A simple shower timer is one of the easiest ways to save water at home. You do not have to make a big change overnight. Shaving off a little time each week turns into a habit that sticks.
Quick answer: To use a shower timer, time your normal shower first, set the timer to that length, then cut about 30 seconds every few days until you reach your goal, such as 5 minutes. When the timer goes off, rinse and turn off the water.
Why take shorter showers?
Showers use a lot of water. EPA WaterSense says showering makes up nearly 17 percent of residential indoor water use, and a standard showerhead uses 2.5 gallons per minute (EPA WaterSense). That means every minute you cut from a shower saves about 2.5 gallons with a standard showerhead.
Most of that water is heated, so shorter showers also cut the energy your water heater uses. In California, where droughts come back again and again, saving water at home helps your community stretch its supply.
What you need
- A shower timer: a waterproof suction-cup timer, a sand timer, or your phone timer set outside the shower
- A pen and paper or phone note to track your times
- A WaterSense labeled showerhead (optional, for extra savings)
How to use a shower timer to build a shorter-shower habit
- Time your normal shower for a few days without changing anything. Write down the average.
- Set your timer to that same length, so the first week feels easy.
- Every few days, take about 30 seconds off the timer.
- Pick a goal, such as 5 minutes, and keep cutting time until you get there.
- Use a simple routine: wet, soap and wash, then rinse. Save long thinking time for after you turn off the water.
- When the timer goes off, finish rinsing and turn off the water. Treat the alarm as the end of your shower.
- Track your times on a chart or note for a few weeks. Seeing progress helps the habit stick.
Tips
- Turn off the water while you lather or shampoo, then turn it back on to rinse.
- Make it a family challenge, with each person setting their own goal. Younger kids often enjoy racing a sand timer.
- Keep shampoo, soap and a towel within easy reach, so you are not standing under running water looking for them.
- Pair your timer with a WaterSense showerhead, which uses no more than 2.0 gallons per minute.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a shower be to save water?
There is no single rule, but a goal of about 5 minutes works well for many people. Any minute you cut helps, because a standard showerhead uses about 2.5 gallons each minute.
What is the best kind of shower timer?
The best one is the one you will use. A waterproof digital timer that sticks to the wall is easy to see, a sand timer needs no batteries, and a phone timer outside the shower works too.
How much water does a shorter shower save?
With a standard 2.5-gallon-per-minute showerhead, cutting 3 minutes saves about 7.5 gallons per shower. Over a year of daily showers, that adds up to thousands of gallons for one person.
Do shorter showers save energy too?
Yes. Less hot water means your water heater runs less, which saves electricity or gas and lowers your bill.
See your water impact
Want to see how showers, toilets, laundry and landscaping add up? Try our free Household Water Simulator to see your household’s water use and which changes save the most.
Related guides
- How to Install a Faucet Aerator to Cut Water Use
- How to Convert an Old Toilet to Dual-Flush
- How to Collect Cold Shower Water for Your Plants
Sources
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense: Showerheads
Written and reviewed by the Accessible Sustainability Alliance editorial team. Last updated October 5, 2026.
