Today, you’re going to learn how to find the safest shower chair possible for your bathroom.
You will get to know which shower chair features are a must-have and, on top of that, I’ll show you 10 shower chairs that are safe and won’t break the bank.
Whether you’re of age, injured, or have a disability, investing in a good shower chair will keep you safe and make showering enjoyable again.
That’s why I want to show you which features are the most important, how to use the chair properly and which ones on the market fit all the criteria. Let’s have a peek at the topics I’ll cover today:
[toc]Dr. Maya Adjustable Shower Chair
This is the safest shower chair that you can get at this price.
It’s customizable, strong, durable, and easy to use and it fits almost any bathroom space.
5 Features a Safe Shower Chair Should Have
What qualities does the safest shower chair have? Let’s take a look at 5 main features that every safe shower chair should have:
Back and hand support: Arm and backrests are crucial indicators of how safe the chair is. With this sort of stability is much harder to fall off and they add to the comfort of the chair.
Weight capacity: You should make sure that your chare’s weight capacity is at least 10 pounds more than your weight. Pushing the chair to its weight limits is just an accident waiting to happen.
Good drainage: A good shower chair should have drainage slats on the seat so the water doesn’t linger. All that soap resides in can make it slippery and dangerous for use.
Adjustable leg height: For uneven floors in the shower or the bathroom, chairs with adjustable leg height are a must. You can make them much more stable or lower them enough if you have trouble reaching the seat.
Easy to clean: If you are struggling with an injury or disability, cleaning a shower chair is an additional challenge. Many easy-to-clean chairs can make the situation safer.
Safest Shower Chair on the Market
There are plenty of safe shower chairs on the market today, but there are just as many unsafe ones. It’s sometimes hard to make the right decision and not everyone has time to research it.
To help you narrow down your choice, I’ve picked 10 shower chairs that are well crafted, easy to use, and most importantly, extremely safe.
Either one of these will be a great choice, so let’s see what are their strongest points.
1. Dr. Maya Adjustable Shower Chair with Back and Arms
Let’s start with probably the safest shower chair that I could find at an affordable price. Made from high-quality materials, the chairs are sturdy, durable, and can hold up to 300 pounds.
The seat is wide and comfortable and it comes with drainage holes on it. On top of that, it has sturdy arms and backrests, providing you with extra safety and comfort.
One of the reasons that I choose this safest shower chair is that it fits all types of bathtubs and showers.
The assembly of the chair is quick and easy and you also get a nice shower handle as a gift.
- Great build quality
- Adjustable height and customizable
- Affordable price
- Up to 300 lbs weight capacity
- Get shower handle gratis
- The free shower handle is weak
- Too small for larger people
2. Drive Medical Premium Shower Chair
You are now looking at one of the most popular shower chairs on Amazon that is still very safe. It offers all that you want from a shower chair to a very affordable price.
You won’t find a cheaper chair on the list. If you are looking for a good deal, you got it right here.
Ergonomic comfort seat (16.5” x 21.75” x 16-20.5”) with drainage holes fit all shapes and sizes. You also get back and armrests for support.
Even though it is made from plastic, it can still hold up to 350 lbs. Since it’s plastic, it may seem a bit less sturdy, but there’s also no risk of rust.
- Easily adjustable non-slip legs
- Very affordable price
- Holds up to 350 pounds
- Lightweight but stable
- Comfortable seat
- Made from plastic
- Arm and backrest a bit too low
3. Carousel Sliding Transfer Shower Chair
If you have a bathtub and struggle with entering it, whether it’s injury or disability, this may be the chair for you.
The carousel Sliding shower chair by Platinum Health comes with a stainless steel base and a seat that slides and rotates along with it.
You can use it from both the left and right sides. Besides adjusting the position, you can adjust the height of the legs too.
The price is a bit higher, but you will get a professional-grade shower bench.
- Innovative swivel seat design
- Perfect for any bathtub
- Comfortable seating and rests
- Sturdy and adjustable
- HI contrast color for visually impaired
- A bit expensive
- Not for tight spaces
4. Vaunn Medical Tool-Free Portable Shower Chair
A chair like this can be used within 5-10 minutes after you receive it. You don’t need tools to assemble it and the process is straightforward.
The chair weighs only 6-8 lbs and it’s easily moved, but it’s still sturdy enough to hold up to 300 lbs of weight. As with most safe chairs, adjustable legs come with anti-slip rubber feet to prevent awkward falls.
Anti-bacterial polyethylene seat is quite comfortable and it comes with drainage holes. All in all, it’s a decent shower chair for this price.
- Affordable price
- No tools assembly
- Lightweight and portable
- Highly customizable
- Not great for bathtubs
- Assembly directions could be better
5. Tub Transfer Bench by Duro-Med
Here’s a more conventional transfer bench by Duro-Med, allowing people of age or with a disability to enter bathtubs safely.
It can also be used as a shower chair, but you need to make sure you have enough room for it.
The stainless steel base has adjustable legs with rubber feet and it measures 19.25” x 39”.
The seat is comfortable and easy to clean, it also comes with drainage holes as well as a removable part in the middle for easier access.
The assembly is easy and tool-free, anyone can do it.
