Best Shower Chairs and Seats for Elderly Australians: A Practical Guide

Something has probably changed at home recently, and the bathroom is where it shows first. Maybe your mum has started bracing against the wall in the shower, or your dad has admitted that standing the whole time has become hard work. You want to sort it before there is a slip, not after. For most people, the shower chair to start with has arms and a back.

Maybe you have already looked, and found a wall of products with weight ratings and no real guidance. You are in the right place. This guide explains the types of shower seat available in Australia, names the best one for each situation, and shows you how to choose the right fit for your bathroom.

Written by Bianca, founder of SteadWell. Last updated Thursday 15 October 2026.

Compare the shower seats at a glance

Both chairs with arms are GST-free. The stools and the bench include GST. Every seat here adjusts in height, and the bench has a back rest but no arms.

Our top picks for elderly Australians

The different types of shower chair

There are five types of shower chair you will come across, and the right one comes down to how much support is needed and what the bathroom looks like. Our picks cover the first three. If you are choosing for a parent from a distance, our guide on how to choose a shower chair for an elderly parent covers the conversation as well as the seat.

A shower chair with arms and a back gives the most support. The back rest means you can sit for a full shower without tiring, and the arms give you something firm to push up from, which is the moment most people feel least steady. It is the safest starting point for anyone who is unsure on their feet.

A shower stool is backless and usually smaller. It suits a tight recess and someone whose balance is reasonable but who just needs to sit or perch to save their legs. It is lighter and easier to move for cleaning, but it gives less support. If you are weighing the two, our guide on choosing between a shower chair and a shower stool goes deeper.

A bath transfer bench is for showering over a bathtub. It sits half in and half out of the bath so you can sit down on the outside and slide across, instead of lifting a leg over a wet edge. For an over-bath shower, that one change removes the riskiest moment of the whole routine.

Two more types exist, and it helps to know why they are not in our picks. A wall-mounted fold-down shower seat fixes to the wall and folds flat when not in use. It saves space, but it has to be bolted into the wall at the right height, so it usually needs a tradesperson and it cannot move house with you. A shower chair with wheels is called a shower commode. It is made for someone who is helped by a carer and wheeled into a large, step-free shower. We do not stock them, because for anyone showering on their own, a chair with four rubber-tipped legs is the steadier and safer base.

Getting the height and fit right

The right seat set up wrong will feel worse than a basic one set correctly, so it is worth two minutes. Adjust the height so the feet rest flat on the floor and the knees sit at about a right angle, roughly level with the hips. That is the position that makes standing up easiest and keeps the body steady while seated.

Before you order, measure the shower. Check the width of the recess at its narrowest point and compare it to the seat width in each product's specifications. A good rule is to allow room to sit and turn without knocking your elbows. If the space is tight, a compact backless stool is usually the easiest fit.

Shower seats for seniors: the three numbers that decide it

Most shower seats look much the same in a photo. Three numbers separate them, and they matter more than the colour or the brand.

Seat height. Sit on a firm kitchen chair in bare feet and measure from the floor to the back of the knee. That is roughly the seat height you want, because it lets your feet rest flat while your knees sit level with your hips. The standard chair with arms sets from 39 to 52cm. The 135 kg chair sits higher, at 47 to 59cm, which suits a taller person or anyone who finds low seats hard to get up from. The compact stool goes lowest, starting at 35.5cm.

Weight limit. Choose a seat rated above the weight of the person using it, with some room to spare. The compact stool, the standard chair and the bath transfer bench hold 110kg. The braced stool holds 125kg, and the chair rated to 135 kg is the highest of these. Above that, two of our commodes double as shower chairs and hold 225kg and 250kg.

Floor space. Measure your shower at its narrowest point, then compare it with the footprint, which is the patch of floor the legs stand on. Leave room around it to sit down and turn without knocking your elbows.

If space is tight, the compact stool takes up the least floor of any seat we sell. If you need arms in a narrow shower, the armrests on both chairs lift off, so you can try the fit with them and without them.

Which seats suit your knee height

Measure your knee height the way described above, then find it in the left column. The ranges come from each seat's own height settings.

