A shower head that drips or sprays from the connection nut almost never needs a new shower head — it needs a new rubber washer. This flat washer sits inside the shower head's connection nut and seals against the shower arm. Here's the size you need, the right material, and the two-minute fix.
What size washer fits a shower head?
Nearly all US shower arms are 1/2" NPT, and the washer that seals the connector is typically about 3/4" OD × 1/2" ID × 1/16"–1/8" thick. Handheld shower hoses use the same size at both hose ends — so a leaking handheld setup may need two or three washers. Unscrew the shower head, pull the old washer (or screen-washer combo) out of the nut, and measure it with our measuring guide to confirm before ordering from the size chart.
Best material for a shower washer
Hot chlorinated water is exactly what EPDM is built for — it's rated far above shower temperatures and shrugs off chlorine that hardens other rubbers. Silicone is the premium pick for rain heads plumbed close to the water heater or steam-shower hardware. Neoprene works; nitrile doesn't belong in chlorinated water.
Fixing a leaking shower head, step by step
- Unscrew the shower head by hand (or with a cloth-wrapped wrench).
- Pick the old washer out of the connection nut with a small screwdriver.
- Clean old thread tape off the shower arm and apply 2–3 fresh wraps clockwise.
- Seat the new washer flat in the nut, thread the head back on, and hand-tighten plus a gentle quarter turn.
- Run the shower — the connection should be dry. If it drips from the face instead, the internal cartridge or valve is the issue, not the washer.
Leak at the connection vs drip from the face
Water spraying or seeping at the nut is a washer/thread-seal problem — fixed above. A steady drip from the spray face when the shower is off means the shower valve upstream isn't closing fully; that's a valve washer or cartridge job, covered in our faucet washer replacement guide.
FAQDo all shower heads use the same washer?
In the US, almost — the 1/2" shower arm standard means a ≈ 3/4" OD × 1/2" ID flat washer fits the vast majority. Verify by measuring the old one; European and specialty heads vary.
Washer or thread tape — which stops the leak?
Both, doing different jobs: the washer seals the face joint inside the nut, thread tape seals the threads. If either is missing or worn, the connection weeps.
How often should shower washers be replaced?
Every few years, or whenever you remove the head. They cost pennies — replace the washer any time the connection is opened.