When looking at steam shower generator reviews, your focus should be on getting a steam generator that turns your shower into a sauna without much noise, power usage, or taking too long. To make your choices easier and informed, I reviewed 27 steam shower generators then rounded up the best 5 as detailed below.
The best steam shower generator is the EliteSteam 7.5 KiloWatt Luxury Home Steam Shower System. It’s of medium size and steams a 320 cubic feet bathroom in just 2 minutes. Out of the box, it has all the parts ready for installation. Using it is easy and it has an 11-year warranty.
Best steam shower generators
The best steam shower systems have a balance between power, size, noise, and ease of use. The 5 units selected below have these traits and many more and offer the best value for money. With there being many benefits to steam showers, one of these steam generators should serve you well.
The best steam shower generators are as follows:
1. EliteSteam 7.5 KiloWatt Luxury Home Steam Shower System
First up is the very impressive EliteSteam Shower System which boasts high-quality materials and is very easy to install. It’s a tight and compact steam generator which means it’ll fit just about anywhere in your bathroom during operation.
My test unit came with everything including the steam generator, the inside control, the steamhead, and the power cable. This made it easy to install and using it was also just as easy. The steam produced is dense enough to create a sauna-like experience in your bathroom.
Main features
| Heating time | 2 minutes |
| Size | 15 x 6 x 15.5 inches (L x W x H) |
| Weight | 30.2 pounds |
| Voltage | 240 volts (AC power source) |
| Wattage | 7.5 kW |
| Cable length | 16 feet |
| Coverage | 320 cubic feet |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Color | Brushed nickel |
| Warranty | 1-year defects, 10 years limited |
The good
- Fast as it fills the bathroom with steam in about 2 minutes.
- Small and compact thus saving on bathroom space.
- Long power cable means the steam generator can be installed just about anywhere in the bathroom.
- Easy to use with a control panel and displayed information.
- Can be used with essential oils as it has a built-in aromatherapy reservoir.
- High-quality parts with a long warranty of 11 years in total. The stainless steel won’t rust during use.
- Great customer support.
- Power-efficient.
The not-so-good
- The packaging could be better.
Using this steam generator is a joy since it requires little input from the user. It was so good I decided to keep the review unit. The company could do better with the packaging although my unit arrived intact and with nothing missing. It’s worth the money.
2. Kohler K-5529-NA Invigoration Steam Generator
In a close second is the Kohler K-5529-NA steam generator. A Kohler steam shower kit, like all other products from Kohler, is a guarantee of quality and this unit is no exception. It comes in a corrosion-resistant stainless steel finish and is very easy to use.
With coverage of up to 240 cubic feet in a minute (60 seconds), this Kohler steam generator surprised me with how efficient it is. My bathroom is a bit bigger than 240 cubic feet but it still managed to fill it with steam in a very short time.
Main features
| Heating time | 1 minute |
| Size | 20 x 6.5 x 12.5 inches (L x W x H) |
| Weight | 20 pounds |
| Voltage | 1 volt |
| Wattage | 9 kW |
| Cable length | Not included |
| Coverage | 240 cubic feet |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Color | Aluminum |
| Warranty | 3 years limited |
The good
- The Fast Response technology makes it fast as it fills the bathroom with steam in a minute.
- No manual flushing or draining as it works automatically with the Power Clean feature.
- Keeps the steam consistent with the Constant Steam feature.
- Easy to use given the easily-understood control panel.
- Auto-Shutoff shuts down the unit if it’s not reactivated thus saving on power.
- Efficient water usage (1 gallon per 20 minutes).
The not-so-good
- Doesn’t include a connection cable.
The quality and ease of use of this steam generator far outweigh its lack of a connection cable. I didn’t have any issues installing and testing my unit with the most fascinating feature being how fast it steams and maintains the steam level in the shower.
3. Steam Planet Superior 6kW Self-Draining Steam Bath Generator
In the third position is the very impressive Steam Planet Superior Steam Bath Generator. It’s one of the large ones and will cover up to 320 cubic feet of bathroom space. It’s packed with self-draining technology that eliminates the need for manual draining. This makes it easier to maintain.
