Shower Chairs for Bathtub: Safe Setup and Use

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Shower chairs for bathtub use are most often bath transfer benches, a seat that sits across the tub wall so a person can sit down, then move the legs over the edge. The three sources below are about that kind of bench, not about a chair with a back that stands inside a shower stall. That difference matters, because setup, stability, and sitting steps depend on the shape of the seat. This guide explains what those sources say about setting up, using, and cleaning a bench in a bathtub, and it marks where the sources stop.

Quick answer

The sources cover bath transfer benches. None of them covers a shower chair with a back that sits inside a shower stall.
Set the legs so they reach the floor and the bench sits roughly level. The Canadian Red Cross says the bench “should not rest on the tub wall.”
Check stability before every use. AIDAcare and the Red Cross both say so.
Set the seat height so your knee is below your hip while sitting, as the Northwestern Medicine handout describes for people after hip surgery.
Ask someone to help the first few times, and use a slip-resistant bath mat under the bench.
Stop using a bench that is damaged. AIDAcare says that if equipment appears damaged, “DO NOT USE.”

How we chose these sources

The three sources were chosen because each is a set of instructions from a health or care organization, names its publisher, and covers a bench or seat used in a bathtub. They are the Canadian Red Cross instructions for a bath transfer bench, the Northwestern Memorial Hospital patient handout on bathtub transfers after a hip replacement, and the AIDAcare installation and safe use guide for a bath transfer bench from Australia. Retail listings and blog pages were not used. Pages that returned a blocked or error response were not counted.

Each source has a different audience. The Northwestern handout is written for a patient recovering from hip surgery and assumes an occupational therapist is involved. The AIDAcare guide says it is to be used together with advice from the user’s occupational therapist. The Red Cross sheet says its instructions are guidelines only and should be used as the healthcare provider instructs. Read the rules below with that in mind.

What the sources cover, and what they leave out

All three sources describe a bench that crosses the tub wall. The Red Cross describes the purpose as “to assist you in entering and exiting a bathtub.” The Northwestern handout describes a seated transfer as the best way to get in and out of the tub to take a standing shower, using “a transfer bench or bathtub seat” so that the person does not put all of their weight on each leg while stepping over the tub side. The AIDAcare guide describes a transfer bench as a way to make safe transfers over a high shower hob or bath where there are safety concerns.

The Northwestern handout also says that “a sturdy outdoor or kitchen chair” can be used for seated transfers if the chair fits securely in the tub and is high enough. That is one source, with a condition attached. The Red Cross and AIDAcare sheets do not say that, and they describe a purpose-made bench. If you are considering a kitchen chair, check with the healthcare provider first. Do not assume a chair is equivalent to a bench.

Setting up the bench

The Red Cross describes the setup in the most detail. Most tub floors sit higher than the bathroom floor, so the bench legs must be set for that difference. Adjust the two legs inside the tub to the same height, and the two legs outside the tub to the same height. When installed, the bench should be “approximately level.” The Red Cross also says “the legs must reach the floor,” and that the bench “should not rest on the tub wall.”

Placement matters too. The Red Cross says the legs inside the tub should be as close to the far wall as possible, and that the handle should be on the same side as the wall. If the handle is not on that side, the Red Cross says to call the organization for guidance. Two legs go over the tub wall, and the other two stay on the bathroom floor.

Adjusting leg length works differently by model. The Red Cross describes depressing a spring button in one leg and sliding the leg up or down to the selected height, then adjusting all four legs. AIDAcare describes pushing a silver button in and sliding an internal leg piece to the right notch. The sources describe different adjustment parts, so read the manual for your own bench. The Red Cross warns to make sure “the spring buttons protrude fully through” the adjustment holes before use.

AIDAcare adds that if the floor is uneven, the individual legs can be adjusted to steady the bench, and that the end with the rail should be placed in the tub and adjusted until it is stable. Those steps are about the bench sitting firmly, not about the bench leaving the floor.

