Most shower filters do one thing well: they reduce free chlorine. If your city uses chlorine as its disinfectant, a basic shower filter will work.

The problem is chloramines. More cities have switched from chlorine to chloramines over the past decade. Chloramines are harder to filter. Most popular shower filter media, specifically calcium sulfite, reduces free chlorine effectively but doesn’t do much for chloramines. Brands that claim chloramine removal without specifying media type or showing NSF/ANSI 177 certification for chloramines should be read carefully.

This page covers the real distinctions. Media type matters more than marketing copy.

Who Benefits From a Shower Filter

A shower filter makes sense if:

• You notice dry skin or brittle hair that correlates with showering in chlorinated water
• Your city has switched to chloramines and you want to reduce exposure during hot showers
• You have a mild chlorine sensitivity (skin or respiratory)
• You want a simple first step toward better water quality in the bathroom

Shower filters don’t protect drinking water. They’re point-of-use devices for the shower line only. If drinking water quality is your concern, see our reverse osmosis guide.

Media Types: What Each One Actually Does

The filter media inside a shower filter determines what it can and can’t remove. Here’s a plain breakdown.

Calcium sulfite reduces free chlorine at both hot and cold water temperatures. It does not reliably reduce chloramines. This is the most common media in budget shower filters.

KDF-55 (kinetic degradation fluxion media) reduces free chlorine and chloramines through an electrochemical reaction. It also reduces some heavy metals, including lead and mercury. KDF-55 performs better than calcium sulfite for chloramine reduction.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) neutralizes both free chlorine and monochloramine effectively. It doesn’t address other contaminants, but for pure chlorine and chloramine reduction it’s one of the most reliable options available.

Activated carbon reduces chlorine, some volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and taste and odor compounds. Works well for chlorine. Limited effect on chloramines.

The best shower filters combine media types. KDF-55 plus calcium sulfite is a common and effective pairing for chlorine. For chloramines, you want KDF-55, vitamin C, or both.

NSF/ANSI 177: The Shower Filter Standard

NSF/ANSI 177 is the certification standard for shower filtration systems. A product certified to NSF/ANSI 177 has been tested to verify it reduces free chlorine by at least 50% at a flow rate of 2.5 GPM through the rated filter life.

Note what that covers: free chlorine. NSF/ANSI 177 certification on its own doesn’t confirm chloramine reduction. A product can carry NSF/ANSI 177 and still have no tested performance against chloramines.

If a brand claims NSF/ANSI 177 certification AND chloramine reduction, ask to see the test documentation. The certification scope matters, not just the label.

Our Top Picks

Best Integrated Design: Jolie Filtered Showerhead

What it is: A showerhead with a built-in filter, one unit instead of an inline filter plus your existing showerhead.

Media type: KDF-55 and calcium sulfite

NSF certification: NSF/ANSI 177 certified

Chlorine reduction: Yes

Chloramine reduction: KDF-55 provides better performance against chloramines than calcium sulfite alone. Jolie markets chloramine reduction, confirm current NSF scope with the manufacturer before assuming full chloramine removal.

Filter life: Approximately 3 months per cartridge. Factor replacement costs into your annual budget. This is a premium-priced product with ongoing cartridge costs.

What we like: Clean, minimal design. One unit to install, no additional showerhead adapter needed. NSF/ANSI 177 certified. KDF-55 media is a better chloramine option than straight calcium sulfite.

What we don’t like: Premium price point, both for the unit itself and for ongoing cartridges. If budget is tight, the ongoing cost adds up.

Best for: People who want a well-designed integrated showerhead and filter, and are willing to pay for the aesthetics and convenience.

Check current pricing (affiliate link, see our disclosure above)

Best Budget Option: AquaBliss SF100 Multi-Stage Shower Filter

What it is: An inline filter that installs between your existing showerhead and the pipe. You keep your current showerhead.

Media type: KDF-55, calcium sulfite, and activated carbon

NSF certification: Check current certification status before purchasing.

Chlorine reduction: Yes

Chloramine reduction: KDF-55 media helps. Calcium sulfite and carbon provide limited additional chloramine reduction. Don’t expect the same performance against chloramines as against free chlorine.

What we like: Under $50, which makes it the most accessible option on this list. Multi-stage media is a good combination for free chlorine. Easy to install.

What we don’t like: Chloramine reduction is partial at best. If chloramines are your primary concern, you need either the Jolie or a vitamin C option. Budget filters also tend to have shorter-rated filter lives.

Best for: Budget buyers in cities that use free chlorine who want basic chlorine and sediment reduction.

Check current pricing on Amazon (affiliate link)

Best for Chlorine and VOCs: Aquasana AQ-4100 Shower Filter

What it is: An inline shower filter from Aquasana using carbon-based filtration.

Media type: Carbon-based

NSF certification: NSF tested. Check Aquasana’s current product page for full certification scope.

Chlorine reduction: Yes

Chloramine reduction: Carbon filtration provides limited chloramine reduction. Aquasana’s published data should be checked for current chloramine claims. Do not assume chloramine performance based on marketing copy.

What we like: Aquasana has a solid track record in home water filtration. Carbon-based media is effective for free chlorine and provides some VOC reduction, which most other shower filters don’t address.

What we don’t like: If your city uses chloramines, carbon alone is not the strongest media choice. KDF-55 or vitamin C would serve you better.

Best for: City water users on free chlorine who also want VOC reduction alongside chlorine filtration.

Check current pricing at Aquasana (affiliate link)

Best for High Flow: Berkey Shower Filter

What it is: A KDF-55-based inline shower filter with a focus on high flow rate performance.

Media type: KDF-55

Chlorine reduction: Yes

Chloramine reduction: KDF-55 media provides better chloramine performance than calcium sulfite.

What we like: Higher flow rate than many inline filters. KDF-55 is a good media choice for chloramine reduction. Works for people who want both flow and filtration.

What we don’t like: Inline filters at higher flow rates have shorter contact time between water and media. Contact time affects performance, a fast shower at full pressure reduces reduction efficiency compared to slower flow.

Best for: Households with higher shower flow demands who also have chloramine concerns.

Check current pricing (affiliate link)

Quick Comparison

How to Choose

If you’re on free chlorine (not chloramines) and want an integrated showerhead-filter combo, the Jolie is the cleanest option. The NSF/ANSI 177 cert and KDF-55 media make it a defensible choice.

If budget is the main factor and your city uses free chlorine, the AquaBliss SF100 covers the basics at a reasonable price.

If your city uses chloramines and you want the best available performance, look for products that specify vitamin C media or confirmed KDF-55 chloramine test data. None of the filters on this list should be treated as a complete solution for chloramines based on marketing claims alone.

If you want VOC reduction alongside chlorine filtering, the Aquasana AQ-4100’s carbon media addresses that gap.

Check your utility’s Consumer Confidence Report before buying anything. Knowing whether your city uses chlorine or chloramines takes five minutes and changes which filter makes sense for your water.

One important limit to set clearly. Shower filters reduce contaminants in shower water. They don’t protect your drinking water. If you have concerns about drinking water quality, lead, nitrates, PFAS, bacteria, a shower filter won’t help with that. See our RO system guide and our water test kit guide for drinking water protection.