“Since my surgery, I’ve been terrified of falling and breaking additional bones.”
“I’m worried my mom will fall every time she tries to take a shower.”
“It shouldn’t be such a hassle to take a shower every day.”
Let’s face it, taking a shower or bath should be easy. You want to be able to get into your bathtub or shower without feeling scared or unsafe.
But when you have any kind of mobility impairment (be it recent surgery, paralysis, a broken hip, age-related imbalance, etc.), the sad truth is that the shower/bathtub can be a dangerous place.
If you or a loved one are non-weight bearing or are worried about getting into and out of your bathtub or shower, you should consider purchasing a tub transfer bench.
Online, you can find a wide variety of options to fit any use case. So many options, that it can be overwhelming just to narrow them down and choose one.
That’s why we’ve thoroughly researched over 35 different tub transfer benches to find the best one for your unique situation.
Check out our list below and get peace of mind knowing you can bathe again without worrying about a potential injury.
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.
Best Tub Transfer Bench
If you’re looking for a standard, reliable, and relatively inexpensive bathtub transfer bench, the Drive Medical 12011KD-1 Tub Transfer Bench is the product for you.
As far as standard transfer benches go, it is the best all-around. It has a bench that is 26” long and 18.5-19.5” deep. A non-slip textured surface with multiple drainage holes keeps you from slipping off once you sit down to slide.
It’s made to allow you to seamlessly enter and exit a bathtub without having to maneuver your way over a bathtub wall. You only have to lift your legs over the tub wall and you’re in and good to go.
Although it’s not advertised as a bariatric product, the Drive Medical Transfer Bench can hold up to an impressive 400 lbs. But even with that being the case, the actual bench itself is only 10 lbs. – one of the lightest products on the market.
It is also very versatile. The backrest is reversible and can easily be moved to either side of the bench. The legs are also adjustable, allowing the user to raise the seat from 17.5” off the ground to 22” (a pretty wide range). As you’ll see, this may not be able to help with high-walled or walk-in tubs, but it offers a range that is much higher than most adjustable transfer benches.
The arm rail is also reversible, allowing a user to switch it to either end of the bench depending on when he or she needs to use it. Or, to avoid any kind of obstruction, you could temporarily remove the rail from the end of the bench to allow for easy entry and seating.
Additionally, Drive made sure to keep the bench from going anywhere once you’re on it. For the end that is used inside the tub, Drive included suction cup feet to keep the bench from sliding, even on a wet tub floor. And, according to the vast majority of users, the bench doesn’t move once it’s in the tub.
And don’t worry about having trouble with putting the product together. Assembly is easy and tool-free. You simply follow the instructions and slide the separate pieces into their respective slots/tubing.
On the downside, the Drive, like most shower benches does not work particularly well with shower curtains. Because it is a bench, the curtain is typically unable to close. This, on its own, could allow for water to get onto the floor.
But, in addition to this, the bench collects water throughout (partially because the curtain drips onto it). Because of its drainage holes, the water usually drips onto the bathroom floor outside of the tub. Users will have to take note of this and figure out their own solutions, as the extra water outside the tub could create a dangerous situation you were trying to avoid with the purchase of the product.
Some users have noted, however, that it is possible to fit some curtains in one of the slits between the sections of the bench. If you are able to do this with your shower curtain, it may provide an effective way to prevent water from dripping on the floor. Other users, simply place a towel over the edge of the bench that sits outside of the tub.
In addition to this, the Drive also has a few minor design issues. For some users, the seat depth is not enough (especially larger users). They’re looking for something over 20” deep, and this product does not provide that kind of space.
In addition, the legs of the bench protrude a few inches outside of the actual bench (the base itself is 32” long while the actual bench is 26”). This may make it difficult for some users to fit as much of the actual seat into their tub as they’d like, considering the legs will bump up against the tub wall before the bench does.
Overall though, the Drive Medical Transfer Bench is a simple but effective product. It is not difficult to assemble or use, but it provides the stability and peace of mind needed when you want to take a shower without fear of falling.
