From 100% cotton to recycled Eva plastic options, we subjected 12 shower curtains to a perpetually foggy apartment bathroom to find the best in the US
The best bath towels in the US, from fluffy to quick drying – tested
Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things
The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.
Shower curtains are one of those everyday items that probably affect your day more than you realize. After all, you probably confront your shower curtain every morning, when you’re both naked and sleepy. It can be a welcoming gateway to your own personal spa, or a mildewed portal to hell.
The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.
If you’re dealing with the latter, it may be time for a new one, but shopping for one can be more complicated than it should be. Clear plastic or drapery-like fabric? Do you need a liner? Is that overwhelming plastic stench bad for me?
We tried 12 models in a variety of materials to figure out the best options, taking into account budget, aesthetics and environmental impact.
This guide was originally published in 2025 and was updated in August 2026 with new curtains from Brondell and Rawganique, along with shower curtain hooks.
I’ve been writing about consumer products for more than two decades, and have written product testing reports for a wide variety of newspapers and magazines. My first test is always to unbox the product and see if I can figure everything out without reading the directions. I regularly attend industry shows to stay up to speed on new products for the home, learn about new features and try them for myself.
Over the course of three months, I installed and used 10 shower curtains in my windowless, fanless NYC apartment including those made from plastic, cotton, polyester, linen and hemp. Later, I did the same for two new curtains and four sets of hooks.
I tested the fabric models without liners, taking a 10-minute shower and not being careful about how splashy I was being. The next morning, I inspected for dampness and recorded the results.
I cleaned each one according to manufacturers’ directions, whether that was machine-washing and drying it, or just spraying it down.
Why we love it: Waffle weaves are very popular for shower curtains, and this was our favorite among them. It’s quite a bit heavier than the others, which means it drapes really nicely and looks upscale, even after washing and drying. Considering its weight, I expected it to be among the most waterlogged curtains, but was surprised to find it only slightly damp along the bottom hem the morning after a shower. It comes with large grommets across the top, so you don’t need separate curtain rings, and is Oeko-Tex certified, which means it has passed tests showing it to be harmless to human health.
It’s a shame that … before laundering it had a slight chemical smell, but it was mild and disappeared once washed.
