Quick answer: A good shower chair costs $30 to $100, and a tub transfer bench costs $150 to $381 based on dealer prices published in September 2026. Pick a chair with a back and arms if balance is shaky. Pick a transfer bench if lifting a leg over the tub wall is the hard part.
Sitting down to shower removes the two riskiest moments of the day. You stop standing on a wet surface. You stop turning in place with soap on your feet.
The CDC tells older adults to make the home safer by adding grab bars inside and outside the tub, and railings on both sides of stairs. A seat belongs on that same short list.
Here is how the four main types differ, what they cost right now, and how to size one correctly.
The four kinds of shower seats
Shower stool
A backless stool with four adjustable legs. It is the cheapest option and fits a small stall.
Skip it if the person leans backward, gets dizzy, or needs a rest break mid-shower. There is nothing to lean against.
Shower chair with a back
The default choice for most people. A molded seat, a backrest, and rubber-tipped legs that adjust in one-inch steps.
Arms are worth the small extra cost. They give you something to push against when you stand.
Tub transfer bench
The bench straddles the tub wall. Two legs stand on the bathroom floor and two stand inside the tub.
You sit down on the dry outside half, then slide across. Your leg never has to clear the rim. This is the safest choice for weak hips, knee replacements, or one-sided weakness after a stroke.
Wall-mounted folding seat
A hinged seat bolted into the shower wall. It folds flat when nobody needs it.
This one requires solid blocking behind the tile and a real installer. It costs the most, but it frees up floor space and never tips.
Shower chair and bench prices in September 2026
We compared prices published by Vitality Medical and the Moen store on September 2, 2026.
| Product | Type | Key Detail | Price (Sept 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medline Knockdown Bath Bench with Arms | Bench with drop arms | 300 lb capacity, height adjustable | $29.45–$61.61 |
| Medline Shower Chair with Back | Chair with back | Seat height 13.75–20.5 in | $30.84–$34.48 |
| ProBasics Shower Chair | Chair, optional back | Tool-free assembly | $74.79 |
| Drive Shower Chair with Back and Padded Arms | Chair with back and arms | Removable padded arms | $90.64 |
| Drive Deluxe Bath Shower Bench with Padded Arms | Bench with arms | Blow-molded seat | $93.47 |
| Drive Deluxe Bariatric Shower Chair | Bariatric chair | 500 lb capacity, seat 14–19 in | $90.98–$101.62 |
| Moen Home Care Transfer Bench | Tub transfer bench | Sold by Moen directly | $157.13 |
| Eagle Health Tub-Mount Sliding Bench | Sliding transfer bench | Swivel seat, clamps to tub | $321.00 |
| Moen Home Care Folding Shower Seat | Wall-mounted folding seat | Stainless frame, teak slats | $396.69 |
Prices move. Treat these as the going rate in early September 2026, not a promise.
How to size a shower chair
Measure three things before you buy. Do it with a tape measure, not by eye.
Seat height. Have the person sit in a firm kitchen chair. Measure from the floor to the back of the knee. Set the shower chair legs to that number.
Feet should rest flat. Knees should sit level with the hips or slightly lower. Most adjustable chairs cover roughly 14 to 20 inches, and the ADA Standards put built-in shower seats at 17 to 19 inches above the floor.
Stall or tub width. Measure the inside floor, corner to corner. A chair needs at least two inches of clearance on each side so the legs sit flat.
Tub wall height and depth. A transfer bench needs the tub rim to fall between the bench legs. Check that the outside legs land on flat floor, not on a rug or a heat vent.
Weight capacity is not a suggestion
Standard plastic chairs are usually rated at 250 to 300 pounds. The Medline drop-arm bench above lists 300 pounds.
If the user is close to that number, buy bariatric. The Drive bariatric chair carries 500 pounds using an aluminum cross-frame riveted to the seat, and it costs about $10 more than a mid-range standard chair.
Weight is not the only load. A person who drops into the seat hits it much harder than their body weight. Round up.
Features worth paying for
Drop-down or removable arms. They let a caregiver help from the side and make lateral transfers possible.
Textured, drained seat. Water should run off, not pool. Smooth plastic gets slick.
