The 9 Best Shower Curtain Liners

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Shower curtain liners keep water from soaking your floor and bath mat. Many liners are made from cheap, durable, and water-repellent plastics like PVC or PEVA. They're easy to maintain, but many end up in landfills. Fabric liners repel water but can also look nice enough to double as your main shower curtain.

"I'm personally partial to polyester as it has a softer, more elevated look and feel than the old-school vinyl options, but it's still water-repellent and mildew-resistant (as much as it can be)," said Heather Goerzen, a designer at online interior design platform Havenly. "It's easy enough to throw it in the wash for a good clean every month."

Other than deciding your preferred material, we also recommend looking for liners with weighted, magnetic hems so they don't blow around during your shower. All of our picks are based on research and expert input from Goerzen and materials engineer Peter Kofinas. Read more about our methodology here. Keep in mind none of the options come with curtain hooks, so you'll need to buy those separately.

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Best overall: Maytex 10-Gauge PVC Shower Liner - See at Amazon The Maytex 10-Gauge PVC Shower Liner is an affordable option that will stay put, keeping your bathroom floor dry and clean.

Best mildew-resistant: Liba PEVA 8-Gauge Bathroom Shower Curtain Liner - See at AmazonThe popular Liba PEVA 8-Gauge Bathroom Shower Curtain Liner features a mildew-resistant treatment, three magnets, and rust-proof grommets for your hooks.

Best hookless: Hookless Waffle Fabric Shower Curtain - See at Bed Bath & BeyondThe cleverly designed Hookless Waffle Fabric Shower Curtain attaches directly to the curtain rod without hooks, and the liner snaps on to the curtain.

Best washable: Crate & Barrel Shower Curtain Liner - See at Crate & BarrelMade of machine-washable polyester, the Crate & Barrel Shower Curtain Liner is durable yet stylish.

Best set: N&Y Home Waffle Shower Curtain with Snap-In Fabric Liner - See at AmazonFor an easy-to-replace liner, N&Y Home Stall Waffle Shower Curtain lets you snap one in and out when it needs a wash.

Best heavy-duty: Gorilla Grip PEVA Heavy-Duty Shower Curtain Liner - See at AmazonThick and lined with weighty magnets, the Gorilla Grip PEVA Heavy-Duty Shower Curtain Liner helps keep water inside your tub or shower.

Best fabric: Maytex Water Repellent Fabric Shower Liner - See at AmazonThe Maytex Water Repellent Fabric Shower Liner is affordable, easy to maintain, and water repellent.

Best eco-friendly: Parachute Shower Curtain Liner - See at ParachuteSlightly opaque, the Parachute Shower Curtain Liner is made of polyester and looks nice enough to hang on its own.

Best decorative shower curtain liner: Quiet Town Sun Shower Curtain - See at Quiet Town For a liner that's as decorative as the shower curtain it protects, the Quiet Town Sun Shower Curtain adds a colorful touch to the inside of your tub.

Pros: Durable, heavy, mildew and water resistant

Cons: Not machine washable, transparent, PVC may be difficult to recycle

Cheap but effective PVC liners are suitable for college apartments, guest bathrooms, and anyone on a budget. The drawback is that you might have to replace them more often.

Lightweight PVC liners don't stay in place when you're showering, which is why this option from Maytex is a repeat purchase for senior home editor Lisa Sabatini. The 10-gauge vinyl doesn't billow and stick to you or let water escape onto the floor. A houseguest was so impressed with the liner that they went on to purchase it after staying with Sabatini. She calls it one of her favorite budget household items.

Unfortunately, the liner isn't machine safe, so you'll have to hand wash it regularly so you're not constantly replacing it. While inexpensive, PVC liners may not be accepted by all municipal curbside recycling programs.

Pros: Mildew resistant, rust-proof grommets, available in a few colors and many sizes

Cons: Not machine washable

If you don't mind the plastic look — which will likely be hidden by your main shower curtain anyway — and wiping down your liner from time to time, a PEVA shower liner offers excellent durability and mildew resistance.

Liba claims its liner will inhibit mildew growth four times longer than its competitors', meaning you won't need to clean or replace it as often. It has rust-resistant grommets along the top and weighted magnets in the bottom to keep it in place.

The liner comes in five colors (clear, frosted, black fabric and white) and several sizes.

Pros: Hook-free design, detachable liner, machine washable

Cons: Limited designs and colors for the curtain

Most shower curtains and liners don't come with rings, which are usually necessary to attach the fabric to the rod. Hookless curtains and liners have holes so you can just slide them onto the rod, no extra plastic or metal rings necessary.

The Hookless Waffle Fabric Shower Curtain is a two-piece set with a curtain and a detachable liner. It uses incorporated rings rather than hooks to fit onto a straight or curved curtain rod. The polyester liner snaps onto the main curtain, and you can purchase replacements separately.

Both are water-resistant and are treated with an antimicrobial layer. Plus, the curtain's waffle design and the translucent window work nicely with a variety of decor. However, the curtain doesn't come in as many designs and colors as if you bought a liner separately.

Pros: Machine washable, six magnets to keep liner in place

Cons: Only one size and color available, mold or mildew may form on fabric around magnets

Polyester is a nice alternative to vinyl liners because they're often machine washable while still being resistant to mold and water, though not quite as much as their plastic counterparts.