Largest Tub Transfer Bench
The Vive Bariatric Tub Transfer Bench probably provides the largest surface area of any bench on the market. It is a full 30” long, so it will definitely extend all the way into any bathtub. This is because, unlike many other transfer benches, this product’s base (as measured from the outside of the legs) only adds an extra 0.5” in length, allowing the actual bench to extend almost as far as the base. The only problem you may have is that the bench itself is too long to fit in some small bathtubs or bathrooms.
More impressive than the length, however, is the depth of the seat. It is 22” deep. This is probably the most amount of room that will be provided by any transfer bench you can find. It can make bathing much more comfortable for most users, especially larger users.
This product is made to hold up to 300 lbs., which is impressive in its own right, but may not be that impressive given its size. The Drive Medical Transfer Bench listed above, for example, is only 26” long and 18.5” deep but can hold up to 400 lbs. On the upside, though, this looks like a weight limit you can trust. One user said weighed around 280 lbs. and had no problem using the product (said there was no give or hint of stress). Most products that advertise a high weight limit end up collapsing at 50 lbs. under the stated weight.
In addition, this product has adjustable legs that can extend from 18.5”-20”. Plus, it comes with suction cup on the feet to keep it from moving once you sit on it. In fact, some users find that the suction is so strong that the bench is difficult to move once you secure it to the floor.
Vive also took into account how difficult it can be to assemble these products, packaging its Bariatric Tub Transfer Bench partially pre-built to allow for quick assembly time.
The seat itself, like most standard shower transfer benches, has 30 drainage holes throughout and a textured surface to prevent slipping. It also has both a reversible back rest and reversible safety handle, making it one of the more versatile transfer benches out there. But, much like most shower transfer benches, the Vive Transfer Bench isn’t necessarily designed for comfort. There is no padding on the bench, so if you’re looking for something with a little more support, you may want to go with a padded bench, like the [add Most Comfortable Bench].
On the downside, this is one product that just isn’t going to fit in every bathtub or even every bathroom out there. A decent amount of negative reviews are about this, and every potential buyer should measure their bathroom and bathtub before purchasing this product. Yes, it can provide a lot of surface area and room to maneuver, but it just doesn’t fit every bathtub.
Best Sliding Transfer Bench
As far as sliding and swiveling tub transfer chairs go, the Platinum Health Carousel Sliding Transfer bench is the gold standard. Produced by Platinum Health, you already know that it is manufactured in the eye-catching royal blue padding. Though it’s not just for appearances, the high-fidelity blue is actually meant to allow users with poor eyesight to be able to more easily locate the seat.
The Platinum has all the trappings of your typical sliding seat – a seatbelt, armrests, seatback, etc. But its features are more advanced than usual.
This product can swivel a full 360 degrees, making it easy to find the perfect position for entry and exit. In addition, the armrest can pivot and lift up, once again making entry and exit easier than you would think at first glance.
And the 20” seat can slide along the full 26.5” of the bench (that’s longer than the Drive Transfer Bench, though it doesn’t look like it).
On top of this, the legs are adjustable, allowing you to raise the seat from 19” to 23.5” off the ground.
In addition, this chair has a rust-proof aluminum frame that can hold an impressive 330 lbs.
The product is so well made that the majority of users say they are surprised by how easy it is to slide and swivel their loved one into the bath tub.
And we haven’t even talked about the comfort aspect yet. Unlike a lot of bathtub transfer benches (sliding or not), this product is comfortable, complete with padding in the seat, backrest, and armrests.
The downside of this padding is that it can’t drain. It could also get slick from the water. But that’s also why a safety belt is included. If you feel that the seat is getting too slick, you can always buckle in.
And although some users note that the product fits well in their bathroom, the measurements show that the full distance between the outside of the legs is 34”. That’s a pretty long product, but luckily the seat (or at least the handles) extend the full length of the base. So you hopefully won’t have too many issues with a lack of coverage in the tub.
I should also note that the product itself is pretty expensive compared to most other transfer benches. But with the quality that comes with the Platinum Health Carousel, it is worth paying up for this versatile, reliable, and comfortable swiveling transfer bench.
Best Heavy-Duty Transfer Bench
If you’re looking for a heavy-duty transfer bench that is made to last, then you can’t go wrong with the OasisSpace Tub Transfer Bench.