The rotating stool is not in this chart because its height range is not on its listing yet.

Wooden, teak or aluminium shower stool?

Timber and teak shower stools look lovely, and plenty of people like the warmth of them in a bathroom, so it is worth saying why the seats in this guide are aluminium.

A wooden stool is usually one fixed height. If it sits too low there is nothing to adjust, and a low seat is the hardest kind to stand up from. Every seat here adjusts, so you set it to the person, not the other way round.

Aluminium does not rot or swell in a wet shower, and the stools and chairs here stand on non-slip rubber feet. If you choose timber, check three things: a printed weight limit, rubber feet, and a height that suits the person using it.

Using a shower seat safely

A seat does most of its work simply by being there, but a few habits make it safer still.

• Check the rubber feet grip the floor before every use, and keep the seat on the flat, never on a sloped drain area.
• Keep a grab rail within easy reach of the seat, so there is something solid to hold when sitting and standing. A rail and a seat work best as a pair.
• Lower yourself with control rather than dropping onto the seat, and feel it take your weight before letting go.
• Wipe the seat down and let it dry between uses, and check the feet and joints for wear every so often.

NDIS and Support at Home funding for shower seats

If you are sorting the funding side for the first time, our step by step guide to getting a shower chair with NDIS funding walks through it in order.

Shower chairs, stools and bath benches are eligible under the NDIS Consumables category (Category 03). If you are self-managed, you order and pay as normal and claim the invoice back. If you are plan-managed, choose the invoice option at checkout and add your plan manager's email, and we send them a compliant invoice directly, so there is nothing for you to chase. Support at Home covers these seats through the separate AT-HM scheme. Our NDIS funding guide walks through it step by step.

Two numbers help here. The NDIS treats low-cost, low-risk assistive technology under $1,500 as needing no quote, and every seat in this guide costs under $200. On Support at Home, AT-HM funding comes in three tiers: under $500, up to $2,000, and up to $15,000 or more if needed. Every seat here costs less than the lowest tier, and AT-HM funding is separate from your other Support at Home services.

Common questions about shower chairs

What is the best shower chair for an elderly person?

For most people, a shower chair with arms and a back is the best all-round choice, because the arms help with sitting and standing and the back makes showering more comfortable. If the shower is small, a compact backless stool suits better, and if it is over a bathtub, a bath transfer bench is safer. The best seat is the one that matches the bathroom and the person, not the most expensive one.

What is the best shower seat for elderly people?

A shower chair with arms and a back suits most people, because it supports you while you sit, wash and stand up. If you only need to perch, a compact stool takes the least room. If turning is the hard part, a rotating stool lets you face the taps without twisting. Over a bath, use a transfer bench.

What is the best shower stool for the elderly?

For a small shower, the Compact Shower Stool, $70, takes only 32 by 32cm of floor and sets from 35.5 to 53cm. For a bigger seat and a sturdier frame, the Wide Braced Shower Stool, $90, holds 125kg. Our stools have no arms, so choose a chair instead if standing up is the hard part.

What are the different types of shower chairs?

There are five main types. A shower chair has a back and usually arms. A shower stool is backless and smaller, and some have a seat that turns. A bath transfer bench lets you sit outside the bath and slide across. A fold-down seat fixes to the wall. A shower commode has wheels, for someone a carer helps.

What weight should a shower chair hold?

Pick a seat that can hold more than they weigh, and leave a little room to spare. You will see the number on the product page. If you need a higher rating than the usual chair, the Shower Chair with Arms and Back, rated to 135 kg, is the one we point to.

What is the difference between a shower chair and a shower stool?

A shower chair has a back rest and usually arms, which give support for sitting down and standing up. A shower stool is backless and often smaller, so it fits tight showers and lifts out easily, but it offers less support. Choose a chair when support matters, and a stool when space is tight and balance is reasonable.

What height should a shower chair be?

Set the seat so the feet rest flat on the floor and the knees sit at about a right angle, roughly level with the hips. That height makes standing up easiest and keeps the body stable while seated. Every seat we recommend is height-adjustable, so this takes a minute with no tools.

Are shower chairs covered by the NDIS?