Crate & Barrel's polyester liner is coated with polyurethane on one side to make it more durable. There are six magnets along the bottom to help weigh it down or cling to some tubs. You can wash it on cold then hang it to dry.

Some reviewers note that water can seep into the bottom where the magnets are, causing mold or mildew to develop.

Pros: Detachable liner, machine washable, many color and size options, mesh panel lets in light

Cons: Doesn't include hooks, magnets on corners only

Similar to Hookless curtain, the N&Y Home set comes with a curtain and snap-in line. It's a great alternative if you prefer hooks or if your rod isn't easily detachable.

Insider kitchen reporter Owen Burke runs rental properties in his spare time, and he notes that keeping shower liners clean is a constant struggle. "This design easily snaps off, bleaches white, and snaps back on before I even have time to sweat the chore," he said. You can purchase the curtain in many colors, though the liners are typically white, and the replacements are white or gray. A mesh panel at the top allows light to filter through, which is nice if you opt for a darker color curtain.

Some reviewers have noted that the set doesn't include hooks though it says they're included on the Amazon page. Also, the magnets are only in the corners of the liner, which may allow it to billow a bit in the middle.

Pros: Heavy-duty, three magnets, many colors and sizes

Cons: Not machine washable

Gorilla Grip's PEVA construction, three strong magnets, and rust-resistant grommets make it a durable pick. It weighs nearly 16 ounces, which helps keep it from shifting and letting water escape onto the floor.

We also like that it comes in many sizes and color options, including pink, sky blue, and beige. Certain colors are either translucent or a bit more opaque, so you can pick what suits your setup best.

Because it's PEVA, the liner needs to be hand washed.

Pros: Machine washable, rust-resistant grommets, water repellent

Cons: Only available in one size, magnets on corners only

Though it's around the same price as many of the PVC or PEVA options, this liner from Maytex is made of polyester and is machine washable. It doesn't look quite as nice as some of the pricier polyester options, but it's an affordable choice for those who prefer not to buy a vinyl liner.

Sabatini has also used this liner. It was easy to toss in the washer, helping to keep it free of buildup, she said.

Because there are only two magnets, the center of the liner may gape open, letting some water escape or causing the fabric to stick to you.

Pros: Machine washable

Cons: Only available in one size and color

Parachute is known for its eco-friendly home goods, from rugs to mattresses to sheets. Its shower curtain is made of polyester and could be mistaken for a curtain instead of a liner. It's only a lightly opaque, though, so you might want to pair it with a curtain for more privacy.

Any polyester liner will lack the plasticky smell of vinyl, but Parachute's also looks sophisticated and drapes nicely. It's one of the more elevated liners we're seen.

Unfortunately, it only comes in one size and is only available in white.

Pros: Heavy 12-gauge material, available in a range of colors,

Cons: May be too translucent to use without a curtain, no magnets, not machine washable, only one size available

There are a few options on this that offer colors beyond the standard white or gray, but none have quite as many as Quiet Town. From lavender to amber to mint, there are enough hues to coordinate with almost any shower curtain. You can find a few two-tone liners, too.

The thick, 12-gauge PEVA liner doesn't have magnets but is heavy on its own. Plus, there are two grommets at the bottom corners to add some extra weight, too.

While the liners are pretty and high-quality, they're all also translucent. If you prefer more privacy, you'd still need to pair it with a shower curtain.

A shower curtain liner helps prevent mildew and keeps water in the tub and off your floors. If your shower curtain isn't made from a water-resistant material, you'll need a liner to protect it from the water.

The standard liner dimensions are 72 by 72 inches. There are also extra long or extra wide versions on the market. Measure your shower before purchasing to ensure you're not getting a liner that's too narrow, short, or large.

Short for polyvinyl chloride and known colloquially as vinyl, it's a common polymer that is cheap, durable, and water-resistant. Plasticizer may be added, as in the case of shower liners, to make it softer and more flexible.

Short for polyethylene-vinyl acetate, PEVA is a chlorine-free alternative to PVC that is also cheap, durable, and water-resistant. In addition to shower curtain liners, it's used as foam rubber in shoes and other sports equipment.

"PVC and PEVA are safe," said Kofinas. PVC contains small quantities of chlorine gas, "but it's definitely not toxic." A PVC liner can be dangerous "if you stand close to [it], and you sniff it for hours," said Kofinas.

"It will all vary depending on your environment, the amount of humidity in your bathroom, and the fabric type of the liner itself," said Goerzen. If washing does not remove the build-up, it's time to throw away your liner and buy a new one.

"I'm personally partial to polyester as it has a softer, more elevated look and feel than the old-school vinyl options, but it's still water-repellent and mildew-resistant (as much as it can be)," said Goerzen.

Goerzen suggests adding baking soda to the wash to break down grime and mildew. For non-machine-washable liners, scrub it clean with a sponge, water, and white vinegar when you notice grime and mildew build-up.

We spoke with Havenly interior designer Heather Goerzen and Peter Kofinas, a professor and chair of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Maryland, about what goes into a great shower curtain liner and what materials to look for. With their advice in mind, we then selected a handful of liners for each category.

Our next update will involve requesting samples of all the liners and conducting durability and water resistance tests.

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