Best shower chairs for elderly parents, and how to choose the right one
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Standing on a wet floor, on one leg, while washing is one of the riskiest things an older adult does every day. A shower seat removes most of that risk. The catch is that there are several different types, and the wrong one can be useless or even dangerous in your parent's bathroom.
The short answer
| Your parent's situation | Best type |
|---|---|
| Good balance, small walk-in shower, just gets tired standing | Shower stool |
| Needs to lean back or rest during the shower | Shower chair with back |
| Struggles to get up from a seated position | Shower chair with arms |
| Has a bathtub and stepping over the edge is hard | Tub transfer bench |
| Uses a wheelchair or can't walk to the shower | Rolling shower commode chair (ask a therapist) |
Measure before you buy
- Shower or tub floor: width and depth. The seat's footprint has to fit with room for feet.
- Seat height: with your parent sitting in a normal chair, measure floor to the back of the knee. A good shower seat lets their feet rest flat with knees at roughly a right angle. Most seats adjust in 1-inch steps.
- For transfer benches: the inside width of the tub and the height of the tub wall. Check these against the bench's listed dimensions.
- Weight: standard seats are typically rated around 250–300 lb. If your parent is near that, choose a heavy-duty or bariatric model.
The options
Shower stool
A small seat with no back. Fits tight showers and is easy to move, but offers nothing to lean on. Only suitable if your parent sits steadily without support.
- Look for: adjustable legs, non-slip rubber feet, drainage holes
- Avoid: stools without rubber tips on every leg
Our pick: Vaunn Medical Adjustable Swivel Shower Stool
Per the manufacturer: round seat that swivels 360°, height adjusts from 13.75" to 20.5", rubber feet, rust-resistant aluminum legs, supports up to 250 lb. The swivel helps with turning in a small stall.
Check price on Amazon or compare other optionsShower chair with back
The most common choice. The backrest lets your parent rest and reduces the chance of tipping backward while washing hair.
- Look for: rust-resistant aluminum frame, tool-free assembly, wide rubber feet
- Nice to have: padded seat, a cut-out for easier washing
Our pick: Drive Medical Shower Chair with Back
Per the manufacturer: 19.5" wide seat, removable backrest, push-button height adjustment, suction feet and drainage holes, aluminum frame, supports up to 300 lb. Drive Medical is one of the largest home medical equipment brands in the U.S.
Check price on Amazon or compare other optionsShower chair with arms
Armrests give your parent something solid to push against when standing. This matters more than most people expect, since getting up is often the hardest moment.
- Check: the width between the arms fits your parent comfortably
- Check: the chair still fits your shower once the arms are added
Our pick: Medline Shower Chair with Padded Armrests and Back
Per the manufacturer: padded arms and back, height adjusts in 1" steps, slip-resistant feet, rust-resistant aluminum, tool-free assembly, supports up to 350 lb. Seat is about 16.3" wide, so check the width between the arms fits your parent.
Check price on Amazon or compare other optionsTub transfer bench
A long bench that straddles the tub wall: two legs inside the tub, two outside. Your parent sits down outside the tub, then slides across and lifts their legs over. They never have to step over the edge, which is the riskiest part of using a tub.
- Must fit: your tub's inside width and wall height
- Tip: choose one that can be set up for either side, depending on where the faucet is
Our pick: Drive Medical Tub Transfer Bench
Per the manufacturer: backrest, suction cup feet, drainage openings, legs adjust in 0.5" steps, aluminum frame, supports up to 350 lb. Overall width is about 23". Compare it with your tub before ordering.
Check price on Amazon or compare other optionsPair it with these
- A handheld shower head. Without one, a seated person can't rinse properly and ends up standing anyway. We like the AquaCare handheld shower head for seated showering: per the manufacturer it comes with a 72" hose and an extra low wall bracket, so the shower head can sit within reach of someone on a chair.
- Grab bars for getting on and off the seat. See our grab bar guide.
- A non-slip mat outside the shower, where wet feet meet a hard floor.
Common mistakes
- Using a plastic patio chair or a regular stool. They aren't made to stay stable on a wet, sloped floor.
- Buying a transfer bench without measuring the tub.
- Letting your parent grab towel bars or the soap dish for support. They aren't designed to hold body weight.
If your parent has had a recent fall, a stroke, or a hip or knee replacement, ask their doctor for a referral to an occupational therapist. A home safety visit may be covered by insurance, and the therapist can recommend exactly what's needed.