Check stability before every use

Stability is the check the sources repeat most. The Red Cross says, “Always test the bath transfer bench for stability before use.” AIDAcare says to “check the transfer bench is stable each time before use.” Test by pressing down on the seat and the legs, and look for movement. If the bench shifts, adjust the legs again before sitting.

Some benches have suction cups. To remove a bench with suction cups, the Red Cross sheet says to “pull up on the tabs on top of the suction cups.” The sources do not say how long suction cups hold, so check them before every use.

Seat height and armrests

The Northwestern handout gives the clearest seat-height rule: seats should be high enough that “your knee is below your hip while sitting.” It ties this to hip precautions, which are movements to avoid after hip surgery. AIDAcare gives a different rule. The seat height should be adjusted “to allow you to sit and stand with ease,” and it says the occupational therapist can advise on the right height. The occupational therapist or healthcare provider is the right person to set the height.

The sources disagree on armrests. The Northwestern handout says that the bench or seat “should not have arm rests” for that situation. The Red Cross describes a standing transfer in which the user grabs “the side arm of the unit for support (if present).” The Red Cross wording suggests arms are an option on some benches. The two statements apply to different users and situations, so the right answer for your bench depends on the advice you have been given.

Sitting down and getting out

The Northwestern handout describes five steps for a seated transfer. Place the seat in the tub and be sure it is high enough. Stand facing away from the tub with the backs of your knees touching the side of the tub. Secure the seat by reaching back with one hand, or have someone hold it in place. Sit down, then swivel the buttocks and bring the legs over the side of the tub one at a time. To get out, reverse the process, using walking aids to rise from the seat.

AIDAcare describes a similar sequence. Move backwards until you feel the seat behind your legs, then lower yourself slowly. Once seated, raise and lower one leg at a time over the edge of the tub and slide along the bench. When getting off, place the feet firmly on the floor and stand, “leading with your head and shoulders.”

The Red Cross describes two other routes. For a wheelchair user, place the wheelchair next to the bench facing the front of the tub, and “engage wheelchair wheel locks” before transferring. Transfer the torso to the bench first, then lift the legs into the tub. For a standing transfer, sit on the side of the bench that is outside the tub, reach for the side arm if the bench has one, slide to the center, and lift each leg over the tub wall. In both routes the Red Cross advises turning slowly, “without twisting,” to avoid injury.

Safety in the first weeks

The Northwestern handout says to ask someone to help the first few times you get in and out of the tub. The Red Cross says the bench requires “supervision or assistance” for some users, and it lists the warning in its safety notes. These two statements point the same way: early use is when a helper is most useful, and the sources do not say when it is safe to stop having help.

The Northwestern handout also says you only need the seat “for a short time.” That is a statement about recovery after hip surgery, not a general limit. The Red Cross says to use the bench only as instructed by a healthcare provider. If the bench is part of a recovery plan, ask the provider how long it should be used.

Placement, mats, and slipping

The Northwestern handout tells the user to place the seat on a rubber bath mat, so the seat does not slide in the tub. The Red Cross says to use a slip-resistant bath mat when using the bench. Both sources treat the mat as part of the setup. Check the mat, too. A mat that moves under the legs adds a risk that the bench does not show on its own.

Keep the items you need for bathing within reach while seated. AIDAcare lists this as a precaution.

Cleaning and care

The Red Cross says to wipe the bench dry after every use and to wash it with mild soapy water. It says to avoid abrasive cleaners. AIDAcare says to clean the bench regularly with a mild disinfectant. Use a mild product, and dry the bench after cleaning.

AIDAcare says that equipment that appears damaged should not be used, and that it may need replacing. The Red Cross asks that equipment returned to it be clean and in good condition. Check the legs, the buttons, the suction cups, and the seat for cracks or looseness before every use. If something is damaged, stop using the bench.

For general bathtub cleaning, see how to clean a bathtub. For mats and rugs in the bathroom, see washing bath mats and bathroom rugs.

