The best shower chairs and tub transfer benches
If they can step into the tub, get a chair with a back and arms. If stepping over the tub wall is the hard part, get a transfer bench instead.
How we picked: from company pages, published prices and policies, each cited in the table.
Heads up: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend. Learn more.
Our pick
Drive Shower Chair with Back and Removable Padded Arms
Back and padded arms to push up from, a 16 to 21 inch seat height, and no tools to put together.
About $84.99When the tub wall is the problem
Drive Transfer Tub Bench
Sit down outside the tub and slide across, so they never have to lift a leg over the edge while standing.
View price| Drive Shower Chair with Back and Removable Padded ArmsView price | $84.99src | 300 lbsrc | 16 to 21 insrc | Yes | Yessrc |
| Drive Transfer Tub BenchView price | Varies by store | 400 lbsrc | 17.5 to 22.5 insrc | Yes | Yes |
| Drive Premium Series Shower Chair with Back and ArmsView price | Varies by store | 350 lbsrc | Yes | Yes | |
| Medline Elements Shower Chair with BackView price | Varies by store | 350 lbsrc | Yes | Yes |
Who this is for: A parent who gets tired standing in the shower, holds the wall to wash their feet, or has started skipping showers.
Who should skip it: They need someone to help them wash. Talk to their doctor about a home health aide visit or an occupational therapist assessment first.
The shower is where a parent is wet, barefoot and often tired. A seat changes that: they can wash sitting down, rest when they need to, and stand up with something solid to push against.
Chair or bench
A shower chair sits inside the tub or shower. It suits someone who can still step in safely but gets tired or wobbly standing.
A transfer bench straddles the tub wall. Your parent sits on the outside half, then slides across, lifting their legs over the edge while seated. If stepping over the tub wall is where they hesitate, this is the one to buy.
What matters when you buy
Weight limit. Every seat here is rated for 300 lb or more. Leave room, because sitting down hard puts more than body weight on the seat.
Back and arms. Arms give them something to push up from. A back lets them lean while washing their feet. Both make a seat bigger, so measure the tub or shower first.
Height. Adjustable legs let you set the seat so their feet rest flat. Check that every leg clicks into the same setting.
Rubber feet. Check the tips now and then. Worn feet slide on a wet tub floor.
Pair it with
A handheld shower head, so they can rinse while seated, and a grab bar near the seat for standing up. See the best grab bars.
What we haven’t done yet
We haven’t used these seats ourselves. The table is built from the makers’ pages and the stores we name, checked on the date shown. Drive Medical’s own store shows prices only after you sign in, so those rows say the price varies by store.
The competition
- Shower stools without a back: Smaller and cheaper, and fine for someone steady who just wants to sit. For anyone unsteady, a back and arms are worth the extra space.
- Bath lifts: A powered seat that lowers into the tub. Useful for someone who loves a bath, but they cost far more and need charging. A bench suits most families better.
Everything we compared, with prices and sources
Drive Medical · Shower chairs and transfer benches
Drive Shower Chair with Back and Removable Padded Arms
- Back and padded arms to push up from
- Seat height 16 to 21 inches
- Tool-free assembly
Watch out: Price seen at a retailer; Drive's own store hides prices behind a sign-in
Drive Medical · Shower chairs and transfer benches
Drive Transfer Tub Bench
- Straddles the tub wall
- 400 lb capacity
- Reversible for either side of the tub
Watch out: Takes floor space outside the tub; measure first; Shower curtain needs tucking around it
Drive Medical · Shower chairs and transfer benches
Drive Premium Series Shower Chair with Back and Arms
- Price
- Varies by store
- Weight limit
- 350 lbsrc
- Seat height
- Not stated
- Back
- Yes
- Arms
- Yes
- 350 lb capacity
- Back, legs and arms come off without tools
- Limited lifetime warranty
Watch out: Drive does not publish the seat height range on the page
Medline · Shower chairs and transfer benches
Medline Elements Shower Chair with Back
- Price
- Varies by store
- Weight limit
- 350 lbsrc
- Seat height
- Not stated
- Back
- Yes
- Arms
- Yes
- 350 lb capacity
- Fits most standard tubs
Watch out: Out of stock on Medline's store when we checked
Common questions
Chair or transfer bench: how do I decide?
Watch them get into the tub. If lifting a leg over the edge while standing makes them grab for something, choose a transfer bench. Two legs stand outside the tub and two inside, so they sit first and then swing their legs over.
What seat height should I set?
Their feet should rest flat on the floor of the tub or shower with knees at about a right angle. Set it once with them sitting on it, then check that every leg locks at the same hole.
Does Medicare cover shower chairs?
Original Medicare generally treats bath seats as convenience items and doesn't cover them. Some Medicare Advantage plans include bathroom safety items, so it is worth a call.
Sources
How we wrote this: researched and drafted with the help of AI, then reviewed and edited by a person before publishing. How we write.