Have you been in a walk-in shower? If so, you’re probably in awe of how gorgeous and spacious it is. In recent years, there has been a huge demand for walk-in showers and that comes with linear drains.
It is practical, streamlined, and has increased functionality. It can be daunting trying to choose one, so that’s why today we’ve rounded up 10 of the best linear drains on the market. Read on to see them and see why it’s worth installing one in your shower.
Top 3 Best Linear Shower Drain Picks
Editor’s Choice:EXF 36 Inch Linear Shower Drain
When it comes to our favorite, the EXF Linear Shower Drain came to our mind. Why? It has a removable quadrato pattern grate, made out of stainless steel, can blend in well with your floor and it has a heavy-duty steel cover that has a very good sealing ability. Not only can it be used for bathrooms, but it can be used in other larger areas.
Best Quality: Alfi Brand Black Matte Linear Grid Shower Drain
The Alfi Brand Linear Shower Drain is made out of high-quality stainless steel with a black matte finish. It also has a grid design to help with the water flow.
Best Bargain: Neodrain 24-Inch Linear Shower Drain with Quadrato Pattern Grate
We consider this Neodrain Linear Shower Drain the best for your money because of the quality and performance. It also has a quadrato pattern grate which helps with water distribution.
What is a Linear Shower Drain?
A linear shower drain is a long drain that spans from one point to the other that is usually aesthetically pleasing.
Linear drains are usually very stylish, and you can put them in custom locations, such as the edge of the wall or even near your custom shower bench. They’re usually expensive too and require a lot of maintenance.
Benefits of a Linear Shower Drain
Reduce Tripping Hazards
Assuming it’s installed right and not raised at the door, it reduces tripping hazards when you take a shower. That’s always a bonus when you’re safe and not worried about tripping.
Easier to Clean
While they do require maintenance, they’re much easier to clean than a standard shower drain. (The one that comes in shower-tub combo) This is because they have a larger area for the water to flow and a lot of them come with baskets to catch hair etc.
Linear Drains are Perfect for Curbless Showers
They are perfect for curbless showers because they’re usually flat and don’t appear to take up a lot of space. Any water flow in the bathroom will go directly into this drain.
Compatible with Large Format Titles
You can have all the pretty format titles to have around your linear drain. Larger titles are ideal to have around linear drains because there will be less to clean up around the drain.
Choice of Size, Style, and Finishes
This is why linear shower drains are popular. There are so many sizes, styles, and finishes out there. Want a brass brushed 50-inch linear drain? You can probably find one. The world is your oyster when it comes to choosing which one you would prefer for your shower.
Best 10 Linear Shower Drain Options To Upgrade Your Bathroom
Dawn USA Parana River in Argentina
This linear shower drain by Dawn USA is the Parana River in Argentina Series that has 2 inches of drain opening. It is also 59 inches long. It is made out of metal and it has a polished satin finish. This drain is stain-resistant, and it’s also lead-free. This linear shower drain has a drain grate, rubber spacer, hair and debris strainer, drain channel, and a u-shaped plastic flat piece. It is also height adjustable and there is a drain hook to help keep the drain in place.
Pros:
- Made out of high-quality material
- Lead-free
- Comes with drain grate
Cons:
- Might be too long for some showers
Dawn USA Linear Grid Shower Drain
This Dawn USA linear shower drain also has 2 inches of the drain opening. It is also 59 inches long and 3 inches deep. With the adjustable height that’s on this shower drain, it can be adjusted up to 3.13 inches. This linear shower drain is made out of metal, which is stain-resistant and has a polished satin finish. It is also lead-free and it’s likely never to rust due to it being high-quality metal.
Pros:
- Made for larger showers or large areas
- Adjustable height
- Made out of metal with polished satin finish
Cons:
- It may not drain properly since it has smaller holes that the water can flow into
Alfi Brand Linear Grid Shower Drain
This linear shower drain by Alfi brand it’s very large at 47 inches long. This means that it’s perfect for each other showers or you can even use it for an outdoor shower. The shower drain is made out of stainless steel and highly resistant to temperature variations, household cleaners, and soaps. It has an adjustable height of 3.15 inch and there is a 2-inch drain opening. The style is a linear grid so it can catch hair and other things while the shower is in use.
