Washing your feet while balancing on one leg is hard enough on a dry floor. On a wet shower floor, after surgery or with a balance problem, it’s harder still. A seat in the shower turns that moment into a seated one.
If you’re planning a walk-in shower, decide on the seat early, because each type needs different planning. Below, Big Easy Bathrooms compares the three main options and what to settle before the shower is built.
Why does a seat make a walk-in shower safer?
A seat lets you wash sitting down, so you aren’t balancing on a wet floor while you bend, turn or rinse.
Reaching for your feet, turning to rinse your hair and waiting for the water to warm up all ask for steady balance. A seat takes those moments off your feet.
It also helps anyone who tires quickly, and it gives a caregiver a safer way to help with bathing. Pair it with a handheld shower on a slide bar and most of a shower can happen seated.
For the wider case for walk-in showers, read our article on the benefits of walk-in showers for aging in place.
What are the three main types of shower seat?
You can build a bench into the shower, mount a seat that folds up against the wall, or use a freestanding seat that you can move in and out.
Built-in bench. A permanent ledge or bench along one wall or tucked into a corner, usually framed and tiled. It’s always there and has nothing to open or fold.
Fold-down seat. A wall-mounted seat that folds up when nobody needs it, which frees the floor for others in the household. It must be anchored into solid backing inside the wall.
Freestanding seat. A shower chair, stool or bench that stands on the shower floor. It needs no construction, but it takes up standing room and has to stay steady on a wet surface.
How do the three seat types compare?
A built-in bench is the most solid and permanent, a fold-down seat saves space, and a freestanding seat is the most flexible.
| Seat type | Best for | Things to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in bench | Everyday seated showers in a roomy stall | Permanent, and it uses floor space for good |
| Fold-down seat | Smaller showers shared with others | Needs solid backing, planned before the walls are finished |
| Freestanding seat | Short-term needs or trying seated bathing first | Takes up standing room and must sit level on the floor |
Big Easy Bathrooms can fit a fold-down wall seat inside our walk-in showers or supply a portable bath seat with rubber grips. A tiled bench can also be part of a new shower.
How high should a shower seat be, and where should it go?
A seat top about 17 to 19 inches above the floor suits most adults, placed so the controls and a handheld shower are in easy reach while you sit.
That height range comes from the 2010 ADA Standards, which are written for public buildings and businesses rather than private homes. At home they’re a well-tested starting point.
Place the seat so you can reach the on and off control without twisting. Mount the handheld shower on a slide bar near the seat, and add a grab bar where you sit down and stand up.
What should you settle before the shower is built?
Choose the seat before the walls are closed, because fold-down seats and grab bars need solid backing and a built-in bench changes the layout.
- Who will use the seat, and will a caregiver help them bathe?
- How much standing room is left once the seat is in place?
- Where will the controls and the handheld shower sit in relation to the seat?
- Does a bench top slope slightly so water runs off?
- Is there wall space for a grab bar beside the seat?
When you’re ready to plan yours, contact Big Easy Bathrooms or call 504-688-7786 to set up a free estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Can a seat be added to an existing walk-in shower?
Often, yes. A freestanding seat needs no work at all. A fold-down seat needs solid backing behind the wall, and a built-in bench usually means rebuilding part of the shower.
What height should a shower bench be?
For public showers, the 2010 ADA Standards call for a seat top 17 to 19 inches above the floor. That range is a useful guide at home, and a taller or shorter person may prefer a little higher or lower.
Do I need a handheld shower if I have a shower seat?
It makes seated bathing much easier. A handheld shower on a slide bar lets you rinse while sitting and adjusts for people of different heights. Without one, a seated person has to lean into a fixed spray.
Is a fold-down shower seat safe to sit on every day?
A fold-down seat is only as secure as the backing it’s anchored to. Installed into solid backing and within the maker’s weight rating, it’s built for regular use. Check the rating before choosing one.
What seat options does Big Easy Bathrooms offer?
For walk-in showers, the options include a fold-down seat installed on the shower wall or a portable bath seat with rubber grips. A tiled bench can also be built into a new shower, depending on the space.
