Updated on Oct. 17, 2024
From small shower stools to fashionable bath benches, the best shower chair provides extra stability for elders and others with mobility concerns.
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A less permanent alternative to installing accessible grab bars, a shower chair, stool or bench is one that’s specifically made for use in bathtubs and/or showers. Designed for people who are elderly, infirm or who have a physical disability that makes it difficult to stand for an extended period of time, finding the best shower chair, bathtub chair, shower stool or shower bench will make showers more accessible in your bathroom.
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If you’re the least bit unsteady, entering and exiting a combination shower and bath can be scary. The Carousel Sliding Transfer Bench with Swivel Seat makes the task much easier and safer with a padded seat that swivels into place before sliding into your favored bathing spot. Plus, the adjustable aluminum legs tick a lot of boxes.
This shower chair fits over most bathtubs, and its reversible design allows you to get in or out from the right or left side. It holds up to 330 pounds, and comes in a high-contrast blue for the visually impaired.
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The simple, straightforward design of this adjustable tub and shower seat includes all the essentials. It’s lightweight and strong with stainless steel legs that adjust from 14 to 21 inches.
The non-slip, high-impact polypropylene plastic seat curves for comfort and balance. It features drain holes to release the water, preventing slipping and sliding around. It’s compact enough to fit into small tubs and showers, and has been tested to hold bathers up to 250 pounds.
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Lightweight and compact at 13 inches in diameter, the Vaunn Medical Swivel Shower Stool’s round, padded seat rotates 360 degrees for worry-free spinning. The best shower chair for narrow tubs, this stool allows you to swivel around to rinse off the suds, turn the shower faucet on and off, hang up the washcloth and reach the towel with ease.
As Amazon reviewer, AC Richards, wrote, “I just returned from a vacation at a rustic camp and I had been concerned about having a tub stool/bench that would fit. This stool fits perfectly, even though the old tub was somewhat narrow.”
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This space-efficient teak wood folding shower seat works for those with low-to-moderate physical challenges—or for people who just need a place to sit and shave their legs. Constructed of natural Burmese teak, the shower seat is finished with a clear coating for superior water resistance. Once the spa-like 20-inch bench is installed, you can fold it up when it’s not in use for extra standing washing room.
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No need to trade style for steadiness! You can have both with this multipurpose bamboo shower bench. Made of 100 percent solid bamboo and finished in waterproof black paint, it has a curved, slatted seat and legs with rubber foot pads to provide a non-slip, stable grip on the shower or tub surface.
Amazon reviewer, Beatrice R. de Leon, likes the bench’s ease of use. She writes, “It’s light and easy to move around for a 72-year-old like me, yet very sturdy.”
Besides being comfortable to sit on while washing and shampooing, the best shower chair can also help you get in and out of the shower safely. When shopping for the right one for your needs, it’s important to think about a bathroom’s layout and how heavy a shower chair you’re able to manage by yourself.
When choosing a bathroom seat, personal safety should be top of mind. Having said that, other significant features to consider are:
The most common types are non-slip, freestanding shower chairs or stools (with or without a back and arms), wall-mounted, folding shower chairs and transfer benches.
Accessible bathroom safety equipment for home use is sometimes covered by Medicare or other healthcare providers. Check with your insurance company to see if they’ll pay all or a portion of the chair before purchasing.
You can install grab bars if shower or bathing space is limited. If you’re remodeling a bathroom, consider putting in a built-in tiled shower bench.
