The 9 Best Shower Grab Bars
Updated by · How we research
Screw-in steel, designer, suction-cup and clamp-on shower grab bars compared on grip, strength and warranty. The Moen Home Care 8724 leads on lifetime cover. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A grab bar is only as strong as what holds it. A steel bar rated for hundreds of pounds in a wall stud can pull out of bare drywall, and suction-cup handles are sold as balance aids, not supports. The picks here suit anyone making a tub or shower safer, whether for an aging parent, someone coming home from surgery, or themselves.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
First place goes to the Moen Home Care 8724, a plain stainless bar with a lifetime warranty and a 500-pound rating once it's in a stud, sold at a price most households won't think twice about. Most of the old picks were gone. The Moen 8994 Home Care, Moen Kingsley and CSI Bathware Bar-Wave are no longer sold. We dropped the Stander Security Pole because Stander says its poles don't belong inside a tub or shower, the Medline Bathtub Bar because the Drive Medical RTL12036-ADJ does the same job, the Moen 16-Inch because it has become a shelf bar with a thin tube, and the little Safe-er-Grip Traveler in favor of a longer Safe-er-Grip. Three earlier picks stay, including the Franklin Brass 5616.
The yardsticks here were the ADA's 2010 grab bar standard for tube size, wall gap and strength, the CDC's fall-prevention checklist for where bars belong, and each maker's own load rating, which only counts when the bar is in a stud or the maker's anchor. Suction handles stay for readers who can't drill, but we describe them the way their makers do: as balance aids.
September 04, 2020:
At this time, we've looked for safe, reliable models, keeping in mind aesthetic concerns, too. We ultimately removed the Healthline Trading Chrome over availability concerns; if you're looking for a similarly wallet-friendly choice, the AmazonBasics Handicap remains the one to beat. Offered in various sizes, it complies with ADA standards and arrives with mounting screws for your convenience. Keep in mind that this model, as with the rest, are only safe when installed properly, and when used according to given specifications — which means paying attention to weight limits and use constraints. This is especially true of the Safe-er-Grip Traveler, a suction cup choice that should be considered for light duty only.
As for options with true aesthetic appeal, Moen still comes out on top, and that includes the Moen 16-Inch and the newly-added Moen Kingsley. The Kingsley was designed to fit in with the other pieces in the Kingsley line, so if you want your Moen faucet and grab bar to match, you're in luck. Another stylish option is the CSI Bathware Bar-Wave, which is handsomely curved, but not offered in as many sizes as some others.
Finally, we kept two tub-mounting choices, the Drive Medical Adjustable and the Medline Bathtub Bar. If you are unable to mount a bar to your wall, perhaps because you rent, these are handy options to consider. They don't mount equally well to all bathtubs, however, so you'll need to pay careful attention to installation requirements.
July 05, 2019:
At this time, we still think Moen makes some of the best shower grab bars you can buy, although they do have one drawback. While their SecureMount design lives up to its name, most options do not come packaged with the necessary hardware — and it isn't exactly cheap. When you figure this cost in, as well as the cost of the actual bar, you'll be looking at something of an investment. But for the peace of mind and durability, it's worth it for most users. If you'd prefer an all-in-one choice that comes with mounting hardware, the Healthline Trading Chrome or the AmazonBasics Handicap are ones to consider. They aren't quite as elegant in appearance, but they'll get the job done.
We also decided to add the Stander Security Pole. It is made to go next to the shower, rather than inside it, but it makes it much easier to step in and out of a bathtub for some. This is thanks to the ladder grip that allows for hand-over-hand use. You could install it next to a bed or toilet, as well, so it's plenty versatile. Finally, we opted to leave the Safe-er-Grip Traveler because some users prefer removable suction-cup type grips; however, it cannot hold a person's full body weight and is not a good option for those with severe mobility or balance problems.
Special Honors
Seachrome Huntington The Seachrome Huntington is a shower valve bar that wraps around a tub or shower faucet, so the handle sits right where people tend to grab when they slip. Seachrome rates it for 250 pounds when properly installed and sells it in satin or polished stainless and a dozen powder-coat colors, through dealers rather than big stores. seachrome.com
Where The Bar Goes, And What Holds It
A grab bar only holds what its screws hold, so each end should land in a wood stud or in an anchor its maker names.
Start with the wall, not the bar. A grab bar only holds what its screws hold, so each end should land in a wood stud or in an anchor its maker names. Moen, for one, rates its Home Care bars at 500 pounds when they're screwed into a stud or its SecureMount anchor, which is sold separately (Moen). Plain drywall plugs aren't enough.