Pros:
- Can fit larger showers
- Made out of stainless steel
- Linear grid style
Cons:
- May be too large if the shower isn’t big enough
Linear Grid Shower Drain
This linear shower by Alfi Brand is a beautiful black matte design that’s 47 inches long. It has an adjustable height of 3.15 inch and there is a 2-inch drain opening. The drain is made out of stainless steel and is stain resistant. It’s perfect for extra-large showers or outdoor showers as it can handle various temperatures, household cleaners, and soaps. It can also catch hair easily thanks to the linear grid style. It’s the perfect drain if you don’t want to be on top of the drain anymore while taking a shower.
Pros:
- Made with black matte finish
- Comes with a hair strainer
- Made for extra large showers
Cons:
- Can be too big depending on the shower size
Neodrain Linear Shower Drain
The Neodrain linear shower drain is 24 inches long and has a 2-inch central outlet. It’s made out of AISI 304 stainless steel, and also has a brushed surface. With that said, that means it would be protected against corrosion and rest as it is watermark and CUPC certified. This linear shower drain has a deep ‘V’ design so that means water will not be pooling around the drain. This drain can be used in the kitchen, bathroom, garage, basement, and more. This shower drain is extremely easy to adjust and there is a removable grate that makes it very easy to clean. It is invisible looking so you can put any kind of tile on the drain/grates if you’d like.
Pros:
- Made out of AISI 304 Stainless Steel
- Can be used in other areas besides the shower
- Removable grates for easy cleaning
Cons:
- Some users have said it does rust, citing quality issues with the drain
Rectangular Linear Shower Floor Drain
The EXF Linear Shower Drain is 36-in long and has a removable Quadrato pattern grate. It also has a 2-inch central outlet and it has 35 L per minute high flow capability. This shower drain is made out of AISI 304 stainless steel, and it has a thickened brush surface, which means it will not rust or see corrosion. With the quadrado pattern design, the water will flow better and eliminate water just standing around when the shower is not in use. The design offers an invisible look on your floor and its heavy-duty steel cover has a very good sealing ability. This shower drain can be used for bathrooms, kitchens, swimming pools, and more.
Pros:
- Removable quadrato pattern grate
- Made out of AISI
- Has a very good sealing ability
Cons:
- It doesn’t have the invisible design which means you’re stuck with the design that it comes with
Neodrain Linear Shower Drain with Removable Quadrato Pattern Grate
This Neodrain Linear Shower Drain has a removable quadrato pattern grate, which can be beneficial if you need to clean it every once in a while. It is 24 inches long and it has a 2-inch central outlet as well as 36 liters per minute high flow capability. It is made out of stainless steel with a polished surface, and it has a brushed steel finish. With that said, this linear shower drain is corrosion and rust-free. There are adjustable feet on both sides of this drain so that the height can be adjusted at any time. This drain also catches hair, so if that was always a concern of yours, this drain will solve that problem. This linear shower drain comes with a hair strainer, a lifting hook, adjustable feet, and a threaded adapter.
Pros:
- Removable quadrato pattern grate
- Made out of stainless steel
- Adjustable feet
Cons:
- Some users have said it’s not to code in their area, so you may want to check before purchasing
Neodrain Brushed Brass Linear Shower Drain
Here is a gorgeous, brushed brass linear shower drain by Neodrain that would look nice in any area that needs that extra touch. It is 36 inches long, has a 2-inch central outlet, and 33 liters per minute high flow capability. It has a shallow ‘V’ channel to help with the flow of water. This drain is made out of stainless steel with a brushed brass finish that is protected against rust and corrosion. The linear drain also has 2 in 1 flat title cover that you can put over the drain when you need to. This linear shower drain comes with a hair strainer, a lifting hook, adjustable feet, threaded adapter, plastic clips, and protective fabric.
Pros:
- Brushed brass design
- 2 in 1 flat title cover
- Big enough to fit in larger showers or areas that needs the drain
Cons:
- It doesn’t look like the picture, as it’s more orange than gold
Neodrain 24 Inch Linear Shower Drain
This linear shower drain by Neodrain is 24 inches long and is made with stainless steel, with a brushed steel surface that protects from rust and corrosion. It also has a 2-inch central outlet and can raise to 1.85 inches. This drain has a ‘V’ shallow design that helps with the flow of water and eliminates the water from pooling when the shower is not in use. It is very easy to adjust the shower drain as it has adjustable feet that come with this drain. The design is meant to be invisible looking so that it can merge in with flooring you’ll have in the area that you need the linear shower drain for. This linear shower drain also comes with a 2 in 1 flat title cover that you can put over the drain and will blend in well with whichever flooring that you are using. This linear shower drain comes with a hair strainer, a lifting hook, adjustable feet, threaded adapter, grey plastic clips, and protective fabric.
