Best bathroom sinks, taps, toilets, baths and showers

We've rated bathroom fixtures – including baths, toilets and shower enclosures – from big-name bathroom companies such as B&Q, Ideal Standard, Ikea, RAK, Roca and more.

The tables show how each company fared, based on feedback from more than 6,800 people, plus the best-performing brands for each product type, with ratings for quality and durability. 

We've also rated the best and worst bathroom brands for their product ranges, quality of advice, delivery and customer service 

Should you buy a bathroom suite?

Buying a bathroom suite rather than picking out items individually will often save you money, as retailers bundle them up to create a competitive package. 

You'll also only have to pay once for delivery and installation, and you can plan the whole lot at once to make sure the styles match.

However, if you'd prefer to upgrade your bathroom one piece at a time – or have your eye on a standout feature such as a freestanding bathtub – you may be able to find discounted deals on specific parts and slowly build a unique design over time.

Best baths

Looking for a quality bath that will last? Our ratings cover eight big-name suppliers, including Armitage Shanks, Carron, Ideal Standard, Roca and several retailers' own brands.

Which? members can log in to unlock the best bath brands in the tables below. 

If you're not already a member, join Which? for instant access.

Choosing a bath

Freestanding baths come in a variety of designs, from traditional claw-footed, roll-top tubs to minimalist, modern styles, as well as shorter, deeper roll-top baths for smaller spaces.

Fitted baths tend to be more practical if you have less space, and they're usually cheaper than freestanding baths.

If you can, visit a showroom and get into the bath you like to see how it feels before making your decision. You may feel silly, but you’d feel sillier if you spent hundreds of pounds on a bath you’re uncomfortable in.

Shop around so you end up with the highest-quality bath you can afford.

If you don't have much space, you may choose to ditch a bath entirely in favour of a large shower unit.

Need inspiration? Read our guide on how to design a bathroom for decor ideas and tips

Best toilets

If it's time to upgrade your loo, we've rated 15 toilet suppliers for quality and durability to help you find a toilet that will last for years.

Log in or join Which? to discover the best toilet brands.

Choosing a toilet

It may not be the most glamorous aspect of designing your bathroom, but your toilet will get lots of use over the years, so it’s important to buy the right one.

Types of toilet

• Close-coupled toilet This is the most common type, with the cistern and toilet bowl together in one unit, as opposed to traditional-style toilets where the cistern sits high above. They come in a huge range of styles, from sleek, modern designs to more traditional shapes.
• Back-to-wall toilet These offer a more modern look, as the workings of the toilet are set into the wall. Check whether the cistern is included in the price or sold separately.
• Bathroom vanity units with a toilet Toilets incorporated into a vanity unit are essentially back-to-wall units that allow you to hide the workings of the toilet but still give you an additional work surface for storage.
• Toilet with sink Some loos have a sink incorporated into the toilet cistern. These are good if your bathroom is small, as they make use of often-wasted space between a sink and toilet. They can also hide ugly pipework, although they do make it trickier to access the plumbing if there are issues.

Toilet seats and flushes 

Check whether your toilet comes with a seat when buying – not all do. You can buy soft-close loo seats that close slowly to prevent slamming. 

Toilets can have a dual flush, power flush or gravity flush, to name but a few. This will affect your water use, as well as how powerful and effective the flush is.

Shift limescale and grime with our advice on how to clean your bathroom

Best bathroom sinks

From retailer own brands B&Q and Wickes to well-known manufacturers Armitage Shanks and Duravit, we've rated 17 brands to help you choose the best bathroom sink.

Log in or join Which? to get instant access to these ratings.

Choosing a bathroom sink

Types of bathroom sink

Bathroom sinks come in a vast array of shapes, sizes and design:

• Freestanding sinks These come with a full pedestal.
• Wall-hung sinks These don't have a base, but you can choose ones with half a pedestal.
• Corner sinks A good way to make the most of smaller bathrooms or awkward layouts.
• Vanity units with sink Complete units where the sink is fitted into a cupboard or storage unit.
• 'Vessel' or counter-top sinks These sit on top of a counter, which could be a floating shelf or a cupboard, specially made or converted from other storage.
• Double bathroom sinks These come as one unit where the two bowls are part of the same mould, or you can get two separate counter-top sinks, mounted on a unit. 

Most sinks are ceramic, but you can also find them in stone, marble and even treated wood.

Consider your sink's height and position – you don't want to have to stoop down to it, for example, or for it to be somewhere awkward to access.

Don't be swayed solely by the look; also think about how easy it will be to clean, particularly if you live in a hard-water area.

Wall-hung (or ‘floating’) sinks are often set into a wall or a unit, saving space. A vanity unit could also be a good option, as it means incorporating the sink into a cupboard. 

Best shower enclosures

To help you choose the best shower enclosure, we've rated shower cubicles and enclosures from the nine brands, including shower specialists Merlyn and Mira. 

Log in or join Which? to get instant access to these ratings.

