Where to Put Grab Bars in a Shower

Grab Bar GuidesScott Blakley

Most falls in the shower happen in three moments: stepping in, turning around, and reaching for the controls. A good grab bar layout puts a handhold within reach at each of those moments.

The three-bar layout

  1. Entry bar (vertical): a 16 to 24 inch bar mounted vertically just inside the shower opening, on the wall you face when stepping in. This is the bar people reach for while lifting a leg over the curb. This could be a curved (convex) grab bar or a straight grab bar with EZ Clean rubber grips hidden on the back. It could be the grab bar slider bar from the 3-in-1 Grab Bar, Slider Bar and Hand-held Shower Wand (see photo). Or it could be a grab ring or arched grab bar surrounding the shower valve, hidden in plain sight to complement your shower decor.
    Grabcessories 3-in-1 grab bar slider bar with 9-spray handheld shower wand, brushed nickel
  2. Long back wall bar (horizontal): a 36 to 42 inch bar on the long wall at 33 to 36 inches as a guideline, but stand in your shower and check for what height makes it easiest for you to wash, bend over, turn, and get up if you have a shower seat.
  3. Control wall bar (horizontal or angled): a 16 to 24 inch bar near the valve so you can hold on while adjusting the water. An arched bar above the valve works well in tight spaces.
    Grabcessories 15 inch arched grab bar mounted above a shower valve, chrome

If you use a shower seat

Add a horizontal bar on the wall beside the fold-down shower seat, at 33 to 36 inches, so the user can push up to stand. An L-shaped bar in the corner covers both the seated and standing position with one fixture.

What about the shampoo shelf?

A wall-mounted shelf is exactly where people grab in a slip, and a normal shelf will pull out of the wall. LiveWell's 3-in-1 grab bar with shampoo shelf solves that by making the shelf part of a stainless steel grab bar.

Mounting

All shower bars need to be fastened into studs or blocking, or with a hollow-wall anchor rated for grab bars. See our guides on mounting to tile and fiberglass before you drill.

Questions about your bathroom? Call LiveWell at (440) 499-7221 or email info@livewellhs.com. We ship grab bars from Ohio to homes, contractors, and senior living communities nationwide.

Tags: Grab bar guides, Placement, Shower