The CDC has reported that more than 235,000 people suffer serious injuries in the bathroom every year. It’s estimated that about a third of these injuries happen in and around the shower.
One of the most effective and easiest ways to prevent injury is by installing a bathroom grab bar or shower handle.
These bathroom amenities can range from the portable lock-on shower handles to sturdier wall-mounted grab bars.
Whether you’re aiming for
- reliability,
- ease of installation,
- appearance, or
- value,
we’ll help you decide which shower handle or grab bar is best for you.
Confidence at Home is a member of the Amazon Associates Affiliate Program. We may receive a commission if you purchase through links in this article. This does not impact our unbiased review process.
In this article, you’ll find:
| Image | Category | Product | Price |
1  | Best Wall-Mountable Grab Bar | Moen R8736D3GCH Ultima/Home Care Designer Bathroom Grab Bar with Curl Grip | |
2  | Best Portable Shower Handle | Changing Lifestyles Safe-er Grip | |
3  | Best Appearance | Moen YG8812CH 90 Degree 12-Inch Designer Grab Bar | |
4  | Best Value: Wall-Mountable Grab Bar | Amazon Basics Bathroom Handicap Safety Grab Bar |
Read on below to learn about the best products you can use to make your shower or bathtub safe.
Best Wall-Mountable Grab Bar
From our review, the Moen Ultima/Home Care Designer Bathroom Grab Bar is the best grab bar you can install. It really has everything you could ask for. It is stylish – it comes in three different colors: brushed nickel, chrome, and old-world bronze. It has a sleek, curved look to it, making it fit with any bathroom it is installed in. And it is reliable – it holds up to 500 lbs. and has curved grooves on the inside for easy gripping.
The Moen Ultima also comes in four lengths: 12 in., 18 in., 36 in., and 42 in. – so you can choose which one best fits your needs or your bathroom.
It is made of stainless steel, and the manufacturer claims it is corrosion resistant. Like a lot of grab bars it is 1.25” in diameter – making it easy to grip, even to those with small hands.
This product also comes with a mounting plate and screws. And the manufacturer recommends that you install it into a stud to make sure it will hold its maximum weight. This kind of installation can be more difficult for some users – especially those that are physically impaired. So, if you’re unsure about installation, make sure you get a professional to help.
But once you know how to install the Moen Ultima Grab Bar, you can really install it anywhere in your bathroom. It can go well above your toilet, outside your shower, and in your shower (a lot of users claim it has installed well on their shower tile).
This product is so stylish that some users even get two – using one as a towel rack (with added security).
Overall, the Moen Ultima is a reliable and versatile mountable grab bar. It can provide added safety while adding to the appearance of almost any bathroom.
Best Portable Shower Handle
Sometimes you don’t need a mounted grab-bar to support all of your weight. Sometimes you just need a shower handle for balance and reassurance. That’s where the Changing Lifestyles Safe-er Grip shower handle comes in.
It is a suction-based 17” shower handle that you can stick to your shower wall for extra support. Up front, you should know that it is NOT MEANT TO SUPPORT ANYONE’S FULL WEIGHT. If you have serious mobility issues, you should not use this product. It is purely meant to help mobile users balance and give them peace-of-mind.
That being said, the Safe-er Grip is useful for a lot of potential buyers. The handle is extremely long, so it’s difficult to miss it when reaching. In addition, it’s textured to make gripping it easy when wet.
This product is also aesthetically pleasing. Maybe it’s not as nice as the Moen bar listed below, but it’s neutral colors match most showers pretty well.
Also, the ease-of-use with this product is difficult to beat. You simply open the latches at each end, press it against the shower wall (correctly), and press the latches down. This ease-of-use also means it is extremely portable. To remove it from the shower wall, you simply lift the latches. This product is perfect for trips, as you can typically stick it to any shower wall.
The product uses two 3.78”- diameter suction cups to stick to shower walls. In order for it to remain on the wall, you need to attach it to a flat surface. This means that if there are tiles in your shower, they should probably be at least 4” in diameter for this product to work.
Best Appearance
Sometimes shower handles or grab bars aren’t the most appealing additions to a bathroom. If they don’t blend in, they can draw unwanted attention or change a room completely – especially if you have a designer bathroom. Overall, what you’re looking for is a grab bar that doesn’t look like a grab bar
If you’re a purchaser that’s worried about this, look no further than the Moen 90 Degree Designer Grab Bar. It comes in either chrome or brushed nickel – both perfect for modern master bathrooms. In addition, it comes in four sizes: 12 in., 18 in., 24 in., and 36 in.
It’s a stainless-steel product with an ultra-modern geometric design. The wall mounts on the end are a unique square shape, which adds to the designer look of the product.
It’s also functional as well as fashionable. The Moen 90 Degree Designer Grab Bar can hold up to 500 lbs., and it is ADA compliant. The diameter of the bar is also a compact 1.25 inches in diameter – a size that some purchasers believe makes it more friendly for users with smaller hands.
The bar can be installed either vertically or horizontally. Just make sure that it is mounted into studs if you’re not using drywall anchors.
The grab bar’s inconspicuous nature makes it perfect for another role as well – a towel rack. While it’s not recommended that you use a single bar for both shower assistance and towel hanging, two matching bars could serve dual purposes and blend in well with stately bathroom fixtures.
Of course, if you’re in the market for a shower handle like this, you should expect to pay up. The price is higher than many other grab bars, but you’re getting quality as well as style.
It should be noted, though, that some purchasers have expressed concern over the square corners. And while many find them aesthetically pleasing, others see them as a hazard. If you’re planning on purchasing this product, please be aware that the square corners could cause injury if someone falls into them.