Locking leg clips, not friction pins. Legs that adjust with a push-button clip through drilled holes stay put. Legs held by friction can creep down over months.
Tool-free assembly. Most of these ship flat. A chair you can take apart is also a chair you can clean.
What a chair does not fix
A seat solves standing. It does not solve getting in, getting out, or reaching the faucet.
Pair the chair with two bolted grab bars. Our guide to choosing bathroom grab bars covers placement, and what installation costs covers hiring the work out.
Add a handheld shower head on a slide bar. Sitting under a fixed overhead spray means twisting and reaching, which is what you were trying to avoid.
If the tub itself is the barrier, read our comparison of a walk-in tub versus a walk-in shower before you spend thousands on either.
Where to buy and how to pay less
Online medical suppliers and big-box stores carry the same Drive, Medline and Carex models. Compare the exact model number, because “deluxe” means nothing across brands.
Medicare Part B will not pay. Part B covers durable medical equipment used for a medical reason at home, and its published list runs to canes, walkers, commode chairs, hospital beds and wheelchairs. Bath seats are not on it.
Two cheaper routes are real. Ask your Area Agency on Aging about loan closets, and check your state assistive technology program for reused equipment. We list all of those in our guide to free medical equipment for seniors.
If you are buying several items at once, work down the priority list in our bathroom safety checklist instead of guessing.
Ask an occupational therapist first
If the person has had a fall, a stroke, a hip replacement or a Parkinson’s diagnosis, get an occupational therapist to look at the bathroom.
An OT watches the actual transfer and often changes the plan. A bench may replace a chair, or the shower door may need to come off.
Medicare Part B covers outpatient occupational therapy when a doctor orders it. Ask your doctor for a referral.
Bottom line
Most people should buy a shower chair with a back and arms for $30 to $95 and add two grab bars. Buy a tub transfer bench for $157 to $321 instead if lifting a leg over the tub wall is the problem. Buy bariatric at $91 to $102 if the user is near 300 pounds. Measure the back of the knee and the stall floor before you order, and ask a doctor for an occupational therapy referral if there has already been a fall.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a shower chair for the elderly cost?
A plain shower chair with a back costs about $30 to $75. A bariatric model rated for 500 pounds runs $91 to $102. A tub transfer bench costs $150 to $381, and a wall-mounted folding teak seat runs about $397. Those are dealer prices published in September 2026.
Does Medicare pay for a shower chair?
No. Original Medicare Part B covers durable medical equipment used for a medical reason in your home, such as commode chairs, walkers and hospital beds. Shower chairs and bath benches are not on the covered list, so you pay out of pocket. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer an over-the-counter or home-safety allowance, so check with your plan.
What is the difference between a shower chair and a transfer bench?
A shower chair sits entirely inside the tub or shower. A transfer bench straddles the tub wall, with two legs outside and two inside. You sit down outside the tub and slide across, so you never have to lift a leg over the rim. Benches need more room but are safer for weak legs.
How tall should a shower chair be?
Set the seat so your feet rest flat on the floor and your knees sit level with or just below your hips. Most adjustable chairs move between about 14 and 20 inches. The ADA Standards set built-in shower seats at 17 to 19 inches above the floor, which suits most adults.
Are suction-cup shower chairs safe?
Suction feet are not the same as a suction grab bar. Rubber tips on chair legs are fine because your weight pushes straight down. Never pull yourself up using a suction-cup handle mounted on tile. Use a bolted grab bar instead, and keep the chair legs on a non-slip mat.
Sources
- Vitality Medical — shower chairs and seats, published prices — accessed 2026-09-02
- Vitality Medical — Drive Deluxe Bariatric Shower Chair with Cross-Frame Brace — accessed 2026-09-02
- Vitality Medical — tub transfer benches, published prices — accessed 2026-09-02
- Moen store — bathroom safety products — accessed 2026-09-02
- U.S. Access Board — ADA Standards guide, Chapter 6: Bathing Rooms — accessed 2026-09-02
- CDC — Preventing Falls and Hip Fractures — accessed 2026-09-02
- Medicare.gov — Durable medical equipment (DME) coverage — accessed 2026-09-02