The 2010 ADA Standards, section 609, are written for public buildings, but they make a good yardstick at home. They call for a round tube between 1-1/4 and 2 inches across, a 1-1/2-inch gap between the bar and the wall, the top of a horizontal bar 33 to 36 inches above the floor, and a bar, fasteners and wall that together hold 250 pounds without turning or bending.
As for where, the CDC's Check for Safety checklist suggests bars next to and inside the tub and beside the toilet, plus a non-slip mat or strips on the tub floor. A short bar of 12 to 18 inches fits beside the controls or at the tub entry; a 24-inch or longer bar suits a long back wall. If someone in the house has serious balance or transfer trouble, an occupational or physical therapist can suggest exact spots, and a pro installer is a sensible spend when the wall is tile over unknown framing.
Screw-In, Suction Cup Or Clamp-On
A screw-in steel bar is the only kind built to take a person's full weight. Everything else is a lesser aid with a narrower job.
Suction-cup handles go up without tools and come off without a mark, which suits renters and hotel stays. Their makers are clear about the limit: Safe-er-Grip's instructions say its bar is for balance and is not meant to hold full body weight, and that the cups need smooth, flat, non-porous surfaces and must not cross grout lines. TAILI limits its handles to tiles 4 by 4 inches or larger. Check the seal before every use.
Clamp-on tub rails grip the side of a bathtub and give a handhold for stepping over the wall. They do nothing in a walk-in shower. Floor-to-ceiling tension poles are a different tool again, meant for beside a bed or chair; Stander's own listings say not to use its poles inside a tub or shower.
Never treat a towel bar or soap dish as a grab bar. In 2021 the CPSC announced a recall of Signature Hardware flip-up towel grab bars after 13 reports of bars detaching, including two falls (CPSC).
Finish, Grip And A Safe Install
Grip matters most when hands are wet. Plain brushed steel is fine for most people; a peened (pebbled) or knurled tube adds bite for soapy fingers, and a 1-1/2-inch tube fills a large hand better than a 1-1/4-inch one. Moen's Ultima line adds finger notches under the grip (Moen).
For looks, match the bar to the faucet. Moen sells its Home Care bar in several finishes, including matte black, and in shorter lengths, and Delta's traditional bars come in polished chrome. Commercial makers such as Seachrome offer powder-coat colors and bars shaped to wrap a faucet.
When installing, find the studs first, drill tile with a tile bit, and use the screws or anchors the maker names. One installer's guide suggests mounting one end at a time, checking it's level, then pulling hard on the bar before anyone relies on it (High Rack Honey). Recheck the screws now and then, and clean stainless with mild soap rather than abrasive powder.
How we researched this
We compared 25 grab bars, suction handles, tub rails and poles, read the makers' specifications and installation notes for the 9 finalists, compared each against the ADA's 2010 grab bar standard and the CDC's fall-prevention checklist, and checked every brand against the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall records. Load ratings are the makers' own figures and apply only when a bar is mounted in a stud or the maker's anchor.
Sources (7)
- U.S. Department of Justice: 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, section 609
- CDC STEADI: Check for Safety brochure
- CPSC: Signature Hardware towel grab bar recall (2021)
- Moen: Home Care 24-inch grab bar 8724
- Moen: Ultima R8718D3GBN
- Seachrome: wellness grab bars
- High Rack Honey: drywall anchors for grab bars
Frequently asked questions
Are suction cup grab bars safe?
They're safe for what they're sold for: steadying your balance. Makers such as Safe-er-Grip say they are not meant to hold full body weight, need smooth non-porous tile or glass, and must not cross grout lines. Check the seal every time.
How much weight can a shower grab bar hold?
The ADA standard for public buildings asks for 250 pounds. Moen, Franklin Brass and Amazon Basics rate their steel bars at 500 pounds, and Delta at 450, but only when the bar is screwed into studs or the maker's anchor.
Do grab bars have to go into studs?
Each end should go into a stud or into an anchor the maker approves, such as Moen's SecureMount. Ordinary drywall plugs won't hold a person's weight.
How high should a shower grab bar be?
The ADA standard puts the top of a horizontal bar 33 to 36 inches above the floor, with a 1-1/2-inch gap to the wall. At home, fit it to the person who will use it.
Can a towel bar work as a grab bar?
No. Towel bars aren't built for body weight. The CPSC recalled a line of flip-up towel grab bars in 2021 after reports of bars coming off the wall.
What is the best grab bar for seniors?
A screw-in stainless bar in a stud, with a thick or textured grip and a long warranty, such as the Moen Home Care 8724. A therapist can help choose where to put it.