The reason this Superior unit is one of the best steam shower generators is how easy it is to use. It comes with programmable controls which allow you set a temperature range and timer for your steam shower. After that, it does the rest.
Main features
| Heating time | 10 minutes |
| Size | 20 x 10 x 20 inches (L x W x H) |
| Weight | 27.2 pounds |
| Voltage | 220 volts |
| Wattage | 6 kW |
| Cable length | 16 feet |
| Coverage | 320 cubic feet |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Color | Chrome |
| Warranty | 5 years limited |
The good
- Self-draining thus easy to maintain.
- Easy to use with the programmable controls.
- Covers a large room up to 320 feet.
- Can be used for aromatherapy.
- Comes with all the parts ready for use.
The not-so-good
- Takes slightly longer to steam the bathroom.
With the Steam Planet Superior, you get one of the best steam shower kits given how complete it is right out of the box. It also packs a lot of great features, especially the programmable controls. Although it takes a while to fully steam up the bathroom, I never noticed much difference since I always let mine warm the bathroom for a while before going in.
4. Steam Planet Superior Steam Shower Generator DeLuxe
The Steam Planet Superior DeLuxe steam generator is ideal for small to large showers measuring 140 to 320 cubic feet. It comes with all the parts ready to connect and use and will be set up in a short while. It took me less than 30 minutes to start using it after unpacking. It may take longer if you’re installing it as a permanent part of the shower.
Weighing only 27.1 pounds and measuring 20 x 19.8 x 10 inches (L x W x H), this steam generator can fill your bathroom with steam in a short while with the time depending on the size of your bathroom. My bathroom is about 300 cubic feet and it took this unit about 10 minutes to fill it with steam.
Main features
| Heating time | 10 minutes |
| Size | 20 x 10 x 20 inches (L x W x H) |
| Weight | 27.1 pounds |
| Voltage | 220 volts |
| Wattage | 6 kW |
| Cable length | 16 feet |
| Coverage | 140 – 320 cubic feet |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Color | Black keypad |
| Warranty | 3 years limited |
The good
- Self-draining mechanism eliminates manual draining.
- Safe since it prevents over-steaming.
- Automated controls ensure the temperature and time set are always right.
- High-quality stainless steel materials ensure longevity.
- Easy to install and use without the need to buy more parts.
The not-so-good
- The drip pan doesn’t drain well.
- Takes longer than the other options in steaming the room.
When testing this steam shower generator, I noticed that its drainage system isn’t very good although it prevents the collection of too much water in it. It’s not a deal-breaker since you won’t need to manually drain the collected water. Other than that, it provided one of the best shower experiences with its consistent steam.
5. CGOLDENWALL 6kW Luxury Self-Draining Steam Generator
Wrapping up this list is another highly impressive steam shower generator, the CGOLDENWALL Steam Generator. It’s one of the lightest and smallest at 22.7 pounds and with dimensions of 15.5 x 5.7 x 15.5 inches (L x W x H). These qualities make it suitable for showers up to 148 cubic feet.
When installing mine, I noted that it comes with all the accessories most notably the cable which misses in some brands. The installation is quick and so is the steaming process which takes 3 to 5 minutes to steam the whole bathroom.
Main features
| Heating time | 3 – 5 minutes |
| Size | 15.5 x 5.7 x 15.5 inches (L x W x H) |
| Weight | 22.7 pounds |
| Voltage | 220 volts |
| Wattage | 6 kW |
| Cable length | 16 feet |
| Coverage | 148 cubic feet |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Color | White |
| Warranty | 1 year limited |
The good
- Small size for use in areas with limited space.
- Easy installation with clear instructions in the manual.
- Fills the shower with steam in 3 to 5 minutes thus saving on time.
- Made of high-quality stainless steel materials for longevity.
- Automatic temperature control and shutdown for safety and power efficiency.
The not-so-good
- Small in size.
