A sanitary installation element that is arranged in a water line includes a mixing device with at least one throttling or closing element, which throttling or closing element can be moved under the pressure of the inflowing water from a mixing or open position into a throttling or closed position against a restoring force, wherein the mixing device offers a relatively large clear flow cross section when the at least one throttling or closing element in the mixing or open position, and, by contrast thereto, a reduced clear flow cross section when the at least one throttling or closing element is in the throttling or closed position. The installation element always offers an optimum flow cross section both in low and high pressure ranges.