hot water mid-shower
If you live in an older home with a gravity-fed system and low water pressure, a power shower is usually the simplest fix - no need to replace your whole heating system to get a decent flow.
Is a power shower right for your home?
If you have a traditional gravity-fed system and want a stronger, more indulgent shower, a power shower is a strong option. It's not suitable if you have a combi boiler, since there's no stored hot water for the pump to boost.
What is an electric shower?
An electric shower doesn't rely on your home's hot water supply at all. It takes cold water straight from the mains and heats it instantly using a heating element inside the unit.
How does an electric shower work?
Cold mains water passes through an internal heating element, which warms it on demand
It works completely independently of your boiler or hot water cylinder
Flow rates are typically lower than a power shower, usually around 6 to 8 litres per minute, since there's no pump boosting pressure
Benefits of an electric shower
Energy-efficient, because it only heats the water you actually use, rather than storing hot water you might not need
Works even if your boiler breaks down, since it's on its own separate supply
Versatile and suitable for almost any home - combi boiler or not - though very low mains pressure may still need a shower pump
Compact, straightforward to install, and one of the cheaper shower types to buy
Drawbacks of an electric shower
Won't match the flow strength of a power shower - your pressure depends entirely on your home's mains supply
Generally less stylish and sleek-looking than power or digital showers
Running costs depend on your electricity tariff, so a higher kW unit used often can add up
Check the kW rating before you buy. A higher-rated unit (9.5kW-10.5kW) heats water faster and copes better in winter, but will use more electricity per shower.
Is an electric shower right for your home?
Electric showers suit smaller budgets and smaller bathrooms, and they're a solid pick if energy efficiency matters more to you than water pressure.
How to choose an electric shower
There's a huge variety of electric showers out there and this can make it difficult to decide what’s best for each home. As such, we’ve put together this handy electric shower guide to help you choose the right model. How do electric showers work? Electric showers include a heating element in the
Power shower vs electric shower: key differences
Power shower | Electric shower | |
|---|---|---|
Water source | Hot and cold water from your stored supply (cylinder/tank) | Cold mains water only, heated on demand |
Typical flow rate | 12-18 litres per minute | 6-8 litres per minute |
Water pressure | Boosted by an internal pump | Relies on mains pressure (a booster pump may help if very low) |
Energy use | Higher - pump plus more water heated via your boiler | Lower - only heats the water you use |
Boiler compatibility | Not suitable for combi boilers | Works with any boiler type, including combi |
Installation | Needs hot and cold water supply, plus pump; quicker if pipework already exists | Needs a dedicated electrical circuit and cold water supply |
Typical install cost | From £350 plus parts | From £200 plus parts |
Running costs are where the two diverge most in everyday use. Because an electric shower only heats what you use, it's generally the cheaper option to run day to day - a power shower's pump and higher flow rate mean more water and (via your boiler) more energy per shower.
Shower installation: Cost breakdown 2026
Having trouble with your shower? We've put together this guide on the cost of installing a replacement shower unit (including the pump, pipework and shower head) to help you manage your budget for the project.
Do I need a plumber or an electrician?
You'll usually need a plumber for a power shower, and a Part P-certified plumber or electrician for an electric shower. That distinction is where a lot of the confusion (and cost) creeps in.
Power shower: a plumber can generally install this, working with your existing pipework and pump
Electric shower: needs a Part P-certified plumber or a qualified electrician, since it involves a dedicated electrical circuit
If your existing power shower's pump has stopped working rather than needing a full replacement, it's worth checking why your shower pump won't start before you commit to a new unit - and our guide to installing a shower pump covers what that job involves.
A plumber can usually handle a power shower installation, since it's working with existing hot and cold pipework. For an electric shower, you'll want a Part P-certified plumber or one of our electric shower fitters to safely install and sign off the new electrical circuit.
Which is better, a power shower or an electric shower?
If a strong, luxurious flow matters most to you and you have the stored hot water system to support it, go for a power shower.
If you'd rather keep running costs down, want something that works with any boiler, or you're on a tighter budget, an electric shower is the more practical choice.
Types of showers and how to choose one for your home
We explore the types of showers available in the UK, and their pros, cons, cost, and compatibility, helping you to make the best choice for your home.
Don't overlook your hot water tank capacity
A power shower can run out of hot water partway through if your cylinder or cold water tank is too small for your household's demands - especially with multiple people showering back-to-back.
Before installing a power shower, ask your plumber to check that your tank and cylinder capacity match your household size. This isn't a concern with electric showers, since they heat water on demand rather than drawing down a stored supply.
Before you make a final call, run through this quick checklist:
Before you choose your shower
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FAQs
A power shower uses hot and cold water from your home's stored supply, boosted by an internal pump. An electric shower heats cold mains water on demand using a built-in heating element, working independently of your boiler.
Yes - power showers are designed specifically for homes with low water pressure, most commonly older properties with a gravity-fed system.
Generally, yes. Electric showers only heat the water you use, while power showers use more water and, indirectly, more energy from your boiler to deliver a stronger flow.
A plumber can usually install a power shower using your existing pipework. An electric shower needs a Part P-certified plumber or a qualified electrician, since it requires a dedicated electrical circuit.
No - power showers rely on a stored hot water supply, which combi boilers don't have. If you have a combi boiler, an electric, mixer, or thermostatic shower is a better fit.
This usually means your hot water cylinder or cold water tank isn't large enough for your household's demand. A plumber can check whether your tank capacity matches your usage before you install or replace a power shower.
Power showers typically deliver 12-18 litres per minute, thanks to the pump. Electric showers are generally lower, around 6-8 litres per minute, since they rely on mains pressure alone.
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