This unit is quite small and ideal for similarly small showers. With my bathroom twice its ideal coverage, it took about 10 minutes to fully steam it but, after that, there was no problem. All in all, it’s a great choice if you want to enjoy a sauna-like experience in your shower.
When using a steam shower, wear as little as possible just like in a sauna. This allows the steam to have maximum contact with your body for the best benefits. Some high presure handheld shower heads have a steam feature as well.
What to look for in a steam shower generator
There is a long list of steam shower generators on the market. However, only a handful are worth your time and, through testing and research, the most important considerations include the following:
Quality of the shower
The quality of the shower generator will depend on the materials used and the quality of construction. Stainless steel is the most favored material for steam shower generators as it doesn’t rust or corrode. It’s made better by a coat of water-resistant paint to keep it in good shape in the moist conditions of the bathroom.
Steam generator power
A steam generator needs to be powerful enough to sufficiently fill the shower with steam. This means that, first, it needs to fill the shower with steam in a short time. Secondly, it needs to provide enough steam for the time you’ll be in the shower.
The steam generator you choose should fill the shower in about 10 minutes or less. This short steam shower generator wait time helps save time when you’re in a hurry. Also, it should have the technology to know when to add more steam at the right temperature to save on power and prevent scalding.
Space available
Steam shower generators can be installed either inside the shower or outside depending on the instructions of the manufacturer. As such, you need a steam generator that is small enough to fit your bathroom if you’re using it inside the shower.
Also, you need to keep in mind safety issues given that steam generators use electricity which isn’t friendly to water. For this reason, ensure there is enough space to safely run wires and steam pipes in the bathroom without any risk of electrocution.
Run time
The run time of your steam generator determines how long it’ll provide steam. Basically, the longer the run time, the better the steam generator is since it’ll allow you to enjoy the sauna experience for longer.
There are steam generators with an unlimited run time in that they run as long as you want them to. However, most have run times of about 30 minutes which is long enough for most people.
Shower height
The height of your steam shower generator greatly determines how good of an experience you will have. The steam needs to enter the shower stall at the right height and speed to avoid concentrating in certain areas while lacking in the others.
Length of warranty
The length and coverage of a warranty are often a vote of confidence in the quality of the product. For this reason, you need a steam shower generator with as long of a warranty as possible. There are warranties from a year to 10 years depending on the product.
Ensure that the warranty covers the most important parts of the steam generator. These include the replaceable parts and even the labor used in fixing a broken steam shower generator.
Automatic shutoff
The automatic shutoff feature in a steam generator shuts it off when the temperature is attained or when the tank runs out of water. This prevents overheating and breaking down due to the same.
Level of noise
Steam generators may hum, vibrate or produce other types of noises when working. This can be a disturbance to you or other people in the house. To remedy this, look for a quiet steam generator.
Automatic drainage
Automatic drainage allows the unused and collected water in the steam generator to flow out after you’re done steaming yourself. This keeps away bacteria that may accumulate due to the stagnant water in the steam generator. Others will have manual drainage where you drain the water yourself.
Ease of use
You shouldn’t have to struggle with getting the settings you want on your steam shower generator and this is a major factor to consider. The unit you choose should have controls that make it easy to get the temperature and time you want as you use it.
The control panel of the steam generator should be easy to navigate for this purpose.
Weight
The weight of the steam shower generator should be just enough to allow for easy installation and movement but the steam generator also needs to be powerful enough. The ideal weight is between 20-25 pounds since it allows for enough power while also being easy to move around.
Cables and hoses
While not a primary consideration, you should pick a steam generator that has the right cables and hoses for connection to water and electricity. Most Kohler steam shower generators do not come with a power cable and no steam shower generator comes with a water hose.
When buying cables and hoses for your steam generator, make sure it’s what the manufacturer has recommended and is the right length. Never exceed the recommended cable or hose length since it’s dangerous.
With these guidelines and steam shower generators, making a choice among the 5 included units is much easier. Having tested a lot of steam generators and given different lifestyles and use case scenarios, you need to choose the right steam generator as per your needs.