Pros:
- Comes with a 2-in-1 Flat & Tile cover
- Made out of high-quality material
- Adjustable
Cons:
- It can be hard to clean the hair catcher and the drain itself
Neodrain 24 Inch Linear Shower Drain with Quadrato Pattern Grate
The linear shower drain by Neodrain is 24 inches long, with a 2-inch central outlet and 35 liters per minute high flow capability. This drain comes with a quadrato pattern grate which means it can help with the flow of the water (it’s also a ‘V’ shape design). The linear shower drain is made out of stainless steel with brushed steel that can protect against corrosion and rust. This linear shower drain comes with adjustable feet so you can adjust the height if you need to.
This linear shower drain comes with a hair strainer, a lifting hook, adjustable feet, and a threaded adapter.
Pros:
- Made out of high quality material
- Can divert water to go down drain instead of standing
- Has a Quadrato Pattern Grate
Cons:
- It can still clog according to some users
Design Ideas Using a Linear Shower Drain
Luxury Shower with body sprays and frameless glass
In this picture, you see a corner shower that has half walls, and you can see the linear shower drain on the floor next to the chair. The water can flow nicely down the drain because it’s in a spot where it won’t have standing water. There’s also body spray, a custom chair, and a full view clear glass.
Locust Street Baths
This picture shows you a gorgeous walk-in shower with stone walls and beautiful gray tires. You can see that there’s an integrated shower linear drain near the shower hole and the built-in chair.
Cardiff Modern Grey Bathroom Full Design and Renovation
In this picture, you can see that it is a corner shower with different cuts of tire on both the floor and the wall. You can see the linear drain right next to the shower hose and see how well it merges in with the floor. There’s also a shower seat and a glass door to close the shower area.
Master Bathroom Remodel with Linear Drain
Finally, in this picture, it’s a master bedroom bathroom remodel that looks like it is big enough to be a mini steam room. There is a transitional floor that flows into the shower, that has a pony wall with a glass enclosure. You’ll also see the linear drain that’s nearly centered so that no matter what direction the water comes from, it’ll still get drained.
Difference Between Walk-in Shower and Tub
Bathroom size
A walk-in shower definitely needs a larger bathroom because of the features it may have such as sliding glass doors and more.
A bathtub usually doesn’t require that much space in the bathroom, but you still want a bathroom big enough to fit the tub.
Who’s Using the Bathroom?
A walk-in shower good for busy adults, the elderly, and disabled individuals because walk-in showers are very easy to get into and out. For those specific groups, the walk-in would have to be equipped with railings and seats.
If you have a family, you’ll definitely need a bathtub because it’s easier to manage babies and toddlers in them. Also, younger children prefer the bathtub over showers.
Energy Efficient
If being energy efficient is important to you is saving money on your energy, you definitely will prefer to walk in the shower. The reason is that the efficient shower heads are made for larger showers that are normally in a walk-in shower.
A bathtub shower head is usually not energy efficient as it is used in way more than the efficient showerheads.
Budget
It’s clearly cheaper to install a tub in the bathroom while it’s much more expensive to build a walk-in shower. However, if you are planning to resell your home in the future, the walk-in shower will increase your home value, giving you a return on your money and more. You’ll have to consider what’s in the bathroom now and see what you’ll be replacing in order to come up with the final costs of either installing a tub or walk-in shower.
Linear vs Center Shower Drains
Linear Shower Drains
Linear Shower drains are more for the looks. They are very long and can literally span from one side of the shower to the other side. They are also very expensive and it’s also more difficult to install. You can even get customized linear drains and put them in front of the shower bench for example. The linear drain also requires way more maintenance than the standard drains. It’s because the longer the drain is lower the water will go out of the system.
Center Shower Drains
Center shower drains are usually very inexpensive. You can literally get one for as little as 10 dollars. They’re extremely easy to install and a beginner or a DIY’er can do it easily. There is also little maintenance for center drains because the water goes down much quicker, and it almost cleans itself. The only catch is that they do not look as pretty as linear drains.