Choosing a shower and shower enclosure

Shower enclosure types

Shower enclosures come in numerous shape and sizes, or you could choose a standalone shower screen for a wet-room look. Think about the space you have and what shape would work best. There are four common types:

• Square shower enclosure These are ideal for fitting into a corner.
• Rectangular shower enclosure Great for larger spaces, as they can be longer.
• Quadrant shower enclosures A triangular-shaped shower that fits into a corner. You can also get offset quadrant shower enclosures, which are slightly longer.
• D-shaped shower enclosure Similar to quadrant enclosures, but with just one flat side that sits against the middle of a wall rather than a corner.

Most shower screens and trays come in set sizes. You can get bespoke ones made, but they'll cost more.  

Consider how much room you will need inside the shower – you don't want to end up banging your elbows every time you wash.

Going too big can make the rest of your bathroom feel cramped. We'd suggest marking out the space to see how it will feel.

Think about its position, too. Will it go into a corner? Is there a designated space it can go into? Or would you like it in the middle of a wall, with three sides, making it a feature? 

Shower screens

The type of doors you have will impact the position. Sliding doors are great for saving space, while hinged/pivot and bi-fold doors will need enough room to accommodate them.

Don't forget the glass thickness. This ranges from around 4mm (curved screens tend to be thinner) to 10mm. The thicker it is, the more durable it's likely to be. Toughened safety glass is a particularly good choice if you have small children or a walk-in shower.

You can also get glass with a special coating to help reduce soap buildup. Frameless glass will give you a sleek finish but can be more liable to chip, so it's not a great choice for a family bathroom.

Showers

You'll also have to choose the type of shower you want – electric, power, mixer or digital – and the shower head.

We've tested electric showers from Mira, Triton and more to find the best units that won't freeze you with sudden temperature drops or burn you with high energy bills.

Discover the best electric showers according to our independent tests

Best bathroom taps

The best bathroom taps deliver on style and substance. We've rated 16 bathroom tap brands for quality and durability, including Bristan, Grohe, Vado and more. 

Log in or join Which? to get instant access to these ratings.

Choosing bathroom taps

Types of bathroom taps

• Pillar taps Separate taps for hot and cold water.
• Mixer taps These give you both hot and cold water together. There are two main types: an individual tap with just one handle that automatically mixes hot and cold, and double-handled taps that allow you to choose the amount of hot or cold water you run. 
• Wall-mounted taps As opposed to sitting on your basin or bath, these are mounted on the wall, which is ideal for smaller basins where there's less surface area to fit a tap. They're also easier to clean since water doesn't pool around the base of the tap, causing limescale. 
• Freestanding taps These sit on the floor or countertop, adding a sense of grandeur or drama to a freestanding bath.
• Waterfall bathroom taps The water flows over the top of the spout for a contemporary look.
• Colourful taps Most taps are chrome-coated solid brass, but there's an ever-increasing range of gold and rose gold taps, as well as colourful taps in yellow, blue, orange, pastels and more. Black bathroom taps seem to be on trend, but they're likely to need a lot of cleaning as they will show limescale.

Your tap choice might be determined by the basin or bath you choose, as some come with pre-drilled holes for the taps, so think about this when buying. 

Also, check what your home's water pressure is like, as not all taps will work with all systems, particularly low pressure (0.5 to 1 bar) ones.

Think about how high the tap sits on the basin to ensure it's not too cramped when washing your hands.

Lastly, look for taps with ceramic disks instead of plastic washers, as they tend to be more reliable.

Don't forget the loo roll! Which? members can discover the best toilet rolls from our tests

Where to buy bathroom sinks, taps, toilets, baths and showers

• Homebase/Bathstore (own brand plus major brands)
• B&Q (own brand plus major brands)
• Ikea (own brand only)
• Plumbworld (major brands)
• Screwfix (own brand plus major brands)
• Victoria Plum (own brand plus major brands)
• Victorian Plumbing (own brand plus major brands)
• Wickes (own brand plus major brands)
• Wolseley (own brand plus major brands)

Which? bathroom reviews

If you're after a complete bathroom suite rather than individual fixtures and fittings, we also asked people who had bought at least two bathroom components from the same brand about their experience of that brand as a whole. 

We've also rated bathroom retailers based on feedback from thousands of customers in our survey, including in areas such as the quality of advice given, ease of arranging delivery, how problems were dealt with and value for money. 

Visit our guide to the best and worst bathroom brands to see the full results and to find out more about how Which? rates bathroom brands

If you're looking for a reliable installer in your area, use Which? Trusted Traders to find recommended companies that have passed our stringent checks.

How to deal with bathroom problems

If you have an issue with your bathroom within the first year, you will usually be able to have it fixed or the faulty item replaced under warranty or guarantee.

If not, you can fall back on your protection under the Consumer Rights Act. This entitles you to products and services that are:

• of satisfactory quality
• fit for their purpose
• as described
• and fitted with reasonable care.

If you have a problem with a bathroom that isn't down to simple wear and tear, contact the provider as soon as you notice the issue. Follow up any verbal complaints with a letter or email. 

Having everything in writing, including photos of the problem (if applicable) will make things easier if the company is unhelpful or the problem continues. Ideally, get written confirmation from the company of any agreements to fix it, along with a date.

Read our full guide on how to get a faulty product replaced or repaired and use our template letter to ask for a faulty item to be repaired or replaced