- Affordable transfer bench
- Holds up to 400 pounds
- Safety locks and belt
- Adjustable legs
- Removable cut-out
- Not for cramped spaces
- The seat a bit small
6. Moen DN7105 Adjustable Safety Transfer Bench
If you are scared that a shower chair will impact the look of your bathroom, then take a look at this one.
It’s one of the best-looking shower benches on this list. It also comes with a handy basked organizer for essentials.
It allows you to safely get in and out of the bathroom while still looking good.
The bench is easily assembled and can be set up to fit both the right and left sides. The height is adjustable between 16.5” and 21”.
The bench is incredibly sturdy and will fit most bathroom styles.
- Beautiful design
- Basked organizer included
- Holds up to 400 pounds
- Adjustable height
- ADA compliant
- The water drips outside the tub
- Rubber feet may come off
7. Medokare Shower Chair with Rails
Unlike transfer benches, this shower chair is great for smaller showers or baths. It is quite compact and lightweight, but still durable enough to provide you with the safety you need in the bathroom.
The stool can be assembled quickly, with no use of tools. You can adjust the height from 12.5” to 18.5” to fit your measurements and it can carry up to 280 lbs. As with most chairs, the legs have safety rubber feet.
- Easily adjustable non-slip legs
- No tools required
- Lightweight and compact
- Good for smaller showers
- Padded seat
- Not for larger persons
- A bit wobbly at times
8. Vive Shower Chair with Back
There is plenty of choice for the safest shower chair, this model by Vive is another great example. The sturdy stainless steel base can hold up to 300 pounds and can be adjusted to your height.
To make your experience safer, your legs have rubber non-slip feet and you get extra support in arms and backrests.
You can assemble it with no tools at all and it’s light enough that you can move it around easily. You can also remove the backrest if it gets in the way.
- Easily adjustable non-slip legs
- Great water drainage
- Assembled in minutes
- Lightweight and portable
- Comfortable non-slip seat
- Instructions could be better
- Tight for larger persons
9. Moen DN7100 Adjustable Shower Chair
As you can see, they are not afraid to innovate when it comes to shower chairs in Moen. They came up with a safe shower chair with a unique, great-looking design.
The ergonomically shaped seat provides the best drainage that I’ve seen. The design of the legs makes the chair very stable and safe. You can also adjust the height of these from 15” to 21”.
- Beautiful design
- Best seat drainage
- Holds up to 400 pounds
- Adjustable height
- ADA compliant
- Not for narrow bathtubs
- A bit tricky to assemble
10. Platinum Health Padded Shower Chair
It’s not all about safety, you also want your bathroom experience to be as comfortable as possible. That’s why this model by Platinum Health is a great choice.
A comfortable, warm-to-the-touch seat prevents slips and tears while providing a pleasant bathing experience.
Here too, you can adjust the legs and they all have rubber feet to prevent slipping. The padding of the seat also doesn’t absorb water and is very easy to clean.
- Nice design
- Comfortable padded seat
- Adjustable height
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Strong base
- Backrest is not very comfortable
- A bit pricey
Safe Use of Shower Chair
A shower chair should be there to protect us from injury, but if not used correctly, it can cause damage too. I’ll show you a few basic tips on how to use the shower chair safely to prevent unnecessary injuries and enjoy your bathroom experience.
- Make sure that all the legs are standing firmly on the floor. Shake them a bit to check if they wobble.
- Don’t make a lot of sudden movements while using a shower chair.
- Place everything you need within arm’s reach so you don’t have to stand up or lean away from the chair.
- Adjust the height to your measurements. You should be able to sit and stand up easily from the chair.
- Clear everything around it, so there’s no risk of stumbling and falling.
- Safety mats and towels can help too. It’s always dangerous to step out on a wet slippery surface such as tiles.
- Watch where you sit. Don’t put too much of your weight on the edges of the seat.
If you are not too comfortable on your own, it’s also a good idea to ask for help if you can. At least the first few times.
To further improve bathroom safety, read our Bathroom safety for the elderly article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some questions get asked all the time about shower chairs. I’ll answer the best I can to some of the most frequent ones.
Q: Will Medicare cover a shower chair?
A: Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover shower chairs. They are used to provide additional support in the shower or the bathtub. Medical Part B only covers personal equipment if it falls under durable medical equipment (DME). For a product to be qualified as DME, it needs to serve specific medical conditions and be designed to last for several years.
Q: How to clean the shower chair?
A: Most of the time, cleaning the shower chair is quite straightforward. You just need to use a bathroom cleaner combined with water. Some manufacturers have special instructions for their chairs, so it’s a good idea to read them. Whatever you do, rinse well afterward, you don’t want that slippery soap building up.
Q: How much does a shower chair cost?
A: The price of the shower chair can be as low as 30$ and as high as 250$ when it’s for personal use. More expensive doesn’t always assume better quality, but you don’t want to skimp out. Investing a bit more in a quality chair can mean a lot.
Q: How high is a shower chair?
A: All the good shower chairs have adjustable height, which makes sense. The option to adjust the chair makes it so much safer and more comfortable for the person using it. When it comes to ADA compliance, the chair needs to be between 17” and 19” high.
Final Thoughts
Having the safest shower chair can completely transform your bathroom experience. It provides comfort and confidence and also returns a sense of independence to many.
I’m sure you’ll be able to make the right choice with this article. Feel free to post any questions or your general impression in the comments below.