Examining Americans’ Shower Habits

The Harris Poll recently surveyed Americans about their shower habits, and while nearly all (99%) of U.S. adults shower, there are many meaningful differences in how they do it. Several differences in behavior emerge among the generations when it comes to daily shower frequency, time of day, temperature, and more. For example, Gen X is more likely than Gen Z or Boomers to take a shower daily (69% vs. 59% and 53%), and Gen Z is least likely to wash their hair every day (22% vs. 34% millennials, 35% Gen X and 30% Boomers). Meaningful differences also arise between men and women and between men/women who live with partners versus those who do not, and below are some key insights into where Americans’ shower habits diverge.

Daily shower behavior:

• Men who live with a spouse or partner are more likely than those men who do not to say they shower every day (72% vs. 53%)
• Women who live with a spouse or partner are more likely than women who do not to shower daily (63% vs. 55%)

Time of day:

• 60% of Americans typically shower in the morning (5am-noon), 36% in the afternoon/evening (1-7pm) and 33% at night (8pm-4am)
• Men are more likely than women to shower in the early morning between 5-9am (52% vs. 42%) and women are more likely than men to shower in the evening between 4-7pm (30% vs. 23%)
• Men who live with a spouse or partner are more likely than men who do not to shower in the early morning between 5-9am (57% vs. 47%)
• Gen Z is least likely to shower in the early morning between 5-9am (37% vs. 46% millennials, 51% Gen X and 48% Boomers)
• Half of Gen Z (50%) typically shower at night (8pm-4am) compared to 40% of Millennials, 31% of Gen X and 19% of Boomers
• Gen Z and Millennials are more likely than Gen X and Boomers to shower in the afternoon between 1-3pm (21% and 19% vs. 10% each) or at night between 8-11pm (47% and 38% vs. 29% and 17%)

Duration:

• 66% of Americans say they typically spend 15 minutes or less in the shower while 33% typically spend more than 15 minutes; On average, Americans spend 16.1 minutes in the shower
• Women spend just over one minute more on average in the shower than men (16.8 minutes vs. 15.4 minutes)
• Men to say they spend 15 minutes or less in the shower (70% vs. 62%) and 5 minutes are more likely than women or less in the shower (13% vs. 8%)
• Men who live with a spouse or partner spend less time in the shower on average than men who do not (13.9 minutes vs. 16.9 minutes)
• Women who live with a spouse or partner spend less time in the shower on average than those who do not (15.4 minutes vs. 18.3 minutes)
• The average length of a shower decreases with age. The average shower for Gen Z is 21.2 minutes, compared to 18.5 minutes for Millennials, 15.3 minutes for Gen X and 12.3 minutes for Boomers
• Gen X and Boomers are more likely than Gen Z and Millennials to spend 15 minutes or less in the shower (71% and 80% vs. 45% and 57%)
• Gen Z and Millennials are more likely than Gen X and Boomers to spend more than 15 minutes in the shower (54% and 43% vs. 29% and 19%) and to spend more than 30 minutes in the shower (13% and 8% vs. 4% and 1%)
• Boomers are the most likely to spend 5 minutes or less in the shower (17% vs. 6% Gen Z, 7% Millennials and 10% Gen X)

Temperature:

• A slight majority of Americans (52%) prefer their shower temperature to be very warm, while 17% like it as hot as they can tolerate; About 1 in 4 (24%) like their shower to be a little warm, only 4% prefer room temperature and just 2% prefer cold showers
• Women are nearly twice as likely as men to say they prefer their shower to be as hot as they can tolerate (23% vs. 12%)
• Men are more likely than women to say they prefer their shower to be a little warm (28% vs. 20%) or room temperature (6% vs. 3%)
• Gen Z and Millennials are more likely than Boomers to prefer their shower to be as hot as they can tolerate (19% and 20% vs. 13%)
• Boomers are the most likely to prefer a shower to be very warm (62% vs. 42% Gen Z, 47% Millennials and 51% Gen X)
• More than 1 in 4 Americans (28%) say they sometimes run out of hot water while in the shower
  • Men are more likely than women to say they sometimes run out of how water while in the shower (31% vs. 25%)
  • This is higher among Gen Z and Millennials compared to Gen X and Boomers (46% and 42% vs. 22% and 11%)

Music:

• Just over 1 in 3 Americans (37%) usually listen to music while in the shower
  • Both men and women who do not live with a spouse or partner are more likely than those who do to say they listen to music while they shower (47% and 39% vs. 30% and 32% respectively)
  • This jumps to 70% among Gen Z and over half of Millennials (51%) compared to 34% of Gen X and 12% of Boomers
• Just over 1 in 3 Americans (37%) admit to singing while in the shower
  • This jumps to 59% among Gen Z and 51% of Millennials compared to 33% of Gen X and 17% of Boomers

This survey was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll from February 27, 2024 to February 29, 2024 among 2,073 U.S. adults, aged 18+. Figures were weighted where necessary to align with actual proportions within the population. For additional information, please contact The Harris Poll.