This product can hold an impressive 500 lbs., and that doesn’t look like it’s just an advertisement. It’s always hard to tell if products like this can hold the weight that they say they can. But with the OasisSpace, we have actual testimonials from a user weighing close to 500 lbs. who said that there was no give when they used it. Users weighing anywhere from 275-400 lbs. also found that it was very sturdy, giving them the peace of mind they needed when taking a shower.
On the other hand, you inevitably have reviews from users who say they weigh 300 lbs. and this product can’t support them. It can be hard to know what to make of these. It could be that the product they received was faulty (though we can never be sure about that). Or it could be that they didn’t assemble it correctly. Either way, you should always check with the manufacturer on the exact weight limit as well make sure you assemble the product correctly.
The OasisSpace comes with a padded armrest that you may want to be cautious with when using. According to some reviews, while the bench can hold 500 lbs., the armrest may not be able to.
Nevertheless, this is still a great transfer bench, with the armrest providing the stabilization many users need. The seat back and arm rest are also reversible, making it easy to use this bench no matter which way you turn it.
On top of that, the bench comes with adjustable legs, offering an impressive range of 17”-22” in height. The bench itself has a textured non-slip surface and drainage holes throughout to prevent water from collecting on the surface.
Amazingly, this product, even though it holds 500 lbs., only weighs 10 lbs. itself. That makes it extremely easy to move for older users, and definitely boosts our ranking of the product.
In addition, this product is made to stay in place. It has extra-large suction cup feet (an impressive 3.8” across) on two of the legs. And on the other side it has skid-resistant rubber tips (2.3” across) that have a drainage hole to prevent mold from collecting.
The bench itself is 27” long and the base is 34”. This will obviously lead to the same problem we’ve mentioned with other transfer benches – the wider leg base will prevent the actual bench from being able to extend into the tub as far as most users would like.
But the main problem with the bench seat is that it is only 16” deep. That is not very large, considering most transfer benches are at least 18”-19” deep. This could cause some problems for larger users. The length of the bench is pretty good (just a little above standard), but for a bench that can hold the most weight, you would expect it to be just a little larger.
Best Appearance
The Moen DN7105 Home Care Bath Safety Transfer Bench definitely doesn’t look like any other bench on the market. But, as many users, agree, it’s a good different. Instead of looking like a piece of medical equipment, the Moen Transfer Bench looks like a sleek piece of furniture in your bathroom.
And a lot of its design is that way for a reason. For instance, the actual bench is probably the longest you will find – at 33”. Though the slanted end (which is great for keeping the user on the bench when they slide) probably adds a few inches that are not meant for sitting.
In addition, the rounded support handle may look like it’s for decoration, but it serves a purpose. It doesn’t block entrance to or exit from the bench and is great from any angle. It easily allows the user to pivot their position while still holding onto the handle when getting up or sitting down.
On the downside, the handle just doesn’t provide that much surface area (i.e., it’s hard to find). And it also can’t be transferred to the other end of the bench, if needed.
While this bench does look like its designed purely for aesthetic purposes, its actually quite sturdy. The Moen can hold up to 400 lbs, and its adjustable legs (which include one larger leg on one side) provide a stable base.
The legs can be adjusted from 16” to 21.5” (a pretty wide range). But, on the downside, some users have had a common, reoccurring. This doesn’t happen with every Moen Transfer Bench, but apparently sometimes the locking mechanism on some of the legs manages to slip, causing one side of the bench to slide downward when someone is using it. This could obviously create a dangerous situation, even though some users have said it is no big deal.
This bench, however, compared to most others, is made for convenience. Moen realized, in designing this, that the majority of users prefer to use a detachable shower head to shower while using a transfer bench. So, Moen included a shower head holder on the front of the bench. It also included a shampoo/soap holder on the backside for the user’s convenience.
This product’s wide and relatively comfortable surface can also be easier for some larger users to maneuver on. The surface, however, doesn’t have any drainage holes so water can collect. In addition, it may be slick since it doesn’t have any kind of texture to keep you from sliding.