Yes. Shower chairs, stools and bath benches are eligible under the NDIS Consumables category (Category 03). Self-managed participants buy and claim the invoice back, and for plan-managed participants we send a compliant invoice straight to the plan manager. Support at Home covers them through the separate AT-HM scheme.

Does Medicare pay for shower chairs?

Generally, no. Medicare covers medical services such as GP visits, tests and hospital care, and a shower chair is not on its list. On Support at Home, the AT-HM scheme names shower chairs and bath boards among the bathing devices it funds. NDIS participants can use their Consumables budget.

What can I use instead of a shower chair?

If you mainly need somewhere to perch, a compact shower stool is the smallest swap. Over a bath, a bath board rests across the top, for $100. If you already own a seat, a swivel top adds turning, for $69. Avoid a kitchen or garden chair, which is not made to stand on a wet tiled floor.

What is the best small shower chair for elderly people?

For a small or narrow shower, the Compact Shower Stool, $70, needs only 32 by 32cm of floor. If arms matter, both chairs with arms and a back have armrests that lift off, so you can try the fit both ways. Measure your shower at its narrowest point before you order.

Do you need a shower chair with arms?

For most people, yes. The arms are what you push up from when you stand, and standing is the moment most people feel least steady. They also give you something firm to hold while you lower yourself down. Go without arms only if balance is reasonably good and the shower is too narrow to fit a wider frame, in which case a compact stool is the better answer.

What is the best bath seat for an elderly person?

If they shower over a bathtub, a Bath Transfer Bench, $199 is the safest choice, because you sit down on the outside first and slide across, with no climbing over the edge. For a simpler option, a bath board with a handle, $100 rests across the top of the bath. Both remove the step-over that makes a bath risky.

Can you get a shower chair with wheels?

A shower chair with wheels is called a shower commode. It suits someone who is helped by a carer and wheeled into a large, step-free shower, and the wheels lock while it is in use. We do not stock them, though two of the commodes in our commode guide are built to go into a shower. For anyone showering on their own, a chair with four rubber-tipped legs is steadier, because it cannot roll while you are sitting down or standing up.

Can you buy a shower chair at Chemist Warehouse, Kmart or Bunnings?

Chemist Warehouse and Bunnings both list shower chairs online, and for someone steady on their feet a basic stool can do the job. Wherever you buy, including from us, check four things: a printed weight limit, height-adjustable legs, non-slip rubber feet, and arms if standing back up is the hard part.

If the bath is the harder room rather than the shower, our guide to bath aids covers boards, transfer benches and powered bath lifts.

What is the safest shower chair for elderly people?

For most people, a chair with arms and a back, set to the right height on a flat part of the shower floor. The arms give you something firm to push up from, and the back stops you leaning into thin air. Add a grab rail within reach and you have covered sitting down, standing up and stepping out, the moments most people feel least steady.

Is a shower stool safe for an elderly person?

Yes, for someone whose balance is reasonable and who mainly wants to sit to rest their legs. A stool has no back or arms, so there is nothing to hold when you stand up. If getting up from a low seat is hard, or balance changes from day to day, a chair with arms is the safer choice.

Can you get a shower seat that turns?

Yes. A rotating shower stool has a seat that turns while the legs stay put, so you can face the taps or the wall without twisting on a wet floor. If you already have a seat you like, the Shower Swivel Seat Top ($69) sits on top of it and adds the turning part.

What size shower chair do I need?

Measure two things. First the seat height: sit on a firm chair in bare feet and measure from the floor to the back of the knee. Then the narrowest width of your shower. Compare both with the seat height range and the footprint on the product page. The compact stool needs the least floor, at 32 by 32cm.

What is a bariatric shower chair?

It is a shower chair built for a larger frame or more weight. The one in this guide for that is the Shower Chair with Arms & Back, 135 kg. If you need more than 135 kg, two of our commodes double as shower chairs and hold 225kg and 250kg.

Can you get a foldable shower chair?

Yes. Wall mounted shower seats fold flat against the wall, but they need bolting in at the right height, which usually means a tradesperson. If you want a seat you can put away without drilling, the compact stool lifts straight out and needs only 32 by 32cm of floor.