Best Value: Wall-Mountable Grab Bar
If you’re trying to find a sturdy shower grab bar without breaking the bank, then you can’t go wrong with the Amazon Basics Bathroom Handicap Safety Grab Bar.
As it is part of the Amazon Basics family of products, you can be sure that you’re getting the best price possible for this grab bar. It comes in 4 different lengths – 16 in., 18 in., 36 in., or a whopping 42 inches.
And, much like the Moen Designer Bar, you can choose to purchase a 1.25 in. diameter bar – perfect for people who feel that 1.5 in. may be too large to get a good grip on.
With over 1000 reviews and 5000 ratings on Amazon, an 85% 5-star rating means a lot.
This is your basic stainless-steel shower grab bar, but it comes at the price of a portable shower handle. At just over $20 for the 16 in. product, it’s hard to believe that this is a fully-mountable grab bar that holds up to 500 lbs.
The mounting holes allow the bar to be installed either vertically or horizontal (just make sure it’s in a stud if you’re not using drywall anchors). While installation is expected to be somewhat time consuming, most users agree that it is relatively easy. Others, however, have found it difficult to align the provided screws with the holes in the brackets.
Other Considerations
What You’re Using It For
The most important thing to keep in mind when purchasing a product like this is what you’re using it for. You have to decide, before you buy, whether you need a heavy-duty grab bar or a portable shower handle to assist with balance.
Wall-mountable grab bars and portable shower handles are NOT the same thing.
A portable shower handle is not intended to support the entire weight of an individual, even if it advertises that it can hold up to 200 lbs. or 300 lbs. They are designed to give you peace of mind when entering a shower or tub and to assist in balancing. They should not be relied upon to support someone who is relatively immobile.
In addition, a portable shower handle is just that – portable. If you need to travel, you don’t want to have to count on someone else having a shower grab bar installed. You want to be sure. That’s another advantage to owning a portable shower handle. You don’t have to choose, you can own both a mountable and a portable shower handle, just to give you the peace of mind.
A wall-mounting grab bar on the other hand is designed to be extremely sturdy. They are there to support your entire body weight (if they are properly installed).
Obviously, many of these mountable grab bars will be more expensive than portable shower handles. And installation will be more difficult as well. But, in the end, if you or a loved one needs complete support, a wall-mounting grab bar is probably the way to go.
What Your Bathroom is Like
It’s also important to take into account what type of bathroom you have. For instance, do you have a walk-in shower or a bathtub? Can your walls support a mountable grab bar? Where will you place your shower handle or grab bar for maximum effectiveness?
All these considerations play into what type of product you should purchase and where you should place it.
First, you should make sure that you have room in your bathroom for a mountable grab bar. Then you need to decide where to mount it. Some people with a dual shower/bathtub decide to mount theirs on the shower wall. Others like to mount theirs just outside the shower to assist with getting into and out of the shower/tub.
One thing to keep in mind is that with a mountable grab bar, it won’t be easy to move it. So make sure the location is adequate the first time.
Another option is to mount a grab bar over a toilet. A lot of users find that they may not need a full toilet seat riser, but instead just require a grab bar to help them stand up easier.
Mobility and Weight Capacity
The mobility of the user and the expected weight capacity of the product are two primary factors you should consider before making a purchase. Determining the mobility of the intended user will first help you decide if you should buy a mountable grab bar or a portable shower handle.
Some users are very mobile but just need a little extra help when getting into and out of the shower/bathtub. These users may feel comfortable purchasing a portable shower handle, especially if they intend on travelling with it. But before they do so, they need to fully understand that a portable shower head is not a substitute for a mountable grab bar. It is not intended to support anyone’s full weight and should not be relied on to do so.
If the intended user struggles some with mobility, they will probably be more comfortable with a mountable grab bar. If installed correctly, these products are intended to support an individual’s full body weight, as long as they fall within the weight capacity.
If you decide on a mountable grab bar, you’ll then have to decide how strong your product needs to be. Most mountable grab bars range in weight capacity from 250 lbs. to over 500 lbs., with price typically increasing as the weight capacity increases.
If the user is on the smaller side, you will probably feel comfortable buying a shower grab bar with a lower weight capacity. But if you have any doubts about whether a grab bar can hold your weight (or the intended user’s weight), don’t hesitate to buy one with a higher weight capacity, even if it costs more.
Accessories
Finally, when purchasing a mountable grab bar, you may need to purchase other products to assist with installation. While many grab bars include accessories like wall mounts, screws, etc., a lot of users have found that they (or their contractor/installer) feel more comfortable buying these items separately.
For instance, you may want to invest in a stud finder if you don’t know where exactly the studs in your wall are. Most mountable grab bars require attachment to a stud. If not, you usually have to user a wall anchor or a secure mount. These products also sometimes come included with a grab bar, but it’s not a sure thing.
A lot of users want to place a shower grab bar in a spot where a stud isn’t located, and (if it is safe) a wall anchor can allow you to do so. Before installing a bathroom grab bar using a wall anchor or a secure mount, however, make sure that your product and your wall can handle it.
In addition, many users (or their installer/contractor) also want to user longer screws when installing a grab bar. Almost every grab bar comes with screws included, but a lot of users feel safer using longer screws they purchase separately.
There is no guarantee that the accessories included with your grab bar are the best quality you can get. If you want to have full confidence in your grab bar, you may want to purchase them separately.
Conclusion
Adding a bathroom grab bar or portable shower handle to your bathroom is a relatively cheap and effective way to make your bathroom a safer place.
There are obviously other things like toilet seat risers, toilet safety frames and toilet safety rails, tub transfer benches, bedside commodes, etc. But a bathroom grab bar is typically a more aesthetically pleasing way to help fall-proof your bathroom.
We’re happy to break down the best options for your unique needs and help you make an informed choice.
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