Common mistakes the sources point to

Legs that do not reach the floor, or a bench that rests on the tub wall. The Red Cross says both are wrong.
Uneven legs. Set the two inside legs to the same height and the two outside legs to the same height.
Skipping the stability check. The Red Cross and AIDAcare both say to test before every use.
A seat that is too low, so the knee is not below the hip, as the Northwestern handout describes.
Using the bench without help during the first few uses.
No slip-resistant mat under the bench.
Abrasive cleaners on the bench surface.
Using a bench that is damaged.

Before you choose a bench

AIDAcare says transfer benches come in various sizes and weight capacities, so the right bench depends on the person using it. The sources do not give a weight limit for any bench. Read the label and the manufacturer’s instructions for the rating, and do not rely on a general statement. Check the leg adjustment, the seat height range, whether the bench has a side arm or none, and how the bench is held in place: legs, suction cups, or both.

Ask the occupational therapist or healthcare provider which bench and seat height to use. AIDAcare says the occupational therapist can advise on height, and the Northwestern handout tells the reader to ask the occupational therapist with any questions.

What we could not verify: what the sources do not say

None of the three sources covers a shower chair with a back that stands in a shower stall. The guidance here is about bath transfer benches.
No source gives a weight capacity for any bench, and none gives a seat height in inches.
No source describes a standard or testing method for bench strength. The Red Cross and AIDAcare sheets are care and installation instructions, not product standards.
The sources disagree on armrests. The Northwestern handout says a bench should not have arm rests in its case, while the Red Cross refers to a side arm “if present.” No source resolves which is right for a given person.
The sources do not say how long suction cups hold on a tub surface, or which tub surfaces they suit.
No source names a cleaning product. The sources say mild soapy water or a mild disinfectant.
No source says a kitchen chair is a safe alternative, except the Northwestern handout’s conditional statement.

FAQ

Is a bathtub seat the same as a shower chair?

Not according to these sources. They describe bath transfer benches, which sit across the tub wall. A shower chair with a back inside a stall is not covered, so the setup and sitting steps here may not fit that product.

Where should the legs go?

The Red Cross says the legs must reach the floor and the bench should not rest on the tub wall. The inside legs should be as close to the far wall as possible, and the bench should sit roughly level.

How high should the seat be?

The Northwestern handout says the knee should be below the hip while sitting. AIDAcare says the seat should let you sit and stand with ease, and that an occupational therapist can advise on the right height.

Can I use a kitchen chair instead?

The Northwestern handout says a sturdy outdoor or kitchen chair can be used if it fits securely in the tub and is high enough. The other two sources do not say this. Check with the healthcare provider before using a chair.

Do I need someone with me?

The Northwestern handout says to ask someone to help the first few times. The Red Cross lists supervision or assistance as a safety point. The sources do not say when it is safe to stop having help, so ask the healthcare provider.

How do I clean a bench?

The Red Cross says to wipe it dry after every use and wash it with mild soapy water, avoiding abrasive cleaners. AIDAcare says to clean it regularly with a mild disinfectant. Stop using any bench that appears damaged.

Bottom line

A bench across the tub is a safety tool used with advice. Set the legs so the bench sits level and reaches the floor, test it for stability before every use, set the seat height with the occupational therapist or healthcare provider, use a slip-resistant mat, and get help at first. Stop using a damaged bench. If you are looking at a shower chair with a back, these three sources do not cover it, so ask a healthcare provider before buying.

Sources

Canadian Red Cross, “Bath Transfer Bench: Instructions for care and use.” https://cdn.redcross.ca/prodmedia/crc/documents/How-We-Help/Community-Health-Services-in-Canada/Instructions-for-care-and-use-of-a-bath-transfer-bench.pdf (opened 2026-10-27)
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, “Bathtub Transfers After a Hip Replacement,” patient education handout. https://www.nm.org/-/media/northwestern/resources/patients-and-visitors/patient-education/therapy/northwestern-medicine-bathtub-transfers-after-hip-replacement.pdf (opened 2026-10-27)
AIDAcare, “Guide for Installation and Safe Use: Bath Transfer Bench.” https://www.aidacare.com.au/globalassets/knowledge/resources-page/cat-service-user-guides/guides_for_installation_-_bath_transfer_bench.pdf (opened 2026-10-27)