How to Measure the GPM Flow Rate of a Faucet or Shower

By
Bob Formisano
Bob Formisano
Bob Formisano is a licensed architect and builder with nearly 40 years of experience building new homes and restoring older homes. One of his specialties is repairing old systems dating back to the 1920s, including galvanized water pipes, knob-and-tube wiring, and more. His home repair articles for The Spruce span more than 10 years.
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Updated on 08/19/22
Reviewed by
Richard Epstein
Richard Epstein
Reviewed by Richard Epstein
Richard Epstein is a licensed master plumber with over 40 years experience in residential and commercial plumbing. He specializes in estimating as well as design and engineering for plumbing systems, and he works for one of New York's largest union plumbing construction companies.
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Fact checked by
Jessica Wrubel
Jessica Wrubel
Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel
Jessica Wrubel has an accomplished background as a writer and copy editor, working for various publications, newspapers and in public libraries assisting with reference, research and special projects. In addition to her journalism experience, she has been educating on health and wellness topics for over 15 years in and outside of the classroom.
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Metal shower head with water running the GPM flow rate

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 2 mins
  • Total Time: 2 mins
  • Skill Level: Beginner

There are several reasons to measure the flow rate of your home's faucets and showers. For example, it can be a critical factor in choosing the size for a new water heater, whether it's a tankless or a traditional tank-style model. Measuring the flow rate can also be helpful information when you are buying or selling a house and evaluating the efficiency of the plumbing fixtures. Perhaps most importantly, a flow rate measurement can tell you definitively how much water a specific fixture is using, so you'll know exactly how much those long showers are costing in water use.

How Flow Rate Is Measured

The standard of measurement for water flow in plumbing fixtures is gallons per minute (GPM). Sometimes you will see a rating for flow rate printed on the packaging of a showerhead or faucet. Federal standards mandate that for water conservation purposes, all bathroom faucets sold in the U.S. after 1994 have to have a flow rate of no more than 2.2 GPM at a water pressure of 60 psi (pounds per square inch). According to the same law, showerheads may have a maximum flow rate of 2 GPM. The water pressure in your house may be higher or lower than 60 psi, and as a result, the water usage of each fixture may be below or above the product rating. That's why it's a good idea to measure the flow rate at each fixture yourself.

Fortunately, this is an easy task to accomplish with a few simple items.

A small pitcher is an ideal container for catching the water from faucets because it makes it easy to pour out the water for measuring. A large bucket is best for a showerhead because it makes it easier to catch all of the water from the showerhead's spray. For timing, most people use the timer feature on a smartphone, or you can simply use a watch or clock.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Bucket or another container for catching water
  • Timer or stopwatch
  • Measuring cup

Materials

  • Piece of paper (optional)

Instructions

Materials and tools to measure GPM flow rate of faucet or shower

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

  1. Collect the Water

    Set the timer to 10 seconds. Turn on the cold water full-blast. Start the timer and simultaneously place the container under the water stream or spray, making sure all of the water is collected. Collect the water for exactly 10 seconds, then shut off the fixture.

    Faucet running with bucket underneath collecting water

    The Spruce / Michelle Becker

  2. Measure the Water

    Measure the quantity of water in the container, using the measuring cup. You might want to note the cupfuls on a piece of paper, so you don't lose track. Convert the measurement to gallons. (There are 16 cups, or 4 quarts, in a gallon.) The measurement can be expressed as a simple fraction. For example, 8 cups equal 8/16, or 1/2 gallon.

    Copper measuring cup scooping water from bucket

    The Spruce / Michelle Becker

  3. Calculate the GPM Flow Rate

    Multiply the measured quantity of water by 6 to calculate the flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM). In our example, 1/2 gallon was collected in 10 seconds. That number multiplied by 6 (to determine one minute) equals 3 gallons. Therefore, the flow rate is 3 GPM.

    Notepad with measured quantities of water written by pen

    The Spruce / Michelle Becker

Tips for Changing a Fixture's Flow Rate

In most cases, the reason for changing the flow rate on a faucet or shower is to reduce water usage.

Bathroom Faucets

As a general guideline, the faucet flow rate in the bathroom should be 1.5 GPM or less. This is the maximum flow rate established by the EPA's WaterSense program, and generally speaking, that's more than enough water for a bathroom faucet. If you're concerned about water use, you can save more by installing a ​low-flow aerator that restricts the flow to 1.0 GPM or even less, and it's unlikely you'll notice the difference.

Kitchen Faucets

Kitchen faucets typically have a maximum flow rate of 2.2 GPM. It might make sense to lower this to 1.5 GPM by using a low-flow aerator, but the tradeoff is that it will take longer to fill pots of water. If you rinse a lot of dishes with the faucet on full blast however, it might make sense to reduce your kitchen faucet's flow rate to save water.

Showers

The maximum flow rate for showerheads is 2.5 GPM. If your measured flow rate is any higher, replace the showerhead. The new unit will quickly pay for itself in water savings and, more significantly, in reduced water heating costs. For a typical user, the shower flow consists of about 70% hot water.