So, if style matters to you and you have the budget, of course, go with the linear drains. You’ll probably have to hire a professional if you don’t know what you’re doing, but it’s going to look great in the shower. If being on budget matters and you want something simple, a center shower drain is the way to go.
How to Unclog Linear Shower Drains
Boiling Water
This is one of the most common ways to unclog a drain if there’s so, grease or shampoo. But usually, it can just loosen some blockage, but you’ll still probably need to use the other methods to fully unclog the drain.
Plunger
A plunger can work if the area around the drain is wet, and you’ll have to pump the drain multiple times. But this method is not 100% effective, but I can save you a lot of money if you can remove the clog this way.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
This is a natural alternative to help with getting rid of the clog. Pour a cup of baking soda into the drain and then you want to follow it with a cup of vinegar. It will take some time to dissolve the clog. Then you pour boiling water into the drain, and it will help to stop the clog. It can be particularly useful if there’s a hair clog, as hair sometimes comes up to the surface and you can usually get it out with the fingers.
Hook
A wire hanger can also help dissolve the clog, especially if it’s primarily hair.
Hand Snake
This tool is also known as the plumber snake. It consists of a wire standing from one of the two handles present. You push the wire down the drain if it gets stuck, you know you found the clog. By then you’ll want to turn the handles in the clockwise direction, while it’s in that direction you’ll want to pull out the wire, and the clog should come out with it.
Chemicals
This is certainly one of the fastest ways of getting rid of the clog, but it can easily damage the pipes and the fumes can harm you. This should absolutely be used as your last resort if the following methods above don’t work.
Hire a Professional
If you don’t want to be bothered or you just don’t know how to do it, just call in a professional. You’ll have to pay money but at least you don’t have to worry about it.
How to Install a Linear Shower Drain
Choose the Correct Placement
This is where your drain will go. So, you’ll want to choose the correct location. The most ideal location for the linear drain is at the edge of the wall, along the doorway (make sure it’s not in an area that you can easily trip), or near the center.
Locate the Waste Drain Piping System
You want to make sure that the linear drain is obviously on top of the piping system. You may or may not have to relocate your waist drain pipework or you can get a professional to do that for you.
Cutout Holes
This is where you want to make a mark on where the pipes are. Then you’ll cut out holes where you’ll be placing the linear drain.
Pre-Install Linear Shower Drain
To make sure that the linear shower drain fits, you also want to prepare the drain onto the plumbing waste line. If it does fit, then you can move on to install everything that is needed for the drain.
Install the Rest of the Parts
You’ll want to install the moisture cleavage so that it can absorb the moisture without causing your floors to rot. Then you’ll want to check with the building codes and install the metal latch on the floor. You’ll then build drain support and connect the linear drain body.
Finally, you’ll level the drain and pack the mortar bed beneath the last pipe flange.
Tips for Placement
Simplify the Slope
Linear drains only need a single slope in one direction in order to be installed easily. However, you want to slope the bed toward or away from the door so that you or anyone else won’t trip on it.
Choose the Right Place
As we just said, you’ll want it out of the way where it’s not being tripped on. But you’ll also want to make sure it’s actually placed in the right place. If the shower is squared and without rounded corners, you’ll want to put it against the shower door wall or the wall directly opposite that.
Consider the Length
There are several lengths that you can choose from 24 inches all the way up to 60 inches. It depends on how big your walk-in shower is. For curbless walk-in showers, you’ll want to put the drain against the shower’s wall, because naturally, the water will be running down the wall and into the drain. You can also put the drain on the opposite side of the wall. Never choose a drain that’s too narrow, or you’ll end up with either a flood or water pooling up.
Flow Rates
Most linear drains can remove 8 to 10 gallons per minute so if building a custom walk-in shower, you’ll want showerheads installed that can respect that capacity.
Bottom Line
Linear shower drains are the current coolest thing to have in the shower. It looks pretty and it can direct the water flow to go where it’s supposed to go. There are both affordable and expensive options that you can choose from.
We hope that we have helped you decide which one will suit your shower needs. If you have found this guide about linear shower drains helpful in your search or if you have questions that are not yet answered, please let us know in the comments if you want to!
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