The bench itself weighs over 15 lbs., which could make it difficult for some user to move (though not too difficult for most). And, according to some users, it’s failure to user suction cups on its feet allow it to slide sometimes when users sit down on it. Finally, for all its good looks, the bench lacks any kind of padding on the seat that would make a bathing experience more comfortable.
Overall, though, the Moen DN7105 Home Care Bath Safety Transfer Bench is a stable transfer bench that is designed for ease-of-use and for style.
Best Value
As far as transfer benches go, this is the best deal you’re going to find. The Medline Transfer Bench for Bathtubs may be cheap, but it is still one of the best transfer benches on the market.
Designed by Medline (a very reputable dealer), this bench is a classic tub transfer bench. The bench itself is 26.5” long and the seat is 16-19” deep. It holds up to 400 lbs., and most larger users find it to be very sturdy, saying they have no fear of any kind of unexpected collapse.
The best endorsements you can get come straight from the users themselves. And, by aggregating reviews of this product, we can easily see that a number users weighing anywhere from 200-275 lbs. have said that this bench is extremely sturdy. Obviously, with a 400 lbs. weight capacity, you want to hear from some larger users, but the endorsement of these other users does strongly favor this product’s sturdiness and reliability.
The legs are adjustable, with an impressive range of 18.5”-22.5”, increasing in 0.5” increments. And the frame itself is filled with drainage holes to prevent any kind of water buildup on the surface of the bench.
Like a lot of shower benches, the back rest and safety rail are completely reversible, making this product versatile and sturdy.
There really isn’t too much to complain about. The base itself is 32” compared to the bench length of 26.9”. Which means that there could be problems with the actual bench extending far enough into the tub (since the legs will butt up against the tub wall before the bench does).
The main complaint, however, relates to rusting. Some users have found that this product rusts pretty quickly after multiple uses. And, while this complaint isn’t extremely common, it’s common enough that potential buyers need to be aware of it. Newer versions of the Medline Transfer Bench may be made with a more rust-resistant material, but, as for now, this product is known to rust at times.
When it comes to putting the bench together, the consensus is kind-of split. It’s not too hard to assemble, but some users have found that they received parts that didn’t fit together or were broken. We can’t make that claim for every user out there, but be aware that it is possible to receive sub-par or broken parts when the product is delivered.
Overall though, the Medline Transfer Bench is about as good as it gets when you’re looking for value. This product can hold its with even the best tub transfer benches out there, and sometimes at half the price.
Other Considerations
How Does a Bath Transfer Bench Work?
A bath transfer bench works by allowing the user to enter a bathtub or shower without having to actually step into it. Because of their slick nature and the typical height of the tub wall, bathtubs can be difficult to enter for those with mobility problems.
A transfer bench allows you to sit on one end of the bench and safely slide into the bathtub, staying seated the entire time. One side of the transfer bench is placed in the bathtub and the other end is on the bathroom floor.
Traditional transfer benches are just that – a bench. The user usually has to slide themselves across the bench, but they do have more space to move around.
For individuals who are not comfortable sliding themselves across a bench, however, there are sliding transfer seats. These products typically have a 20” seat (usually with arm rests and maybe a seatbelt) attached to rails that extend into the bathtub. The user can slide the seat themselves or be pushed by a helper/caretaker.
With sliding transfer seats, the user doesn’t have to move at all once they enter the seat. And, in fact, most seats swivel, making it easy for you to enter and exit the seat once you are out of the bathtub.
Although there are many different kinds of tub transfer benches, they all effectively serve the same purpose. They all allow you to safely enter and exit a bathtub without have to step over the sometimes tricky bathtub wall. And they even double a shower chair once you’re in the bathtub/shower.
How Do You Keep Water in a Bathtub with a Transfer Bench?
One of the most commonly cited problems with all of the transfer benches that we reviewed (even the sliding benches) was that they allowed water to drip onto the bathroom floor.
This could obviously lead to dangerous conditions when getting off of the bench and, in effect, defeat the entire purpose of the bench.
There are a few reasons why water leaks onto the floor. First, most benches, whether it’s a standard transfer bench or sliding transfer bench, prevent the shower curtain from closing.
Second, the standard transfer benches catch water from the shower and allow it to drip on to the floor from the end that is outside of the tub/shower.
There are a few ways to solve this.
