Bath vs Shower: Which Costs Less
Compare the water and gas cost of a full bath versus a shower. Just enter tub volume, shower flow and time, number of people, and unit prices to see which is cheaper per use and by how much.
Input
Bath (tub)
L
Shower
L/min
min
people
Unit price (per 1 L of water)
/L
/L
Result
Comparing for 1 people
Shower is cheaper
A difference of $0.80 per use (shower is cheaper)
Bath cost
$1.60
Shower cost
$0.80
Difference
$0.80
Estimated water use: bath 200 L / shower 100 L (for 1 people)
How it works
- Bath cost is calculated as "tub volume (L) x (water unit price + gas heating unit price)", assuming all of the bath water is heated.
- Shower cost is calculated as "shower flow rate (L/min) x time per shower (min) x number of people x (water unit price + gas heating unit price)", totaling showers for everyone.
- Water and gas unit prices are entered per 1 liter of water. Prices and tariffs vary widely by country, region, utility, and energy type, so adjust the defaults to match your own bills.
- A typical non water-saving shower head uses about 10-12 liters per minute. A water-saving shower head lowers the flow rate and reduces the shower-side cost.
- More people means more total shower usage, so the more people in a household, the more often filling a tub tends to be the cheaper option. For one person taking a short shower, the shower is usually the better deal.
- Results are an estimate based on the unit prices and conditions you enter and do not account for heating efficiency, water temperature, reheating, or seasonal differences. Treat the figures as a guide and confirm actual charges on your meter readings or contract.
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Bath vs Shower: Which Costs Less