One is to find a transfer bench with separate sections, preferably one that has gaps between sections that are large enough for the shower curtain to be stuffed in. If you can fit the curtain in between the sections, you can basically keep water from getting to the end of the bench that is outside of the tub. This doesn’t necessarily work with sliding transfer benches though.
Related to this problem is the fact that most transfer benches just prevent you from closing the shower curtain at all. In an effort to keep some of the splashing water in the shower or tub, you can cut a shower curtain in two and hang it on either end of the transfer bench, closing it when the user is in the shower.
Another method, especially when using transfer benches, is to place a towel on the end of the bench that is outside of the shower. This will prevent water from dripping through the drainage holes or off of the edge of the bench. The only problem is that you’ll probably have to deal with a wet towel when you’re trying to slide out of the tub.
Finally, though it is not listed above, there is one product that is made for this exact situation. I have not listed it because I found benches of higher quality to meet the categorical needs in the list above.
But the Drive Medical Splash Defense Tub Transfer Bench is specifically made with a gap between sections that is meant to hold a curtain in place. It is still a good product (Drive is a reputable vendor), and if you absolutely feel that you need to prevent water from dripping or splashing onto the floor outside the shower or bathtub, then you should consider purchasing this product. It’s a little pricey, but it’s really the only transfer bench that is made to prevent water from getting on the bathroom floor.
How Mobile is the User?
By far the most important thing to take into account when purchasing a tub transfer bench is the intended user’s mobility. If it’s you, be honest with yourself.
Will you be able to slide yourself across a bench and lift your legs over the tub wall at the same time? Will you be able to lift and move a bench that weighs 15 lbs. or more?
If you are the caretaker of someone, you need to think about how they will use the product. If they are pretty much immobile, it may be better to purchase a sliding transfer chair, so you can push them into the bathtub.
It may also be a good idea to purchase one that has a seat cut-out. This can be especially helpful if the user cannot stand up for a few seconds to clean themselves. It can also function as a raised toilet frame.
The Size of Your Bathroom and Bathtub
It’s almost impossible to stress this enough: You should measure your bathtub (and maybe even your entire bathroom) before you purchase a tub transfer bench or sliding transfer seat.
One of the top complaints for almost every product we reviewed is that it did not fit into the user’s bathtub.
This can be avoided if you measure your tub and find out the measurements of the product you want to purchase.
You do need to keep in mind, though, that for many of these products the actual leg base is longer than the bench itself. This means that you should find the difference between the two and find out how far the actual bench will extend into your tub.
You may be surprised to find that it doesn’t provide that much coverage, especially if you have a wide tub wall or a narrow tub.
Also, you have to take into account what you’ll do with the transfer bench when you’re not using it. Are other people using your bathtub or shower? Can the shower tub fit somewhere else in your bathroom when it’s not in use? These are all questions you should answer before you make the purchase.
Is a Transfer Bench the Same as a Shower Chair?
While a transfer bench can perform the same functions as a shower chair, it isn’t exactly the same thing as a shower chair.
A transfer bench is typically for someone who has more trouble getting around than those that use a shower chair. On the other hand, you may find that, if you’re simply using a walk-in shower, a shower chair can be easier. For those in wheelchairs, you can even roll right up to a shower chair (and there’s no sliding over).
Unless you have a walk-in shower or bathtub though, you may want to consider getting a transfer bench if you have trouble climbing over a bathtub wall. A shower chair in a bathtub is really for people who don’t necessarily struggle too much with mobility, but may feel safer showering sitting down or don’t want to stand for that long.
So, a shower chair, while similar, doesn’t necessarily perform the same function as a transfer bench. Transfer benches are made to help with getting into and out of a bathtub, while shower chairs are made for sitting on during a shower.
Conclusion
Getting into and out of a bathtub can be difficult and dangerous. If you or a loved one have mobility issues or are worried about falling in the bathroom, you may want to purchase a tub transfer bench.
As you can see, there are a variety of different transfer benches for a lot of different use cases. We have only included the products that (after extensive research) we believe are reliable and worth spending your money on.
As always, we show no bias in our reviews. We strive to bring the best products to your attention, while acknowledging the inherent faults in each.
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